We chat with author Catherine Adel West about Strangers Behind Closed Doors, which is a twisty thriller about a woman who vanishes from a luxury hotel, and the detective who believes the case is tied to the unsolved disappearances of other Black women in the city.
Hi, Catherine! Your latest novel, Strangers Behind Closed Doors (SBCD), is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Unapologetic. Black. Twisty. Action. Chicago.
What can readers expect?
Readers can always expect complicated and layered characters who try to be good people (a morally muddled notion) but sometimes make terrible mistakes in the process. However, there is a lot more action in SBCD. Fight scenes. Car chases. The story still centers around issues affecting the Black community, namely the lack of attention surrounding missing Black women, but there’s less time for contemplation and more time for action.
Where did the inspiration for Strangers Behind Closed Doors come from?
I watched a news clip about Kierra Coles, a Black woman who left her apartment on October 2, 2018, and was never seen again. She was a beautiful, vibrant Chicago post-office worker who was three months pregnant. And apart from minute-long stories on my local news, I didn’t see any further coverage on national media outlets. I only heard about Kierra’s case on the ‘L’ train as I rode to my job where I had to clock in by 5 o’ clock in the morning. So, I saw myself in this situation, in this woman, and it brought up a lot of feelings of anger, resentment, fear, and despair. And of the main ways I deal with negative emotions is by writing, so here we are.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved composing the fight scenes in the book. It really stretched what I knew then as a writer. I know how to fight, but translating that to the written page is much, much more difficult. Thank God, my mom is an Army vet, so I ran a lot of my ideas and scenes by her, and she’d let me know if things made sense logistically or didn’t. Thanks Mom!
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Exploring a new genre (thriller) is exciting for me, but complicated. But there was a lot of questioning if I was doing the right thing. Will my audience support the change? Am I any good in this literary genre? How can I put the ‘Catherine Adel West’ spin on tropes that have been used numerous times?
And the only way for me to overcome the questions and doubts was to write and work through it. That’s what I did. That’s why I have Strangers Behind Closed Doors.
What do you hope readers take away from Strangers Behind Closed Doors?
I want my readers to feel empowered to confront any situation that’s bothering them. If someone attempts to gaslight, discourage or obfuscate, that means they could be on to something. Ultimately, I want my readers to know that it’s okay to question and actively dismantle oppressive systems that are working against their and other people’s best interests; that it’s an act of bravery.
What’s next for you?
Hopefully working on the sequel. I have so many ideas for it but have to get those ideas into a clear and coherent story.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I really enjoyed Successful Failure: Lessons Learned Flat on My Face by Kevin Fredericks; When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole; and Speaking of Summer by Kalisha Buckhanon. I can’t wait to start reading Kin by Tayari Jones and King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby.
