We chat with Sarah Bonner about her latest novel Her Sweet Revenge, which is a suspenseful, complex thriller with a dark take on just how far someone would go in the name of friendship.
Hi, Sarah! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I live in the UK (in a little village between London and Brighton) with my husband and our totally spoilt rescue dog, Lily. By day I’m an accountant/project manager and then I write most evenings and weekends. Outside of that, I love to travel (my favourite places are Las Vegas and New York), to go for long walks with Lily, and of course to read!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve always been a huge reader and grew up in a house full of towering bookcases! I always dreamt of being a playwright, but then life got in the way and I ended up working in finance. I started writing about 5 years ago and then used the Covid lockdown to really focus on completing my first novel, which was published in 2022.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
Gosh, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t reading; although I do have a particularly vivid memory of reading a book called The Wolves of Willouby Chase by Joan Aiken when I was little and loving how scary it was! The one that made me want to become an author is probably Misery by Stephen King (despite the fate of the author protagonist!) as it really made me fall in love with the thriller genre. And the one I can’t stop thinking about has to be Last One At The Party by Bethany Clift, a post apocalyptic story about the last woman left alive following a pandemic which really twists that genre on its head in a brilliant way.
Your latest novel, Her Sweet Revenge, is out September 5th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
That’s such a hard question! I’d have to say it’s a fun, twisty, fast-paced revenge thriller.
What can readers expect?
Her Sweet Revenge tells the story of Helena who is locked in a battle of wits with her hideous mother in law, and Thea who four years later is seeking revenge for Helena’s murder. Readers can expect themes of friendship, wealth and class, and the lengths we go to keep our secrets. Plus a fair few unexpected twists and turns along the way!
Where did the inspiration for Her Sweet Revenge come from?
My debut, Her Perfect Twin, was about a woman trying to get away with accidentally murdering her identical twin by living both their lives. I wanted to build on some of those themes in my second novel, especially the idea of ordinary people being thrust into extraordinary situations and how far they might go in the spirit of justice. Revenge for a friend’s murder seemed like the perfect place to start!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing Geraldine, the evil mother in law from hell! She was great fun to write and also a fantastic way to explore class and wealth. I also really enjoyed crafting the relationship between Thea and Helena and the way that our adult friendships develop as we get older and our lives start to diverge.
This is your second novel! Can you tell us about any learnings you had between writing the two?
I think every writer will say the second book is the hardest, and that was definitely true for me too! Perhaps it’s because there is new-found pressure and suddenly you have a deadline to hit. But knowing I’d already done it once was a huge help, and I keep a copy of my debut on my writing desk to prove it to myself!
What’s next for you?
Well I’ve already written a third novel, but I can’t say anymore about it just yet! And I’m now working on the fourth, plus developing ideas for other projects. I feel so privileged to be able to share my passion for stories with readers.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
One of my recent favourites was How To Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent; it’s a gloriously fun take on the female serial killer and such a brilliant read. Or if you like your thrillers full of suspense, try The Couple in the Photo by Helen Cooper.
When is the third Sarah Bonner being published?