Books by Elle Early - Author Elle Early

Standalones

standalone titles

Step into a world where love simmers just beneath the surface, secrets linger in every shadow, and happily ever afters are worth fighting for. Elle weaves together small-town charm with dark, seductive mysteries for a modern Gothic blend of coziness and haunting beauty.

Elle writes characters who are relatable yet deeply layered, navigating the complexities of love, trust, and the ghosts of their pasts. Whether it’s unearthing long-buried secrets or falling for the person they least expect, each tale delivers spine-tingling suspense, heartfelt passion, and an unforgettable journey to love.

With atmospheric settings, chilling twists, and the perfect balance of romance and danger, Elle’s stories capture the beauty in the darkness and the strength it takes to find the light. Turn down the lights, settle in, and let yourself be swept away by a world where every secret has a price—and love is always worth the risk.

what is modern gothic?

atmospheric settings

Whether it’s a decaying mansion, an isolated coastal town, or a dense forest shrouded in mist, the environment is richly detailed and layered with history, secrets, and mystery.

psychological depth

While traditional Gothic stories often featured literal ghosts, modern Gothic shifts its focus to internal hauntings—psychological scars, suppressed memories, or inherited traumas that linger like specters in the mind.

feminine perspective

Modern Gothic often reimagines traditional Gothic tropes through a distinctly feminine lens. It emphasizes the duality of beauty and darkness, capturing hauntingly beautiful imagery alongside chilling mysteries.

past trauma

bury the child

A haunting modern gothic romance set against the windswept shores of Lake Superior.

Fleeing a violent and controlling marriage, Lacey Golden arrives in the remote town of River Pines, seeking sanctuary and a fresh start. She accepts a position as the manager of Hirondelle House, a decaying Victorian mansion perched precariously above the rocky cliffs of the lake shore. The house, long shrouded in local lore, is as enigmatic as its brooding and secretive owner, Giovanni Spada.

But Hirondelle House holds secrets of its own. Whispers in the hallways, the faint sound of a child’s laughter, and chilling dreams it clear that Lacey’s new refuge is as haunted as her own past. As she begins to unravel the tragic history of the house and its lingering spirits, she discovers unexpected parallels to her own story—ones that force her to confront the trauma she thought she had left behind.

Bury the Child is a gripping tale of survival and self-discovery, weaving elements of suspense, romance, and the supernatural. At its heart, it explores the generational trauma faced by women ensnared by legacies of domestic abuse—and the power of chosen family to break the cycle and transform lives.

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small town secrets

lost girls

Bailey Donovan swore she’d never return to Echo Beach, the coastal town where her sister Chevy was found brutally murdered twenty years ago. But when the investigation into Chevy’s death—a cold case that has haunted Bailey for decades—is abruptly closed, she’s drawn back to the place she’s tried so hard to forget. Now a tattoo artist with a hardened resolve, Bailey is determined to uncover the truth about her sister’s final hours, no matter the cost.

Her search for answers brings her face-to-face with Kellen Archer, the town’s public defender and a former pro-surfer battling his own demons. On the anniversary of his brother’s death, Kellen meets Bailey in a local bar, their lives colliding in a fiery mix of tension, grief, and an undeniable spark.

As Bailey pushes for answers, Kellen is drawn into her fight, even as it threatens to unravel his career and the fragile integrity he’s worked so hard to rebuild. Together, they uncover a chilling web of lies that ties Chevy’s murder to the town’s most powerful families. But the closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous their pursuit becomes. Someone in Echo Beach will stop at nothing to keep the past buried, and Bailey and Kellen must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice for justice—and for each other.

Lost Girls is a dark romantic suspense that weaves together the haunting beauty of the California coast with a gripping story of grief, redemption, and the fight for justice.

coming soon

redemption

troubled daughter

Jericho Brown thought he’d escaped his troubled past in Echo Beach, a coastal town steeped in secrets and betrayal. Branded a bad boy and shadowed by suspicions of his involvement in Chevy Donovan’s murder twenty years ago, Jericho has spent his life drifting, working odd jobs, and drowning his guilt in alcohol. But when his estranged daughter, Sadie, shows up at his doorstep after her mother’s sudden death, Jericho is forced to return to the town that made him—and broke him.

Back in Echo Beach, Jericho reconnects with Clara Moore, his childhood friend and the one person who always believed in his potential for redemption. Now a compassionate school counselor, Clara knows Jericho’s history better than anyone and refuses to let him face his demons alone. As they work together to unravel the truth behind Chevy’s murder, Clara becomes Jericho’s anchor—a source of hope and strength in the face of the storm.

When Sadie, rebellious and grieving, begins investigating her father’s past, she stirs up dangerous secrets tied to the harborlands and the powerful families that have controlled Echo Beach for decades, and trigger her mysterious disappearance.

Troubled Daughter is a gripping standalone romantic suspense novel about redemption, love, and the fight for justice in a town where the past is as dangerous as the secrets it hides. At its heart, it’s a story of second chances—both for a fractured family and a love that was never given the chance to flourish.

coming in 2025

unsolved cold case

cry pretty

Evelyn Harper was the golden girl of Belhaven—homecoming queen, star student, and beloved by all. But everything changed the night she was abducted after prom, escaping days later with only fragmented memories and a broken sense of safety. Her abductor vanished, the case went cold, and Evelyn left Belhaven behind, determined to rebuild her life far away from the shadows of her past.

Now a successful investigative journalist, Evelyn is forced to return to the small posh town when the body of a young woman is discovered, eerily reminiscent of her own abduction. As Evelyn delves into the case, she realizes the connections run deeper than she ever imagined. Each clue brings her closer to unearthing Belhaven’s darkest secrets—and to a killer who’s been waiting for her return.

Nathan Cole, the stoic and fiercely protective rookie detective who took over the cold case determined to solve it. Evelyn must confront the memories she’s long buried and navigate a web of lies, betrayal, and danger. As the two work together, their growing bond offers Evelyn a chance at healing—but only if they can stop the killer before another woman is murdered.

Cry Pretty is a gripping romantic suspense novel about resilience, redemption, and the power of uncovering the truth, even when it threatens to destroy everything. For fans of atmospheric mysteries and emotionally charged love stories, this is a tale of survival, justice, and the courage to face the past.

coming soon

why you'll love books by Elle Early

Haunting atmospheres: coastal towns, decaying mansions, and misty woods—where every shadow hides a secret.
complex characters: emotionally layered, tangled relationships, and a search for inner truth.
romantic tension: a balance of romance and danger, and heartfelt connections that will keep you rooting for the characters.
modern gothic vibes: a blend of eerie mysteries, psychological depth, and feminine resilience.

XO, love elle

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