Lori Rader-Day

Alyssa Clark

Lori Rader-Day is the Edgar Award-nominated and Agatha, Anthony, and Mary Higgins Clark award winning author of the just released, "Wreck Your Heart." Other popular novels in her repertoire are "The Death of Us," "Death at Greenway," "The Lucky One," and "Under a Dark Sky." She earned a master of arts in creative nonfiction from Ball State University and a master of fine arts in creative writing from Roosevelt University.  She lives in Chicago, where she teaches creative writing at Northwestern University.

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Awards: Mary Higgins Clark Award, Agatha Award, Anthony Award, Indiana Author Award

Communities: Cancer survivor

Meet Brad Thor and Ward Larsen

Thriller-master Brad Thor, whose novels have sold more than 15 million copies worldwide, and bestselling espionage writer Ward Larsen make their first festival appearances. They’ll discuss the collaboration behind their new book, how current global threats influence modern thrillers, and what it takes to craft suspense while staying grounded in authenticity.

Student Union North Ballroom (Seats 670)  
Sat, Mar 14, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing South Ballroom (following presentation)  

Panelists: Ward Larsen, Brad Thor
Moderator: Lori Rader-Day
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of TMC Health

Dead in Chicago

You don’t have to be from the Windy City to love these mysteries set in Chicago. In this session, authors Tracy Clark, Naomi Hirahara and Lori Rader-Day will discuss the reason they staged their stories on the edge of Lake Michigan.

Koffler Room 204 (Seats 300, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 14, 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing Koffler/Commons (following presentation)

Panelists: Tracy Clark, Naomi Hirahara, Lori Rader-Day
Moderator: Delia Pitts
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Judith Wood, Long Realty, Taffy Raphael and Jim Gavelek

The Art of Unease

All good mystery writers know how to build tension from first page to last, and today we will learn how three of them, Tiffany Crum, Lori Rader-Day and Zoe B. Wallbrook, pace the buildup for maximum effect.

UA Campus Store Stage (Seats 250)  
Sun, Mar 15, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA Campus Store Lower Level (following presentation)  

Panelists: Tiffany Crum, Lori Rader-Day, Zoe Wallbrook
Moderator: Reed Farrel Coleman
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity - Arizona Alpha Chapter, UA Campus Store, Frank Farias

Books:

Wreck Your Heart

A Novel
Mystery / Thrillers
St. Martin's Publishing Group
January 2026
ISBN 9781250393739
352 pages
Buy now

The Death of Us

A Novel
Mystery / Thrillers
HarperCollins Publishers
January 2023
ISBN 9780063293335
384 pages
Buy now