Very Slowly All at Once

Never lie to each other. Never cheat on each other. And never, ever accept free money.

Featured as Spring 2026 Most Anticipated List, Zibby Media

Featured as 10 Most-Anticipated Mystery-Thriller Books 2026, Marie Claire

Featured as 10 debut fiction books by women to read in 2026, Stylist

'Devilishly twisted’ Gillian McAllister

'Tense, pacy debut' Guardian

Mack and Hailey Evans are on the cusp of living the American Dream. Established careers, two beautiful children, and a new house on a coveted lakefront estate.

But modern life is expensive, so the anonymous payments they start to receive are spent before they know it. Could this money be from Mack's estranged father? Or one of Hailey's clients? Does it really matter?

Then they discover that this mysterious benefactor expects a return on their investment. How far will the couple have to go to pay them back?

As it turns out, the best things in life are not free. And the price is far steeper than they could have imagined …

For fans of Liane Moriarty and Alice Feeney

'Craftily written domestic thriller' Irish Times

‘You’re living way beyond your means, marriage on the brink, you’ve just lost your job, when checks for large sums of money start showing up anonymously in the mail. What do you do? That’s the premise of Very Slowly All at Once, Lauren Schott’s devilishly twisted debut which I could not put down’ Gillian McAllister

'A must read' Marie Claire

'This book is a blast! Domestic suspense, cautionary tale and crime caper rolled into one, it had me hooked from the first wicked word to the last. A delicious treat’ Louise Candlish

'Tense novel about greed and denial' The i Paper

‘I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. What an adrenaline packed ride’ Cesca Major

'Carries a strong sense of horrific dread… carries a slow intensity' Bestsellers World

‘The diabolical premise at the centre will keep you guessing until the very end’ Sarina Bowen

'Sharp, witty and twisted – a car crash of the American Dream in slo-mo, and I loved every second!' Liane Child

‘A pacy, high stakes debut that keeps you guessing until the very last page’ Andi Osho

'A gripping, refreshing read' Emily Elgar

‘Brisk pacing, clever red herrings, and haunting denouement’ Publishers Weekly

'Impressive debut… cleverly plotted for fans of domestic suspense and ‘eat the rich’ narratives' Booklist review

READERS ARE GRIPPED …

'The suspense and tension was built brilliantly. That simmering unease always there' Reader Review

'A completely original plot … I love, love, loved it!' Reader Review

'Sharp, unsettling and thoroughly addictive' Reader Review

'Lingers long after the final page' Reader Review