VANESSA LILLIE
VANESSA LILLIE is originally from Miami (Mi-am-MUH), Oklahoma, and studied English at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO, before moving to Washington, D.C. While there, she was lucky enough to join the local chapter of Romance Writers of America and credits much of what she knows about thriller writing to romance authors.
Now living in Providence, Rhode Island with her husband and dinosaur aficionado four-year-old son, she's smitten with the smallest state, and enjoys organizing book events and literary happenings in the city's robust creative community.
She likes to tell people about winning a poker tournament in St. Martin to sound interesting, but most of her time is spent writing on her phone at play dates.
FOR THE BEST
Thomas & Mercer - September 8, 2020
Suspected of a murder she can’t remember, a troubled woman takes an unusual approach to proving her innocence in this gripping thriller from the bestselling author of Little Voices.
When Jules Worthington-Smith’s wallet is found next to a dead man, she becomes the prime suspect in his murder. After struggling for years to build the perfect family and career, she’s dangerously close to losing everything.
Sure of her innocence, Jules is desperate to clear her name. But there’s one big problem: she was blackout drunk when the murder took place and can’t remember what happened.
Unsatisfied with the police’s handling of the case, Jules embarks on her own gin-fueled murder investigation. As she uncovers fresh clues, she starts a true-crime vlog that becomes a viral sensation, pushing her into the public eye. It’s not long before the ordeal forces Jules to confront her demons, including her turbulent childhood and excessive drinking.
The deeper Jules digs, the more dirt she uncovers about the murder and herself. Unexpected truths pile up until she’s buried so deep even finding the killer might not be enough to set her free.
praise for for the best
One of Popsugar’s “25 New Books Everyone Will Be Talking About in September”
One of CrimeReads “12 Books You Should Read in September”
“As a woman tries to clear her name of a murder charge using an investigative vlog, she unearths secrets that hit close to home. The resolution is emotionally complex and devoid of sneaky tricks and tropes. For the Best is intelligent and wholly original. It is that rare book that makes you race to the end but then stop in your tracks and just say WHOA! The perfect follow-up to Lillie’s sensational debut, Little Voices.”—Wendy Walker, internationally bestselling author of The Night Before and All Is Not Forgotten
“What happens when the secrets from your past finally catch up to you in the present? For the Best is a dark and twisting tale that takes you on a breathless ride from the first page to the final jaw-dropping conclusion. Juliet Wellington-Smith, a prominent Foundation CEO, is stunned to wake up to a murder accusation after an alcohol-fueled gala the night before. She sets out to clear her name and uncover the truth, but to do so, she will need to confront her demons from the past. And some of those demons are still very much alive. A must read for thriller lovers!”—Amy Impellizzeri, award-winning author of The Truth About Thea and Why We Lie
“Lillie follows up her smashing debut Little Voices with another winner, this time exploring just how far a person will go to keep old secrets buried. For the Best is dark and gritty, starring a host of damaged characters who blur the line between what’s true and what’s not. A slow-burn, moody mystery that will keep you on your toes.”—Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of Dear Wife
“In For the Best, Vanessa Lillie deftly writes about complex and gritty relationships, and the damage long-term familial secrets can cause. The story had me switching allegiances like it was a tennis match, made me suspect everyone, and the ending…pure perfection. A fast-paced read thriller lovers won’t want to miss! —Hannah Mary McKinnon, bestselling author of Her Secret Son and The Neighbors
“In her sophomore novel, For the Best, Vanessa Lillie proves once again she is a master of the final twist. With an expert hand, Lillie creates a fascinating, gripping, thought-provoking thriller that weaves past trauma and present-day consequences for a protagonist accused of her beloved colleague’s murder. Complex, edgy, and smart, For the Best reveals secrets page after page, leading to a shocking ending you won’t see coming.”—Samantha M. Bailey, bestselling author of Woman on the Edge
“A fascinating look at the power of restorative justice, For the Best is Vanessa Lillie at her finest. With damaged characters and a dark undercurrent, the plot unravels a myriad of devastating secrets in the wake of an alcohol-soaked night that left a man dead and a woman accused of his murder. Mesmerizing and thought-provoking, For the Best smolders with a brooding, slow-burn tension you simply won’t want to miss.” —Christina McDonald, USA Today bestselling author of The Night Olivia Fell and Behind Every Lie
“For the Best is a riveting story of a woman who is accused of murder and launches her own investigation. Plotted to perfection, the events of that night unfold in a series of shocking and disturbing twists. A clever, captivating book you need on your list.”—Samantha Downing, USA Today bestselling author of My Lovely Wife and He Started It
“Twisty, unpredictable, and compulsively readable, For the Best deftly explores the intersections of healing and justice. Vanessa Lillie has created a riveting mystery about a woman desperate to remember what happened the night someone close to her was murdered—and she was named the prime suspect. Packed with surprises, this book will have you turning pages long into the night, right up until its stunning conclusion and beautiful last line.”—Megan Collins, author of The Winter Sister and Behind the Red Door
“Vanessa Lillie takes domestic suspense to another level in For the Best. Gripping and suspenseful with edge-of-your-seat reveals that will keep you turning the pages to the epic conclusion. If you liked Little Voices, you’ll love For the Best.”—Matthew Farrell, bestselling author of What Have You Done
“For the Best grabs the reader from the first page and does not let up until the final, unexpected turn. While Jules Worthington-Smith fights to clear her name and preserve her hard-earned career, what she discovers threatens to bring her world down around her. As in her debut Little Voices, Vanessa Lillie writes with both authority and a fresh voice as she confronts the contradiction of family—that those closest to us can give us strength or tear us to shreds, and sometimes both at once. For the Best is not to be missed.”—Danielle Girard, USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author of White Out
“Lillie keeps the suspense high up to the shocking ending.”—Publishers Weekly
“A parable of restorative justice in action.”—Kirkus
“An engaging story with lots of twists and turns you won’t see coming. The use of the VLOG works really well here and enhances the story. A well-written thriller.”—Red Carpet Crash
“For the Best rises beyond genre to include explorations of social justice, racism, trauma and addiction — explorations that are not digressions from the tale but woven wonderfully into it. As a journalist who has written about such issues for decades, I can speak to Lillie’s authenticity.”—Providence Journal
“A hard look at justice and alcoholism, this is a story that will stay with readers.”—The Parkersburg News & Sentinel
“A genuine thriller with a vicious twist at the end that will make the reader gasp.”—Authorlink
“A name to trust in the crime fiction genre.”—BOLO Books
LITTLE VOICES
Thomas & Mercer - October 1, 2019
The voice in her head says he’s guilty. She knows he’s innocent.
