“Dark Obsessions is a taut and terrifying descent into madness and redemption. With strong echoes of HBO’s “Mare of Eastown” and Showtime’s “American Rust,” as well as the brilliant work of Karin Slaughter, Marie Sutro’s brilliant psychological thriller is pop culture entertainment at its absolute best… Sutro’s keen and clever exploration of rural America’s underbelly makes for a stunning exercise in small-town noir that is not to be missed.” —Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of Strong Cold Dead
This is an interview with Marie Sutro, the author of Dark Obsessions
What is your book about?
Reeling from the trauma of her last case, SFPD Detective Kate Barnes heads to the Olympic Peninsula hoping to heal the present by resolving the past. When the ravaged corpse of an unidentified teen is discovered, her search for personal peace takes a back seat to the quest for justice.
As Kate digs deeper, she discovers the victim was not the only one who had been taken against her will. Racing against the clock to rescue the remaining girls, she uncovers a complex series of ever-increasing horrors. In the darkest corners of Washington state, Kate Barnes will come face-to-face with an adversary so ruthless and powerful that it will take everything she has to save herself, let alone the girls.
What was the most difficult part about writing the book?
During the course of Kate’s investigation, she uncovers a sex trafficking ring. In order to treat the topic properly I had to take a deep dive into researching that world. Needless to say, it was extremely heart-wrenching work.
The most rewarding?
Knowing I have helped raise awareness of a cruel and inhumane practice.
What do you hope other people will take away from reading your book?
I hope people understand a little more about the dark cruelties involved in sex trafficking and might be energized to support domestic and international efforts to eradicate it. I also hope Kate’s journey of self examination awakens others to look at what old traumas they might be carrying and possibly inspire them to take steps toward resolution.
What was the biggest challenge in writing your book?
Besides the difficult subject matter, the biggest challenge was the fact that while I had visited Seattle and Belleview, I had never actually set foot on the Olympic Peninsula. Setting is extremely important to me so I immersed myself in research, but even that has its limits. Eventually, I hopped on a plane to verify the accuracy of locations, meet with local law enforcement, and generally make sure I captured the right air of authenticity.
What’s the best writing advice you ever received?
Just write. You can always edit later.
What’s next for you?
I am currently writing the third book in the Kate Barnes series and have a few other projects in the pipeline. My fingers are crossed (and double crossed) in hopes that the pandemic will continue to wane as I have been itching to get back on a plane and start exploring more of the world outside of the United States.
What’s next for you?
I am currently writing the third book in the Kate Barnes series and have a few other projects in the pipeline. My fingers are crossed (and double crossed) in hopes that the pandemic will continue to wane as I have been itching to get back on a plane and start exploring more of the world outside of the United States.
What is the best way for our readers to connect with you?
Website: https://www.mariesutro.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MarieSutro
IG: https://www.instagram.com/marie.sutro/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mariesutro
About the Author
Marie Sutro is an award-winning and bestselling author. In 2018, she won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for the Best New Voice in Fiction, for her debut novel, Dark Associations.Her stories are inspired by her family’s legacy.
Her father, grandfather and great-grandfather all served in the San Francisco Police Department. She resides in Northern California and is currently at work on the next Kate Barnes story.
