Liz Nugent is an Irish author of psychological suspense. Her novels are standalones, which means you can start almost anywhere. The only “order” question is what kind of story you want first, character study, social fallout, or something darker and stranger.
Start here if you want…
- A sharp character autopsy (and a strong first taste of her style): Unravelling Oliver
- A claustrophobic, high-society-and-secrets setup: Lying in Wait
- A slick, crime-tinged reinvention story in the sun: Skin Deep
- A family-battle thriller with shifting loyalties: Our Little Cruelties
- A modern cult-favorite for readers who like “unusual protagonists”: Strange Sally Diamond
- Her newest release (freshest entry point): The Truth About Ruby Cooper
What carries over from book to book?
Not plot. Not recurring detectives. Not a timeline you have to track.
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Think of Liz Nugent’s catalogue as separate, sealed stories that share a voice: morally complicated characters, close-quarters pressure, and consequences that don’t stay private.
Publication order with a one-line guide to each book
- Unravelling Oliver (2014): A brutally focused character study that reveals who Oliver is by peeling back the people who thought they knew him.
- Lying in Wait (2016): A respected family’s carefully kept façade fractures after a death they can’t undo, or explain away.
- Skin Deep (2018): A woman living under an invented identity is forced into decisions that make every lie more expensive.
- Our Little Cruelties (2020): Three brothers, one death, and a lifetime of rivalry that turns love into competition and competition into violence.
- Strange Sally Diamond (2023): A socially isolated woman becomes the center of attention after a shocking act, then finds her own past is the real threat.
- The Truth About Ruby Cooper (2026): A long-buried incident splinters a family across decades and continents, with fallout that refuses to stay hidden.
Recommended reading orders (pick a lane)
If you want the clearest “best introduction”
- Unravelling Oliver
- Lying in Wait
- Our Little Cruelties
Then read the rest in any order.
If you prefer “newest-first”
- The Truth About Ruby Cooper
- Strange Sally Diamond
- Our Little Cruelties
Then backfill earlier titles by premise.
If you’re here for pure tension and momentum
- Lying in Wait
- Skin Deep
- Strange Sally Diamond
Latest release status
- Newest title: The Truth About Ruby Cooper (published March 12, 2026 in the UK & Ireland; Aug/Sept 2026 in the US/Canada).
- Most recent prior novel: Strange Sally Diamond (2023).
FAQs
Do Liz Nugent’s books need to be read in order?
No. They’re written as standalones, so you can jump in wherever the premise grabs you.
Which book is the most “representative” starter?
Unravelling Oliver is the simplest entry point: early, self-contained, and very much her voice.
Which is the darkest?
They’re all morally sharp, but Strange Sally Diamond tends to feel the most unsettling because of its premise and perspective.
Conclusion
If you want the safest first pick, start with Unravelling Oliver. If you want the freshest entry point, start with The Truth About Ruby Cooper. After that, treat the rest as a menu, choose by mood.
Frank is the editor of BookSeries.blog, focusing on publication order, chronological timelines, and spoiler-free reading guides for book series and fictional universes.