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Compulsion to Kill
Simmering psychological suspense steeped in unhealthy obsession and a dangerous game of manipulation and murder.
A new neighbor
A fixation
A fractured marriage
Secrets tear them apart.
The truth changes everything.
Danger lurks.
Someone will die.
And one person is in control.
A new neighbor
A fixation
A fractured marriage
Secrets tear them apart.
The truth changes everything.
Danger lurks.
Someone will die.
And one person is in control.
275 pages, Paperback
Published September 15, 2026
About the author
Darcia Helle
31 books748 followersDusty corners of the mind intrigue me.
Find me on Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/DarciaHelle
Find me on Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/DarciaHelle
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
THIS is my favorite kind of thriller!!! 👏 OMGG.. trust me.. you need this!! Thank you so much @darciahelle for the gorgeous gifted copy!! Happy pub day!!! 🥳 Hands down 5 stars ⭐️
Sooo you got a new neighbor… and you don’t like him at all. 😬 In fact… you are obsessed with watching his every move because he creeps you out. 🤷♀️ You can’t explain it but he makes your skin crawl and you just know… something is wrong. 🤔
Okay guys.. why is this my favorite kind of thriller?? I LOVE an unhinged character… and we have a couple in here! Bonus points because I also love a snarky character…. and you guessed it… these characters are 💯 % crazy!! SO of course… I loved it!!
Between the fast chapters… the short sentences that kept me engaged and hanging on every single word… I couldn’t put it down. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any darker… it does! 😳😳😳🤯🫣 LOVED it!!
This is definitely on my stack of favorites for the year. A book that I didn’t even know about until a few weeks ago!! 🤯 Best surprise ever! I love finding new to me authors and I definitely will be reading more by @darciahelle!! I always say Kaira Rouda is the queen 🫅 of cray.. but she may have to share her crown 👑 😂 Just saying.. this was wild and I loved it!! 👏👏
Sooo you got a new neighbor… and you don’t like him at all. 😬 In fact… you are obsessed with watching his every move because he creeps you out. 🤷♀️ You can’t explain it but he makes your skin crawl and you just know… something is wrong. 🤔
Okay guys.. why is this my favorite kind of thriller?? I LOVE an unhinged character… and we have a couple in here! Bonus points because I also love a snarky character…. and you guessed it… these characters are 💯 % crazy!! SO of course… I loved it!!
Between the fast chapters… the short sentences that kept me engaged and hanging on every single word… I couldn’t put it down. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any darker… it does! 😳😳😳🤯🫣 LOVED it!!
This is definitely on my stack of favorites for the year. A book that I didn’t even know about until a few weeks ago!! 🤯 Best surprise ever! I love finding new to me authors and I definitely will be reading more by @darciahelle!! I always say Kaira Rouda is the queen 🫅 of cray.. but she may have to share her crown 👑 😂 Just saying.. this was wild and I loved it!! 👏👏
September 18, 2026
the setup…
Jessica and Zac have been married and living contently for six years. That is until a new neighbor moves in across the street. She can’t explain why Scott Collins immediately fills her with trepidation and fear at first sight. But Zac ignores her feelings and goes so far as to begin a friendship with the man, inviting him and his girlfriend into their home over Jessica’s objections. Women should always, always trust their instincts.
the heart of the story…
Wow. It only took me a few pages to become completely absorbed in this story, screaming at Zac for being so insensitive and at Jessica for making so many concessions. I was soon emotionally invested and the rapid pace didn’t give me time to breathe or develop theories so I just rolled with it.
the bottom line…
It’s psychological suspense in the stratosphere! I loved the short, snappy chapters without one wasted word. The writing is nimble and crisp, without short shifting the characters or plot. I was “forced” to finish the book in one sitting because there was no good place to pause. Blew me away, especially that ending. Obsession, revenge, manipulation? Oh, yes.
