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Krysten Ritter may have witnessed a crime on vacation. She turned it into a novel

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13 years ago, I found myself basking in the sun at a Mexican beach resort on a well-deserved break with my best buddy. As I savored some much-needed solitude, a man on a bicycle stopped me. He was searching for his missing partner – she had rented a bike earlier that day and now, she was nowhere to be found. The man asked if we’d seen anyone resembling the description he gave us. That moment sparked an idea in my mind – a story about disappearance and the search for truth – which eventually became my new book.

Ritter, speaking from her Los Angeles home, mused, “It dawned on me that this fellow seems to be laying groundwork for an alibi.” She found herself caught up in a bizarre chain of events; it appeared as if he could have killed his partner, and a plot was unfolding. Ritter carried on with her vacation, mentally storing the incident in her “bulging file” of potential story ideas to revisit later. Upon returning to L.A., life went back to normal for Ritter. She resumed her career as an actor, tackling her most significant role yet: the lead character in the Marvel series “Jessica Jones.

After waiting for six long years, Ritter found inspiration to write a novel titled “Retreat,” inspired by the 2017 psychological thriller “Bonfire.” The protagonist of this new book is a young woman with a mysterious past and dreams of hidden wealth. She becomes embroiled in an intricate scam reminiscent of David Mamet’s complex narratives. “Retreat” is a co-written novel by Ritter and Lindsay Jamieson, featuring clever misdirection and deceptive storytelling techniques, as characters’ identities shift and the ultimate prize remains an illusive mirage.

Initially, Ritter ventured into writing as a driven young actor searching for story concepts. She had sold a screenplay two decades ago and had been contemplating writing fiction for quite some time before the concept for her debut novel struck her. “I’m adaptable, I’m proactive,” says Ritter. “Whenever something ignites my passion, whether it’s a new acting opportunity or an idea for a book or a script, I jump right in. I don’t shy away from rejection, and I face it often.

As an enthusiast of mystery novels, Ritter has a particular fondness for enigmatic crimes that appear unsolvable, often orchestrated by a chameleon-like villain. The cunning swindler Liz Dawson from the series “Retreat” is adept at altering her identity to evade detection, much like a wolf concealing its footsteps. However, when she encounters an adversary who outwits her, Dawson finds herself on the losing end of the game. With a troubled past that brings her shame, Dawson can be seen as a darker, vengeful counterpart to Jessica Jones – a relentless seeker of truth concerning her painful history.

According to Ritter, not all individuals originate from ideal environments. Instead, he is captivated by intricate characters who possess numerous hidden aspects, delightfully complicated individuals with multiple dimensions – characters that are somewhat unforeseeable, slightly morally ambiguous, and bearing some scars or vulnerabilities.

The term “Bonfire” emerged swiftly in comparison; the process of creating “Retreat” proved more challenging. After the release of ‘Bonfire’, she took a short hiatus from writing as she was constantly filming, she explains. Additionally, she was also starting a family with her partner, Adam Granduciel who leads The War on Drugs. Cracking ‘Retreat’ took longer and she found herself in a bit of a creative rut.

Review

Krysten Ritter knows how to write a compelling antihero

Through her second book, titled ‘Retreat,’ actress Krysten Ritter once again offers a gripping tale starring a brave and spirited central character who is female.

Initially, she penned around 70 to 100 pages for her manuscript when her agent presented her to Jamieson. He instantly resonated with Ritter’s narrative and offered constructive advice on the manuscript. A lively dialogue between the two authors ensued promptly. “It was thrilling and invigorating,” shares Ritter about collaborating with Jamieson. “In all aspects of entertainment, you don’t work in isolation,” she says. “Collaboration comes naturally to me. When you find the perfect creative partner, it’s like a flame igniting. I’ve experienced that with [TV showrunners] Melissa Rosenberg and Nahnatchka Khan, and now with Lindsay.

Jamieson worked swiftly, and as the intricacies of the plot gradually came together in a satisfying manner. “Lindsay took the project to new heights — she had grand concepts that made it more extensive and improved than I could have managed alone. She’s also incredibly quick-witted and intelligent, and our preferences harmonized remarkably well.

Ritter considers herself as her preferred reader for her book. “Reading for leisure is something I enjoy immensely, even though I read for work every day,” she notes. “Currently, there’s a stack of thrillers on my bedside table that I’m trying to finish before my work responsibilities consume me again.

While there are discussions about adapting “Retreat” into TV or movie formats, Ritter is happy to let her book stand alone. She admits to having a strong affinity for psychological thrillers, describing them as an irresistible treat. Her writing in this genre comes from her personal preference, as she eagerly seeks out and enjoys a page-turning thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end.

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2025-03-25 13:33

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