The Third Girl by S.C. Shannon
Available Now!
I Escaped.
Three best friends — Penelope, Emily and me. We were at high school in Tranquility Ridge — it’s not the kind of place you expect to find evil, a postcard town — all pine-lined streets, quaint diners, and old storefronts with creaky screen doors.
The day before my seventeenth birthday, Emily invited us to a party.
They shackled me to an old, rusty metal frame bed, wrists raw, ankles bruised. The music was always playing — too loud, too cruel. It wasn’t there to comfort. It was there to break me. I never knew who took me. I didn’t look. I never looked. They trained me not to.
Ever since, I’ve been haunted by the memories of the night I escaped, leaving Penelope behind. Her last scream still echoes in my nightmares.
For twenty-five years, I’ve been trying to move on. Now, a man turns up. He leaves a note from Emily on my doorstep.
Penelope’s still alive — find her!
Discover a tense and nail-biting thriller that will keep you guessing to the end.
Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Charlie Donlea, Jennifer Hillier, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot.
“S.C. Shannon’s The Third Girl is a haunting psychological thriller that lingers long after the final page.”
Reedsy Review
“I was not prepared for the outrageous twists and turns within this novel.”
Lisa
“The writing is vivid and atmospheric, pulling readers into her internal world with gripping intensity.”
Reedsy Review
“What I loved most about this novel is how deeply it explores the aftermath of trauma. Christina’s PTSD is portrayed with such realism and sensitivity—from her coping rituals to her paralyzing flashbacks—that it grounds the story in emotional truth.”
Reedsy Review
“It was so twisted, suspenseful, and unhinged”
Lauren
“With its emotional depth, steady suspense, and raw portrayal of survival, The Third Girl is perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Dot Hutchison, or anyone who enjoys thrillers with a strong psychological edge”
Reedsy Review
“It’s not just a whodunit—it’s a story about what happens after, and how some truths refuse to stay buried.”
Reedsy Review
S.C. Shannon has been signed with Joffe Books, a leading independent publisher of best-selling fiction in the UK, for her upcoming third novel. Stay tuned for updates!
More about Shannon »