Darlene L. Turner

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Darlene L. Turner is a New York Times bestselling author of romantic suspense and thriller novels. Her love of mystery began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into page-turners fueled by danger, faith-filled hope, and twists that refuse to let readers sleep. Known affectionately as the Plaid Queen for her love of all things plaid, she brings that same bold confidence to the page—layering relentless villains, courageous heroines, and fiercely protective heroes into every novel.

She believes the best stories blend edge-of-your-seat tension with hope, faith, and the quiet reminder that God’s light still shines in the darkest places. Darlene’s work has earned the Daphne du Maurier Award, the Holt Medallion, and multiple placements in the Selah Awards, honors that reflect her passion for storytelling with purpose.

Darlene met her husband, Jeff, at the turtle races and lives in Ontario, Canada. When she isn’t plotting fictional danger or researching law enforcement details, Darlene can usually be found fueled by flavored coffee and wrapped in plaid. She invites readers to step into her stories—just don’t expect to put the book down once the suspense begins.

Sneak Peek

Trail of Mountain Secrets

A case of mistaken identity. A K-9 to the rescue.

Park archaeologist Violet Hoyt’s wilderness search for a missing family’s remains takes a deadly turn when a gunman mistakes her for someone else. The discovery of a grave of skulls reopens a cold case, and someone is determined to keep the truth hidden. With the help of K-9 handler Maverick Shaw and his human-remains-detector dog, Wolf, Violet must find the final family member—and evade the masked man who has targeted her. Soon Violet learns a shocking secret: She has a presumed dead twin sister who may still be alive, and now they’re both in danger. Can Violet and Maverick expose a conspiracy before this Christmas becomes their last?

  • Danger in the Wilderness

    Park warden Dekker Hoyt’s father-son camping trip turns into a nightmare when a serial killer abducts his father. With just 72 hrs to find him, Dekker turns to criminal investigative analyst Blaire Tremblay to identify the Park Campfire Killer. With the ruthless criminal following their every move, can they stop a killer in hiding?

  • Echoes of Darkness

    “A masterful blend of suspense and psychological depth.”—Lynette Eason, USA TODAY bestselling author

    A serial killer stalks a small town, and a police officer must face her family’s dark past to catch him.