What makes a villain unforgettable?
According to bestselling thriller author Gary Braver, it's not mustache-twirling evil, but the "sweet-smelling reasons" they give themselves for doing bad things. As he puts it, real literary villains don't see evil in the mirror. They believe their choices are justified.
In this episode of Read and Write with Natasha, I spoke with Braver about building complex villains, the architecture of great mysteries, and the chilling true crime case that inspired his latest novel, Rumor of Evil.
🔥 When Rumors Turn Deadly
Rumor of Evil follows two Cambridge detectives investigating a suspicious death that connects to the cold case of an exchange student who perished in a Halloween treehouse fire nearly two decades earlier.
The story, loosely inspired by the Slenderman stabbing, dives deep into how bullying, rumors, and prejudice can snowball into tragedy. Braver reveals how a fascination with real-world cases (and a file full of disturbing clippings) often fuels his fiction.
“The victim is always someone who’s different,” he says. “Too tall, too short, from a different background, with an accent—someone who just doesn’t fit.”
🛠️ Write Like a Carpenter
Braver, who taught fiction and horror at Northeastern University for over 40 years, urges aspiring mystery writers to study stories structurally, not just emotionally.
“Read like a carpenter studying a house,” he advises.
Here are some of his top tips for aspiring mystery and thriller writers:
Study chapter endings: Great mysteries hook readers with cliffhangers.
Distinguish characters through voice: Dialogue should show who’s speaking, without name tags.
Balance pacing: Alternate action scenes with moments of reflection.
Show, don’t tell: Replace “She was angry” with a smashed coffee cup.
He also warns against self-publishing without proper vetting, but acknowledges that the traditional route can be discouragingly slow.
🧠 Charming Killers and Unreliable Narrators
We also got into a bit of live critique.
I mentioned a character in my upcoming novel — a potential serial killer who’s now a frail, forgetful old man —and asked whether he should be cranky or charming.
“Make him sweet,” Braver said. “You don’t want readers to check out emotionally. A charming old man with a dark past? That’s intriguing.”
He also warned against overly ambiguous endings. “If you’re writing a murder mystery,” he says, “you need resolution. Open-ended stories may work, but readers want closure.”
Point taken.
📈 Crime, TikTok, and the Future of Books
We discussed the rise of TikTok as a dominant force in book marketing and the way it’s replacing traditional media.
Braver acknowledges the shift but admits he hasn’t cracked the TikTok code yet. “I’d love to know the secret behind Colleen Hoover’s success,” he laughs. “If someone’s dancing with my book, I want to see it.”
We also touched on:
Why women buy 80% of books
How sensitivity readers are shaping crime fiction
Why he now writes full time, starting every morning at 5 AM
📚 Writers to Read (According to Braver)
If you’re serious about writing mysteries, Braver suggests reading:
Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch series)
Tana French (Dublin Murder Squad)
Tess Gerritsen (co-author of Choose Me)
Louise Erdrich (The Round House)
Stephen King (plus his book On Writing)
Dean Koontz (for literary genre writing)
And yes, he says you should read Gary Braver, too.
You can listen to the full episode here:
Or you can watch the full episode on YouTube below:
💬 Over to You
What’s your take on Braver’s theory of villains?
Are you more interested in justice or ambiguity?
Let me know in the comments.
Until next time,
Natasha
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