I used to think my favorite genre was romance. These days, domestic thrillers are bae – especially domestic thrillers by Black authors. Domestic thrillers are, in essence, women-focused suspense novels. They dial in on interpersonal relationships. Honey, put a Black woman at the center of that interpersonal suspense plot and you’ve got yourself a winner. If you, like me, love a good domestic thriller written by a Black author, keep reading for juicy book suggestions. Also, bookmark this page. I’ll continue to update as I discover more fabulous domestic thrillers by Black authors.
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole | Read or Listen
If you’ve ever side-eyed “hipsters” annexing urban neighborhoods, Alyssa Cole’s When No One Is Watching is sure to get your wheels turning and your gears grinding. Set to the backdrop of Brooklyn’s unnerving gentrification quandary, a newly divorced and highly paranoid Sydney Green finds herself questioning whether her longtime neighbors are actually leaving BK for the ‘burbs or if something far more sinister is at work. A fairly quick read, When No One Is Watching is a page-turner that will keep you in suspense until the very last page.
Anonymous Acts by Christina C. Jones | Read or Listen
She’s a beauty mogul, an influencer, and a murder suspect? On the surface, it appears that Monica is very much that girl and perhaps, she is. But she’s also the target of someone with a nasty vendetta. While she fights for her freedom after being accused of murdering her philandering ex-husband, she is also in a fight for her life as she dodges repeated assassination attempts.
The Three Mrs. Greys by Shelly Ellis | Read or listen
How well do you know your spouse? Three words can be used to describe Cyrus Grey: billionaire, businessman, and bigamist. Join his wives Diamond, Noelle, and Vanessa on a wild ride as they discover that uncovering the truth about Mr. Grey may cost them more than just their marriages — it could cost them their lives.
Bingeworthy: This novel is followed by Truth, Lies, and Mr. Grey. It can be enjoyed with or without reading the following text, but why would you want to?
Beautiful, Dirty, Rich by JD Mason | Read or Listen
Deception, death, and destruction are three words that come to mind about this small-town crime thriller. Desi Green spent most of her adult life – 25 years, to be exact- behind bars for allegedly murdering one of Blink, Texas’ wealthiest moguls, Julian Gatewood. As it turns out, the oil baron was her biological father. Now, she’s back to expose the truth about The Gatewood Family and collect on what’s owed.
Bingeworthy: This novel is followed by Drop Dead, Gorgeous and Crazy, Sexy, Revenge. It can be enjoyed with or without reading the following text, but why would you want to?
Streets Have No Queen by JaQuavis Coleman | Read or Listen
If you live for a stupefying plot twist and have a penchant for vengeance, you will savor this gritty domestic thriller, which traces the story of Bless, an artist grieving the untimely passing of his late wife, Queen. When Bless receives an unexpected knock at his door, he is met by a visitor who will change his life forever.
Bingeworthy: This novel is preceded by The Streets Have No King. It can be enjoyed with or without reading the prior text, but why would you want to?
Exposed by Naomi Chase | Read or listen
Former adult film star Tamia Luke has turned over a new leaf and is living the luxurious life she’s always dreamed of with the man of her dreams. Naturally, she hopes to leave her past behind her, but when a cunning fan recognizes her and threatens to expose her, she will give anything to keep him quiet. Anything, y’all.
Bingeworthy: This novel is followed by Deception and Betrayal. It can be enjoyed with or without reading the following texts, but why would you want to?
How It Ends by Rachel Howzell Hall | Read or listen
At the epicenter of this suspenseful narrative, we find Marti Greenwood, a freshly minted divorcee ready to launch the next chapter of her life. When Marti is attacked in her new home by an unknown assailant, perception becomes distorted and reality is subjective. Unsure of who to trust, Marti stops at nothing to track down her attacker in this modern whodunnit.
Photo by Godisable Jacob
