Publication Date: February 24, 2026
From Danielle Girard, the USA TODAY bestselling author who “effortlessly ratchets up the tension” (J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author), comes a pulse-pounding thriller about a young woman whose surrogate disappears just days before the baby’s due date, leading to a frantic search that uncovers dark truths and the power of a mother’s love.
Lexi thought she knew everything about Mara Vannatta. Best friends since middle school, they drifted apart after a tragedy derailed their senior year. But when Mara shows up on Lexi’s doorstep sixteen years later fleeing an abusive husband, Lexi takes her in without question. Lexi’s own marriage has been strained by her desire to have a baby, and when Mara offers to become her surrogate, their friendship feels stronger than ever.
But four days before the due date, Mara disappears.
Lexi is shocked but certain there must be something wrong—Mara would never willingly leave with her unborn child. Or would she? As she embarks on a perilous cross-country hunt for the truth, Lexi is forced to reconsider a friendship she thought she knew—and what really happened that terrible night their senior year. How many secrets lie in their shared past, waiting to be uncovered? And just how far will Lexi go to bring her child safely home?
How far would you go to help your childhood best friend? For Mara Vannatta, it means serving as a surrogate so your bestie can become a mom.
Author Danielle Girard weaves a psychological thriller into what initially sounds like a beautiful story of generosity. When Mara disappears just days before giving birth, Lexi starts to wonder about the 16-year gap after they initially drifted apart.
Pinky Swear details a close-knit friendship and reveals the tragedy that claimed the third member of the group, providing a catalyst for dark secrets to grow and fester into the present day.
The unexpected twists and turns revolve around the themes of survival, motherhood, and betrayal. As Lexi tracks Mara’s steps, she steps into a world full of danger.
Pinky Swear features a riveting high-stakes thriller full of emotion.
Danielle Girard is the USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author of several novels, including the Annabelle Schwartzman series and Pinky Swear. She is also the creator and host of the Killer Women Podcast, where she interviews the women who write today’s best crime fiction. A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA in creative writing at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. When she’s not traveling, Danielle lives in the mountains of Montana.
