Picture an English storyteller who spins tales so gripping you’ll forget to blink—meet Miranda Rijks! This master of psychological thrillers has captivated readers with her furiously paced narratives and jaw-dropping twists. From her debut novel to her bestselling hits, Rijks crafts stories that plunge ordinary people into extraordinary, spine-chilling scenarios, cementing her as a standout in modern crime fiction.
With over 25 psychological thrillers under her belt, many hitting Amazon’s bestseller lists, Rijks has a knack for keeping readers on edge. Her journey from a business coach to a full-time author is as inspiring as her plots, driven by a life-altering battle with rare bone cancer. Let’s dive into the world of Miranda Rijks and discover what makes her stories unforgettable.
The Making of Miranda Rijks
Born and raised in Sussex, England, Miranda Rijks always had a flair for storytelling. Before her fiction career, she was a savvy entrepreneur, helping startups turn ideas into successes. She penned non-fiction works, including How Compatible Are You?, a graphology book, and The Eccentric Entrepreneur, a biography long-listed for a cricketing book award. But a 2015 diagnosis of Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, flipped her world upside down. Recovery sparked a bold pivot: Rijks pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time, channeling her resilience into thrilling narratives.
Armed with a Master’s in Writing and a passion for psychological thrillers, Rijks found her calling. Her battle with cancer not only reshaped her priorities but also infused her work with raw, relatable emotion. Today, she lives in Sussex with her Dutch husband and black Labrador, crafting stories that thrill and haunt.
Miranda Rijks’s Unforgettable Stories
Rijks’s novels are rollercoasters of suspense, blending clever sleuths, flawed characters, and shocking twists. Her debut, I Want You Gone (2019), sparked by the chilling idea of reading one’s own obituary, set the tone for her signature style: fast-paced, intelligent, and relentless. Published by Inkubator Books, it soared to the top of Amazon charts, hooking readers with its dark brilliance.
The Dr. Pippa Durrant series, starting with Fatal Fortune (2019), showcases Rijks’s knack for intricate plotting. Dr. Pippa, a lie-detection expert, navigates murky motives and sinister suspects, keeping readers guessing. Standalone hits like The Visitors (2020), a tale of perfect families unraveling during a house swap, and The Godchild (2023), a twist-filled thriller about a family in chaos, highlight her ability to weave suspense with emotional depth. Each story explores themes of betrayal, obsession, and hidden truths, making ordinary settings—like a Sussex garden center or a luxury cottage—terrifyingly unpredictable.
Rijks’s writing shines through her collaborative plotting process with Inkubator Books, inspired by TV and film writers’ rooms. This method ensures her novels are tightly structured, with every twist meticulously planned. Fans praise her for creating characters you root for and villains you love to hate, all wrapped in prose that’s as addictive as it is unsettling.
Why Miranda Rijks Matters
Miranda Rijks has carved a niche in the psychological thriller genre, selling over half a million books and earning accolades like “master storyteller.” Her stories resonate because they tap into universal fears—trust betrayed, secrets exposed—while grounding them in relatable, everyday settings. Her resilience as a cancer survivor adds authenticity to her work, inspiring readers and aspiring authors alike.
Beyond her novels, Rijks engages her community through her Substack, The Rapid Novel Blueprint, sharing tips on writing four novels a year without burning out. Her Facebook group fosters lively discussions, giveaways, and a space for thriller fans to connect. In an oversaturated genre, Rijks’s ability to surprise and enthrall keeps her at the forefront of crime fiction.
- Key Works: I Want You Gone, Fatal Fortune, The Visitors, The Godchild
- Hometown: Sussex, England
- Notable Fact: Survived Ewing’s Sarcoma, inspiring her full-time writing career
Snag The Visitors or dive into the Dr. Pippa Durrant series for a pulse-pounding escape into Miranda Rijks’s thrilling world!