Picture a Brooklyn storyteller who spins tales so gripping you’ll forget to blink—meet Andrea Bartz! This New York Times bestselling author has taken the mystery and thriller world by storm, crafting novels that dive deep into the messy, thrilling complexities of female friendships and hidden truths. Her debut, The Lost Night, hooked readers with its haunting question: what really happened that fateful night?
With a knack for pulse-pounding suspense and settings that feel like characters themselves, Bartz has become a go-to for readers craving smart, twisty reads. Let’s unravel the story of this literary star and why her books are must-haves for any thriller fan.
The Making of Andrea Bartz
Andrea Bartz, or Andi to her fans, grew up with a love for stories that sparked her imagination. A graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she honed her craft as a journalist and editor, working at magazines like Glamour, Psychology Today, and Self. Her editorial gigs sharpened her ability to craft vivid, engaging prose, but it was her passion for suspense—think Tana French and Gillian Flynn—that pushed her toward fiction. Bartz’s Brooklyn roots, steeped in the gritty, vibrant energy of the late 2000s, inspired the settings and subcultures that pulse through her novels.
Before novels, Bartz penned articles for The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, and Cosmopolitan, blending psychology, travel, and culture. This versatility shaped her ability to weave layered characters and intricate plots, setting the stage for her leap into thriller stardom.
Andrea Bartz’s Unforgettable Stories
Bartz burst onto the scene with The Lost Night (2019), a chilling tale of Lindsay, a woman unraveling the truth behind her friend Edie’s apparent suicide in a Brooklyn loft a decade earlier. Praised for its nostalgic haze and whip-smart twists, it earned starred reviews and a TV option by Mila Kunis. Her follow-up, The Herd (2020), dives into an exclusive women’s coworking space where the founder’s disappearance sparks a web of secrets, exploring female ambition and societal pressures.
We Were Never Here (2021), a Reese’s Book Club pick, follows two globe-trotting friends whose backpacking trip turns deadly, delivering Hitchcockian tension and a Netflix adaptation in the works. Her latest, The Last Ferry Out (2025), takes readers to a remote Mexican island where Abby seeks answers about her fiancée’s mysterious death, blending queer romance with heart-pounding mystery. Bartz’s style—vivid, atmospheric, and packed with unreliable narrators—keeps readers guessing, while her themes of grief, identity, and resilience resonate deeply.
Each novel feels like a puzzle box, with Bartz masterfully balancing escapist thrills and emotional depth. Her settings, from Brooklyn lofts to sun-soaked islands, are as immersive as her plots, making every book a transporting adrenaline rush.
Why Andrea Bartz Matters
Andrea Bartz has redefined the thriller genre by centering complex, flawed women who navigate trauma and deception with grit and heart. Her stories challenge stereotypes, flipping tropes like “violence against women” into narratives of empowerment and agency. As a queer author, she weaves diverse identities into her work, adding richness to the genre. Her books, lauded by outlets like Marie Claire and NPR, have inspired a new wave of suspense writers to explore psychological depth and female-driven stories.
Bartz’s impact extends beyond books—she’s a sought-after speaker, sharing insights on creativity and storytelling at events like the Gaithersburg Book Festival. Her Substack, Get It Write, offers aspiring writers tips drawn from her own journey, cementing her as a mentor in the literary world.
- Birthplace: United States
- Key Works: The Lost Night, The Herd, We Were Never Here, The Last Ferry Out
- Notable Recognition: Reese’s Book Club pick, New York Times bestseller
Snag We Were Never Here or The Last Ferry Out and dive into Andrea Bartz’s thrilling world of secrets and suspense—you won’t put them down!