Laura Benedict is the Edgar- and ITW Thriller Award- nominated author of eight novels of mystery and suspense, including <em>The Stranger Inside </em>(<em>Publisher’s Weekly</em> starred review), and the <em>Bliss House </em>gothic novels and stories. Her short fiction has appeared in <em>Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, PANK, Strand Magazine, </em>and in numerous anthologies like <em>At Home in the Dark, A Thousand Doors, </em>and <em>St. Louis Noir.</em> She is also co-founder of the groundbreaking anthology series, <em>Surreal South.</em> A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, she lives in Southern Illinois with her family. Visit laurabenedict.com to get to know her better.<br><br>
