About the Book

Title: Queen of Hearts

Author: Heather Day Gilbert

Publisher: ‎WoodHaven Press

Publication date: ‎July 23, 2024

Back Cover:

Her readers love her…
but one has gotten a little too attached.

Alexandra Dubois, a NYT bestselling author, has made a name for herself by crafting twisted serial killers in her romantic suspense series. When threatening notes from an “invested reader” escalate into violence, Alex has to admit she’s not safe in her own home. Although her autism makes any changes to her routine difficult, she reluctantly accepts her editor’s advice to fly to his sprawling vacation home in West Virginia so she can focus on her looming deadline.

Fighting paranoia that the stalker has discovered her mountain hideaway, Alex still forces herself to write several chapters in her novel. But when a thunderstorm leaves her stranded and she hears a knock at her door, she’s about to discover that life truly is stranger than fiction.

Fans of Alfred Hitchcock, Mary Higgins Clark, and Misery are sure to be hooked by this clean, fast-paced domestic thriller by RWA Daphne Award-winning author Heather Day Gilbert.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Hearts-Gripping-Psychological-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0D64RDGRY/

My Thoughts

If you enjoy Alfred Hitchcock movies, you’re going to love Queen of Hearts by Heather Day Gilbert. More of a “clean” novel than Christian, it was still an enjoyable read. I read it in one afternoon, figuratively on the edge of my seat the entire time. This book has a neuro-divergent main character which adds to the story’s uniqueness and appeal. Alex’s autism gives her a variety of quirks and personality “flaws” that enhance both the realness of this character as well as the suspense, opening the story to some elements that may not be a problem for neurotypicals. For those who avoid “romance” novels, this is not. It has a sweet wind-up at the end that I enjoyed and that brought hope and peace to an otherwise intense story. My only negative is that I never did figure out the connection to the title, but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the novel. I loved that the character is an author of romantic suspense novels. And there were lots of suspects to keep me guessing. Anyone of them could be the stalker. Did I guess the villain? Possibly. I’ll never tell. 🙂

About the Author

Heather Day Gilbert, an RWA Daphne du Maurier Award winner and 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist, enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with unpredictable twists, much like the Agatha Christie books she read growing up. She also writes Viking historicals. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love. Find out more at heatherdaygilbert.com.