This Never Happens Here - by Wanda M Morris (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From the award-winning author of All Her Little Secrets, an exhilarating thriller following two detectives investigating a baffling string of murders and child abductions in Atlanta's wealthy suburbs.

Tom and Olivia Henley settle in for a cozy evening at home in the sort of suburb where "nothing ever happens." The next morning, the young couple is found dead. What seems like a run-of-the-mill accident raises grave concern when police discover that the couple's six-year-old daughter is missing.

Detectives Temp Marshall and Bella Wilkins are called in to investigate. Temp feels guilty, always caught between her demanding career and her family's needs, while Bella sees the urgent call as the perfect distraction: She's attempting to piece her life back together after the untimely death of her husband.

The only lead is a tip from a neighbor who saw a "suspicious" Black woman parked on the street the day before. As similar cases begin to crop up--parents dead, children missing--and pressure from the community mounts, the case takes a disturbing turn the detectives never saw coming, and they realize they're up against a frighteningly powerful adversary.

Taut, twisty, and laced with searing social commentary, This Never Happens Here showcases a "masterful"(Karin Slaughter) thriller author at the height of her game.

Review Quotes

Praise for This Never Happens Here:
"Wanda never misses a beat in this suspenseful and searing story of wealth and entitlement and its impact on those outside the orbit of the one-percenters. This Never Happens Here seals Wanda M. Morris as a powerfully creative force in crime fiction." -Karin Slaughter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of We Are All Guilty Here

"A gripping, twisty thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. With unforgettable characters, heart-pounding suspense, and emotional depth, this story explores grief, trauma, and the fierce bonds of family. It lingers long after the final page." -Liv Constantine, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

"Two tenacious detectives, a string of shocking kidnappings and a community on the verge of crisis. All of this can be your weekend read. Just flip open the pages and strap in for a wild ride. Wanda Morris knows how to deliver suspense." -Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of You'll Be Sorry and Before She Disappeared

"This Never Happens Here gripped me from the very first page. The premise itself is impossible to ignore--missing children, murdered parents--but once you manage to dig even deeper, it starts taking turns you'll never see coming. Wanda Morris has the unique ability to blend white-knuckle suspense with searing social commentary, and I will read whatever she writes." -Stacy Willingham, New York Times bestselling author of Forget Me Not

"Wanda M. Morris's This Never Happens Here is a five-star read. Atlanta detective Bella Wilkins is a winner - tough, smart, vulnerable, and easy to love. You'll turn the pages so fast you'll risk a paper cut." -Tracy Clark, award-winning author of Hide and You'll Never Find Me

"Wanda Morris is a star! With heart-pounding suspense, lightning-fast pace, and Morris's deep insight into human nature and the search for justice, This Never Happens Here is both propulsive and profound. Clear your calendars for this one-sitting read, then call your book clubs to discuss. Do not miss this!" -Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of Mother Daughter Sister Stranger

Praise for Wanda M. Morris:
"I never miss anything Wanda M. Morris writes. One of the brightest and most captivating voices in contemporary crime fiction, she consistently gives us nuanced and complicated characters, magnificently layered storytelling, a keen sense of pacing and, most of all, a clear-eyed yet deeply humanistic point of view." - Megan Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of The Fever and El Dorado Drive

About the Author

Wanda M. Morris is the acclaimed author of propulsive thrillers such as All Her Little Secrets and Anywhere You Run. Her books have received numerous accolades including Anthony and Lefty awards and have been longlisted for the prestigious Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Prize. Her book What You Leave Behind was nominated for a 2025 NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work-Fiction. Morris is a former corporate attorney. She is married, the mother of three, and lives in Atlanta, Georgia.