The Woman Outside My Door

By: Rachel Ryan

Narrated by: Alana Kerr Collins

An unforgettable new voice in suspense fiction, Rachel Ryan weaves a thrilling page-turner about a young mother who can’t shake the feeling that her son’s “imaginary” friend is putting him in danger and who will stop at nothing to keep him safe—perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Mary Kubica.

How far would you go to protect your family?

All children have imaginary friends, Georgina tells herself. It’s perfectly normal, and they all grow out of it in the end. But when seven-year-old Cody tells his mother about “New Granny,” the new friend he’s met in the park, Georgina is instantly suspicious. Something—call it maternal instinct—tells her he isn’t making it up.

But maybe Georgina is losing her mind. It wouldn’t be the first time, after all. And with her own mother’s recent death leaving her bereft and trying to cope with life as a busy working mom, it’s no wonder she’s feeling paranoid that Cody has invented a “New Granny” to replace his beloved grandmother.

Her husband, Bren, becomes the voice of reason, assuring Georgina that it’s just a game, the product of their son’s overactive imagination. But what if Cody’s imaginary friend is not so imaginary after all?

Critic reviews

“When your husband, your seven-year-old son, and your father are all harboring secrets, who can you trust? A rollercoaster of a read, it never flags, the pace is relentless, resulting in a denouement that will take your breath away. Bravo, Rachel Ryan!”
— LIZ NUGENT, bestselling author of Little Cruelties

“A fast-paced, gripping thriller. . . . As the heart-pounding tension unfolds page after page, Rachel Ryan expertly unravels the mystery, leaving readers guessing until the satisfying, surprising ending. Emotional, captivating, and suspenseful, this is a fantastic debut by an author to watch.”
— SAMANTHA M. BAILEY, #1 bestselling author of Woman on the Edge

“Packed with jaw-dropping moments, The Woman Outside My Door is a twisty thriller with hidden depths. I gobbled it up.”
— ROBYN HARDING, #1 bestselling author of The Swap

“[A] confident debut . . . The tension builds as long-held secrets are revealed . . . Fans of psychological suspense will be satisfied.”
— Publishers Weekly

“Georgina is a fierce, loyal narrator, and the reader won’t be able to resist rooting for her success.”
— Booklist

“Stylish, spare, well-structured . . . Ryan skilfully ramps up the suspense until the atmosphere is tight as a drum . . . A gripping, propulsive debut.”
— Irish Times

“You never know when the secrets of your past will rise up and find you again. Rachel Ryan shines in this creepy and chilling debut. Questions abound—imaginary friend or dangerous stalker? You will fly through the pages of this tense and fast-paced story, and the giant twist at the end will leave your heart pounding.”
— JULIE CLARK, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight

“A gripping tale that wraps its tentacles around you and draws you in.”
— SIOBHAN MacDONALD, author of Guilty and Twisted River

“An incredible debut; pacy, clever, and tense.”
— JO SPAIN, bestselling author of The Confession

“A stunning debut. Gripping and unpredictable, my heart is still pounding!”
— SAM BLAKE, bestselling author of Keep Your Eyes on Me