Don't Look Away

A Novel

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About The Book

From the author of The Perfect Home comes a harrowing domestic crime thriller where a former defense attorney is forced out of retirement to defend her husband—now the prime suspect in the serial murder case terrorizing Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Leslie Woodhouse’s most exciting days should be behind her. In a past life, she was a defense attorney with a reputation for finding loopholes in high-profile cases. Now, she’s enjoying a modest retirement in Florida in a seaside condo with her mild-mannered husband, Robert. The only things that get her heart rate up now are late-night coffees, playful banter with her beloved older sister, and the news: the serial killer ravaging Florida’s Gulf Coast has just made his first mistake. An eight-year-old girl has seen his face and lived.

To Leslie, the murderer is little more than a morbid fascination—until she comes home to flashing police lights. Robert is arrested, accused of being the Gulf Coast Killer. Leslie is convinced of his innocence, and despite warnings not to represent her husband, she starts work on his defense. But as she unravels the facts, she can’t shake the unanswered questions. What was Robert’s DNA doing at the scene of the crime? And if she’s right to defend Robert, then who is the real Gulf Coast Killer, and why is he framing her husband?

Don’t Look Away is a twisty, compulsively readable thriller that asks: what do we owe one another— and what are the consequences of ignoring the truth?

About The Author

Photograph by JB Photography

Daniel Kenitz is the author of The Perfect Home and several short stories, including the Pushcart Prize–nominated “A Hand to the Plow” (2022, Red Rock Review). He lives in southeastern Wisconsin within jogging distance of dairy cows. Don’t Look Away is his second novel. For updates on his new and forthcoming projects, visit DanielKenitz.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Scribner (July 7, 2026)
  • Length: 320 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781668208656

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Raves and Reviews

“A rattling ride... [Kenitz's] characters reap the bloody consequences of their long-ago actions, and the narrative culminates in a terrifying climax.” Publishers Weekly

“What a book! A propulsive crime novel with fascinating, well-drawn characters and an original, unexpected story. Don't Look Away is aptly named, because you won't be able to stop once you start.” —J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of Lie to Me and You Know Why

“In Don't Look Away, Daniel Kenitz expertly balances compelling crime plotting with family drama for a fresh take on a serial killer thriller. Rich characters—anchored by a savvy lawyer determined to defend her accused husband—twist and turn through a gauntlet of manipulation, shocking reveals, and secrets to deliver a truly satisfying ending.” —Darby Kane, #1 internationally bestselling author of Pretty Little Wife and Such a Clever Girl

“Brilliantly written. A tale that will keep you up well past your bedtime.” —Kat Martin, New York Times bestselling suspense author

Praise for The Perfect Home

“This book had me shocked, despondent and furious in turns, and I loved it. Kenitz crafts a terrifying modern-day villain and turns the perfect home into a nightmare with proficiency and horrifying pizzazz.” —Associated Press

“If you’ve always thought there was a strangely dark undercurrent to home-improvement shows, you might enjoy The Perfect Home too.” —NPR

“Fast-paced.” —Brit + Co

"If you are looking for an addictive novel, you have found the perfect prescription for a thriller that delivers!" —Pamela Klinger-Horn, Shelf Awareness

“Switching back and forth between the couple's perspectives, this diverting thriller is full of twists and evokes Gone Girl by way of Chip and Joanna Gaines.” Booklist

“Wickedly entertaining… sharp, unpredictable, and chock-full of suspense, this domestic thriller expertly toys with readers’ sympathies.” Publishers Weekly

"The pages fly by... an entertaining debut from a promising writer." —Kirkus 

"A dark and twisting cat-and-mouse tale in which a marriage set in the public’s glaring eye turns into a real killer. Addictive and utterly compelling, The Perfect Home is a brilliant exploration of the razor-sharp line between love and hate, and the difference between truth and fiction." —Christina McDonald, USA Today Bestselling author of What Lies In Darkness

“A unique and enthralling thriller from a great new voice in the genre. Kenitz takes a wrecking ball to the fable of the perfect home while at the same time skewering the culture of fame. Both dark and fun with twists you won’t see coming. A killer debut.” —Alex Finlay, bestselling author of If Something Happens to Me

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