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"Bokat is an evocative wordsmith . . . she has crafted a sympathetic heroine as her main character . . . . A compulsively readable mystery and character study." The verdict: Get it.

— Kirkus Reviews
The Happiness Thief

"So, so smart, and as downright dangerous a read as the edge of a razor, Bokat's book is a masterful study of memory, family, and the lies that derail us. Don't even dare to think you'll get any sleep once you start reading."

―Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author of
Pictures of You and With or Without You

"Ulterior motives and shocking reveals abound, making for an anxious read that domestic suspense fans will be tempted to devour in a single sitting"

―Mystery Scene Magazine

“Nicole Bokat has the rare and precious gift of being both a master storyteller and an elegant poet. Each and every sentence dazzles in this intelligent and fiery tale about family, loss, and what it means to feel happy, whole.”

―Judy Batalion, New York Times best-selling author of The Light of Days

The Happiness Thief
A 2021 Foreword Indie Awards Finalist

Forty-one year-old Natalie Greene still believes she might have caused the car crash that killed her mother decades ago. But did she? Her memories are buried beneath a deep trauma, which still ripples through her life and recently ruined her marriage. Now, haunted and weary, she’s a single parent struggling to support herself as a freelance food photographer.

Once again, Natalie’s beloved stepsister, Isabel, comes to the rescue, suggesting that Natalie join her on a business trip to the Cayman Islands. Isabel, who has a thriving business as a happiness guru, will lecture at an annual industry conference; Natalie will unwind—and maybe discover a nugget of healing wisdom.

But one evening during their visit, Natalie is spooked when she strikes something—or someone—on a desolate street while driving Isabel back to their hotel. Why is there blood on the bumper? They find nothing on the road, but it triggers Natalie’s PTSD and revives her old fears. When she later receives an anonymous email hinting at foul play, Natalie decides to investigate on her own, with help from an attractive
Boston Globe journalist. But looking into the island accident also sparks a trip down a foggy, frightening memory lane, exposing dark secrets and chilling revelations.
Praise and Press:
  • Kirkus Reviews
    "Bokat is an evocative wordsmith . . . she has crafted a sympathetic heroine as her main character . . . . A compulsively readable mystery and character study." The verdict: Get it.
    Praise
  • Mystery Scene Magazine
    "Evocatively written and ferociously paced, Bokat’s latest is a puzzle-box wrapped in a paranoia tale that rivets while exploring the complexities of grief, the anxieties of modern life, and the lasting harm of childhood trauma. Ulterior motives and shocking reveals abound, making for an anxious read that domestic suspense fans will be tempted to devour in a single sitting."

    — Katrina Niidas Holm

    Read the review
    Praise
  • Foreword Reviews
    ". . . a tantalizing mystery . . . . each reveal builds suspense. It is obvious that Natalie’s memories are incomplete; the explanation behind this leads into a powerful conclusion."
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    Read the review
    Praise
  • Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author of Pictures of You and With or Without You
    “So, so smart, and as downright dangerous a read as the edge of a razor, Bokat’s book is a masterful study of memory, family, and the lies that derail us. Don’t even dare to think you’ll get any sleep once you start reading.”
    Praise
  • Judy Batalion, New York Times best-selling author of The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos
    “Nicole Bokat has the rare and precious gift of being both a master storyteller and an elegant poet. Each and every sentence dazzles in this intelligent and fiery tale about family, loss, and what it means to feel happy, whole.”
    Praise
  • Tess Callahan, author of April and Oliver
    "Sharp, quick-witted, with twists you can’t foresee, Bokat’s smart new thriller is like a cyanide pill wrapped in chocolate truffle—dangerous but irresistible. The Happiness Thief will swallow you whole."
    Praise
  • Aspen Matis, #1 Amazon best-selling author of Your Blue Is Not My Blue and Girl in the Woods
    "The Happiness Thief is a beautifully written, heart-thundering page-turner. I tore through it, desperate to discover answers. The novel’s characters are as rich and complex as you and I.”
    Praise
  • David Morgan, david_l_morgan
    “I found this one to be very well written. . . . If you enjoy mysteries centered around family, memory loss and PTSD, I highly recommend you add this to your TBR pile ASAP.”

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Visit idavid_l_morgan
    Press
  • Kim, it'sallaboutthethrill
    “Wow! Mysterious and shocking this left me guessing until the very end. . . . I seriously was hooked from the very first page! This twisted story kept me up late into the night as I was totally invested in her story.”
    Visit itsallaboutthethrill
    Press
  • Carole, carole_doscher_reader
    “I couldn't help feel for Natalie as the nightmares of the car crash that killed her mother haunt her. I loved the mother/daughter relationship and how her daughter was concerned and cared for her. The ending of the story was perfect.”
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    Press
  • the_bookworm_blonde
    "I could not put it down!"

