Emily Ross

Emily Ross is the author of International Thriller Writers Thriller Awards finalist, Half in Love with Death. Her mystery thriller, Swallowtail, is forthcoming from Galiot Press on November 18th 2025. She won the Al Blanchard best story award for her short story, “Let the Chips Fall”, which appeared in Devil’s Snare: Best New England Crime stories 2024. She lives in Quincy, MA, with her husband and Obi-Wan Kenobi, their very playful cat.

More about Swallowtail:
Steeped in art and Greek mythology, Swallowtail is both a gripping mystery/thriller and the moving story of a woman’s journey to free herself from the trauma of her past.

The story: In the gritty seaside town of Quincy, Massachusetts, the killing of a teenager on her daughter’s dance team plunges Detective Samantha Star into the trauma of her abduction twenty years before. As clues point to a serial killer obsessed with Surrealism and Greek mythology, Sam must unravel the mystery of her own kidnapping to solve the crime–before her daughter is next. At stake are not just the teenagers’ lives, but also Sam’s identity as a detective and an artist, and a community’s chance at healing.

Tessa Wegert, author of In the Bones, says:

“Emily Ross elevates the small-town murder mystery with complex female dynamics, a series of increasingly twisted crimes rooted in Greek mythology, and a New England community that bears scars. An artful exploration of trauma and obsession that delivers reveal after stunning reveal with narrative muscle and heart, SWALLOWTAIL is top-notch crime fiction.”

Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of Her Perfect Life says:

“Emily Ross powerfully and authentically reveals the gritty reality, disturbing history, and the fierce loyalties of small-town life. SWALLOWTAIL is gorgeously written, and is clearly born from a deep knowledge of those whose lives Ross so genuinely portrays—people whose hopes won’t quit, whose friendships endure, and whose dreams propel them into dangers they could never have predicted. Evocative, compelling, and utterly heartbreaking, this is an unforgettable story.”

Edwin Hill, author of Who to Believe, says:

“Ross’s adult debut delivers the goods, bringing rich atmosphere, deep characterization, plenty of ‘90s nostalgia, and a taut storyline that will keep you turning pages well into the night. Fans of Mare of Easttown will love this one!”