Where to Start with A.J. Waines
If you are new to A.J. Waines's psychological thrillers, you have two main paths to choose from. You can either begin with her bestselling standalone novels or dive into her clinical psychologist series featuring Dr. Samantha Willerby. Because Waines spent fifteen years working as a clinical psychotherapist—often dealing with ex-offenders in high-security settings—her books carry a grounded, realistic edge that sets them apart from typical crime fiction.
For the best introduction to her work, we recommend starting with one of these entry points:
- Girl on a Train (2013): This is her breakout standalone psychological thriller that topped the Kindle charts in the UK and Australia. It is a perfect introduction to her style of slow-burn suspense, shifting narratives, and intense paranoia.
- Inside the Whispers (2016): This is the first book in the Dr. Samantha Willerby Mystery series. If you prefer a recurring investigator who uses professional psychological insights to crack cases, this is your ideal entry point.
Dr. Samantha Willerby Mystery Series in Order
The Dr. Samantha Willerby series follows a London-based clinical psychologist who finds herself entangled in bizarre, high-stakes criminal investigations. While the author has designed these books so that they can be read as standalones, reading them in order allows you to fully appreciate Samantha's personal growth, relationships, and evolving career dynamics.
Here is the recommended reading order for the Samantha Willerby series:
- Inside the Whispers (2016): Samantha is called to consult on a series of bizarre suicides, only to discover a disturbing link between the victims and her own past.
- Lost in the Lake (2017): Samantha tries to help a traumatized woman who survived a car crash that killed her husband, unraveling a web of lies and buried memories.
- Perfect Bones (2018): A chilling case involving a serial killer who targets young women, forcing Samantha to confront a twisted mind who uses bones to send a message.
- Cut You Dead (2020): Samantha investigates a series of murders linked to a bizarre, ritualistic hair-cutting pattern, pushing her psychological expertise to the absolute limit.
A.J. Waines Standalone Novels
If you prefer self-contained thrillers that resolve completely within a single book, A.J. Waines has written several highly acclaimed standalones. These can be read in any order, though reading them in order of publication lets you watch Waines refine her signature pacing and psychological depth.
- The Evil Beneath (2013): Her debut thriller, introducing readers to her dark, suspenseful storytelling.
- Girl on a Train (2013): A massive digital hit exploring paranoia, stalkers, and a woman who witnesses something she shouldn't on her commute.
- Dark Place to Hide (2015): A tense thriller about secrets, escape, and characters running from their dark histories.
- No Longer Safe (2016): A highly successful standalone that sold over 30,000 copies in its first month, focusing on betrayal, isolation, and domestic dread.
- Don't You Dare (2018): A gripping tale featuring a mother and daughter hiding a lethal secret from their past.
- Enemy at the Window (2019): A claustrophobic home-invasion style thriller dealing with obsession and surveillance.
What to Know Before You Start: The "Train" Mix-Up & Tone
One of the most famous anecdotes in modern digital publishing involves A.J. Waines's Girl on a Train. Published in 2013, Waines's book became the center of a massive, accidental sales boom in 2015. When Paula Hawkins released her mega-bestseller The Girl on the Train, thousands of readers looking for Hawkins's book accidentally purchased Waines's novel instead. Luckily for Waines, many of those readers were pleasantly surprised by the quality of her psychological suspense and became lifelong fans of her work. Keep in mind that Waines's book is an entirely different story set around the London transit system!
Regarding tone, Waines's background as a psychotherapist is the secret ingredient in her novels. Rather than focusing purely on blood and gore, her thrillers focus on the "why" behind criminal acts. Her characters are often morally gray, flawed, and highly relatable, making readers question what they would do if pushed to their absolute limits. She specializes in slow-burn domestic noir, gaslighting, and psychological manipulation.