Paper Cut: A Novel by Rachel Taff

Paper Cut: A Novel by Rachel Taff

Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

Publication date: January 27, 2026

Published by: William Morrow

A page-turning suspense debut about a woman infamous for escaping a cult as a teenager, who finds her future threatened when dangerous secrets come back to haunt her—perfect for fans of Jessica Knoll and The Girls.

Everybody knows the story. Nobody knows the truth…

Lucy Golden is a true-crime icon, infamous for the murder she committed while escaping a California cult twenty years ago. But as everyone in Los Angeles knows, fame is fleeting, and Lucy and her story are always just one news cycle away from obscurity. Not to mention, she’s fending off a stalker and moderating an icy feud between her acclaimed photographer mother and her scandalous rock star sister. Worst of all, online trolls are asking increasingly threatening questions about the legendary crime. Questions that could tear her life apart.

So when a hotshot documentarian makes her case the subject of his next film, Lucy sees a chance to silence any doubters once and for all. But as filming begins, she must return to the California desert and come face-to-face with a cast of players from her torrid history. Of course, the past is never what it seems, and long-buried secrets soon collide with present-day threats. Can Lucy stop her critics from digging up the truth before it’s too late? And how far will she go to protect the story she’s been telling—and selling—all along?

Told in a narrative split between the present day and Lucy’s hit memoir about her fated summer in the cult, Paper Cut combines psychological suspense with coming-of-age Californian cult noir and a sharp examination of the true-crime phenomenon. As incisive as it is propulsive, this mesmerizing debut will keep readers hooked until the last page.

Every once in a while, there’s a book that stays with me long after I’ve read it. Paper Cut is one of them. 

It’s deeply emotional while still having that thriller vibe. I was immediately drawn into the story. The characters were well written. Each doing their part to add to the story. I didn’t trust any of them! That twist at the end, I did not see it coming. It felt both saddening and satisfying to finish. I wasn’t ready to leave the story but was content at the way it ended.

If you’re a fan of thrillers with a side of trauma, this book is for you. Skip adding it to your TBR and just dive in. I look forward to reading more from this author.