Six thrillers where the victim’s body is hidden

Barbara Gayle Austin writes crime fiction. She grew up in Houston, Texas, but has spent most of her adult life in the Netherlands and the UK. She now lives in Amsterdam with her two children and her dog.

What You Made Me Do is Austin’s debut novel, a thriller set in Amsterdam and a Dutch island in the Wadden Sea. The novel was longlisted for the esteemed Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger award (under the title Lowlands). Her short stories have been longlisted in the Margery Allingham short mystery competition and in the Aestas 2022 competition.

At CrimeReads Austin tagged six "favorite thrillers where the victim’s body is hidden, only to be uncovered later… moved to a new spot… or never found at all." One title on the list:

End of Story by A.J. Finn

Who knows how to dispose of a dead body better than a mystery writer? Two decades ago, Sebastian Trapp’s wife and son vanished without a trace. They are presumed dead and likely murdered, with Trapp—a celebrated mystery writer—as the prime suspect. Trapp has been in contact with Nicky Hunter, a young mystery novel expert, for several years. Now, with only months to live, he asks her to write his story and invites her to move into his mansion’s attic room. But Nicky has more on her mind than writing—she should have let sleeping dogs lie! This beautifully crafted mystery is packed with unforgettable characters and a twist that left me reeling.

Read about the other titles on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue