The Storm Reaper
Trust no one.
The first Violet Crisp thriller — a serial killer has spent a decade hiding murders inside hurricane season off Fire Island, until the tide starts washing the bodies back.
Kristen Van Nest
Thriller Author · Comedian · Storyteller
I’m a thriller author and comedian. I spent my twenties living all over the world, from a Fulbright year in Luxembourg to three years in the wine industry in China, and now I write thrillers with quirky characters, determined female leads and hilarious, petty drama. Come for the laughs, stay for the plot twists.
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When her friend vanishes at a wellness retreat run by a famous tradwife influencer, Audrey goes undercover on the farm to find her — and learns the “Perfect Modern Wife” bootcamp is hiding something far darker. Part Stepford Wives, part Midsommar, it’s a feminist thriller you’ll devour in one sitting — and it’s currently being adapted into a film. Join my newsletter and I’ll send the e-book instantly.
★★★★★
“Don’t Worry Darling meets Blink Twice… one-liners that belong in a funny horror like Bodies Bodies Bodies, and a much-needed reality check.” — Laura Donovan, Business Insider
Thousands of book lovers trust Kristen Van Nest for her recommendations on trending thrillers, books similar to their favorite shows, and occasional confessions about writing this stuff.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kristen Van Nest?
Kristen Van Nest is a thriller writer and comedian based in Los Angeles. Her first Violet Crisp thriller, The Storm Reaper, is set on Fire Island, where she spent every childhood summer. Her tradwife thriller novella Perfect Modern Wife has been optioned to become a movie by writer/director Joanna Tsanis, and her travel memoir Where to Nest is an audiobook she reads herself. She has been featured in The New York Times, Deadline, and CrimeReads.
What books has Kristen Van Nest written?
The Storm Reaper (2026), the first Violet Crisp island murder mystery. Perfect Modern Wife (2025), a 53-page feminist horror-comedy about a tradwife influencer’s dating retreat. Where to Nest (2024), a comedic travel memoir about her twenties in Luxembourg and China.
Is Perfect Modern Wife being made into a movie?
Perfect Modern Wife has been optioned by writer/director Joanna Tsanis.
What is the Serial Chillers Club?
The Serial Chillers Club is Kristen Van Nest’s thriller book blog and newsletter. Subscribers get monthly book recommendations, free copies from her favorite authors and discounts on her upcoming novels.