Sarah A. Denzil Crafts Psychological Thrillers That Grip Readers With Emotion and Suspense

PHOTO: Bestselling author Sarah A. Denzil at home in Yorkshire, where the atmospheric landscape inspires her haunting and emotional thrillers. Credit: Tony Blundell

Inside the Mind of a Bestselling Author of Dark and Twisting Psychological Fiction

Bestselling author Sarah A. Denzil discusses her writing process, character creation, emotional depth, and the inspiration behind her psychological thrillers, offering advice for aspiring authors and devoted readers alike.

Sarah A. Denzil has an extraordinary gift for plunging readers into dark, emotionally charged worlds where suspense isn’t just a genre device—it’s a lingering, visceral presence. With her breakout hit Silent Child becoming a number-one bestseller and a Goodreads Choice semi-finalist, Denzil has firmly established herself as one of the most compelling voices in psychological suspense today. Her books, translated into multiple languages and featured on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list, captivate a global audience with their deft blend of emotional intensity, richly drawn characters, and jaw-dropping twists.

In this exclusive interview for Novelist Post, Denzil opens the door to her creative process, offering a glimpse into the craft behind her gripping narratives. From the moody landscapes of Yorkshire that inspire her settings to the razor-sharp psychology behind her characters, Denzil reveals how she balances emotional depth with page-turning suspense. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering her work for the first time, this conversation highlights why Sarah A. Denzil’s thrillers are more than just books—they’re experiences that stay with you long after the final page.

Sarah A. Denzil writes unforgettable, emotionally resonant thrillers with masterful suspense, making her a standout voice in psychological fiction.

How do you balance the emotional intensity of your psychological thrillers with maintaining suspense throughout the story?

That’s a great question! It’s certainly hard to balance, particularly when different readers have different expectations when it comes to a psychological thriller. Some readers need in depth character development to be gripped. Others are mainly concerned with action. Domestic thrillers in particular can be slow-burn literary books with a dark twist, or melodrama that begins from the first page. Both are great!

I really enjoy the psychology involved in crafting a thriller, so character study is important to me. I also really love writing dialogue which I think is a great way to include emotional intensity and character development while also keep the reader engaged.

Which of your characters has been the most challenging for you to write, and why?

There are two characters in The Housemaid that I can’t even mention by name because it’s a spoiler. But writing those two characters proved extremely tricky. Firstly, there’s a huge twist that needed to make sense but also be a shock. At the same time, I needed to make both characters have their own sense of personality but not reveal enough of it to ruin the twist.

“I really enjoy the psychology involved in crafting a thriller.” — Sarah A. Denzil

How does living in Yorkshire influence the settings and atmosphere of your novels?

I live on the edge of the Peak District which makes it very easy to picture an atmospheric landscape. The moors crop up in my books over and over again. I love that there’s such a cinematic sense of place to some of my scenes. Such as in Secret Sister where a villain is attempting to dig a grave on the moors, only to turn around and see his victim has vanished.

I grew up in a small village in Derbyshire and I love to write fictional villages and small rural towns. In Silent Child, Bishoptown-on-Ouse gives the novel a claustrophobic feel to it. I believe I gave it one church and three pubs which was very similar to where I grew up!

Can you walk us through your brainstorming process when you first get a spark of an idea?

It tends to be different for each book. For Silent Child I had two images in my mind. The first was of a teenage boy stumbling through the woods alone. The second was of a pregnant woman fighting for her life and her son’s life while in labour. Both extremely dramatic! I then had to figure out the logistics to work around those two ideas.

I’m often more traditional in my approach. I examine the tropes of the genre and think about ways I can personalise or flip them to surprise readers. Then I create a hook. Next comes the characters. I’ll write down names, ages and aspects of their personality. Sometimes I bullet point the whole story, visualising it like a movie. Other times I dive in once I have the premise and the characters, seeing where the story will take me!

What is the most unexpected source of inspiration you’ve ever drawn from?

Most of my inspiration comes from books, television and movies. One aspect of a character in someone else’s art can become the inspiration for your own character, even if they don’t end up being alike at all. While watching a true crime documentary, I saw an interview with a victim who woke up wrapped in plastic sheeting. She then had to struggle out of the thick plastic, while injured, and run to get help. The tenacity of that moment inspired a character in Secret Sister. I didn’t actually include a scene with plastic, I just kept her fighting spirit in mind as I wrote her.

“Sometimes I bullet point the whole story, visualizing it like a movie.” — Sarah A. Denzil

How do you manage working under multiple pen names across different genres?

Not very well! I get the bright idea of writing in a completely different genre. It’s like I need a palate cleanser every once in a while. The truth is that it’s really hard for me to write two different books at the same time and I get burned out quite quickly. I recently had to hit pause on a very fun paranormal series that I was writing because I needed to focus on the thrillers. Hopefully in the not-too-distant future I’ll be able to finish it.

What advice would you give to readers who are just discovering your work—where should they start?

The good news is that I have a psychological thriller for all moods! For anyone in the mood for an emotional, dark story, then Silent Child is a good place to start. Only Daughter is great for character study. Find Her is fun for people who love POV switches and timeline switches. Little One and The Nice Guy take place in both the UK and the US. We Play Games is for thriller lovers interested in unusual marriages. Any of those are great places to start!

In your opinion, what makes a great psychological thriller truly unforgettable?

For me personally, it’s emotional weight and character. I love a twist, but I find if that twist doesn’t come with any emotional resonance, then it might be jaw-dropping, but it doesn’t make the book memorable.

The book that got me into thrillers was The Girl on The Train. There are two main reveals, and both of them are devastating to the characters. The twist changes the tone completely, and that’s the best kind.

One of my favourite books doesn’t have a twist at all. It’s probably more of a literary suspense novel but still counts as a psychological thriller because you can’t put it down. That’s The Push by Ashley Audrain. One of the best books to examine generational trauma and motherhood.

“Psychological thrillers tend to be standalone books which means with every book you get a new opportunity to hook the reader.” — Sarah A. Denzil

How do you decide when a story idea is better suited for a full-length novel versus a short story or novella?

Good question! There are times when I just have an instinct that this story is meant to be short and punchy. But it could probably be a novel with a sub plot or more characters if I really wanted to expand it.

I wrote science fiction and fantasy short stories before I ever tried writing a novel and had a few published in different publications. Sometimes I want to go back to that short form just because I miss it.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors trying to build a career in psychological suspense?

Read plenty of books in the genre and start from there. Notice themes, tropes, and pacing. You can absolutely put your own spin on them, but it’s good to at least take it all in.

It’s a crowded genre but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to make it through. Psychological thrillers tend to be standalone books which means with every book you get a new opportunity to hook the reader. I’ve been quite experimental with some of my books. Some haven’t paid off at all and I’ve had to regroup and figure out what readers want from my books. Every time you publish a new book you get another chance to find the readers who will stick with you for the rest of your publishing journey.