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Dorothy Koomson Talks: Her 15th Novel, The Strong Stereotype & Centring Black Women

Dorothy Koomson is a literary phenomenon. The Sunday Times bestselling author has cemented her status as ‘Queen of the big reveal’ by writing novels that have hooked millions of readers around the world. Her latest novel, Tell Me Your Secret, is bound to have the same effect. It’s the story of two women, Pieta and Jody, connected by a serial killer who calls himself The Blindfolder. Pieta survived the attack. But ten years later, The Blindfolder begins to hunt down his past victims and Pieta is forced to consider telling her deepest secrets to stay alive. 

Koomson’s latest novel is more than just a gripping page-turner. Like all of her books, it centres black women, but it also challenges society’s notions of what it means to be a perfect victim. We caught up with Dorothy Koomson just before the launch of Tell Me Your Secret.

BB: First of all, congratulations on the launch of Tell Me Your Secret - your fifteenth novel! Since your debut novel The Cupid Effect was published in 2003, does the launch of a novel get any less exciting/nerve-wracking?

DK: It’s always exciting for me! It’s also nerve-wracking because I always want a book to do well. I’ve never in my life just bashed out a book and forgotten about it. I can’t do that. By the end of the book, I’m completely wrung-out and exhausted. It takes a lot of effort because I always put my heart and soul into every book.