**Shari Lapena Reflects on a Decade of Thrillers with New Release ‘Getting Away With Murder’**
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As Shari Lapena celebrates a decade since her breakthrough novel, *The Couple Next Door*, the Canadian author is once again capturing readers’ imaginations with her latest thriller, *Getting Away With Murder*. With its unique twist on the traditional whodunnit formula, the new book showcases Lapena’s distinctive approach to storytelling that has established her as a major figure in contemporary crime fiction.
Lapena, who lives on a farm just outside Toronto, began her literary journey as an indie author dedicated to literary fiction. However, her career took a dramatic turn when *The Couple Next Door* became an international sensation. “I wrote it as a bit of a lark, almost as an experiment,” she told *People* magazine. The rapid success of her debut caught her off guard; it quickly became a New York Times bestseller and has sold over four million copies globally, securing options for a film adaptation by Paramount.
Reflecting on her career transformation, Lapena noted how her newfound success has allowed her to focus solely on writing thrillers, a shift that has been life-altering. “It changed my life significantly,” she explains. “It enabled me to stop everything else I was doing and just write thrillers. This freedom has allowed me to travel extensively, which has been truly rewarding.”
Ten novels later, Lapena has firmly established her voice and style in the genre. However, she is keen to push beyond the boundaries of formulaic narratives. “I always want to try to do something a little different, a little more challenging with each book,” she remarks. “It’s important to me that each book is a little different. I strive to make each one better than the last.”
*Getting Away With Murder*, her most recent work, exemplifies this ambition. This gripping tale subverts the ordinary crime narrative by following a couple, Jill and Ted, who plot to orchestrate the perfect murder in order to salvage their floundering upscale lifestyle. “When their way of life is threatened, they resort to drastic measures, contemplating the murder of a wealthy family member for a potential inheritance,” the author describes. Yet, predictably, their plans begin to unravel in unforeseen ways.
In crafting the story, Lapena’s inventiveness shines through as she delves into notions of crime and human relationships under pressure. “There’s a lot going on. They’re under intense pressure, and I love to see characters fall apart under such conditions,” she explains, highlighting her penchant for exploring the dynamics of stress and conflict in her novels.
The psychological tension is another aspect of her writing that Lapena believes resonates deeply with readers. “These stories allow for escapism; they can be quite riveting, much like watching a car crash unfold,” she observes. Lapena is clear about her personal philosophy: while she detests tension in her own life, she relishes creating it in her fictional worlds. “That’s what fiction’s for,” she says, “to explore the tension and conflicts we typically avoid in reality.”
Despite the often dark themes of her narratives, Lapena reveals that she maintains an upbeat disposition in her personal life. “Oddly enough, many thriller writers tend to be sunny individuals despite their dark material,” she notes, chuckling at the contrast. She adds that writing the intense scenes is exhilarating for her, rather than draining.
The author also speculates about the therapeutic potential of writing for those who may struggle with darker impulses. “It’s an interesting thought that perhaps violent offenders could find some catharsis in writing crime novels,” she muses, considering the creative process as a possible outlet for suppressed emotions.
As *Getting Away With Murder* hits shelves, readers can anticipate a thrilling tale that is distinctively Lapena’s. Her remarkable ability to blend credible character development with suspenseful plots ensures that her latest work will be another compelling addition to her expanding oeuvre.
Lapena’s readers would do well to keep an eye out for her upcoming projects, as she consistently seeks to innovate within the genre that has so greatly embraced her. With every new release, she continues to solidify her reputation as a master storyteller, expertly drawing audiences into intricate webs of suspense, deceit, and human fallibility. *Getting Away With Murder* is now available at all leading bookstores, promising to be a gripping page-turner for fans and newcomers alike.