Q&A: Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, Author of ‘The Trespassers’

We chat with author Jennifer Lynn Alvarez about The Trespassers, which sees a house party spiral into murder in this taut thriller laced with icy suspense and devastating secrets.

Hi, Jennifer! Welcome back! It’s been four years since we spoke for the release of Lies Like Wildfire. How have you been and what have you been up to?

I’ve been great, thanks for asking! My husband and I bought a boxing gym. How crazy is that? It’s his passion, but I’m along for the ride. I now take boxing classes and I’m in the best shape of my life. When I’m not punching a bag, I’m writing. I write six days a week, and I’m noodling around with a few projects right now.

Your latest novel, The Trespassers, is out October 28^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Morally gray, tense, emotional, and twisty.

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect a high-stakes storyline set in the dead of Alaska’s winter. I used to live there, and Cabin Fever, depression, and lack of sunlight are real problems. Readers can also expect complicated friendships, friends-to-lovers romance, arrests, a past murder, and a national media blitz about the childhood friends, framing them as the most “hated teens in America.” Are they awful, or in over their heads? Or both? You’ll have to read to find out!

Where did the inspiration for The Trespassers come from?

I have moved a lot in my life and had to leave friends behind. With each move, I changed. In this book, I wanted to explore a character who leaves her childhood friends, becomes a new person, and then returns. Home doesn’t feel like home, and she doesn’t fit in like she used to. Then the friends make a criminal mistake, and all their differences bubble to the surface, creating incredible tension between them. I guess I really enjoy writing about deep friendships that go sideways under pressure, because my previous books explore similar situations. I also like writing about characters who lie to the police. Why? I have no idea!

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I enjoyed the heck out of writing Cookie Green’s character. She’s Mya’s mom, and I never knew what was going to pop out of her mouth. I also enjoyed exploring the story from two POV’s. Finley, who wants to come clean about what happened at the house party, and Mya, who wants to cover it up. They each have solid reasons that the reader can understand. They each think the other is on the wrong track. I love that dichotomy! And finally, I highlight homelessness in Anchorage, which is an ongoing issue and humanitarian crisis due to the cold. I watched an Anchorage city council meeting on YouTube. There was a passionate debate, with no clear answers on how to solve it or who is responsible for doing so. I don’t provide solutions, but I showcase the issue.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

This book flowed pretty well for me, and that’s not always the case. The main challenge was figuring out how to handle the two POVs and the two timelines. There are flashbacks to a murder that happened when the friends were younger. I decided to write one POV character in first person and the other in third person to make them distinct, especially for the audiobook. I turned the more extended flashbacks into their own chapters with headings that make it clear we’re reading about the past. I preferred this to having long passages in italics. I think it worked out great, and readers have said they like the switch between Finley’s first-person narrative and Mya’s third-person chapters.

This is your tenth novel! What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned as a writer and publishing since your debut?

I have learned to expect the unexpected. In many careers, you follow a predictable ladder to success. You show up, work hard, collaborate with others, meet your deadlines, and you keep advancing to the top. There are no such guarantees in publishing. It keeps me on my toes and pushing to do my best work. I’m not a fan of the unpredictability, but one thing I can count on is that book people are wonderful to work with, no matter what!

What’s next for you?

I have recently finished an adult thriller! I’d like to write for adults, but I have more YA books in me as well. Teen characters are my absolute favorites. Teens are the perfect characters for thrillers. Coming of age combined with criminal behavior, romance, parental expectations, and college apps—does it get any more high stakes?

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I loved Megan Lally’s, That’s Not My Name. I’m excited to pick up Gaslit by Megan Davidhizar when it comes out on January 13th. I’m currently enjoying The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros.

Will you be picking up The Trespassers? Tell us in the comments below!