Author Laura Dave on habit, secrets, and where her latest novel “The Night We Lost Him” began
Author Laura Dave came to Seattle to have lunch with us recently and we got to ask her questions about her latest novel, The Night We Lost Him. It’s a mystery wrapped up in a family drama or a family drama wrapped up in a mystery—we still haven’t aligned. All we know is that we editors flew through it, loved it, and decided that the discussions it generated made it a great Best of the Month pick, a perfect book club pick, and the ideal escapist plane read, just like her previous book, The Last Thing He Told Me, which we also loved.
Read on for Dave’s takes on day books and night books, inspiration, and the hardest part of writing a new book.
Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Book Review: Can you describe for our readers what the new book is about?
Laura Dave: The Night We Lost Him focuses on two estranged siblings who reluctantly join forces to investigate their father’s suspicious death at his cliffside home. As they dig into what happened to their father, they discover that he had been keeping a secret for over fifty years—a secret that may have been fatal.
Laura Dave: The Night We Lost Him focuses on two estranged siblings who reluctantly join forces to investigate their father’s suspicious death at his cliffside home. As they dig into what happened to their father, they discover that he had been keeping a secret for over fifty years—a secret that may have been fatal.
Family secrets: the corrosive nature of secrets runs through both of your books. What is it about secrets that intrigues you as a writer?
In many ways, I think every good story starts with a secret. We often think of secrets as what we keep from other people, but what I was also intrigued about exploring in The Night We Lost Him were the secrets we keep from ourselves. For these characters, those secrets have a special kind of power, especially when they are forced to face them. I loved tying the mystery around those revelations.
In many ways, I think every good story starts with a secret. We often think of secrets as what we keep from other people, but what I was also intrigued about exploring in The Night We Lost Him were the secrets we keep from ourselves. For these characters, those secrets have a special kind of power, especially when they are forced to face them. I loved tying the mystery around those revelations.
Architecture is used sparingly—and very affectingly—as a motif in the book. Can you tell me how that came about and talk about it a little?
I knew that I wanted the protagonist, Nora Noone, to be an architect—specifically an architect who focuses on neuroarchitecture. For those who aren’t familiar, neuro-architects design buildings with the specific goal of elevating people’s well-being. With the goal of creating spaces that are healing. I wanted to imbue Nora with the specific traits neuro-architects need to bring to their work: attention to detail, exacting precision, empathy, a holistic understanding of the world around them, and a desire to do good.
I knew that I wanted the protagonist, Nora Noone, to be an architect—specifically an architect who focuses on neuroarchitecture. For those who aren’t familiar, neuro-architects design buildings with the specific goal of elevating people’s well-being. With the goal of creating spaces that are healing. I wanted to imbue Nora with the specific traits neuro-architects need to bring to their work: attention to detail, exacting precision, empathy, a holistic understanding of the world around them, and a desire to do good.
It was a perfect skillset for someone that needed to dive into the puzzle at the center of the story and solve a mystery that no one else was able to solve.
Another—very emotional—theme is “the one that got away.” All three Noones—Liam, Sam, and Nora—have one or are on the precipice of having one—were there challenges embedding it in a family drama/mystery?
That’s where The Night We Lost Him began for me. I was interested in exploring the question of what it means to be the witness to someone’s life—and the cost if you lose (or give away) the person for whom you most want to be that witness. This seemed like such fertile ground for a mystery that is focused on secrets and love and grief. I liked the challenge of tying that type of heartbreak and hope into how the twists unfolded.
That’s where The Night We Lost Him began for me. I was interested in exploring the question of what it means to be the witness to someone’s life—and the cost if you lose (or give away) the person for whom you most want to be that witness. This seemed like such fertile ground for a mystery that is focused on secrets and love and grief. I liked the challenge of tying that type of heartbreak and hope into how the twists unfolded.
Now that this book is about to be out in the world, are you at work on the next?
Yes! I’m deep into a draft on the sequel for The Last Thing He Told Me and I’m adapting The Night We Lost Him as a feature film for Netflix.
Yes! I’m deep into a draft on the sequel for The Last Thing He Told Me and I’m adapting The Night We Lost Him as a feature film for Netflix.
How does inspiration work for you when it comes to getting the gist of the next book and starting to write it?
Getting the gist of a new book is often the hardest part. Inspiration always starts with habit for me. As unsexy as it sounds, I’m up at my desk at 5:30 AM every day. I have my music on (the same song on repeat), a good cup of coffee, and I dig in.
Getting the gist of a new book is often the hardest part. Inspiration always starts with habit for me. As unsexy as it sounds, I’m up at my desk at 5:30 AM every day. I have my music on (the same song on repeat), a good cup of coffee, and I dig in.
What book(s) made you a writer?
That’s such a great question. A few books that made me dream of writing were Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon, and Slouching Toward Bethlehem by Joan Didion. For any aspiring writers starting out on a journey of their own, two books I found particularly helpful are On Writing by Stephen King and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Both still sit on my desk.
That’s such a great question. A few books that made me dream of writing were Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon, and Slouching Toward Bethlehem by Joan Didion. For any aspiring writers starting out on a journey of their own, two books I found particularly helpful are On Writing by Stephen King and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Both still sit on my desk.
Do you read mysteries or family dramas?
I read everything I can get my hands on! Mysteries, family dramas, books on science, biographies. I often have two books going at once—a day book and a night book. The day book is usually something that requires my focus or that I’m reading for research for a project. My night book is something I escape into and look forward to reading each night.
I read everything I can get my hands on! Mysteries, family dramas, books on science, biographies. I often have two books going at once—a day book and a night book. The day book is usually something that requires my focus or that I’m reading for research for a project. My night book is something I escape into and look forward to reading each night.
We have to ask: what have you read and loved lately?
How many can I choose? We could be here all day! Two recent books that I loved are: The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry and Love Triangle: How Trigonometry Shapes the World by Matt Parker. And I just started We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida and I adore it so far.
How many can I choose? We could be here all day! Two recent books that I loved are: The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry and Love Triangle: How Trigonometry Shapes the World by Matt Parker. And I just started We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida and I adore it so far.
