The Inspiration behind The Stepsister’s Secret by Karen King

by Karen King

The Stepsister’s Secret is my eight psychological thriller. I’ve also had thirteen women’s fiction novels published with another one due out in April. I’m often asked where I get the ideas for my stories from – as I’m sure are other authors. It’s sometimes difficult to pin down where the inspiration actually starts as there are so many things that can kick off a creative spark. Things I see, do, overhear, read about and are talked about all find a space in my mind and years later can bubble up into a story idea. Sometimes the idea is more suitable for a romance novel, and sometimes for a psychological one, and sometimes I’m torn which genre would suit it best. I write about the light and dark of relationships, the romance novels are where things go right and the psychological thrillers are when things go wrong so some story ideas can work for both.

The plots of my psychological suspense stories usually feature family dynamics, secrets and guilt over past events. I particularly like to explore the themes of past guilt and present revenge. Imagine someone dying or being fatally injured because of something you have done – even if not intentionally. How do you cope with the guilt of that? And what if it happened when you were a child, and you didn’t realise until you were older the consequences of your actions? And what if someone remembers what you did and have been waiting to get their revenge? How far will they go? The concept of guilt and revenge is an exciting one to explore, and I’ve used it in a few stories such as The Perfect Stepmother and The Retreat. 

I’m also interested in the dynamics of blended families – as in Girl Next Door where both teenage boys are suspected of attempted murder, and both parents are naturally on the side of their own child. There is a lot of scope for tension, jealousy and drama in a story featuring a blended family. 

 The Stepsister’s Secret is a mix of secrets, jealousy, guilt and revenge within a blended family.  The story starts with the wedding of Lizzie’s mother to George, her new stepfather. A parent remarrying after a parent has died can unleash a whole host of emotions as it does with Lizzie. She wants her mother to be happy but is worried that its all happened too quickly and doesn’t want her mother to be hurt. Then, when she meets her stepsister Alison she realises that she knows her and what’s worse she is connected to a disturbing incident in Lizzie’s past which was so traumatic she needed counselling to get over, and still struggles with now. The question is does Alison remember and is she out for revenge? When Lizzie’s mother has an accident which she struggles to recover from Lizzie worries that Alison, who is a nurse and looking after her, might be the cause of it. 

Lizzie isn’t the only one who has a secret though, and with her mother getting worse, Lizzie doesn’t know who to trust. No one else believes her and thinks that she’s crazy. Even her husband Nick seems to think that her anxiety has returned and she’s imagining things. Is she?

If you want to find out what happens, here’s the link: https://geni.us/B0G4HPF9Q9author 

THE STEPSISTER’S SECRET

She’s family now. But can I trust her?

When my stepsister Alison moves in to look after my mother, everyone in my family is grateful. Alison’s a nurse, and she says she just wants to help. But I don’t trust her.

Years ago, when Alison and I were the same age as my own son Isaac, I made a terrible mistake that tore Alison’s world apart. I hoped she didn’t realise, but the look in her icy blue eyes tells me: she knows exactly what I did.

I’m certain she’s responsible for my mother getting weaker. I don’t like the way she’s pushing me out, isolating me… and getting way too close to my husband, Nick.

I’m watching her. And I’ll do anything to keep my family safe. But I have no idea just how much danger we’re in…

A totally unputdownable, twisty story of family secrets that have deadly consequences. Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Freida McFadden, and Daniel Hurst.

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Karen King writes psychological suspense and women’s fiction and is celebrating her fortieth year of publication. Her 8th psychological suspense novel, The Stepsister’s Secret, was published on 16 February 2026 by Bookouture.  Her ‘golden years’ novel, Growing Old Disgracefully, will be published by Boldwood on 20th April. This is her 14th woman’s fiction novel. 

Karen’s suspense novels The Mother in Law, The Perfect Stepmother and The Stranger in my Bed and her women’s fiction novels, The Runaway Wives, The Old Gals’ Bucket List, and The Cornish Hotel by the Sea all became International Amazon bestsellers. Several of her books have been translated into other languages.

Karen is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers’ Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists.

 

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Category: On Writing