Jessica and Zac have been married and living contently for six years. That is until a new neighbor moves in across the street. She can’t explain why Scott Collins immediately fills her with trepidation and fear at first sight. But Zac ignores her feelings and goes so far as to begin a friendship with the man, inviting him and his girlfriend into their home over Jessica’s objections. Women should always, always trust their instincts.
the heart of the story…
Wow. It only took me a few pages to become completely absorbed in this story, screaming at Zac for being so insensitive and at Jessica for making so many concessions. I was soon emotionally invested and the rapid pace didn’t give me time to breathe or develop theories so I just rolled with it.
the bottom line…
It’s psychological suspense in the stratosphere! I loved the short, snappy chapters without one wasted word. The writing is nimble and crisp, without short shifting the characters or plot. I was “forced” to finish the book in one sitting because there was no good place to pause. Blew me away, especially that ending. Obsession, revenge, manipulation? Oh, yes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Holy moly!!! This book is the definition of twisty! I love good obsession/revenge novel and Helle delivered big time. Just when you think you know what’s going on-nope! I read this in almost one sitting because I just HAD to know what was going to happen.
The writing is effortless and witty. Several times I LOL’d and the characters feel so real. (Yes..that is kinda scary considering) but you know these people. They do things you do or wish you could and it made it that much more addicting. I must read Helle’s backlist because…WOAH!
The writing is effortless and witty. Several times I LOL’d and the characters feel so real. (Yes..that is kinda scary considering) but you know these people. They do things you do or wish you could and it made it that much more addicting. I must read Helle’s backlist because…WOAH!
September 26, 2026
This was so good! I obviously needed to start this one ASAP, since I'm friends with Darcia, and was so excited for her new novel. I gotta say, her writing felt so fresh and smart. I love a suspenseful revenge thriller and this was definitely tense right from the start. These characters felt so real. And I read this so fast because I needed to know what was with Jessica's uneasy feelings towards this new neighbor, Scott. The chapters are short, the pace is fast and the plot is twisty and addictive!! Seriously …give this book a try. You can't go wrong!! I'm impressed!! I loved it. Congratulations Darcia!!
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“I don’t want to go to prison because my husband is an asshole.”
Jessica and Zac are living their life, being a happily married couple when a new neighbor moves in across the street. Scott Collins gives Jessica the absolute creeps, and his proximity causes her to start thinking about an assault she suffered in college. But things get worse as her husband ignores her misgivings and befriends Scott. Jessica is left wondering if her intense dislike of the man means anything, and if it doesn’t, how does she trust her own feelings after this?
This book is so freaking twisty and I read most of it in one sitting. I could never have guessed where this was going and I know this just made my top ten thrillers list. Bravo Darcia, and I mean that quite literally because I want a sequel.
Jessica and Zac are living their life, being a happily married couple when a new neighbor moves in across the street. Scott Collins gives Jessica the absolute creeps, and his proximity causes her to start thinking about an assault she suffered in college. But things get worse as her husband ignores her misgivings and befriends Scott. Jessica is left wondering if her intense dislike of the man means anything, and if it doesn’t, how does she trust her own feelings after this?
This book is so freaking twisty and I read most of it in one sitting. I could never have guessed where this was going and I know this just made my top ten thrillers list. Bravo Darcia, and I mean that quite literally because I want a sequel.
September 16, 2026
Compulsion to Kill seriously got under my skin!
From the start, the dark and unsettling atmosphere pulled me in, and the twists kept me guessing until the very end. I loved never quite knowing what was coming next.
If you love dark, twisted crime thrillers that keep you turning the pages, definitely check this one out.
From the start, the dark and unsettling atmosphere pulled me in, and the twists kept me guessing until the very end. I loved never quite knowing what was coming next.
If you love dark, twisted crime thrillers that keep you turning the pages, definitely check this one out.
October 2, 2026
intense
Amazing book and plot twists. Love it! Sucks you right in and doesn’t let go until the very end. Wow
Amazing book and plot twists. Love it! Sucks you right in and doesn’t let go until the very end. Wow
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews