“Succession meets The Guest List when the patriarch of a dysfunctional family has a sudden heart attack and stroke… Twists and clever reveals abound in The Den – and Reinard keeps us guessing to the very end!” – Wendy Walker, national bestselling author of Don’t Look For Me
About the Author: Cara Reinard is an author of women’s fiction and novels of domestic suspense, including Into the Sound and Sweet Water. She has been employed in the pharmaceutical industry for eighteen years, and while Cara loves science, writing is her passion. She currently lives in the Pittsburgh area with her husband, two children, and Bernese Mountain dogs. For more information, visit www.carareinard.com.
Author Site From the Publisher: “A family estate is to die for in a gripping novel of psychological suspense by the author of Into the Sound.
Nothing brings the four Fox siblings together like their detestable father’s heart attack–and a hefty inheritance to be divided equally. At his deathbed is his oldest daughter, Valerie; her irresponsible sister, Lucy; and their two embattled brothers, Christian and Jeremy. Even the former housekeeper, Marian, who’s been with the family for forty years, is on watch. All Valerie hopes for is an amicable reunion, despite the damages of the past.
By punishing means, Stefan Fox raised his children to be competitors. The cruel lessons now serve them well in a game of life and death. When it comes to the family fortune, the rules are simple: fewer siblings means a bigger share…”
More Info “The explosive plot, told through alternating narrators with wildly divergent viewpoints, creates a tense, Machiavellian atmosphere. Readers won’t soon forget this deep dive into twisted family dynamics.” – Publishers Weekly
“Cara Reinard hooks you from the start with breathtaking and heart-pounding scenes bound tight, where fleeting passion and nightmarish memories take centerstage.” – Chris Miller, Best Thriller Books
“Think your family has drama? Wait until you meet the Foxes, who have enough skeletons in their closet to fill a cemetery. Cara Reinard deftly combines twisted family dynamics, escalating tension, and suspicious characters to make The Den a juicy, binge-worthy thriller.” – Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot
“Succession meets Knives Out in this clever, fast-paced, and fun whodunnit thriller!” – Jeneva Rose, Amazon #1 bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage
What’s your connection to Pittsburgh?
I lived on Mount Washington, which overlooks the entire city of Pittsburgh, for a number of years after I graduated from college. Even though I live in the suburbs now, I still consider myself a Pittsburgher, and try to travel to the city for Penguins games (I’m a hockey mom and hockey fan), and concerts whenever I can. I just scored Taylor Swift tickets which proved to be almost as difficult as drafting this novel.
What was your writing process like for The Den?
My deadline for the “The Den” was December of 2021. I found myself doing the heaviest drafting during the fall, right around the time school and my children’s activities geared up. I wrote a good bit of the novel on the sidelines of my daughter’s cheer practices and my son’s hockey practices. I also woke up early for #5amwriters club and got some words in that way. I also attended a writing retreat to finish up edits in the winter months. It’s not so much a “process” as it is a concentrated juggle, but as a working mom, it’s how I do it!
Why did you decide to set the book in Fox Chapel?
My setting often plays the role of “character” in my books. I chose Fox Chapel for my setting because it’s one of the more affluent areas in Pittsburgh and it worked with my storyline. When I started researching Fox Chapel, I found other interesting details about it, like the Fox family who settled the town. From there, I created a cast of characters that is now known as the Fox Family. The very title, “The Den”, is a play off the town, because it’s the name of the newly discovered trust the Fox family battle over in the book.
Who’s your favorite character?
Lucy is my favorite character because she was the most fun to write. She’s free-spirited, impulsive and doesn’t fit the mold of the rest of her family at all. Fish-out-of-water characters are the most interesting for me to draft and create. I can’t say any of the characters are likable, but hopefully readers will find them entertaining to read about.
Who are some of your favorite authors and what inspiration have you drawn from them?
Gillian Flynn—she basically created the domestic suspense when she wrote Gone Girl. I tore through her three books and hope she has more for us soon.
Stephen King—early on, his books on craft were some of the best I’ve read. I recommend On Writing to anyone who inspires to be a writer.
Liane Moriarty—my books cross-genre with women’s fiction, and Moriarty has written some of my favorite. Her books often have a suspense element as well, which is probably why I like them so much.
Anything you’re excited to read in 2023?
I am huge fan of the You series by Caroline Kepnes, which has been adapted into a TV series on Netflix. I’m a sucker for an anti-hero and characters you love to hate, and Kepnes’s Joe Goldberg is a truly unique character with complex problems. I’m looking forward to the release of For You and Only You in April 2023.
What are you working on next?
Right now, I’m working on mix of a few pet projects. I’m graduating with my MFA in Writing in December where I learned how to write screenplays, and I’m collaborating with another screenwriter to create a domestic suspense screenplay as well as starting to draft a new book I hope will be accepted by my publisher. And… I’m really looking forward to launching The Den on December 13th!
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