Krysten Ritter recalls the surreal moment when the inspiration for her latest novel, Retreat, struck her about 13 years ago while on vacation in Mexico. Sitting on the beach with a friend, she encountered a distraught man searching for his partner, who had mysteriously disappeared. The man described her physical appearance, igniting Ritter’s imagination. “I was thinking, ‘Oh, my God, this guy is planting an alibi,’” Ritter reflects from her Los Angeles home. “Like this is some crazy s— happening; this guy might have murdered his partner, some story is developing.”
Though the unsettling incident left a lasting impression, Ritter returned to her everyday life, taking on her most notable role as Jessica Jones in the Marvel series of the same name. Eventually, she channeled her creativity into writing and published her first novel, Bonfire, in 2017. However, it wasn't until recently that the thoughts from her Mexican getaway evolved into a full-blown psychological thriller.
Retreat came as a product of persistence, capturing the essence of a twisted world filled with deception and intrigue. The novel introduces Liz Dawson, a skilled con artist with a troubled past and aspirations for glamorous riches. Dawson maneuvers through a web of elaborate scams reminiscent of a David Mamet plot, where identities blur and the ultimate victory feels like an illusive fantasy.
Ritter describes her initial experience with writing as an ambitious young actress trying to generate stories for herself. "I’m resourceful, I’m a go-getter,” she states. “When something compels me, whether it’s a new acting role or an idea for a book or a screenplay, I dive in. I’m not afraid to hear no, and I hear it all the time.”
Despite her success with Bonfire, the journey of writing Retreat proved to be more complex. After a period away from her writing desk due to hectic filming schedules and starting a family with her partner, Adam Granduciel, frontman of the band War on Drugs, Ritter found herself struggling to make progress.
When she had written “70, maybe 100” pages, her agent introduced her to Lindsay Jamieson. Their collaboration sparked an invigorating exchange. “It was exhilarating and energetic,” says Ritter of their joint effort. “In all areas of entertainment, you never work in isolation. So collaboration is second nature to me. When you find the right creative partner, it’s just on fire.”
Jamieson's swift input uplifted the story, augmenting the existing framework to develop a captivating plot. Ritter praises Jamieson, saying, “Lindsay elevated the project so much — she had big ideas and helped make it bigger and better than I could have done on my own. She’s also so fast and so smart, and our tastes really clicked.”
As an avid consumer of crime fiction, Ritter’s affinity for compelling stories reflects in her writing. She leans towards characters with complexity, often exploring dark themes. “Not everyone comes from perfect places,” she notes. “I do find myself drawn to dynamic characters with many layers to peel back, deliciously complex, multifaceted characters — unpredictable, a little bad, a little wounded.”
Ritter also embraces the psychological thriller genre, expressing her love for it. “Psychological thrillers are total candy to me, and I will devour a good one. I write in this genre because it’s what my taste is as a consumer. I live for a popcorn thriller that you can't put down.”
While discussions have emerged regarding potential TV or film adaptations of Retreat, Ritter is content to allow her literary work to take center stage. "Reading for work is something I do daily, but I love it when I get to read for pleasure,” she adds, highlighting her ongoing passion for storytelling.
Now, as she prepares for her next steps, Ritter reflects on the years of dedication it took to bring her novel to fruition. As readers anticipate the twists and turns crafted within Retreat, Ritter's journey from actress to author proves that creativity can flourish in various forms, and the con artist Liz Dawson may just steal the spotlight.
