The spring issue of Suspense Magazine is out and it’s free to download!
In this action-packed issue, you can find a column by me starting on page 79. I talk about The Shadows, a fantastic mystery novel written by Alex North. I also have a writing activity that breaks down one of best parts about North’s book: the duality between his principle characters. North’s story is spooky and intense, in no small part because of the way he lets his characters feed off one another. Their diverse opinions about the supernatural drives the conflict and tears apart friends.
Duality naturally creates conflict. It separates people, driving a wedge between them. We’re all familiar with this. We’ve all endured the pains of adolescence when we found ourselves drifting away from a friend (or group of friends) over differences in opinion about one thing or another. Great authors use this to their advantage, and Alex North is a master of it.