Devon Burges is in the throes of a high-risk birth when she learns of her dear friend’s murder. The police quickly name another friend as the chief suspect, but Devon doesn’t buy it—and despite her difficult recovery, she decides to investigate.
Haunted by postpartum problems that manifest as a cruel voice in her head, Devon is barely getting by. Yet her instincts are still sharp, and she’s bent on proving her friend’s innocence.
But as Devon digs into the evidence, the voice in her head grows more insistent, the danger more intense. Each layer is darker, more disturbing, and she’s not sure she—or her baby—can survive what lies at the truth.
PRAISE FOR LITTLE VOICES
One of Cosmopolitan’s “10 New Good Books to Read”
One of Refinery29’s “Favorite Books of October 2019”
“An unsettling mystery with an unreliable narrator who will keep you guessing the whole way through. Little Voices is as haunting as it is gripping. —Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish
“Intricate, unpredictable, and deliciously addictive.”—Minka Kent, bestselling author of The Memory Watcher and The Thinnest Air
“Little Voices grabs you from the first chapter and doesn’t let go until one shocking final twist. Vanessa Lillie is an author to watch, taking us deep into the world—and mind—of former prosecutor turned struggling new mom Devon Burges as she battles old politics, new money, big fish, and, worst of all, that little voice in her head to help solve the murder of her close friend. Psychological suspense at its best.”—Kellye Garrett, Anthony, Agatha, and Lefty award–winning author of Hollywood Homicide
“From the opening chapter to the last line of the book, Vanessa Lillie takes you on a ride you won’t be prepared for, but at the same time, won’t want to end. Twists, turns, suspects, and small-town motives are around every corner with an ending that will blow you away. One of the best books I’ve read this year.”—Matthew Farrell, bestselling author of What Have You Done
“Vanessa Lillie’s Little Voices is my favorite kind of mystery: densely plotted, character rich, and full of sharp and perceptive writing. This is a stunning debut with a gut punch of a twist. You’ll be reading all night long.”—Jennifer Hillier, author of Jar of Hearts
“Little Voices is an utterly original debut novel with a twist so unexpected I jumped from the last page right back to the first to start reading again.”—Victoria Helen Stone, bestselling author of Jane Doe
“This superb psychological thriller is hard to put down.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Haunting and gripping…[Little Voices] grabs you from the first chapter and takes you on a twisting, turning journey with a surprise ending that will leave you stunned and wanting more.”—The Miami News-Record
"It’s not easy to hit me with a twist I don’t see coming, but Vanessa Lillie did just that in her smashing debut, Little Voices—a murder mystery, political thriller, and psychological suspense wrapped into one sensational story. Lillie doesn’t shy away from big topics—postpartum depression and money laundering and child abuse—deftly weaving the layers into a twisty and surprising plot. A clever and addictive read from a bright new talent."—Kimberly Belle, bestselling author of The Marriage Lie and Dear Wife
"I love this book. Complex plot. Sharp narration. Wonderfully deep characters and setting. So, so good!—Wendy Walker, international-bestselling author of The Night Before and All Is Not Forgotten
"Aficionados of mystery, thriller, and horror will savor this intricately plotted page-turner that builds to a stunning denouement.”—Providence Journal
"With Little Voices as a debut, it is exciting to think about what Vanessa Lillie is going to provide readers with next. This is a career that is about to take off.” —BOLO Books
"Vanessa Lillie’s wholly original debut is for people who have already read every thriller on the market.”—Refinery29
"Fast paced and psychologically complex, this debut mystery has plenty of twists and turns that will appeal to fans of Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins, and Megan Abbott.”—Library Journal, starred review
“A fantastic, page-turning debut.”—RealSimple
“All the more impressive when considering that Little Voices is author Vanessa Lillie's debut as a novelist, here deftly crafted and reader engaging narrative storytelling style are put at full service to her genuine flair for originality.”—Midwest Book Review