Picture a British storyteller who traded wedding bouquets and flight controls for chilling psychological thrillers—meet Debbie Howells! This Sunday Times bestselling author burst onto the literary scene with her gripping debut, The Bones of You, in 2015, captivating readers with her knack for unraveling dark secrets and complex human relationships. From a small Sussex village, Howells crafts stories that keep you guessing until the final page.
With a career as varied as her plots, Howells’s journey from self-published novelist to a Richard and Judy Book Club favorite is a tale of perseverance and talent. Her thrillers, laced with emotional depth, explore the facades of seemingly perfect lives, making her a standout in the psychological thriller genre.
The Making of Debbie Howells
Born with a love for storytelling, Debbie Howells grew up devouring Enid Blyton’s mysteries and adventures. Her early career, however, took her far from the page. She soared as a long-haul cabin crew member, trained as a pilot, and even qualified as a flying instructor before grounding herself to raise her children. Later, she ran a successful wedding floristry business, weaving natural beauty into celebrations across South East England. It was during quiet moments in her garden, pen in hand, that Howells began writing, self-publishing three women’s fiction novels before pivoting to thrillers.
Her background in psychology, studied at university, fueled her fascination with human behavior and emotional abuse, themes that permeate her work. This unique blend of life experiences—aviation, floristry, and academia—infuses her stories with authenticity and emotional resonance, setting the stage for her literary breakthrough.
Debbie Howells’s Unforgettable Stories
Howells’s debut, The Bones of You (2015), is a haunting psychological thriller that follows the murder of teenager Rosie Anderson in a seemingly idyllic Sussex village. Narrated partly by Rosie’s ghost, the novel peels back layers of a dysfunctional family, earning comparisons to Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones. A Sunday Times bestseller and Richard and Judy pick, it showcased Howells’s ability to blend suspense with emotional depth.
She followed with The Beauty of the End (2016), a twisty tale of love, betrayal, and a coma-bound suspect, praised for its atmospheric chills. The Vow (2020), a #1 ebook bestseller, dives into a fiancé’s disappearance, unraveling a web of deception. Her latest thriller, The Secret (2022), keeps readers on edge with its exploration of village secrets. Howells also writes women’s fiction, like The Life You Left Behind (2022), blending heartfelt narratives with themes of love and loss, published by Boldwood Books.
Known for lyrical prose and intricate plots, Howells crafts stories that probe the darker corners of relationships—narcissism, coercion, and hidden truths—while maintaining a thread of hope. Her thrillers are page-turners, perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn or Lisa Jackson, with characters who linger long after the book ends.
Why Debbie Howells Matters
Debbie Howells has carved a niche in psychological thrillers by blending suspense with profound emotional insight. Her exploration of emotional abuse and fractured families resonates with readers, offering both thrills and a mirror to real-world complexities. Her transition from self-publishing to bestseller status inspires aspiring authors, proving that persistence pays off. With each novel, she invites readers to question appearances, making her a compelling voice in modern fiction.
Her women’s fiction, meanwhile, brings warmth and hope, appealing to readers of Jojo Moyes or Lucy Diamond. Living quietly in West Sussex with her partner and rescued cat, Bean, Howells continues to write, with her next novel, This Thing Called Love, set for release in May 2025.
- Key Works: The Bones of You, The Beauty of the End, The Vow, The Life You Left Behind
- Genres: Psychological Thriller, Women’s Fiction
- Notable Achievement: Sunday Times Bestseller, Richard and Judy Book Club selection
Snag The Bones of You and dive into Debbie Howells’s thrilling world of secrets and suspense!