Lisa Unger is an American author known for her psychological thrillers. She has authored twenty-two novels, including Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 (2025), The Stranger Inside (2019), and Under My Skin (2018). Her books have been published in thirty-three languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. She has been nominated for the Edgar Award and has won numerous awards, including the ITW Thriller Award and the Macavity Award.
Lisa Unger was born in the USA. Her first books were published under a pen name, but she later gained recognition under her real name with Beautiful Lies (2006). This book marked her shift to psychological suspense, a genre that defines her later work.
Unger's novels often explore themes of trauma, identity and the nature of fear. She has stated that her inspiration comes from many sources, including real-life events, poetry, and personal experience.
She spoke about Close Your Eyes and Count to 10: "The inspiration was quite sudden and direct. She described a moment during a family trip to the Azores when she discovered an abandoned hotel. "It was just amazing, just this incredible structure that had been abandoned since the 80s." This experience and her interest in YouTube influencers and extreme online challenges helped shape the novel.
Her books have been critically acclaimed, appearing on "best book" lists in the Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe and Entertainment Weekly. She is also known for her short stories, which have appeared in The Best American Mystery and Suspense. Her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and NPR.
As well as writing, Unger is active in the literary community. She is currently co-president of the International Thriller Writers. She has spoken about her writing process, explaining that she does not outline her books in advance. "I don't really have any idea who's going to show up and what they're going to do," she has said. "I just have these really strong voices."
Unger's storytelling is often described as haunting and disturbing. She focuses on characters who experience trauma but refuse to be defined by it. "In most of my novels, there's a female character who has been brutalised in some way, but in no way defines herself as a victim."
Lisa Unger lives with her family on the west coast of Florida and continues to write new thrillers.
Photo credit: lisaunger.com
