A family curse. A missing heirloom. A house full of secrets.

A descendant of a powerful Italian dynasty reckons with her family’s troubled legacy and her own fractured memories in this Gothic thriller.

When aspiring artist Anna de’ Medici Rossi inherits her family’s opulent villa in Tuscany, she returns to a place steeped in tragedy and mystery. Living there as a child, Anna suffered from debilitating night terrors, frequently waking to find that she had wandered far from bed. During one such episode when Anna was twelve, her mother took a fatal tumble down the stairs. Vittoria’s death was officially ruled an accident, but an heirloom ruby-and-diamond necklace was missing from her bruised neck. Whispered suspicions suggest that Anna pushed her mother and stole the precious jewels. Anna, remembering little from that night, is afraid they’re right. But if that’s true, then what became of the necklace, which has long been associated with legends of a family curse?

Now back in Tuscany after sixteen years, Anna is shunned by the local townspeople as a killer who escaped justice, while only a few distant relatives and an old childhood friend offer solace. As she explores the sprawling villa, Anna uncovers hidden rooms and memories shrouded in fog, reigniting the violent night terrors of her youth. Plagued by unsettling visions and eerie occurrences, she questions her sanity and embarks on a harrowing journey to unravel the truth of her past. As her search deepens, she confronts shocking revelations that expose her to dangers she never anticipated.

Blending gothic and supernatural elements with a gripping exploration of identity and legacy, The Medici Curse is a beautifully crafted tale of family scandal, murder, art, and intrigue.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Penzler Publishers/Scarlet, July 2025 (Pre-Empt)

“In a crowded field, Daco Auffenorde stands out with a novel that is original, heartfelt, and thrilling. Family lore, art, and an extraordinary setting, make The Medici Curse a breakout in waiting.”
-Alex Finlay, USA Today bestseller

“The Medici Curse is a fascinating, wholly original story that beautifully, terrifyingly juxtaposes the dark and light; love and revenge with a creepy, haunting mansion set against the gorgeous, magical backdrop of Tuscany. Like the house with secret doors and hidden caves where much of the story takes place, this nail-biting thriller leads the reader down a treacherous path with shocks and twists at every corner. Childhood trauma, a struggle for power, and a family curse coil together in a plot suffused with dread and heart-thumping suspense. This is an unforgettable read.”
-Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 bestselling author of Woman on the Edge and Watch Out for Her

“Auffenorde deftly weaves gothic elements into a thriller to create a propulsive story that kept me turning pages all the way to the end—which I didn’t see coming! Highly recommended for anyone who loves unique, atmospheric mysteries with multiple twists and surprises.”
-Isabella Maldonado, Edgar® nominated and Wall Street Journal bestselling author

“Engaging characters, a captivating setting, and a complex, sophisticated plot wrapped in deceptions and intrigue. Exactly what a thriller should be.”
-DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series

“The Medici Curse is a suspenseful, wisely crafted tale of a young woman and a cursed family heirloom that weaves together the complexity of family dynamics, friendships, and deception. This mystery unveils a twist that leaves you questioning how well you really know the people around you. A fresh and imaginative new voice in the mystery world.”
-Allen Eskens, bestselling author of The Life We Bury

“Set in a lavish villa amid the lush vineyards of Tuscany, Daco Auffenorde’s The Medici Curse simmers and boils with shocking twists and disturbing psychological trauma. A tenebrous mystery with an oh so satisfying conclusion.”
-James W. Ziskin

“Daco Auffenorde knows how to keep the pace moving. Much like the house in this atmospheric thriller, she draws us deeper and deeper in search of answers to the Medici mystery.”
-Tonya Todd, actress, author, and activist

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Audio

• Highbridge Audio

She’s haunted by a past she can’t remember.

A beautiful woman wakes in a hospital bed, shackled and confused. She’s been in a coma for weeks. And can only remember her first name—Blue.

Blue learns she fell from a window on the fourth floor of a hotel. Did she jump? Or was she pushed? To discover the truth, Blue must figure out who she is and what she was doing in that hotel. And she needs to do it fast because someone is out there, hunting Blue down, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Not knowing where to turn or who to trust, Blue must rely on her instincts to survive. Gradually, her memories begin to return, and they’re darker than she could ever have imagined.

Will she put the pieces of her life back together before she’s silenced forever?

The Forgotten Girl is a gripping psychological thriller perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Alex Michaelides, and Freida McFadden.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Inkubator Books, August 2022

• Winner of the 2023 Book of the Year in the Best Thriller Book Awards

“THE FORGOTTEN GIRL introduces us to plucky heroine, Blue, who’s determined to find out who she is and what she’s forgotten—even if it’s her worst nightmare. The twists and turns keep coming, making it hard to put down”
-Rebecca Fields, ITW’s The Big Thrill

“Wow! What a read! This was a fast-paced thriller, that certainly kept me glued to the edge of my seat. I loved it that much I read it in one sitting.”
-Calm Stitch Read

“You are on a rollercoaster of a ride and never see any of it coming. If you love thrillers and the kind of mysteries you cannot figure out until the end, then look no further, this book is for you.”
-Uncorked Psychological Thriller

