Tread Lightly: A Novel

She traded hostage negotiations for school drop-offs. But some dangers are impossible to leave behind.

Tierney Gillespie thought she'd left her dangerous past behind when she traded a career as a hostage negotiator in Dublin for life as a stay-at-home mom in Silicon Valley. Now, instead of confronting criminals and managing life-or-death crises, she's navigating private school cliques, playground politics, and the unfamiliar expectations of California motherhood.

But when a lifeguard is found murdered at the pool where she swims every day, Tierney's carefully constructed new life begins to unravel.

Drawn into the investigation, she discovers unsettling connections to a tragedy from her former career—one she's spent years trying to forget. As old wounds reopen and the murder investigation grows more complicated, Tierney must call upon the instincts and skills she thought she'd left behind.

Set against the wealth, ambition, and hidden tensions of Silicon Valley during the 2007 stock-option backdating scandal, Tread Lightly is a compelling domestic mystery about guilt, reinvention, and the secrets people keep—even from themselves.

Because sometimes the hardest person to understand is yourself.

About the Author

Elizabeth Kemp was born and raised in California, and lives in Silicon Valley with her high school sweetheart husband. She studied public relations at the University of Southern California, earned an MBA from Santa Clara University, and led a successful career in high-tech marketing communications before becoming a stay-at-home mom. That decision helped rekindle her love of reading for fun and enabled her to pursue writing full-time. When away from her laptop, Elizabeth enjoys lap swimming, hiking, pickleball, and golf. Tread Lightly is her first novel.

Praise for Tread Lightly

"A deftly crafted thriller featuring a former hostage negotiator living a new life as a wife and mother, Tread Lightly balances domestic life with a sinister murder investigation. It is a very satisfying read that culminates in an explosive and surprising ending." —Lyn Liao Butler, bestselling author of Someone Else's Life

“The past and the present, the domestic and the professional, all come crashing into each other in this taut and emotional story. Kemp taps into the heartache of motherhood and the danger of crime in a debut that will make you do anything other than tread lightly.” —Carinn Jade, author of The Astrology House

“With a pulse-pounding opening, Tread Lightly is a gripping tale of resilience, trauma, and belonging. Elizabeth Kemp is an evocative storyteller with a knack for blending genres, combining high-octane thriller with nuanced, introspective commentary.” —Rhodi Hawk, author of This Town Won't Tell

“Part thriller, part soul-searching journey, this story gripped me from page one. Tierney’s voice is so vivid and real, I felt like I was swimming laps beside her.” —Ann Huchingson, screenwriter

“Tensions seethe deliciously beneath the glossy surface of suburbia in Elizabeth Kemp's novel, Tread Lightly. Former hostage negotiator turned stay-at-home-mom, Tierney Gillespie may have been able to handle hardened criminals in her past job, but a death in the 'burbs tests her skills and PTSD in ways she didn't see coming. A tense and compelling story of surprise attacks, from both past and present.” —Jordan Rosenfeld, author of Fallout and Women in Red

“A compelling debut, chock full of suspense.” —Robin Somers, author of Eleven Stolen Horses & Beet Fields

“Tread Lightly introduces an iconic new heroine: Tierney Gillespie . . . [whose] personal and professional struggles ignite an unforgettable and deeply satisfying climax. Fans of Laura Dave and Liane Moriarty will love this debut thriller.” —Diane Schaffer, author of Mortal Zin