About the author:
Sarah Barrie is a bestselling Australian author writing suspense in rural settings. Her debut bestselling print novel, Secrets of Whitewater Creek, earned her a spot as one of the Top 10 breakthrough authors of that year, and her next three books, the Hunters Ridge series, also reached bestseller status.
Sarah has also worked as a teacher, a vet nurse, a horse trainer and a magazine editor.
Her favourite place in the world is the family property, where she writes her stories overlooking mountains crisscrossed with farmland, bordered by the beauty of the Australian bush, and where, at the end of the day, she can spend time with family, friends, a good Irish whiskey and a copy of her next favourite book.
Buy a copy of Devil’s Lair here. // Read our review of Devil’s Lair here.
Your latest book, Devil’s Lair, is described as a taut psychological suspense set in a dramatic Tasmanian landscape. Can you tell us a bit more about the book?
Devil’s Lair is the story of a young widow who flees to Tasmania to escape a traumatic event and the accompanying media presence. But what she thinks of as the perfect place to recover is actually more of a threat to her safety and sanity than what she’s left behind. As those around her start dying and unexplainable events take place inside her cottage, she finds herself fighting for her life and the lives of those she loves.
What inspired the idea behind this novel?
I was watching a documentary about a particularly gruesome killer. It was claimed the wife had no knowledge of his crimes. I found it fascinating that it was possible to be so oblivious to a loved one’s true nature and actions. That led me to wondering what would have happened if this woman had found out the truth about her husband prior to his capture. And it all unfolded from there.
What do you hope the reader will take away from this book?
I think it will leave people questioning how well you can really ever know anyone – even those closest to you. I hope they’ll take away the message that happiness, even after deep trauma and grief, is possible no matter how unlikely it may seem.
What’s your daily writing routine like?
It changes from day to day due to parenting and farm commitments, but I like to aim for four hours writing during the day and I’ll generally do a little more in the evening once the rest of the family have gone to bed.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on another psychological suspense based around a young woman attempting to escape her current demons by facing those from her past. It’s darker and more confronting than my previous books, and that much more difficult to write. But it’s coming along well and I’m hoping it’s going to be a great story that hits home in a positive way that readers remember.
Home Grown Thrillers Event
A unique crime writer roadshow is heading to a number of venues over the next week, starting with the The Vanguard in Newtown on July 30. Join authors Wendy James, Nicola Moriarty, Sarah Barrie and Anna Snoekstra as they discuss their thrilling crime novels.
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