“The twists just keep coming in this one! Going into the last few chapters I still had not figured out who the good guys and the bad guys were. This novel also has a bit of humor sprinkled throughout. The Forgotten Girl is an entertaining thriller that would be a perfect vacation read.”
-Kristen and the Books

“This book kept me on my toes, and also kept me guessing. I couldn’t put it down! Highly recommend if you are a thriller reader.”
-Exploring Katie

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Audio

• Podium Audio

Margo Fletcher, eight months pregnant, is traveling by train from Chicago to Spokane, her childhood home. While passing through an isolated portion of the Rockies in blizzard conditions, the train unexpectedly brakes. Up ahead, deadly snow from a massive avalanche plummets down the mountain. Despite the conductor’s order for the passengers to stay seated, former Army Ranger Nick Eliot insists that survival depends on moving to the back of the train. Only Margo believes him. They take refuge in the last train car, which Nick heroically uncouples in time to avoid the avalanche. The rest of the train is hurled down the mountainside and is soon lost forever in a blanket of snow. Margo and Nick, the sole survivors, are stranded in the snowstorm without food, water, or heat. Rescuers might not arrive for days.

When the weather turns violent again, the pair must flee the shelter of the passenger car and run for their lives into the wilderness. They must fend off the deadly cold as well as predatory wild animals foraging for food. Eventually, Nick leads Margo to shelter in a watchtower atop a mountain. There, we learn that both Margo and Nick have secrets that have brought them together and threaten to destroy them.

Cover Your Tracks is a chilling story of love and hate, the devastating power of nature, and the will to survive.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Turner Publishing/Keylight Books, October 2020

• 2020 Best of Thriller Suspense — Suspense Magazine
• 2020 Winner, Best Action Thriller — Best Thriller Book Awards

“Sensational – new, fresh, suspenseful, and lead character Margo Fletcher is to die for. I loved this book.”
-Lee Child, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

“Well-crafted action sequences keep up the energy and tension. Thriller fans will want to see more from Auffenorde.”
-Publishers Weekly

“A chilling, edge-of-your-seat thriller, Cover Your Tracks is a fast-paced tale of survival and psychological terror.”
-Suspense Magazine

“Fast, slick, brimming with tension—Daco Auffenorde knows how to ramp up the suspense with this terrific new thriller. Loved it!”
-Glenn Meade, Internationally Bestselling Author

“If you enjoy survival stories as well as psychological thrillers, then you will want to add this book to your reading list. It was hard to put down and I didn’t really want it to end. I think you’ll feel the same.”
-Manhattan Book Review

“Emotionally resonant, provocative, timely—this unique thriller will linger in your thoughts long after the final page. Auffenorde brilliantly captures the extreme lengths a mother will go to for her child. In COVER YOUR TRACKS, you’ll be snow-blinded in the deep wilderness where the one person who can get you out is also your enemy. Sensational.”
-K.J. Howe, International Bestselling Author of Skyjack

“Cover Your Tracks is exactly what a thriller should be. A fast-paced plot, great characters, and tightly-wound suspense create a story that will linger long after you turn the final page. Highly recommended.”
-D.P. Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series.

“Daco S. Auffenorde’s thrilling COVER YOUR TRACKS unspools a relentless crescendo of menace and doubt. A chilling tale of damaged souls, iron wills, and dark obsession. Two strangers—a resourceful ex-soldier and a pregnant doctor—must trust each other to reach safety after their train is swept down a remote mountain by an avalanche. Survival as a team sport.”
-James W. Ziskin, author of the award-winning Ellie Stone mysteries

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Audio

• Dreamscape

When it’s time for double-agent Jordan Jakes to launch a missile in the remote desert of the Middle East, she’s forced to tell NASA scientist Ben Johnson that their love affair is finished. Only the breakup turns out to be more difficult than she anticipates—and it’s not just because she’s developed intense feelings for the guy.

When she disappears without a trace, Ben will stop at nothing to find the one woman who he’s fallen for hard and fast even if it means boarding a plane that lands him in the middle of a country most Americans might think twice about entering—Iran.

Surviving takes more than being one step ahead of their enemies. Jordan and Ben must peel back the layers of their emotional armor to overcome a series of obstacles before they can accomplish Jordan’s mission. If they have any hope of making it out of the Middle East alive and forming a lasting relationship, they must surrender to love.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Simon & Schuster, October 2017

• “What’s new in suspense and inspirational romance” USA Today column
• Guest on StarTalk with Neil Degrasse Tyson

“Daco’s romantic thriller debut intrigues with fast-paced, high-stakes action that forces the take-charge heroine to balance her clandestine mission with obligations to her heart. The keenly sharp intelligent female characters soar in this edge-of-your-seat adventure … the story does have heart and a satisfying end with hints there is more to come.”
-Publishers Weekly

“Debut author Daco weaves a convoluted spy game, rather like a Jason Bourne movie — only instead of the usual male secret agent, we get Jordan Jakes. And she is more than capable of rocking your world … with gritty intensity and plenty of international espionage.”
-RT Book Reviews

“Daco balances intrigue with romance.”
-International Thriller Writers

“A plot akin to hit silver screen action thrillers.”
-Novels Alive TV

“Very intense and action-paced.”
-Romance Novel News