ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Jonathan Santlofer joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about his latest thriller, TEN PERFECT GUESTS, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. He describes the book as a classic whodunit featuring 10 characters brought to an isolated island for a memorial, with an inheritance at stake. Jonathan wanted to use all classic tropes — locked room, large cast, hidden motives — without a detective figure. He explains that managing 10 distinct characters was more difficult than anticipated, requiring a character chart and careful differentiation so readers would not need to look back.
The novel is written in the third-person omniscient perspective, allowing access to all characters' inner thoughts, with the final section shifting to the killer's point of view — which expanded unexpectedly to 35 pages. Jonathan also discusses his next project, the third book in his art-thriller series, which he is working on now.
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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald
Edited by Jordan Redd Productions
