The Doll's House
And other spooky season treats!
Okay, well, it's still BLAZING hot in Florida but I'm ready for cool air, changing leaves, and lots of chills and thrills this season. As the days grow shorter, that means there's more time to curl up with a good book, right? To celebrate my favorite time of year, I have a new short story, a huge TV series update, some amazing giveaways, and more.
Lots to share. So, I’ll get right to it.
THE DOLL’S HOUSE is Available Now!
I’m thrilled to share my new short story with you today, just in time for spooky season.
Sometimes even when you’re ready to let go of the past, it won’t let go of you.
Scout is not happy about her mother’s new fiancé even though he’s all the things — handsome, kind, and, oh yeah, rich. She’s making things difficult even as they move into his family estate. But when she discovers a strange doll in a sealed-off wing of the smart house (one that seems to know all of Scout’s comings and goings) she’s drawn into the mystery of her soon to be stepfather’s missing sister. She’ll need the help of her new private school friends to dig into the past, before the past comes for her and her mother, and they find that there’s no escape from THE DOLL’S HOUSE.
Behind the book:
Recently I’ve had an obsession with dolls and puppets and their role in culture, religion, and everyday life. And this story very much springs from my fascination with that topic.
The very old tradition of doll making dovetails with technology in the form of a smart house, as well as a character we meet only via texts with Scout. The ancient and the ultra-new have an uncomfortable relationship. But it’s one we are all forced to navigate in this modern world. THE DOLL’S HOUSE is about that to some degree but it’s also about motherhood and childhood, grief and loss, hard choices and how memory haunts us more effectively than any ghost.
I hope you love reading it as much as I loved writing it!
Buy Now
Hollywood News
Omg. Exciting new developments on the television adaptation of CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45. The project, originally set up at Netflix, is now in development at Hulu with the magnificently talented Charise Castro Smith to write, superstar Eva Longoria to direct, and powerhouse Jessica Alba to star in her first series since her Golden Globe nominated role in Dark Angel. What an extraordinary trio of powerful women! I’m in awe.
Read the article on Deadline.
Forget Brat Summer… Sarah Michelle Gellar had a Book Summer!
Sarah Michelle Gellar rocks!!! Not only is she an amazing person and actress, but she is such a champion for books. Her summer reading recommendations shared by People magazine included THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B and CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10
I can’t wait to share my new novel with you, coming February 18, 2025! It seems so far away but it will be here SOON!
Two of my favorite authors have already chimed in with some very kind words:
"Lisa Unger just gets better and better! In Close Your Eyes and Count to 10, we see her masterful hand at work as she weaves a compulsively readable story packed full of tension from the very first page. As an extreme game of hide and seek quickly turned from stunt to survival, I held my breath as the plot twisted and turned to its dramatic conclusion. Pacy and gripping, I couldn’t read fast enough. Take it on holiday and savor every deliciously dark page.”
—Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author of The Wilds
“Twisty, riveting, and emotionally intense. You will NOT close your eyes once you start reading this book.”
—Kathy Reichs, New York Times bestselling author of Fire and Bones
Single mom Adele travels to a remote island in the Atlantic to participate in an extreme game of hide-and-seek hosted by Maverick Dillan, a daredevil social media star and his company Extreme Games and Insane Challenges. Leaving her teenagers alone for the first time, she’s risking it all to try to win the million dollar prize.
After all, these things are just stunts, right? All for the cameras? There’s no real danger.
But as a storm bears down and a very real threat looms, the situation quickly turns from game to race for survival.
Behind the book:
One of the big inspirations for this story came when my family and I traveled to the Azores, a chain of islands in the Atlantic. If you follow me in social maybe you’ve seen the real life footage of my trip. More on this later!
Pre-Order Now
Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Bookshop | Google Play | Kobo | Libro.fm
Goodreads Giveaways
Enter to win a galley of CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10 through Sep. 25th!
Enter to win a copy of CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 through Oct. 8th!
