The Woman In the Painting: A Psychological Suspense Novel (Alexandra Mallory Book 3)
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The Woman In the Painting: A Psychological Suspense Novel (Alexandra Mallory Book 3)
A psychological thriller with twists and turns you won't see coming.
They say a picture speaks a thousand words. Sometimes, one of those words means someone deserves to die.
Alexandra loves her glamorous San Francisco apartment, but nothing is going as she'd dreamed. The lucrative job that provides her cover is in jeopardy. Her boss, Tess, is obsessed with a portrait, leaving Alex exposed.Â
No one is what they seem -- the aloof artist, Alexandra's neighbors, and the man who is following her.
Will a beautiful portrait destroy the lives of two women?
"Not your average female protagonist!"
"Alexandra has a code, not unlike Dexter. It's refreshing to see stories that feature women as more than a one-note sacrificial lamb."
Alexandra Mallory is a hypnotic sociopath, using her elusive appeal to get what she wants, and to kill those who deserve to die.
Book Three: The Alexandra Mallory Psychological suspense series
Interview with the author
Q: How do you define psychological suspense?
To me, psychological suspense doesn't emphasize solving a crime, but the forces that lead to crime and a character's effort to avoid detection. It focuses on the mental state -- often paranoia as well as strong emotions of rage, jealousy, and revenge. Psychological suspense novels are the why-dunits of the mystery suspense genre, as opposed to thriller and standard mysteries that are whodunits. In many cases, this means the crime happens near the end of the story, with a growing sense of unease leading up to it.
Q: Alexandra Mallory is a different kind of character,where did the idea of her come from?
I actually set out to write a standalone psychological thriller. About two chapters into the story, I was taking a walk and the thought popped into my head -- Is she a serial killer? I went back and read what I'd written and saw that the seeds of that were there on the very first page. And when I discovered why she killed people, I realized she had a lot more than one story to tell.
Q: This series has been called bizarre, creepy, and unsettling, how do you react to that?
Call me bizarre and unsettling (I don't think I'm creepy), but I'm flattered. I love to read stories that unsettle me, that fill me with dread and unease, and it's a huge thrill to think I'm able to evoke that in others.
Q: Alexandra is a strong feminist, do you see some of yourself in her?
Yes. I've grown tired of seeing and hearing the ways women are subtly and egregiously undermined by culture, language, employers ... the list goes on. Feminists are sometimes accused of hating men. I adore men, as does Alex, and I think many men don't even realize what happens or how that feels and how it shapes your life. The frustration I feel at the sluggish pace of change and the way misogyny is engrained and not even recognized is probably illustrated more than I realize in Alex's drive to right the wrongs she encounters. I also think women are far too often undermining each other, and that theme also emerges in some of the novels.