We chat with author Robyn Harding about Strangers in the Villa, which is a psychological thriller about a couple rocked by infidelity who moves to a villa in Spain’s Costa Brava to rebuild their relationship, only to welcome a pair of visitors who have no intention of leaving.
Hi, Robyn! Welcome back! How have you been since we last spoke for the release of The Drowning Woman?
I’ve been great, thank you! Since we last spoke, I wrote a novel called The Haters that published in 2024. And I’m very excited about my 2026 release!
Your latest novel, Strangers in the Villa, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Exotic, twisted, timely, steamy, disturbing
What can readers expect?
They can expect a beautiful but unnerving trip to a Spanish villa where a couple is trying to rebuild their marriage after an infidelity. When another couple breaks down on the road outside, they invite them in. But the strangers have secrets of their own, and as the days pass, bonds are tested, betrayals revealed, and not everyone will leave the villa alive.
Where did the inspiration for Strangers in the Villa come from?
We took a fabulous trip to the Costa Brava a few years ago. While there, we met a couple from Australia who had recently bought a remote house on a hillside above the Mediterranean. They were living their dream, but I couldn’t help thinking how it could all go so wrong. They were very isolated. They didn’t speak the language. They didn’t have any community. It felt like a great way to raise the stakes in a thriller scenario.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing the Spanish setting, turning a place that is so idyllic into something thrumming with dread and menace. And I loved the interplay between these two couples. It was so fun to write a dinner party scene where too much vermouth has been consumed, where everyone has secrets, and every word is loaded.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
The structure of the novel was tricky because it moves back in forth in time, and between characters. I had to do more outlining, to make sure the puzzle fit together, but I love playing with interesting ways to tell a story.
With a number of novels to your name, what are some of the key lessons you’ve learned since your debut?
I’ve learned to write what I like to read, and that has changed a lot over the years. As a writer, you have to spend many months immersed in a story, so you want to enjoy the experience.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a new novel tentatively entitled The Bad Summer. It’s about an island in the Pacific Northwest that is owned by thirty private shareholders. When an allotment is suddenly listed for sale a new family snaps it up. They’re thrilled to be a part of this exclusive community, but the island has a dark history that could put them in danger.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
I’m such a fan of Lisa Jewell and her new novel, It Could Have Been Her, will undoubtedly be excellent. I also got a sneak peek at an early draft of Liz Nugent’s latest, The Truth About Ruby Cooper. It was amazing and I’m excited to read a finished copy.
