The Darker Side is a book about secrets. Not itty-bitty secrets, but the ones people cling to as hard as they can because (in their minds) death would be preferable to revelation. This was an idea that formed slowly but kind of inexorably for me. I watch a lot of crime tv, and in addition to the stacks of fiction I devour, I do a fair bit of research.
One of the things that kept striking me, again and again, is how screwed up we all are! Example: 1 in 3 women have been a victim of some form of sexual abuse. 1 in 25 of all the population (a debated estimate, but close enough) are sociopaths. Twenty percent of the US has abused prescription drugs at one time or another. Astounding. I realized we really have no idea what the people we pass by on the street have done, or experienced, or are planning to do. So I decided to explore that in this book, via a killer who is obsessed with the subject.
I steer away from the judgemental. The killer follows a religious theme in line with his obsession, but the book is decidedly not anti-religious. Some of the sinners have done terrible things but are not terrible people… It was important to me to explore the complex, double-edged sword of it all, and I’m happy with the results.
One final note, for those already following this series: Smoky Barrett (our heroine) will be giving up some secrets of her own, and I can promise they will shock you. Really and truly.
Cody McFadyen’s The Darker Side is published by Hodder
