Anne Heltzel

Rosemary's Baby meets The Return in Just Like Mother, Anne Heltzel's suspenseful modern gothic debut. Who could deny her own flesh and blood? Maeve doesn’t talk about the cult that nearly shattered her childhood—culminating in a tragic incident that stole away her cousin, Andrea, the only true friend she’s ever known. Ever since, Maeve has kept people at a safe distance while pursuing the trappings of normalcy in New York City. When Andrea abruptly reenters her life, Maeve easily succumbs to the connection they always shared. She doesn’t mind that Andrea’s wealthy friends—colleagues at a fertility-focused startup—preach values that condemn Maeve’s single lifestyle. And keeping family close is what Mother would have wanted. Blood runs thicker, after all. An invitation to a weekend getaway at Andrea’s palatial mountain home is a no-brainer; Maeve hopes the emptiness she’s felt for decades will finally be filled. But the eerie estate is tainted by the loss of Andrea’s infant daughter and chilling memories of a girlhood best forgotten. When Maeve’s fragile world begins to crack, she’s forced to confront her greatest fear: Will she ever outrun her horrific past? Or will she end up just like Mother?

Just Like Mother

Told in separate voices, Lena and Aubrey, each hiding her own secrets, set off in search of the truth about Charlie, including if he is really dead, after meeting at his funeral and learning that he was dating both of them.

Charlie, Presumed Dead

For seventeen-year-old Abby, the mysterious Sam is her sole companion and her whole life, but although life in his cave-palace seems ideal, she begins to remember her past identity and to question Sam's devotion in the face of an ever-changing reality.

Circle Nine

Spine-chilling and sharp, Anne Heltzel's Just Like Mother is a modern gothic from a fresh new voice in horror, and “is set to be one of the year's most talked about books” (Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author). *A Most Anticipated Title by LitReactor, Bloody Disgusting, Book Riot, The Line Up, CrimeReads, Goodreads, and more!* The last time Maeve saw her cousin was the night she escaped the cult they were raised in. For the past two decades, Maeve has worked hard to build a normal life in New York City, where she keeps everything—and everyone—at a safe distance. When Andrea suddenly reappears, Maeve regains the only true friend she’s ever had. Soon she’s spending more time at Andrea’s remote Catskills estate than in her own cramped apartment. Maeve doesn’t even mind that her cousin’s wealthy work friends clearly disapprove of her single lifestyle. After all, Andrea has made her fortune in the fertility industry—baby fever comes with the territory. The more Maeve immerses herself in Andrea’s world, the more disconnected she feels from her life back in the city; and the cousins’ increasing attachment triggers memories Maeve has fought hard to bury. But confronting the terrors of her childhood may be the only way for Maeve to transcend the nightmare still to come... "A fierce, frightening novel."—Rachel Harrison, author of The Return and Cackle At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

The last time Maeve saw her cousin was the night she escaped the cult they were raised in. For the past two decades, Maeve has worked hard to build a normal life in New York City, where she keeps everything - and everyone - at a safe distance. When Andrea suddenly reappears, Maeve regains the only true friend she's ever had. Soon she's spending more time at Andrea's remote Catskills estate than in her own cramped apartment. Maeve doesn't even mind that her cousin's wealthy work friends clearly disapprove of her single lifestyle. After all, Andrea has made her fortune in the fertility industry - baby fever comes with the territory. What worries Maeve is that the more she immerses herself in Andrea's world, the more her long-buried memories flood to the surface. But confronting the terrors of her childhood may be the only way for Maeve to transcend the nightmare still to come... Spine-chilling and sharp, Just Like Mother is a modern gothic from a fresh new voice in horror, perfect for fans of Jessamine Chan’s The School for Good Mothers, Emma Cline’s The Girls and Christina Dalcher’s Femlandia. 'Set to be one of the year's most talked about books. I tore through this urgent, timely, and deeply disturbing tale... And I'll think of it every time I field an uncomfortable question about my own childless status' - Andrea Bartz 'A fierce, frightening novel that examines autonomy, motherhood, and the dark side of feminine power with savage precision. A total thrill ride' - Rachel Harrison 'Lyrical and grotesque, Just Like Mother is written in gorgeous and shattering prose' - CrimeReads

A spine-chilling modern gothic from a fresh new voice in horror

Who was Abby then? Who is Abby now? An unsettling psychological thriller, seen through a lost girl's eyes. She knows only Sam, a mysterious teenage boy. He is her sole companion; her whole life. She was born, already a teenager, lying outside a burning building in soot-stained clothes, remembering nothing, not even her name. He showed her the necklace she had on, the one that named her: Abby. Sam brought her to live in his cavepalace, where he gives her everything she needs. He loves her. He protects her from the world outside, from everyone who wants to hurt them, like the denizens of Circle Nine, Dante’s deepest circle of hell. But even in a charmed, brand-new life like Abby’s, change will come. Sam falls ill. A new girl comes to stay, and Abby begins to question Sam’s devotion. With doubt comes emotional turmoil, changes in perception, and glimpses of her past identity. In this courageous psychological thriller, Abby tells the story of living her new life and discovering her old one, while grappling with an ever-changing reality.

Anne Heltzel

Books

Your next favorite book is out there