author
Barbara Abel
Known for twisty psychological suspense, this Belgian novelist explores the dark tensions that can hide inside family life and close relationships. Her stories have reached a wide audience through translations and screen adaptations, including the novel behind Mothers' Instinct.
1 Audiobook
Down the Scale or Up...
by Barbara Abel
About the author
Born in Brussels in 1969, Barbara Abel is a Belgian novelist best known for psychological thrillers. She studied literature at the Université libre de Bruxelles and has also been active in theater and cultural commentary.
Her breakthrough came with L'Instinct maternel, which won the Prix Cognac in 2002 and later became the basis for Mothers' Instinct. Her work often turns everyday situations into tightly wound suspense, focusing on jealousy, guilt, secrets, and the pressure points inside families and friendships.
Barbara Abel lives in Brussels and has built a strong reputation in francophone crime fiction. Her novels have been translated into multiple languages, and several have been adapted for film or television, helping bring her tense, intimate style to readers far beyond Belgium.