Picture a British storyteller who spins tales so twisty they keep you up all night—meet Jess Ryder! Under this pen name, Jan Page crafts psychological thrillers that dive deep into the human psyche, blending suspense with raw emotion. From her breakout novel to a Paramount+ TV adaptation, Ryder’s gripping narratives have hooked readers worldwide, proving she’s a force in modern suspense fiction.
The Making of Jess Ryder
Born as Jan Page, Jess Ryder emerged from a rich career in storytelling. With roots in screenwriting, playwriting, and television production, Page honed her knack for drama, working on children’s media before diving into the darker waters of psychological thrillers. Her love for crime dramas and thriller novels fueled her shift to writing under the Jess Ryder pseudonym, a fresh persona for her bold new genre. Living in London with her partner and four grown children, she balances her creative life with a passion for pottery, grounding her high-stakes stories in everyday humanity.
Jess Ryder’s Unforgettable Stories
Ryder’s novels, published by Bookouture, are masterclasses in suspense, known for their shocking twists and complex characters. Her debut, Lie to Me (2017), follows a woman unraveling her mother’s mysterious past, setting the tone for Ryder’s knack for unreliable narrators and emotional depth. The Ex-Wife (2018), a Kindle bestseller adapted into a Paramount+ miniseries, explores betrayal and deception as a new wife grapples with her husband’s ex. The Good Sister (2017) weaves a tale of half-sisters with so many twists it’s been compared to a Himalayan mountain track. Her latest, The Villa (2024), revisits a tragic hen party, unraveling secrets with nail-biting tension. Ryder’s style—fast-paced, emotionally charged, and twist-heavy—draws comparisons to Gillian Flynn, keeping readers guessing until the final page.
What sets Ryder apart is her ability to blend domestic drama with psychological suspense. Her characters, often ordinary people thrust into extraordinary dilemmas, wrestle with obsession, guilt, and hidden truths. She deliberately misleads readers, crafting plots that crash assumptions, as she explained in her blog: twists are about building a fictional world only to shatter it. This approach, rooted in her screenwriting experience, makes her stories cinematic and unputdownable.
Why Jess Ryder Matters
Jess Ryder has carved a niche in the psychological thriller genre, offering stories that resonate with readers craving intellectual challenges and emotional stakes. Her ability to humanize flawed characters while delivering roller-coaster plots has earned her a loyal following and critical acclaim. The TV adaptation of The Ex-Wife highlights her growing cultural impact, bringing her work to new audiences. By exploring themes of trust, identity, and betrayal, Ryder holds a mirror to human nature, making her novels both thrilling and thought-provoking.
- Pen Name: Jess Ryder (Jan Page)
- Key Works: Lie to Me, The Good Sister, The Ex-Wife, The Villa
- Notable Achievement: The Ex-Wife adapted into a Paramount+ miniseries
- Genre: Psychological Thriller
Ready to lose yourself in a world of secrets and suspense? Snag The Ex-Wife or The Villa and dive into Jess Ryder’s electrifying psychological thrillers!