Before we get into today's episode, a little news from the Killer Author Club: your hosts Kimberly, Heather, and Kaira have written a thriller of their own. Take Back the Night publishes January 12, 2027 — and you can preorder your copy now at killerauthorclub.com/killer-book.

In today’s podcast, Gillian McAllister joins us to talk about Caller Unknown, a thriller that opens with a mother waking up in a Texas desert cabin to find her daughter gone and a stranger's phone in her place — and the demand on the other end has nothing to do with money. We get into why moral dilemmas make for the most unputdownable fiction, how Gillian's own views on loyalty, justice, and how far is too far have shifted through years of writing characters into impossible corners, and what it means to build a story around the most primal question a parent can face. Plus, we talk about why the vast, merciless landscape of the Texas desert isn't just a backdrop here — it's doing real emotional work — and Gillian shares the best writing advice she's ever received.

And if you haven't yet — check out Take Back the Night, the thriller written by your KAC hosts, at killerauthorclub.com/killer-book. January 12, 2027 can't come soon enough.

Download and listen today — because some ransoms can't be paid with money. Only with what you're willing to become.