Sep 2, 2026 · 26 min · 10 segments
Michael Tamblyn spoke with novelist Shari Lapena. Since her 2016 novel The Couple Next Door, she's been known as one of the masters of…
Shari LapenaGuest
Michael TamblynHost
It's been said that when constructing a story, you chase a character up a tree, then you throw rocks at them, then you try to bring them down gracefully.
In a Sherry LaPenna novel, or at least in this one, you chase two characters up a tree, you throw rocks at them, maybe set the tree on fire, surround it with bears, and then we wait to see what's coming next.
Could you set this up for us? Who exactly is trying to get away with murder here?
It's been said that when constructing a story, you chase a character up a tree, then you throw rocks at them, then you try to bring them down gracefully.
In a Sherry LaPenna novel, or at least in this one, you chase two characters up a tree, you throw rocks at them, maybe set the tree on fire, surround it with bears, and then we wait to see what's coming next.
Could you set this up for us? Who exactly is trying to get away with murder here?
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