LIT by Anna Woods

Gin is an architect on the brink. LIT, the Auckland-based practice she shares with her girlfriend, Clary, has been precarious since their third partner – Clary’s ex, Billy -disappeared, presumed dead.

Now, several years later, LIT’s financial problems and Gin’s personal debts are snowballing. Clary – emotionally fragile since the disappearance – is growing increasingly remote and elusive. When Gin begins to be haunted by glimpses of Billy, she blames stress and guilt. But could he be back, threatening to expose the past?

Trapped in a web of secrecy and betrayal, Gin’s downward spiral gathers force as she begins to suspect her paranoia hides an even more shocking truth – one that will send her whole life up in flames.

This stunning debut literary-suspense novel from award-winning writer Anna Woods explores the insidious charm of those who gaslight us, and examines the blurry line between love and control.

‘LIT is a highly sophisticated thriller, pulsing with paranoia and suspense, its claustrophobic tension tightening with every page. Anna Woods’ debut is the ultimate slow burn, elegant, compulsive and haunting.’ – Rose Carlyle, author of The Girl in the Mirror

‘Sharp, twisty and atmospheric. Woods is an exciting new voice in psychological suspense.’ – Rachel Paris, author of See How They Fall

What would you do if someone you knew came back from the dead?

About the Author: Anna Woods is an award-winning writer from Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland, whose short fiction has been published in a range of journals and anthologies. The recipient of various awards, residencies and mentorships, she has won the Sargeson Prize and been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. LIT is her first novel.

02 Jun 2026
 

LIT: A tense, twist-driven literary thriller about love, control and the dangerous power of a secret that won’t stay hidden by Anna Woods ISBN 9781786588265