When the fiancée of a prominent attorney is murdered, Dr. Pepper Hunt joins forces again with Detective Beau Antelope of the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Department to search for the killer.
J.L. Doucette returns with On A Quiet Street, the second instalment in her Dr. Pepper Hunt series! We had the pleasure of chatting to J.L. about her new novel, along with discussing writing, inspiration, and book recommendations!
Hi JL! Tell us a little about yourself!
I’m a psychologist inspired to write a mystery with a psychologist protagonist, similar to the work of best-selling author Jonathan Kellerman, also a psychologist, well-known for his character, Dr. Alex Delaware.
On A Quiet Street is the second novel in the Dr. Pepper Hunt series. If you could only use five words to describe it, what would they be?
Moody, evocative, interesting, suspenseful, character-driven.
Let’s hear a little more! What can readers expect?
I chose the title because it’s a phrase often used by reporters describing a crime occurring in a location typically thought of as safe. Deception is the theme of the book. We are often deceived by the appearance of things and, of course, we participate in the illusion because we so much want to believe everything is okay. The story opens with the murder of a woman a month before she is to be married. The investigation into her death reveals secrets held by each of the other characters whose stories connect to the murder.
Was there anything in particular that inspired you while writing this second novel?
I have always been interested in betrayal and the impact it has on the human heart. I began to think of all the ways humans experience betrayal at both the personal and institutional level and this led to betrayal becoming integral to the plot.
Why mysteries?
A mystery implies questions and in the process of answering questions a story evolves. I think there is mystery at the core of all great novels. It’s what keeps the reader interested. Writing murder mysteries engages the readers’ need for understanding an outrageous action–taking the life of another human–something that is outside normal human experience. It’s terrifying and fascinating to contemplate. Writing a murder mystery guarantees that you are dealing with a high-stakes issue which will engage the reader throughout the book.
Are there any challenges you face while writing?
I could always use more time. I continue to work full time in my psychology practice. I take one full day away from that work per week. Monday is devoted to writing. As for challenges with the writing itself, I’d have to say working with plot lines. Since my novels are character-driven, the plot must adhere to what the characters are motivated to do. Creating a believable plot that flows and maintains the integrity of the characters is a challenge.
What does a normal writing day look like for you?
Most days writing happens in the early morning before going to my practice. On Monday I have been known to write for up to 12 hours straight, mostly when I’m revising. But more likely I’m putting in an eight-hour day on Monday. I don’t listen to music and prefer total quiet, turn off my phone and am alone in the house with no other signal of life around.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
The usual—keep writing and don’t give up. If you want it, it will happen, because if you want it, you will accept it takes a lot of work and time when nothing is happening in the way of gratification. It basically takes everything. I wrote the first draft of both my novels in NaNoWriMo 2009 and 2010 and the books didn’t get published until 2017 and 2019. That’s a long time without gratification in the form of publication. Also, give up any mindless entertainment such as TV or video games. You don’t have time for it because your writing is waiting.
What’s next for you?
Book 3 in the series. The working title is Unknown Assailant. The location shifts to a different Wyoming town, Jackson Hole, for a change of scenery. I’m not sure there’s much more I can say about the landscape and weather in southwestern Wyoming.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us?
Tim Johnston’s Descent for the precision of the language and intimate character portrayals; Jane Harper’s The Dry for the evocative rendering of place and slow, suspenseful revelation of plot; Tana French’s Faithful Place for the impeccably beautiful language and a plot filled with longing and heartache.
AUTHOR BIO
Rhode Island based psychologist, J. L. Doucette is the author of the Dr. Pepper Hunt Mysteries. Her new novel, On a Quiet Street, is the second in the series following her award-winning debut, Last Seen. After earning a doctorate in counseling psychology from Boston University she moved to southwest Wyoming. The stark landscape of the high-desert, where a constant wind stirs crimes of passion, is the setting for her psychological mysteries. You can find J. L. on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
