The spotlight is on Helen Matthews. I am a big fan of Helen’s psychological thrillers/domestic suspense novels, and I have read them all. I knew of Helen through Yvonne Lyon, author of Kept. The first book I read by Helen was After Leaving the Village. Her captivity narrative really captured my attention. Helen’s new book came out on 5th February, and it is called If I Were You. In it, the two protagonists are sisters. How alike and how different could they be when they are under pressure? Let’s hear from Helen.
IN: Your latest novel If I Were You is described as a gripping psychological thriller exploring sisterhood, trust, and deception. How did the idea for this particular story come to you, and what draws you to themes about the darker side of human relationships?
HM: Can you ever really know another person? Even when she’s your sister? Or maybe especially when she’s your sister. I added the idea of a life swap – where older sister, Tessa, has to step into younger sister, Maddie’s shoes on a path that leads to danger and death.
In If I Were You, the antagonist is cruel, manipulative and becomes violent. But in previous books, I’ve delved further into dark minds, creating villains who could be described as evil.
To avoid them being stereotypes, I try to show how they might have lost their humanity.
IN: Your work spans psychological suspense, domestic noir and novels set in France, and your previous books have won prizes such as the Opening Pages Award and the Pageturner Thriller prize. How has your writing voice evolved over the years, and what do you always aim to achieve with each new book?
HM: My novels fit broadly in the psychological suspense genre, but I write standalone novels rather than series. This means I can explore a new topic and keep the journey of discovery fresh for me and for my readers.
I aim to improve my craft by depicting complex, believable characters who can tell their own stories and let my authorial voice fade into the background.
IN: You have an MA in Creative Writing and a background in international development, consultancy and HR. How do your professional and personal experiences influence your approach to character development and plot structure?
HM: The human mind is endlessly fascinating, and studying Psychology for my HR exams introduced me to personality types, traits and behaviour theory. Later, as a manager in the corporate world, I saw these behaviours play out – sociopaths and narcissists are real and live in workplaces and people’s homes, not only in the pages of novels!
IN: For writers reading this, do you have a writing routine or ritual that helps you stay creative and disciplined?
HM: It’s easier to have a writing routine to produce, say, 1,000 words a day, before your first novel is published. Once you have books out in the world, you have to juggle publisher edits, pitching a new book, social media to support a price drop on a backlist novel, talks to groups or libraries and – best of all – meeting writing buddies to critique works in progress. I still aim to write every day, but this might be late at night with a glass of wine by my side.
It’s easier to have a writing routine to produce, say, 1,000 words a day, before your first novel is published.
IN: Your novels often invite book club discussion and explore complex emotional realities. What do you hope readers take away from If I Were You, especially in terms of how we see truth, loyalty, and the stories we tell ourselves?
HM: First, I hope they’ll enjoy it as a gripping page-turner but there are plenty of themes for book groups to discuss. Sisters stretched to breaking point, coping with long illness, a perfect life gone sour, infertility and how longing for a child can drive desperate measures. Other issues include grooming and manipulation, the life swap, grief, loss and recovery, and how the press covers missing people.
IN: That was a most enjoyable conversation. Please tell us something about France. You live in Hampshire, set stories in France and clearly love travel. But if you were in France right now, what would be your go-to meal and drink to relax after a day of writing?
HM: Coquilles Saint-Jacques (scallops) with a glass of rosé, sitting outside a restaurant and watching the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean.
IN: Wow, that sounds marvellous! I would love to join you, Helen. Tell our readers more about yourself and your books.
I write page-turning psychological and suspense thrillers, and I’m fascinated by the darker side of human nature and how a life can change in an instant.
‘If I Were You’ (DP Books) is an emotionally-charged domestic suspense novel that explores sisterhood, manipulation, and the terrifying consequences of believing the wrong person.
Three of my novels are published by Bloodhound Books. ‘The Girl in the Van’ won the suspense and thriller genre prize in the 2022 Pageturner Book Awards. It’s a chilling page-turner that touches on serious and complex themes, including individual grief and vulnerability, as well as societal responsibilities towards the disadvantaged and dispossessed.
‘Girl Out of Sight’ is a dark suspense thriller about human trafficking, and ‘The Sisters’ is twisty noir about tragedy, guilt and revenge in a family where ‘silence echoes louder than truth’.
My other books are ‘Lies Behind the Ruin’, domestic suspense, a short story and travel writing collection ‘Brief Encounters.’
Read more about If I Were You: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G64HJ23M
Find Helen here:
https://www.helenmatthewswriter.com
https://www.Instagram.com/helen.matthews7
https://Facebook.com/HelenMK7Writer
IN: Lastly, Helen, please share with readers and tell us about a picture that you like.
HM: This is an early spring photo of me with rescue dog Homer on the beach in France.
IN: He’s a very cute doggy, and you’re lucky to have him travel to France with you.
