Unknown Caller

Release Date: 2023


From New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger comes the haunting short story of how one woman’s heroic vocation hides the secret guilt she’s tried to bury.

Charlie Kroft’s job at the crisis center means she’s often seen as a hero: she’s helped countless people climb out of the deepest pits of personal despair. But when one phone call thrusts Charlie into the spotlight, she must contend with the hidden pain that drives her…and with the mysterious stranger who knows the truth.

Lisa Unger’s Unknown Caller is part of We Could Be Heroes, a darkly inquisitive collection of short stories that examines heroic intentions versus their real-life consequences. Read or listen to each in a single sitting.

Awards and Honors

  • ITW Thriller Award for Best Short Story
  • The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024
  • Silver Falchion Award Top Pick (We Could Be Heroes Anthology)