Tik Tok love for LAST GIRL GHOSTED
LAST GIRL GHOSTED just released in mass-market paperback and is available at all your favorite booksellers. I absolutely love this video that a reader, Taylor, shared on BookTok.
Annual Book Club Party
I’ll be hosting my second Annual Book Club Party on November 7th at the beautiful Carlouel Yacht Club. It will be an evening of in-depth discussion about THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B, drinks, a light meal, and of course lots of laughs. Come on your own, bring your book group, or just make it a bookish night out with your friends.
Tickets are limited, so Register Now.
What I’m wrestling with:
Holy cow! We’re empty nesters. Our little bird has flown and she is thriving. And we’re — okay. We miss our girl, but also we’re thrilled that she’s loving her life as a college student. And we’re adjusting to our new normal. Of course, I’m on deadline — which is a good distraction. Writing is always my escape hatch, so I’m spending a lot of time there at the moment. When I come up for air, I’ll figure out what the next chapter is. But for the moment, I’m head down, finishing up my 2026 release. Stay tuned!
What I’m researching and thinking about:
I want to say more about what I’m researching — because it’s really cool! But I can’t because I’m worried it would give too much away about the new story. I’m just going to say that if the FBI is tracking my internet searches, I could be in big trouble.
I’m always interested in technology and how it is rewriting the way we relate to each other. So I found this article about technology and sexuality fascinating.
You might have noticed that tarot cards find their way into my books quite often. I love any kind of divination like this — runes, or the I Ching, bibliomancy. At a recent full moon yoga class, the instructor asked us to pick from the tarot deck and meditate throughout class on what it might mean to us. I drew the Eight of Swords (reversed). Hmm.
What I’m reading:
THE OLIGARCH’S DAUGHTER by Joe Finder. I opened up the cover on this stellar spy thriller and could not put it down. No one writes espionage fiction like Joe Finder and he’s at the top of his game here. Coming January 2025.
ALL FOURS by Miranda July. A friend of mine suggested this and it’s absolutely bonkers. I have no idea where it is going but I am here for it. It’s in turns wise, funny, kooky, and beautiful.
HIDDEN PICTURES by Jason Rekulak. Creepy, twisty, and breathless. I loved the voice of troubled main character Mallory who is working as a nanny for a young boy with strange and disturbing secrets.
What I’m watching:
STEREOPHONIC at The Golden Theater. This broadway musical starring Julia Canfield and Sarah Pidgeon just won the Tony Award, and I am not surprised. I have seen a lot of brilliant performances but Stereophonic might be one of the best. Loosely inspired by the making of the Fleetwood Mac album “Rumors,” this production is set on a soundstage, and without the usual fanfare of Broadway spectacle it manages to be about love, creativity, and relationships. The 70’s rock inspired score is simply magnificent. We loved every second and didn't want it to end.
ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING. The first episode of season four really wowed me. I am a long-time fan of this stellar Hulu show but I feel like they’ve really leveled up this season, more character depth, edgier clues, and as always lots of laughs. And of course it’s always a thrill to see superstar Eva Longoria — who will be directing the Hulu adaptation of CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45!
THE PERFECT COUPLE, based on the bestseller by Elin Hilderbrand. This was darkly funny, glamorous, twisty fun. We binged it! I absolutely adore Eve Hewson from “Bad Sisters” and “Flora and Son” — and she’s as mesmerizing as ever in this. I also just learned that she’s Bono’s daughter?? Did everyone else know this? She’s a major talent and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Where to find me:
September 26 – 29 | Sleuthfest | Guest of Honor | St. Petersburg, FL
Register Now
October 26 - 27 | Southern Festival of Books | Nashville, TN
Register Now
November 7 at 6pm | Annual Book Club Party at Carlouel Yacht Club | Clearwater, FL
Get Tickets
November 13 at 2pm ET | Off The Page Literary Celebration – William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Library | Venice, FL
Learn More
Thanks for reading!
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You have a new book coming out?! I’m excited! A new Lisa Unger is always cause for celebration!
I'm blown away by all your exciting news. Huge congrats, my friend. Can't wait to read and watch! 📚🎬🥳