Kill Story: The darkly funny thriller and hottest debut of 2026

'Kill Story is a great character study on flawed women and the churn and burn systems that grind them up and spit them out' - Eliza Jabore, author of Backstabbers

People will do anything to fit in.

Twenty-three-year-old American ex-pat Skye Sullivan is influence manager for Amsterdam’s hottest startup. CoHab is earmarked as the Next Big Thing. Everyone wants to work there.

Skye longs to impress her formidable mentor, Yelena, and the company’s charismatic British founder, Silas. Soon, Skye has a front-view of the booze-fuelled parties and sexual encounters behind barely closed doors. Those at the top are likely to be chugging drunks as running the company.

But when Skye is expected to cover up potential scandals, including at least one suspicious death, she realises something dark and awful lies at the heart of CoHab. Behind the slick branding and attractive workforce is a sickening secret, and Skye must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to feel like she finally belongs somewhere.

Razor-sharp, insightful and wildly entertaining, this is the satirical thriller of the year.

Praise for Kill Story

‘Kill Story is a great character study on flawed women and the churn and burn systems that grind them up and spit them out. CoHab is the quintessential poisonous environment, infecting all its employees with its gluttonous party atmosphere and superficial #vibes. A cautionary tale, warning of the dangers that come from throwing away your morals for that ill-fitting space with the in-crowd.’ – Eliza Jabore, author of Backstabbers

‘Great debut. A proper dark slow burn of a thriller. I thought it captured an uncomfortable truth, and feels current, urgent and relevant. I'll definitely read it again so I can appreciate how the insidious reality of this world was hiding in plain sight. An entertaining page turner that had me squirming.’ – Becky C. Brynolf, author of I Found a Body

‘Toxic workplace takes on a whole new meaning in this darkly humorous thriller... fans of Ellery Lloyd's The Club will enjoy this.’ Elizabeth Reiser, Booklist

'A striking novel on exploitation and vulnerability... Razor sharp' Debut Digest

‘Kill Story is a fast, messy and very readable thriller. J. D. Maduro captures the strange pressure of a workplace where everyone is exhausted, underpaid, replaceable and still desperate to stay.’ Reader review

‘A sharp and addictive thriller about ambition, corporate culture and what can be hidden behind some very good PR.’ Reader review

‘Wild, sexy and way too much too soon! If you’re looking for a fast-paced read packed with scandal, intrigue and messy relationships, this one definitely delivers!’ Reader review.

The book, Kill Story: The darkly funny thriller and hottest debut of 2026 [Bulk, Wholesale, Quantity] ISBN#9798217270231 in Paperback by J.D. Maduro may be ordered in bulk quantities. Minimum starts at 25 copies. Availability based on publisher status and quantity being ordered.