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80 ratings | 25 reviews | avg rating:4.96

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Kia Abdullah

Goodreads Author

Born

London, The United Kingdom

Website

https://kiaabdullah.com

Twitter

kiaabdullah

Genre

Suspense, Thriller, Crime

Influences

Gillian Flynn, Louise Doughty ...more

Member Since

August 2016

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/kiaabdullah

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Kia Abdullah is a bestselling author and travel writer. Her novels include Take It Back (a Guardian and Telegraph thriller of the year), Truth Be Told (shortlisted for a Diverse Book Award), Next Of Kin (longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award) and Those People Next Door (a Times Bestseller and Waterstones Thriller of the Month). Her new novel, What Happens in the Dark, is out now.

Kia has won a Diverse Book Award (2022) and a JB Priestley Award for Writers of Promise (2020), and has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Times, The Telegraph and the BBC. She is also the founder of Asian Booklist, a nonprofit that advocates for diversity in publishing.

Website: kiaabdullah.com
Twitter: @kiaabdullah
Instagram: @k ...more

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Kia Abdullah’s books

Average rating: 3.92 · 72,929 ratings · 10,992 reviews · 11 distinct works • Similar authors

	Next of Kin 3.98 avg rating — 40,752 ratings — published 2021 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Take It Back (Zara Kaleel, #1) 3.90 avg rating — 14,552 ratings — published 2019 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Perfectly Nice Neighbors 3.68 avg rating — 11,353 ratings — published 2023 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Truth Be Told (Zara Kaleel, #2) 4.13 avg rating — 3,223 ratings — published 2020 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	What Happens in the Dark 3.92 avg rating — 2,891 ratings — published 2025 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Child's Play 3.35 avg rating — 96 ratings — published 2009 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Life, Love And Assimilation 4.28 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 2006	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Don't Offer Papaya: 101 Tips for Your First Time Around the World by Kia Abdullah (Goodreads Author), Peter Watson (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 18 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Drowning 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Night Visitor 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Kia Abdullah…

37 posts
Kia Abdullah's Blog: Midlist

All the times I’ve failed on stage (and the lessons you can learn from them)

“Writers should be read, but neither seen nor heard,” said Daphne du Maurier, who clearly never suffered the indignity of Instagram or X. The modern writer has no such luxury. Some writers are allowed to be reclusive, but most of us on the midlist have to remind the world that we exist (in the hope that they’ll buy our books).

Personally, I don’t mind the public-facing aspect of the job. I like

Series by Kia Abdullah

Zara Kaleel (2 books)
by

Kia Abdullah (Goodreads Author)

3.94 avg rating — 17,768 ratings

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Kia’s Recent Updates

Kia Abdullah wrote a new blog post All the times I’ve failed on stage (and the lessons you can learn from them) “Writers should be read, but neither seen nor heard,” said Daphne du Maurier, who clearly never suffered the indignity of Instagram or X. The modern Read more of this blog post »
Sep 30, 2026 04:56AM · like
Kia Abdullah and 2 other people liked Kia Abdullah's blog post: I didn’t realise I was a ‘toxic cheerleader’ until I got my own " In the spring of last year, I received a letter that made me cry.It was attached to an email from my publicist dealing with a bunch of things: events at a couple of Waterstones, a booking on Read and Buried podcast and a bit of housekeeping. S..." Read more of this blog post »
Sep 23, 2026 06:07AM
Kia Abdullah wants to read First You Write a Sentence.: The Elements of Reading, Writing … and Life by Joe Moran	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 13, 2026 08:57AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of First You Write a Sentence. by Joe Moran. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — First You Write a Sentence. by Joe Moran <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah wants to read Switzy by Emma Cline	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 12, 2026 08:11AM · like
Kia Abdullah wants to read Daddy by Emma Cline	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 12, 2026 08:11AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Daddy by Emma Cline. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Daddy by Emma Cline <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah wants to read The Guest by Emma Cline	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 12, 2026 08:11AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Guest by Emma Cline. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Guest by Emma Cline <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah wants to read London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 12, 2026 07:51AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah rated a book it was amazing The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 28, 2026 12:42AM · 13 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah finished reading The Names by Florence Knapp Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Fiction, Readers' Favorite Debut Novel	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 14, 2026 11:38AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Names by Florence Knapp. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Names by Florence Knapp <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kia Abdullah wants to read Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 06, 2026 03:54AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Kia Abdullah (?)

“I—I want forgiveness, for others and for myself. I want to accept that the journey is all there is. That when you get there, there’s no there there and so you keep going, keep trying, keep looking for ways to fill that hole but it will never be filled because we are just human and life has a hole – it just does. That’s what I want.”
― Kia Abdullah, Take It Back

3 likes

“Who knew that absence could feel so solid? It wasn't an emptiness but a presence; a hard ball of something tumid.”
― Kia Abdullah, Next of Kin

2 likes

“After all, weren't women taught to compete with one another; to observe, asses, rank, and critique...”
― Kia Abdullah, Next of Kin

1 likes

See all Kia Abdullah's quotes »

Polls

Which of the following has your vote for February 2024 Ladies Choice Group Read?

The Friendship Club by Robyn Carr

5 votes, 71.4%

Take It Back by Kia Abdullah

1 vote, 14.3%

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

1 vote, 14.3%

Run on Red by K.M. Hodge

0 votes, 0.0%

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

0 votes, 0.0%

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

0 votes, 0.0%

Meadow Falls by Carolyn Brown

0 votes, 0.0%

There's No Coming Back from This by Ann Garvin

0 votes, 0.0%

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

0 votes, 0.0%

One Wrong Word by Hank Phillippi Ryan

0 votes, 0.0%

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

0 votes, 0.0%

7 total votes

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Kia’s Year In Books

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Kia Abdullah

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37 posts
Kia Abdullah's Blog: Midlist

All the times I’ve failed on stage (and the lessons you can learn from them)

Series by Kia Abdullah

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Kia’s Recent Updates

All the times I’ve failed on stage (and the lessons you can learn from them)

See a Problem?

Preview — First You Write a Sentence. by Joe Moran

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Preview — Daddy by Emma Cline

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Preview — The Guest by Emma Cline

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Preview — London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

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Preview — The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

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Preview — The Names by Florence Knapp

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Preview — Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

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Kia Abdullah’s Followers (1,948)

Kia Abdullah

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Popular Answered Questions

rssKia’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — First You Write a Sentence. by Joe Moran

See a Problem?

Preview — Daddy by Emma Cline

See a Problem?

Preview — The Guest by Emma Cline

See a Problem?

Preview — London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

See a Problem?

Preview — The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

See a Problem?

Preview — The Names by Florence Knapp

See a Problem?

Preview — Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

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