Jessica Payne lives in Washington State with her daughter and husband and an internet search history that would raise eyebrows. A firm believer in strong coffee and stronger women, she writes about mothers who know how to handle a sniper rifle and a carpool schedule with equal precision. When she's not writing, you'll find her trail running through the forests of the Pacific Northwest as she plots her next fictional murder. She is the creator of the Substack community One Tired Mother.

Her next novel, Somebody Worth Killing, is coming from Berkley/PRH in June 2026 and is available for pre-order.

Her other novels include Make Me Disappear, The Lucky One, The Good Doctor, and Never Trust the Husband.

Author photos by Sally Jones and Impressions by Ellie.