Why I Write Crime Novels
- Jennifer Sadera
- Oct 22
- 4 min read
Why is a nice girl like you writing a dark novel like this?
When people discover I’m a suspense writer, they have lots of questions.
They want to know if I always wanted to be a writer (yes, since I was eight years old), what my process is (typically, I write every weekday from 8 am until lunchtime, then pick back up for a few hours in the afternoon), where I get my ideas (everything from interactions with others to watching Netflix, reading a TON of books, and culling my memories), and why, for goodness sake, do I write such dark novels. I seem like such a nice, happy person (I am!).
Readers aren’t the only ones with questions. Writers have them too.
'What if?'
Before starting a novel, an author begins with the most vital inquiry of all—what if?
What if a young man’s dream girl turns into a nightmare after she has a drink? What if a family unwittingly takes a camping trip at a defunct nuclear waste site and crawls out of their tent with superpowers? Or, in the case of my suspense novel, what if a troubled new mom, suddenly single and lonely, spies on residents in a nearby wealthy neighborhood to pry secrets for successful life hacks from the unsuspecting?
I’ve always been fascinated by optics versus reality. What we all assume are safe spaces—like an upscale housing development—that are anything but. I’m enticed by themes of innocence lost and misconceptions about what—and who—will keep us safe. I love twisting the notions of security, liberty, and the universal quest for happiness. My endless questions led to the creation of I Know She Was There (CamCat Books, 2024), where protagonist Caroline Case wheels her infant along the fairytale streets of Deer Crossing but endures a nightmare when she sees something she shouldn’t.
The allure of curiosity
Why would readers seek anxiety-inducing scenarios like the setup in my novel?
In the crazy, drama-filled world we live in, wouldn’t a simple happily ever after narrative provide the escapism so desperately needed by most of us?
Not always. Humans are complex. We are not wired to simply accept a happy story at face value. Oh sure, sometimes we’ll override our inquisitive nature and seek a feel-good tale, but deep down we want to know the what, where, how, when, and—most vital of all—the why of everything we experience. We’re curious about millions of things like, why the past—especially personal history—informs current events; what motivates people to act in certain ways; how we can affect outcomes; when does timing line up with our objectives; where can we find the things that will satisfy us.
Novels address questions...
Novels address all these questions (and so many more) with answers that entertain, educate, and provide what we crave most: control. We’ve all been in impossible situations. They may not be dramatic—perhaps it’s as simple as an ongoing battle with boredom. Whether we struggle with life-and-death issues or more benign problems, that feeling of being stuck is frustrating—and often depressing. But read a book you love, and reality is suspended for a while—you’re whisked off to another world. If you don’t like what you’re reading, you have the power to put the book down. And never pick it up again. You get to be in control, no matter where the book’s storyline veers. You can choose to spend your time with it or select a different read.
We’re all a compilation of experiences—positive and negative.
And while most of us are grateful for all the good in our lives, we have questions about the things we wish never happened. We’re disturbed, upset, even traumatized, by these events. As a result, we seek escape. Books afford us that luxury. And even if someone suffering from PTSD can’t get enough thrillers or horror stories, the books are providing a service—if only to satisfy the need for commiseration. There are equally bad, or even worse, situations out there.
Perhaps most interesting of all is the pact book writers make with readers.
Psychological suspense authors assure their devotees that they will delve into the psyche of characters. Plots will be varied and propulsive but always provide insight into the way people think.
This is what draws me in, this quest for knowledge..
Whodunnit or whydunit
Why would someone do something most others would never consider? What motivates a character to disregard safety, love, security, or a host of other stalwart objectives in favor of risk? The quest for these answers is endless and alluring because the human mind is intricate and fascinating.
Psychological suspense readers and writers are never as interested in whodunnit as whydunit. We have a bit of the armchair psychologist in us—a trait the nicest of us share with naughtier souls.
What's coming up?
If you live in the Westchester/Putnam/Dutchess areas of New York, join me on Tuesday, October 28th from 5:30-7pm at the Reed Memorial Library in Carmel, NY, to discuss the charm of creating creepy novels. Light refreshments will be provided.
And for those of you anticipating my next psychological suspense, the pub date has been moved up! MAYBE YOU LIED, about a young man wildly misled about his childhood (the truth providing devastating consequences for his future) will release in September 2026. Preorders will begin in just a few months, so be on the lookout. . .and, as always, happy reading!
Comments