Like many people, I grew up being told that seeing a single magpie is bad luck unless you wish them well. I took that idea and changed it slightly: a dad telling his daughter a story to disguise a terrible truth. Magpies collect precious things, so it fit the character perfectly.

Do you think Jess should have gone to the lengths she did to catch the Magpie Man?

Jess has spent a decade defined by her mother’s murder. For a long time, she felt powerless, but now she has a chance to solve the crime. On occasions, it could be argued that she goes too far, yet she is driven solely by her quest for justice. As she says, she’s spent her life hiding, and now she wants to seek.

What other books would you recommend to fans of your book?

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is a great book that is brilliantly executed. I’m also a big fan of Karen M. McManus’s books. While she’s not a YA author, Gillian Flynn was a huge inspiration for 14 Ways to Die. All her books are superb, and after reading Gone Girl, I was inspired to sit down and write a thriller of my own.

Who is your favorite character?

I love Emily as a character. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind, and she was a lot of fun to write. She brings some light to a dark story, and some of her lines still make me chuckle now.

Did you find it challenging to create a sense of mystery? What tips would you give to budding thriller writers?

When you know who did it, it’s a lot easier to draw suspicion elsewhere. I think creating mystery comes in the later drafts, when you can have fun with red herrings. I try to picture every chapter as a scene in a movie. By working in a more sensory way, I find the suspense comes easier.

Which was the most enjoyable scene to write?

The cemetery scene and the moments leading up to that were a lot of fun. I also loved writing the chapters at Mayfield Lodge. The change of setting and pace allows Jess some much-needed time to assess what she’s achieved so far, and it offers her a glimpse of life after the show.

Are you scared of anything?

I’m still a little bit scared of that alley!

A Sneak Peek of Lock the Doors

Keep reading for a sneak peek of Vincent Ralph’s upcoming YA thriller, Lock the Doors—coming March 2022

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Home is where the hate is.

I was eight when I figured that out, watching from my bedroom window as my mother and her boyfriend argued in the garden. His name was Gary, and he drank a lot. And not because he was thirsty.