Hidden Rooms - by Kate Michaelson

About the Book

"When murder hits home. Long-distance runner Riley has been fighting various bewildering symptoms for months, from vertigo to fainting spells. Worse, her doctors can't tell her what's wrong, leaving her to wonder if it's stress or something more threatening. But when her brother's fiancée is killed--and he becomes the prime suspect--Riley must prove his innocence, despite the toll on her health. As she reacquaints herself with the familiar houses and wild woods of her childhood, the secrets she uncovers take her on a trail to the real killer--leading her right back to the very people she thought she knew best and loves most."--

Book Synopsis

A 2025 IPPY Award Silver Medal Winner

"An author to watch . . ." --Booklist

"A standout debut!" --Erin Flanagan, Edgar Award-winning author of Come with Me

When murder hits home.

Long distance runner Riley has been fighting various bewildering symptoms for months, from vertigo to fainting spells. Worse, her doctors can't tell her what's wrong, leaving her to wonder if it's stress or something more threatening. But when her brother's fiancée is killed--and he becomes the prime suspect--Riley must prove his innocence, despite the toll on her health.

As she reacquaints herself with the familiar houses and wild woods of her childhood, the secrets she uncovers take her on a trail to the real killer that leads right back to the very people she knows best and loves most.

For readers who enjoy Deer Season by Erin Flanagan, All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers, and A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham.

Review Quotes

"With a fresh voice and gorgeous writing, Hidden Rooms by Kate Michaelson is a stunning debut mystery that sweeps the reader along until the surprising conclusion." --Connie Berry, USA Today bestselling author of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries

"This remarkable debut novel expertly combines a compelling mystery with a richly drawn cast of characters and a strong, beautifully portrayed sense of place. An engaging, gripping read." --Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Shamus, Derringer, and International Thriller Writers award-nominated author

"Michaelson's witty eye, sharp portrayal of illness, and twisty case make for a standout debut!" --Erin Flanagan, Edgar Award-winning author of Come with Me

"Hidden Rooms is a suspenseful tale full of interesting characters. This well-told story with its unexpected ending will leave the readers begging for more." --L. C. Hayden, award-winning author of the Bronson Thriller Series and the Aimee Brent Mystery Series

"Michaelson's suspenseful and intricately plotted debut mystery marks her as an author to watch . . ." --Booklist

"Hidden Rooms is a superb debut murder mystery . . ." --Akron Beacon Journal

"VERDICT: Featuring genuinely moving depictions of women facing chronic, mysterious illnesses, this fresh debut will be welcomed by those who love strong women protagonists and small-town mysteries." --Library Journal

"Hidden Rooms is a superb debut murder mystery . . ." --Akron Beacon Journal

"Hidden Rooms is a suspenseful tale full of interesting characters. This well-told story with its unexpected ending will leave the readers begging for more." --L. C. Hayden, award-winning author of the Bronson Thriller Series and the Aimee Brent Mystery Series

"Michaelson's suspenseful and intricately plotted debut mystery marks her as an author to watch . . ." --Booklist

"Michaelson's witty eye, sharp portrayal of illness, and twisty case make for a standout debut!" --Erin Flanagan, Edgar Award-winning author of Come with Me

"This remarkable debut novel expertly combines a compelling mystery with a richly drawn cast of characters and a strong, beautifully portrayed sense of place. An engaging, gripping read." --Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Shamus, Derringer, and International Thriller Writers award-nominated author

"VERDICT: Featuring genuinely moving depictions of women facing chronic, mysterious illnesses, this fresh debut will be welcomed by those who love strong women protagonists and small-town mysteries." --Library Journal

"With a fresh voice and gorgeous writing, Hidden Rooms by Kate Michaelson is a stunning debut mystery that sweeps the reader along until the surprising conclusion." --Connie Berry, USA Today bestselling author of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries

About the Author

Growing up in rural Ohio, Kate Michaelson simultaneously developed a love of nature and a strong desire to live closer to a mall. Pursuing the latter, she attended Ohio State, where she studied English and Psychology. After earning her MFA in Creative Writing, Kate worked as a technical writer and taught English at St. Petersburg College in Florida and, later, at the University of Toledo in Ohio. Over the years, she has published academic articles, creative nonfiction, poetry, and short stories. Her debut novel, Hidden Rooms, follows a distance runner who returns to her rural Ohio hometown and must clear her brother of murdering his fiancée while also seeking answers to her own medical mystery. As someone with Lyme disease and dysautonomia, Kate's writing uses humor and suspense to explore the experience of coping with chronic illness. Ultimately, she wants to portray the reality of the challenges that invisible disabilities pose while also demonstrating that "ability" is not a binary concept--that illness does not equal a loss of self or agency.

Kate enjoys traveling, hiking, and trying (fruitlessly) to tire out her Labrador mix. She works in curriculum design and holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. She lives with her husband and pets in Toledo, Ohio, only ten minutes from a mall she now avoids whenever possible. Connect with her at www.katemichaelson.com.