Today’s featured author is Amelia Diane Coombs, whose mystery debut Drop Dead Sisters is a chaotic—but ultimately loving—exploration of what happens when three sisters and their dysfunctional family mix with a dead body.
I loved this quirky, outdoorsy murder mystery, so I was thrilled to chat with Amelia about sister sleuths, writing mystery, and more.
Connect with Amelia on Instagram, her website, and her newsletter. Grab a copy of Drop Dead Sisters here.
Hi Amelia, thanks so much for joining! Drop Dead Sisters follows Remi Finch and her two sisters as they reunite on a family camping vacation—only to test their tenuous relationship by finding a dead body. What do you love about this trio of sisters? What makes them—or perhaps doesn’t make them—a great detective team?
Thanks so much for having me! All three Finch sisters are so close to my heart, in part because I have two older sisters myself. I think the dynamic between siblings is a fascinating one, especially as siblings come back together as adults. So much has changed on a personal growth level, while the family unit tends to remain fairly static; it’s a situation that’s rife for tension. And that’s before you throw a dead body into the mix.
I loved the dysfunctional Finch family that added a nice touch of chaos to an already chaotic mystery. Can you share a bit about how you put together your cast of characters? And/or, why do you think family and murder work so well together?
Sure thing! Early on in the process, I knew I wanted the extended family to be a bit kooky, if only to further show how isolated Remi feels in comparison. I thought the perfect foil to Remi’s more anxious nature would be parents who are loving—but inherently invalidating—of her anxiety. I grew up in Northern California, in somewhat of a rural area, and drew inspiration from the crunchier, “hippy” personalities I’ve met over the years. The rest of the family fell together pretty easily after that.
Murder and family go well together because everyone has a family, whether it be the people who raised them or a found family. It’s universal. Whereas murder isn’t. (Or I sure hope it’s not!) And family isn’t just universal, but it’s also great for, as I mentioned in another answer, naturally occurring tension. The interpersonal relationships are what draw the reader in, not the dead body. There’s just so much to dig into with family that can help carry a murder mystery forward, while also helping the story remain grounded.
After previously penning four young adult novels, what have you learned when making your adult debut with Drop Dead Sisters? Specifically, what did you find most enjoyable and most interesting about writing a murder mystery?
Honestly, writing my YAs and Drop Dead Sisters wasn’t as wildly different as I was worried it’d be, in terms of shifting age groups. The bigger hurdle was learning more about the mystery genre and its conventions. I’m a huge true crime fan and read a lot of mysteries and thrillers—so I had that as a solid foundation—but actually writing a mystery was (and still is!) much harder than contemporary. Layering in clues and information, without giving away your hand, can be tricky. But I love puzzles, which is basically what writing a book is: one big word puzzle.
The most enjoyable part, for me, is the ability to have fun and push the envelope. I love writing more grounded, contemporary stories, but Drop Dead Sisters gave me an opportunity to ask myself, “Okay, but what if this happened? And how ridiculously funny would it be if this happened as a result?” Personally, I love dark humor and comedy of errors, and it’s been so fun to explore that part of my creativity.
One of Remi’s most prominent traits is her anxiety, which naturally kicks into high gear once she discovers the murder. I found her anxiety both humorous and serious, adding some relatable levity while also being a source of insecurity, frustration, and derision from her family. How did you build that side of Remi’s character? Why do you think incorporating mental health themes into any story, especially a mystery, is important?
Remi’s anxiety is based on my own experiences and struggles with anxiety, so it was the easiest element of the book for me to write. I’ve always included mental health themes in all my books, and I knew that I wanted to carry that through-line into my adult debut, no matter what it ended up being.
But the way mental health plays with mystery is super interesting, especially anxiety. Remi’s instincts in the book are almost always right—but she doesn’t trust herself due to her anxiety disorder. And at times, she even blames herself for what happens surrounding the inciting incident. Solving a mystery is all about listening to your instincts and trusting your gut, and to me, it’s fascinating to have a character who deeply struggles doing just that. As the author, at least, it made for a fun and rewarding character arc.
Lastly, what are you currently working on? Can you tease some info about book two in the Finch Sisters series, Sisters Before Misters, and/or anything else you’re looking forward to?
Right now, I’m working on wrapping up my first pass of edits on Sisters Before Misters! I’m not sure how much I can share, but the sequel takes place a year later in Seattle, on Halloween, when a character goes missing under strange and possibly violent circumstances.
Thanks so much to Amelia for the interview. Sleuths, I hope you enjoyed it! If you aren’t already subscribed, please be sure to sign up for the Cluesletter and get author features like this alongside other mystery goodies, delivered to your inbox every other Tuesday.