R Truzt

Hey there! I'm R Truzt, and I write dark romantic thrillers that'll make you think twice before swiping right. (Yeah, I'm probably ruining dating apps for everyone, but someone has to tell these stories, right?)

Growing up in a small fishing village on the Scottish coast, I was always fascinated by the duality of the sea – beautiful on the surface, but hiding dangerous depths below. Kind of like online dating, when you think about it. I spent years working as a cybersecurity consultant while writing in secret, watching how people presented themselves online versus who they really were. Trust me, the gap can be terrifying.

My debut novel, "The Love Trap," wasn't supposed to be my first book. I actually had three other manuscripts stuffed in my digital drawer (we're talking vampire romance, would you believe it?), but this story wouldn't leave me alone. It started with a news article about dating app crimes that kept me up at night, and before I knew it, I was crafting Eamon's world – a rugged fisherman who thinks he's too old-school for dating apps until one match changes everything. (And not in the happily-ever-after way my mom was hoping for.)

I write what I like to call "reality horror romance" – stories that could absolutely happen to you or someone you know. No supernatural monsters here; the real ones are scary enough. My characters aren't perfect Instagram-ready people either. They're rough around the edges, they make terrible decisions, and sometimes they're the villain of their own story. But isn't that just wonderfully human?

When I'm not writing or trying to convince my cat she's not actually the author (she disagrees), I'm usually out on my uncle's fishing boat, gathering inspiration and probably too many technical details about fishing equipment that my editor keeps telling me to cut. (I'll die on the hill that readers need to know the difference between a purse seine and a drift net, thank you very much.)

Fair warning: my books aren't for everyone. If you're looking for sweet meet-cutes and guaranteed happy endings, I'm probably not your author. But if you want stories that make your pulse race, that force you to check your door locks twice, and that might have you deleting your dating apps... well, pull up a chair. We're going to have fun. (Just maybe don't read them right before a first date.)

I'm deeply invested in online safety awareness, and a portion of my book proceeds goes to organizations helping victims of online crimes. It's not just about entertainment for me – though I promise you'll be entertained. It's about opening eyes to the darker side of our connected world while still believing in the possibility of real connection.

Currently, I'm working on my second novel (no spoilers, but let's just say it involves a dating app exclusively for the super-rich, and things go very, very wrong). I'm also developing a true-crime podcast about dating app disasters, because apparently, I really want to make sure none of us ever find love online. Just kidding. Sort of.

You can find me on Instagram where I post way too many pictures of my cat "helping" me write, share true crime stories that inspire my work, and occasionally rant about fishing regulations. I love connecting with readers – just, you know, not through dating apps.

What can you expect from my books? Edge-of-your-seat tension, characters who feel disturbingly real, twists that'll keep you guessing, and romance that's as dangerous as it is addictive. Plus, you'll learn enough about fishing to impress your local fishmonger, whether you want to or not.

So if you're ready to never trust a dating profile again (but in the most entertaining way possible), come join me. Just remember: in my stories, like in life, not everything – or everyone – is what they seem.