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Visit the_bookworm_blonde
    Press
  • Michelle - The Nerdy Birdie, greeneyedgirl0704
    “With an ending you won’t see coming, Nicole Bokat kills it with a thriller you’ll stay up way past your bedtime finishing. Simply said, it’s unputdownable.”
    Visit greeneyedgirl0704
    Press
  • Krista, mybooksandplants
    “It's rare to find a thriller that can still make you laugh. .... The ending was surprising and satisfying. As with any thriller, I was convinced I knew how this story would end, but I was wrong! I love it when that happens.”
    Visit mybooksandplants
    Press
  • pages.and.plates
    “I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough! The story was full of family drama, lies, complicated relationships, and mysterious situations. I would definitely recommend this to the psychological thriller fans out there!”
    Visit pages.and.plates
    Press
  • Debbie Rozier, rozierreadsandwine
    “I got to a point in the read that I couldn’t put it down so I sat in the airport cellphone lot waiting on my husband’s very delayed flight with my cellphone flashlight finishing this read.”
    Visit rozierreadsandwine
    Press
  • Susan Subakka, subakka.bookstuff
    "With the opening line 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 draws you in and takes you on an obsessive journey.⁣ . . . You’ll fly through this edgy mystery.⁣"

    🌟🌟🌟🌟
    Visit subakka.bookstuff
    Press
  • the.bookishworld.of.yrralh
    ⁣“The Happiness Thief” by Nicole Bokat. A twisty mystery and an exploration of how guilt and memory can drag us down.⁣..it’s a satisfying, emotional, and thought-provoking read.⁣"

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


    Visit the.bookishworld.of.yrralh
    Press
  • candidwithcourtney
    “This was my first read by the author and it didn’t disappoint! . . . Bokat weaves an intriguing tale filled with unexpected turns that will keep readers turning the pages!”
    Visit candidwithcourtney
    Press
  • jayme_reads
    "So, holy wow, this book snuck up on me and I wasn’t expecting it! The first line starts with I Think I Killed My Mother! Yeah, the rest is just omg! You have to read this slow burn, family suspense that will have you on your toes the entire time! The dual timeline and relationship between mother and daughter really worked in this one! Five stars 🌟"
    Visit jayme_reads
    Press
  • The Manifest-Station
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    Read the essay
    Press
  • Cindy Ward, lovemybooks2020
    “This was well written and a real page turner! I loved the author's writing style and the suspense and unpredictability of the story. Highly recommend it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Visit lovembooks2020
    Press
  • Paulina Bell, bookphile_belle
    "I loved this book. So many emotions! … I really enjoyed the story and uncovering the mystery at its center."
    ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 (4.5/5)
    Visit bookphile_belle
    Press
  • Dallas Shattuck, diariesofabibliophile
    "I found myself flying through the pages! I was intrigued by the premise and had to keep reading so I could see where it was going."

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Visit diariesofabibliophile
    Press
  • rajivsreviews
    The Happiness Thief … is a psychological mystery thriller about a woman who doesn’t remember if she committed the crime of killing her mother, and it was a fun read!

    What an elegant twist in the book! Firstly, the storyline is pretty intense, where we have Natalie trying to figure out the reason for her mother’s death years back. As if that’s not enough, she also starts receiving creepy text messages about the incident. The author paces the story in a suspenseful yet classy manner where you have no idea whom to trust. At a certain point, I felt like everyone in Natalie’s life was possibly suspect, including Natalie.
    Visit rajivsreviews
    Press
  • amysbooknook8
    Wow, this book evokes all kinds of emotions throughout the pages. It is beautifully written and I would recommend!
    Visit amysbooknook8
    Press
  • shejustlovesbooks
    What an awesome mystery! I really didn’t want to put this one down.

    The Happiness Thief has a main character with PTSD from a car crash where she lost her mother. Years later, she seems to take hit after hit when her husband leaves her, and then survives another crash. These losses are pretty emotional, and I liked how the author was able to bring so much emotion into the story and also bring the mystery to the plot!

    I loved how the plot took some pretty crazy turns that I didn’t see coming. The plot had a bit of a slow-burn, and then as the secrets are revealed, the story sped up to a crazy pace! I thought it was a clever story, and I really enjoyed it!
    Visit shejustlovesbooks
    Press
  • Carrie Shields, CarrieReadsThem_All
    This was a beautifully written ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 read that seamlessly combined suspense and grief. The writing was almost lyrical and was exquisitely done. It was easy to get lost in this story. Highly recommended!
    Visit CarrieReadsThem_All
    Press
  • Leslie Lindsay, Always with a Book
    "A masterful tale of family dysfunction, enmeshment, interconnected twists, the infallible effect of memory and emotion, lies, and so much more …. "
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    Read the interview
    Press
  • Amy Wilhelm, BookClubBabble.com
    “I really loved this book! Natalie is not your average sleuth, and her PTSD certainly complicates her perspective. The Happiness Thief is a unique take on a thriller that is both refreshing and true to the genre! PS – we think it would make a great book club read!”
    Read the interview
    Press
  • Dru's Book Musings
    Press
  • The Chapters and Brews Book Club of Minnesota recommends The Happiness Thief
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    “This mystery was a good fit for our group. A pageturner, it kept us guessing until the end. We had some great discussions about some of the secondary characters and their roles in the story."
    Press
  • Books by Women
    Read the essay
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    Press
  • Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb
    Read the interview
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    Press
  • Hasty Book List
    Press
  • Montclair Magazine
    Press
  • Nerd Daily
    Press
  • Psychology Today
    Press
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Read the first two chapters

View the trailer:

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Order your copy here:

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