Heather

A Novel

By Caitlin Mullen
Book cover for "Heather: A Novel" by Caitlin Mullen; forest scene split by red light, with a glowing amber stone.
Title: Heather
Author: Caitlin Mullen
ISBN: 9781250400574
ON SALE: 06/09/2026

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ISBN: 9781250400581
ISBN: 9781250446749

A small-town detective reopens an unsolved case, sending shock waves across generations of women in this gripping new mystery from the Edgar award-winning author of Please See Us.

1994. In the myth-riddled In the myth-riddled woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, sixteen-year-old Annabelle Riley’s twin sister, Sabrina, has been having an affair with a mysterious older man, and Annabelle is determined to uncover what’s going on. Then, inexplicably, both sisters disappear.

In this same town years later, newly instated police chief Callie Hauser makes an arrest that unexpectedly resurrects details from a heartbreaking cold case. As she digs deeper, the past and the present collide, challenging everything Callie believes about right and wrong, who she is, and the town she’s always called home. A propulsive mystery as incisive as it is forgiving, Heather bears a visceral reminder that the truth of a woman’s life is often complicated and unknowable—to those on the outside, and sometimes even to herself.

Woman with long brown hair in a white blouse stands by a wooden fence with green ivy, outdoors.
Caitlin Mullen is the author of Please See Us, which won the 2021 Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was named a New York Times Best Crime Novel in 2020. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and children.

Praise for Caitlin Mullen

“A slow-burn mystery held together by an admirable cast of strong, flawed women….Mullen offers hope that by standing alongside one another, women not only survive, but preserve the stories of those they have lost.”

Kirkus

“A challenging read, but worth it, especially for the haunting theme of the presentness of the past.”

Booklist

“A haunting exploration of how far people will go to feel seen, a searing indictment of a man who exploited the most vulnerable, and a powerful testament to the devastating consequences and the remarkable strength and resilience that follow. This powerful novel will appeal to fans of Allen Eskens, Elle Marr, and Brad Parks.”

Library Journal
Starred Review

Heather is an absorbing, atmospheric novel, written with empathy and a lot of heart. Caitlin Mullen delivers a stylish, propulsive read, featuring characters that will stay with you long after you’re done turning the pages.”

Clémence Michallon
internationally bestselling author of The Quiet Tenant

“A beautiful and propulsive literary mystery perfect for fans of Tana French and Liz Moore—Heather is a deeply immersive, eerie, and timely novel about girlhood, motherhood, and friendship; the stories we inherit and the ones we create; and who deserves punishment for the most intimate crimes. Caitlin Mullen is an extraordinary chronicler of women’s grit and resilience–and the unfathomable choices we make when our backs are against the wall. I loved this novel.”

Katie Gutierrez
bestselling author of More Than You'll Ever Know

“Stunning! A gorgeously written page-turner that’s many things at once: gritty and lyrical, gripping and moving, suspenseful and profound.”

Riley Sager
New York Times bestselling author of The Only One Left