Hey, booklovers! Welcome back to another edition of Jen's Jewels! This week, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Mary Kubica, the mastermind behind some of the most gripping thrillers out there. From Local Woman Missing to Just the Nicest Couple, Mary's stories always keep us on the edge of our seats. Today, she's here to chat about her newest release, SHE’S NOT SORRY, a tale woven with secrets, remorse, and the intricate dance of human relationships. So, grab your favorite beverage and get cozy because you won't want to miss this thrilling conversation.
Jennifer Vido: What inspired you to write this gripping thriller, particularly the intertwining themes of secrets, remorse, and the complexities of human relationships?
Mary Kubica: The twist in this book actually came to me first, and then I went back and very deliberately created the story of Meghan and others to work toward the twist. That said, characters are very important to me and having the complex relationships between mother and daughter, wife and ex-husband, a woman and an old friend, and a nurse and her patient helped make these characters all the more authentic and relatable. One of the most vital parts of writing mysteries and thrillers to me is finding that balance between pacing and flawed but well-developed characters that pull the reader into the story.
Jen: Could you walk us through your writing process?
Mary: As far as pantsers and plotters go, I am a proud pantser! Although this time I knew my twist when I began writing SHE’S NOT SORRY (which is unusual for me; I usually don’t!), I had no idea how I was going to get there exactly, how the story would develop or the many secrets that the characters were going to reveal to me along the way. Typically, I love to go into a book without overthinking the plot or the characters. I enjoy getting to know them organically as I’m writing, and to solve the mystery right along with my characters. If I’m surprised by a twist, then I feel confident my readers will be too.
Jen: Meghan Michaels is portrayed as a multifaceted character balancing the roles of single mother and ICU nurse. Can you tell us about the development of Meghan's character and what aspects of her personality you found most compelling to explore?
Mary: To me, Meghan is one of the most relatable characters I’ve written. She’s a mother, who always puts her daughter first. She’s also recently divorced and trying to get back on her feet following the divorce, to find that all-important work/life balance, and perform well at her job as a nurse at the same time. She’s incredibly empathetic both at home and work, but proves there is nothing she won’t do when the people she cares most about are in danger. She’s a strong woman and a character that readers will have a great amount of respect for.
Jen: Caitlin's traumatic brain injury serves as a pivotal point in the story. What kind of research did you undertake to accurately portray the medical and emotional aspects of such an injury?
Mary: When I decided to set much of this book in an ICU and to have an unconscious patient with a TBI, I knew I had to get the research just right! I did quite a bit of research on my own but am also extremely fortunate to know a number of wonderful women in nursing who were more than happy to help. I interviewed a couple of them to get clarification on the daily life of a nurse and to ask some more specific medical questions that I had, and then I asked the others to read a draft of the book and let me know what, if any, mistakes I had made. It was so helpful. I can do all the research in the world, but there is nothing as beneficial as speaking to an expert in the field.
Jen: The title of the book suggests a focus on secrets. How do you approach revealing these secrets to the reader in a way that keeps them engaged and guessing until the very end?
Mary: This type of book can’t rely only on the reveal of one big twist, because if the readers figure it out before the end, they’ll be disappointed. There needs to be many more reveals throughout, even if they are much smaller and less impactful than that ultimate twist. By ending chapters on cliffhangers that propel the readers onto the next page, and by layering many more secrets and reveals throughout the book instead of just one big one at the end, it keeps the reader immersed in the story throughout.
Jen: Readers on platforms like BookTok have been raving about the book. How do you think the book resonates with audiences, and what do you hope readers take away from the experience of reading it?
Mary: My biggest goal is that the reader will be surprised by my twists. But characters that resonate with my readers, a story that makes them think or touches on some moral dilemma or important societal issues are very important to me too. I want my books to be page-turning thrillers, but also the type of books where the characters and their actions stay with readers long after they finish the last page.
Jen: As the author of bestsellers like Local Woman Missing and Just the Nicest Couple, what draws you to the thriller genre, and what sets this book apart from your previous works?
