“What does it mean — and sometimes dearly cost — to be family? Searle’s timely and terrifying thriller finds a liberal so-called “nasty woman” grappling with her husband’s far-right family, only to find herself accused of murder. A brilliantly written, hot-coal read that ignites its first flame on page one, escalating until you literally cannot breathe from the suspense.” Caroline Leavitt, New York Times Bestselling Author of Days of Wonder and Pictures of You
The maelstrom of a family fighting itself, violent bi-polar political views, and the painful pursuit of uneasy truths.
From the chilling “Perp-Walk Prologue” to a cautious but hopeful epilogue, Lock Her Up is a suspenseful, psychologically astute narrative that explores how deeply societal divides shape our personal lives, and how easily our own reality can unravel.
Read an excerpt published in Solstice magazine’s Spring 2025 issue.
Also available in French and Swedish language editions.
Praise for Lock Her Up
“What does it mean — and sometimes dearly cost — to be family? Searle’s timely and terrifying thriller finds a liberal so-called “nasty woman” grappling with her husband’s far-right family, only to find herself accused of murder. A brilliantly written, hot-coal read that ignites its first flame on page one, escalating until you literally cannot breathe from the suspense.” Caroline Leavitt (New York Times Bestselling Author of Days of Wonder and Pictures of You)
“Elizabeth Searle thrusts us into contemporary xenophobia with a searing thriller… ‘Thelma & Louise’ reimagined through intersectional feminism.” Adrian Perez, Director of Lonely Wolf International Film Festival (writing about the film script Lock Her Up in Indie Shorts and Film Daily)
“Elizabeth Searle gracefully walks the knife’s edge between wild satire and ripped-from-the-headlines realism.” Tom Perrotta (Ghost Town, The Leftovers, Little Children)
“Elizabeth Searle is a true original. Her work is witty, wise, and full of brilliant observations. As one would expect from a gifted screenwriter, she writes dialogue to die for and knows how to pace a story. But above all, Searle captures the absurdity and dread of contemporary life in work that is as rich as it is disquieting.” JJ Amaworo Wilson (Nazaré)
“Lock Her Up, the stellar new literary thriller by Elizabeth Searle, has such a filmic quality, it’s little wonder the movie adaptation is in production. Through two sisters-in-law, Searle propels us into strained family ties that rapidly become a violent tug-of-war. Weapons are drawn in a time of Covid, fierce political divisions and ultimate tests of loyalty. Like a perfect soundtrack to our splintered world, this one keeps us in its tense grip from the first page.” Lise Haines (Book of Knives)
“In Lock Her Up, a young democratic activist mixes with her husband’s Trumpy family with disastrous, often terrifying results. Elizabeth Searle’s latest is not only a riveting read, it’s a searing commentary on political turmoil during the hotbed of covid times. This whip-smart novel is intimate, cinematic, timely, even heartbreaking at certain moments, with a singular tone that adds great realism to the tale. Searle also somehow pulled off an ending that is hopeful, but in a genuine way. Loved this book!” Erica Ferencik, best selling author of The River at Night and Girl in Ice