While the genre of identity thriller is not really a “thing,” author DEBORAH GOODRICH ROYCE likes to think of her novels as such. Deborah was heavily influenced by her first career in film. She played Ted Bundy’s wife in a 1986 miniseries while the infamous killer was awaiting execution and starred in April Fool’s Day, a clever wink at Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. An avid Hitchcock fan, Deborah loves to leave a breadcrumb trail for her readers that culminates in a surprise twist.
For Deborah, an esteemed author whose career in the arts has seen many chapters over the years, a fascination with mystery and secrets has compelled her since childhood, and resonates in her thrillers. Deborah has garnered recognition for her novels, which examine her beloved “puzzles of identity.” Reef Road—a Publishers Weekly bestseller—was named one of the best books of 2023 by Kirkus Reviews and an Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association. Finding Mrs. Ford and Ruby Falls have been featured in “Best Of” lists from Forbes, Book Riot, and Good Morning America.
Her newest, Best Boy, was released on February 24. Hailed by Kirkus Reviews as “absolutely compelling” and ideal “for fans of Liane Moriarty and Ruth Ware” Best Boy teeters on the knife-edge of memory and identity when the arrival of a shocking letter threatens the carefully constructed life of a woman desperate to outrun her past.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in modern foreign languages and a minor in dance at Lake Erie College in Ohio, she headed to New York, where she landed a role on popular soap opera All My Children in the ’80s, and then to L.A., where she appeared in multiple films. While raising her two children, she began working as a story editor at Miramax Films, developing Emma and early versions of Chicago and A Wrinkle in Time. Deborah’s life story eventually led to her writing career. Encouraged by actor Gene Wilder, who frequented a Connecticut movie theater she and her husband Chuck restored, the multifaceted creative turned the page on a successful acting career.
Well-known in Westerly for her loving restoration of the Ocean House Hotel, Deborah and Chuck have also restored the United Theatre, Martin House Books, and other projects in Rhode Island and beyond. Royce’s Ocean House Author Series turns the seaside destination of Watch Hill into a literary hub, attracting world-class authors and fans to salon-style conversations. Past authors have included Chris Bohjalian, Katie Couric, Sarah Ferguson, Emma Straub, and many more. The 2026 season promises even more heavy-hitters, including the one-and-only Jenna Bush Hager who has started her own publishing imprint! Stay up to date with all events at OceanHouseEvents.com.
Deborah writes a quarterly “Rhody Reads” column for Hey Rhody, Providence Monthly, and other magazines, sharing essential titles to add to your TBR list across multiple genres. She often highlights local writers, giving emerging authors a platform while also showcasing authors at the luxurious Ocean House. With Best Boy, Deborah’s next chapter is sure to be as absorbing as all the others.
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