An Evening with Jess Kitching

Not only is Jess an internationally published writer of thrillers, she’s a regular attendee of the Truman’s Book Club Social! We can’t wait to have her in the bookshop to celebrate with her as she launches her new book The Secrets of Strangers. Join us on publication day!

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Paula Hawkins and Ruth Ware, The Secrets of Strangers is a propulsive thriller about a writer who gets caught up in the case of a missing woman.

About the Book

After suffering a loss, Janine and her husband Kamal need a fresh start. They leave their family and everything they know in Manchester and move to Bamblethorpe, a picturesque Lancashire village where they expect nothing but peace and quiet. It’ll be just what Janine, a thriller writer, needs to work on her next manuscript.

But the peace of their new village life is disrupted when long-time local Alexa Clarke goes missing out of the blue. Did she leave her husband like some people suspect? Or is there credibility to the rumours that something more nefarious has happened to Alexa?

Frozen by writer’s block, Janine stumbles into investigating Alexa’s disappearance, and the more she discovers about Alexa’s life, the more complicated things become. Nothing is as it seems, and Janine begins to realise that there are disturbing parallels between Alexa’s life and her own.

What starts as curious procrastination quickly spirals into a tangled web of secrets, lies and a truth Janine may not be ready to face … if she survives.

‘Gripping, twisty and perfectly plotted. A mystery that just demands to be devoured.’ – Katy Brent

‘A terrific writer with a smart, keep-on-guessing, plot-twisting story that will keep you turning the pages until you reach the final one … then you’ll finally be able to take a breath.’ – Chris Carter, author of The Crucifix Killer

About the Author

Born in Bradford, Jess Kitching is an avid reader, writer and binge-watcher who splits her time between the UK and Australia. After graduating Huddersfield University with a First in English Literature, Jess worked as a primary school teacher before becoming an author. Her three previous thrillers have been internationally published and described by readers as ‘thrillers with heart’. Her debut romance, The Life Experiment, was Women’s Weekly’s Best Romance of 2025.