The 5 New England Mysteries That Inspired Lisa Gardner's Latest Novel
The author of 'You'll Be Sorry' unpacks the influence of Ariel Lawhon, Tom Ryan, and others
As an avid reader, I’m constantly devouring novels, consuming everything from suspense to memoirs to true crime. As a writer, of course these books tickle at the back of my brain, generating everything from what-if scenarios that spark the next project, to providing valuable insight for my current work-in-progress.
For You’ll Be Sorry, this process was even more personal as the book takes place in a small mountain town which possibly bears a strong resemblance to my own New Hampshire community. In short, many of the stories that helped influence You’ll Be Sorry, are also tales from my own backyard.
From New England historical fiction, to a charming dog memoir, to epic stories of survival, here are the five top influences for You’ll Be Sorry.
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Ariel Lawhon, The Frozen River
A historical mystery based on the real-life trials and tribulations of Martha Ballard, a midwife in eighteenth-century Maine. I loved this novel so much, I looked up the original diary of Martha Ballard. Studying those entries helped me craft the cryptic two-hundred-year old journal entries in You’ll Be Sorry.
Tom Ryan, Following Atticus
The heartwarming local memoir of one little dog and his human, bravely hiking the mountains of New Hampshire in winter to raise money for a Boston animal hospital. Atticus was a true local celebrity who loved walking through our village and basking in praise. He also kept the neighborhood florist busy with orders pouring in from all over the world from his devoted fans.
I feel confident Atticus would approve of canine opportunist Mr. Man, and the joy he brings to his new family.
Nicholas Howe, Not Without Peril
If you truly want to understand the danger of living in the White Mountains, this is the book for you. It includes incredibly detailed accounts of the challenges faced by early settlers, who braved punishing winter storms, decimating rock slides and brutal subzero temps.
To this day, Mount Washington claims a life every season, something I get to contemplate all the time as an avid hiker. And brings me to my next recommended read:
Ty Gagne, Where You’ll Find Me
A harrowing account of a more recent tragedy on Mount Washington, detailing the heroic efforts of the local search-and-rescue team to locate a lost hiker during truly dangerous, white-out conditions. I consider this book up there with Jon Krakaur’s Into Thin Air for a riveting and moving account of mountain treachery. For a different kind of danger:
Girl in the Shed: The Kidnapping of Abigail Hernandez
A made-for-TV movie documenting the horrific experiences of fourteen-year-old Abby Hernandez who was randomly kidnapped as she walked home from our local high school and held prisoner for the next nine months. Abby’s story is a testimony to human endurance and tenacity. It’s also a tragedy that turned my proverbial “picturesque” community into something that felt more like a 48 Hours setpiece.
Abby’s experience, plus conversations with her mother, also helped inspire my earlier thriller, Find Her. Bad things can happen everywhere, even in small towns where no one locks their doors.
Which of course, brings us back to You’ll Be Sorry….
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Lisa Gardner
Lisa Gardner, a #1 New York Times bestselling thriller novelist, began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries. Her novel, The Neighbor, won Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers. She has also been honored for her work with animal rescue and at-risk children. An avid hiker, gardener and cribbage player, Lisa lives with her family in New England. Her latest novel, Still See You Everywhere, is now available.
