The Best Place to Start Reading Amanda Jennings
Because Amanda Jennings writes standalone psychological thrillers rather than interconnected series, you have complete freedom to dive in wherever you like. However, if you want the quintessential Jennings experience, we highly recommend starting with one of her signature Cornish-set novels. These books showcase her talent for blending rugged, atmospheric landscapes with tense family secrets.
Here are the three best entry points depending on your reading preferences:
- For the classic atmospheric experience: Start with In Her Wake (2016). This was the book where Jennings truly found her voice, using the moody backdrop of St. Ives, Cornwall, to tell a haunting story about identity, grief, and long-buried family secrets.
- For gothic, historical suspense: Start with The Cliff House (2018). Set in the 1980s, this novel features a chilling, obsession-fueled plot centered around a glamorous family and a teenager caught in their orbit. It has strong Daphne du Maurier undertones and is widely considered one of her most compelling works.
- For modern tension and privilege: Start with Beautiful People (2024). Her latest release moves the action to a sleek, modern setting, exploring themes of deception, wealth, and toxic relationships in a highly polished and twisty narrative.
Amanda Jennings Books in Publication Order
If you prefer to watch an author's writing style evolve, reading her books in order of publication is a fantastic approach. Jennings began her career with emotional family dramas set in Berkshire before fully embracing the wild landscapes of Cornwall as a key driver of her suspense. Here is the complete list of her standalone novels in publication order:
- Sworn Secret (2012) - Her debut novel, which looks at the devastating aftermath of a family tragedy and a sister's quest for the truth.
- The Judas Scar (2014) - A dark thriller exploring childhood bullying, boarding school trauma, and toxic adult relationships. (Note: This book was later re-released under the title The Judas Tree).
- In Her Wake (2016) - A breakthrough novel set in Cornwall following a woman who discovers her entire childhood was built on a lie.
- The Cliff House (2018) - A summer-themed psychological drama set in 1986 Cornwall, focusing on grief, obsession, and class differences.
- The Storm (2020) - A dark, claustrophobic story of coercive control, set against the backdrop of a Cornish fishing village during a harsh winter.
- The Haven (2022) - A gripping thriller set in a remote Cornish community, dealing with isolation, secrets, and a group of people trying to escape their pasts.
- Beautiful People (2024) - A sharp, contemporary thriller examining the dark side of wealth, beauty, and influence.
Understanding "The Judas Scar" vs. "The Judas Tree"
If you are browsing library catalogs or online bookshops, you might come across listings for both The Judas Scar (published in 2014) and The Judas Tree (published in 2022). To save you time and money: they are the exact same book.
Jennings originally published the story of Will, Harmony, and the manipulative Luke under the title The Judas Scar. When the publishing rights transitioned, the book was repackaged and re-released in paperback and digital formats in 2022 as The Judas Tree. The core plot—detailing a tense reunion between former boarding school classmates and the dark secrets of their childhood bullying—remains identical. You only need to read one of these versions.
Short Story Contributions and Anthologies
Aside from her full-length novels, Amanda Jennings is an active member of the crime-writing community. If you want to track down her shorter fiction, her most notable contribution is in:
- Killer Women Crime Club Anthology #2: The Body (2017) - Jennings contributed an original short crime story to this collection, which features works from twenty prominent UK female crime writers, including Rachel Abbott, Elly Griffiths, and Sarah Hilary.
What to Know Before You Start
Before you pick up your first Amanda Jennings novel, here are a few practical tips to enhance your reading experience:
The Setting is a Character
Jennings' connection to Cornwall runs deep through her mother's family in Penzance. Starting with In Her Wake, she began using the Cornwall coastline, cliffs, and unpredictable weather as a physical manifestation of her characters' internal struggles. Expect detailed, evocative descriptions of the landscape that heighten the suspense.
Heavy Themes and Emotional Suspense
Unlike fast-paced action thrillers, Jennings writes slow-burn psychological suspense. Her books frequently deal with heavy emotional themes, including grief, the loss of a child, childhood trauma, and psychological abuse (particularly coercive control in The Storm). While they are page-turners, they are also deeply human and character-driven.
Complete Independence
Since none of the books share characters, settings, or continuity, you do not have to worry about spoilers or reading order rules. If a particular synopsis grabs your attention, feel free to start there.