A.J. Wills Books in Order (Updated February 25, 2026)

A.J. Wills writes psychological thrillers that are predominantly standalone. There’s no long-running detective continuity to keep straight here, so “reading order” is mainly about release history (if you want to watch style and themes evolve) rather than avoiding series spoilers.

One important note: there are other authors credited as A. J. Wills in older academic/nonfiction catalogues. This page is about the contemporary psychological-thriller novelist publishing recent titles like The Phantom Child and The Couple in the Lodge.

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A fast, practical way to choose your starting book

Pick a door based on the vibe you want:

• Family secrets + suspicion you can’t shake: His Wife’s Sister
• Domestic pressure-cooker with limited breathing room: The Stranger at the Door
• A “where did he go?” absence mystery: The Night He Disappeared
• Snowy / secluded threat-energy: The Couple in the Lodge (newest)

If you don’t care which premise, the simplest approach is: start with the newest, then work backward if you want more.

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The novels in publication order

These are presented as a clean collector’s sequence. Each reads as its own story unless you’re specifically tracking how the author’s pacing and twist style develops over time.

1. Between the Lies (2018): A home intrusion becomes a lie-within-a-lie spiral, where the “obvious” cover-up is only the start of the danger.
2. His Wife’s Sister (2020): A long-ago disappearance collides with a shocking return, turning a family home into a pressure chamber of belief and doubt.
3. She Knows (2021): A relationship-driven suspense setup where the real threat is what someone sees, and what they choose not to say out loud.
4. Nothing Left to Lose (2022): A cornered protagonist story built around escalating stakes, where each “solution” narrows the options further.
5. The Secrets We Keep (2022): A secret-keeping thriller that leans into proximity, exposure, and the cost of staying silent too long.
6. The Warning (2023): A foreboding message becomes the pivot point, as everyday life starts to feel staged and hostile.
7. The Lottery Winners (2023): A sudden windfall turns into a stress test, pushing the idea that luck can make you visible to the wrong people.
8. The House Guest (2023): A new presence inside a private space shifts the balance of power, with trust becoming the story’s main weapon.
9. The Phantom Child (2024): A child-centered mystery built around absence and uncertainty, where what’s missing shapes every decision.
10. The Boy in the Woods (2024): A woodland discovery triggers a widening investigation, tightening dread as answers refuse to behave.
11. The Stranger at the Door (2024): A doorstep encounter opens the gate to a controlled, claustrophobic suspense engine, simple at first, then steadily less safe.
12. The Night He Disappeared (2025): A disappearance-driven thriller where the gaps in the timeline matter as much as the people left behind.
13. The Couple in the Lodge (2026): A secluded setting amplifies suspicion and misdirection, with the environment itself working like an accomplice.

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Short fiction and collector extras

These aren’t required for understanding any novel. Treat them as add-ons.

• His Lost Wife (2021): Listed separately as a novella/short work, best read any time after you’ve tried at least one full novel, so you know the tone you’re signing up for.
• A Twist of the Tale (2021) and A Twist of the Tale 2 (2024): Commonly listed as omnibus/collection editions rather than brand-new core novels; use them to bundle reads, not to “advance” any continuity.

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Does chronological order matter?

Not in the usual “series timeline” sense. These books are best treated as standalone psychological thrillers, so there’s no hidden chronological sequence to protect.

If you want the most natural learning curve of the author’s style, use publication order. If you want maximum immediacy, start with 2024–2026 and work backward.

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Latest release status

• Newest listed title: The Couple in the Lodge (2026)
• Most recent prior release: The Night He Disappeared (2025)

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FAQs

Do any of these share a recurring detective or main character?
They’re generally catalogued as standalones. You won’t be “lost” by reading out of order.

Why do some lists show fewer books?
Some bibliographies only track the most recent releases or only list novels (and omit novellas/omnibus editions).

What if I already own one title, what should I read next?
Just move to the next book that sounds good. With no shared continuity, the best “next” book is the one whose premise you want to live inside.