Mary: I’ve always been drawn to thrillers and mysteries, and I think it’s because of their intrigue and my own need to know; I love creating these mysteries so I can solve them right along with my characters and readers! The medical aspect of SHE’S NOT SORRY is so unlike anything I’ve ever done. Hospitals are very atmospheric – if not creepy – places. As a patient, you’re in a vulnerable position, completely at the mercy of the people who are taking care of you. There are risks as well to the medical staff, as they are looking after complete strangers and, at times, putting themselves in harm’s way to take care of someone else. These are topics I’ve never explored in any of my previous novels.
Jen: Are there any particular scenes or characters in the book that were incredibly challenging or rewarding for you to write?
Mary: Because I had the twist in mind when I started writing this book – and because the experience of building up to a twist instead of figuring it out as I wrote was so different for me – it was incredibly rewarding writing the scenes around the twist itself and feeling that wonderful sense of satisfaction of having it all come together like I’d hoped!
Jen: In today's digital age, how do you think readers can engage with you and your work beyond simply reading the book? Are there any upcoming events or discussions where readers can connect with you?
Mary: I have many upcoming events, which are listed on my website. Beyond that, I love engaging with readers on Facebook or Instagram. It’s an amazing thing when I get to share characters and ideas that were once only living inside my head with readers – and there’s nothing more fulfilling than when a reader reaches out to say that they were surprised by a twist or that a character really resonated with them. I’ve been lucky to connect with many wonderful readers over the years, and I’m so grateful for them.
Jen: Finally, what's next for you as an author? Can you give us any hints about your future projects?
Mary: I’m working on my next novel, which is loosely based on true crime. This one is about two families who go vacationing in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, when terrible things happen. I can’t share much, as the story is still in its infancy, but I’m so excited to see where it goes and to share it with readers when it’s done!
Jen: Thank you for sharing an inside peek into SHE’S NOT SORRY—best of luck with your fantastic new book!
Mary: Thanks Jen!
An ICU nurse accidentally uncovers a patient’s frightening past in this chilling thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman Missing and Just the Nicest Couple.
Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mom to a teenage daughter and working as a full time nurse. While on duty at the hospital one day, a patient named Caitlin arrives in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, having jumped from a bridge and plunging over twenty feet to the train tracks below.
But when a witness comes forward with shocking details about the fall, it calls everything they know into question. Was Caitlin pushed and if so, by whom and why?
Meghan has always tried to stay emotionally detached from her patients, but this time, she mistakenly lets herself get too close until she’s deeply entangled in Caitlin’s and her family’s lives. Only when it’s too late, does she realize that she and her daughter could be the next victims.
Thriller Medical | Thriller Psychological | Thriller Domestic [Park Row, On Sale: April 2, 2024, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9780778308065 / eISBN: 9780369746948]
Mary Kubica is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many suspense novels, including THE GOOD GIRL, PRETTY BABY, DON’T YOU CRY, EVERY LAST LIE, WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT, THE OTHER MRS. and LOCAL WOMAN MISSING.
A former high school history teacher, Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in History and American Literature. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two children.
Her first novel THE GOOD GIRL was an Indie Next pick in August of 2014, received a Strand Critics Nomination for Best First Novel and was a nominee in the Goodreads Choice Awards in Debut Goodreads Author and in Mystery & Thriller for 2014.
LOCAL WOMAN MISSING was an Indie Next pick in May of 2021, a nominee in the Goodreads Choice Awards in Mystery & Thriller for 2021, and a finalist for an Audie Award.
Mary’s novels have been selected as Amazon Best Books of the Month and have been LibraryReads selections. They’ve been translated into over thirty languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. She’s been described as “a helluva storyteller,” (Kirkus Reviews) and “a writer of vice-like control,” (Chicago Tribune), and her novels have been praised as “hypnotic” (People) and “thrilling and illuminating” (Los Angeles Times). She is currently working on her next novel.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry filled with southern charm and hospitality. In between chapters, she interviews authors for her bi-weekly Jen’s Jewels column on FreshFiction.com. Most mornings, she teaches an arthritis-friendly water exercise class for seniors before heading to the office to serve as the executive director of a legal non-profit. A New Jersey native, she currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two rescue dogs and is the proud parent of two sons who miss her home-cooked meals. To learn more, please visit her website.
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