Karen’s Killer Book Bench #Crime #Thriller: TELL ME WHAT YOU DID, a Novel by Carter Wilson

KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench, where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site, so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!

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TELL ME WHAT YOU DID
A Novel
BY CARTER WILSON

BLURB

She gets people to confess their crimes for a living. He knows she’s hiding a terrible secret.

 USA Today bestselling author Carter Wilson plumbs the depths of what it means to confess in TELL ME WHAT YOU DID (January 14; Trade Paperback Original; Poisoned Pen Press) a psychological thriller about a terrifying stranger who turns the tables on a true crime podcast host holding a dark secret of her own. 

The heart of this story is Poe Webb. She runs the top ranked podcast in the country where she invites people to anonymously confess crimes they’ve committed to her audience. She can’t guarantee the police won’t come after her “guests,” but her show grants simultaneous anonymity and instant fame―a potent combination that’s proven difficult to resist. After an episode recording, Poe usually erases both criminal and crime from her mind.

But when a strange and oddly familiar man appears on her show, Poe is forced to take a second look. Not only because he claims to be her mother’s murderer from years ago, but because Poe knows something no one else does. Her mother’s murderer is dead. Poe killed him.

New York Times bestselling author Abbot Kahler calls TELL ME WHAT YOU DID “propulsive, shocking, and exquisitely crafted. Wilson’s fantastic thriller features an unforgettable heroine and a harrowing truth: We can never escape our past” pinning the lengths a person will go to redeem themselves and the power of confession—even if there’s no forgiveness, even if that confession does nothing to erase the past.

“Better set aside several uninterrupted hours for this toxic rocket. You’ll be glad you did.”

Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review 

“Sharp writing, a breakneck pace, and a protagonist to root for even when you think you shouldn’t.”

— Kimberly Belle, international bestselling author of The Paris Widow

“With laser focus and quick pacing, Wilson weaves a tense cat-and-mouse tale that will have you locking all your doors (and windows) and reading late into the night.”
—Ashley Winstead, author of Midnight is the Darkest Hour

“Carter Wilson’s latest has a dash of Thomas Harris and a generous heaping of Stieg Larsson—but really, Tell Me What You Did is completely its own thing.”
 — Abbott Kahler, New York Times bestselling author of Eden Undone and Where You End

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TELL ME WHAT YOU DID
A Novel
BY CARTER WILSON

Interview

Before we get started talking about your writing, tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from, what you do for a living (if you’re not a full-time writer) what hobbies you have, etc. Whatever you’d like to share to introduce yourself.

I’ve been writing thrillers for 20+ years now and my 10th published book is about to launch (my first three never went anywhere). I still maintain my own consulting company in the hospitality industry, and I also have a writing company (Unbound Writer) that does one-on-one coaching, retreats & workshops, and online writing classes. I live in a little town outside of Boulder, Colorado.

1. What genre(s) do you write and why?

My agent was the one who, twenty years ago, told me I wrote thrillers. So that’s what I write, I suppose. To me, I just like stories with conflict, morally gray characters, and a damn fast pace. I guess those are thrillers.

2.  If you were to choose one superpower, what would it be?

I already have it. Whenever I’m writing, I get to decide who lives and who dies. It’s quite the power trip.

3. Do you ever get stuck when you’re writing a book? What do you do to get “unstuck”?

Sure, I get stuck in all aspects of life, writing being just one of them. I find the best way to get unstuck is by not forcing things. If you relax your brain long enough and breathe away the anxiety and self-doubt, those ideas will come. Be patient.

4. What is your least favorite part of writing?

Doing it when I’m not in the mood. But writing is a job. A seven-day-a-week job. If I only wrote when the “muse” comes, I never would have finished a single book.

5. If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?

Well, what’s the occasion? What do you like? Any allergies I need to know about? And who are you, exactly? So many questions. If I was excited for the occasion, we might be having filet mignon with a blue-cheese crust and a red wine glaze. Something more casual might be smash-chicken burger with adobo peppers, guacamole salsa, and sweet-potato fries.

6. What is your typical day like?

My day always has two “musts”: working out and writing (each takes about an hour). Then I have two companies that I’m a co-founder of, so several hours are spent around those. Then of course all the marketing/PR stuff that goes along with selling books. And I always take my dog to the park twice a day (regardless of weather) and throw the ball around with her. I love to cook, so I’m always thinking about what I’m going to make for dinner. I’ll wrap my day up watching a show or movie, and I always read in bed before sleep.

7. What is most difficult for you to write?  Characters, conflict or emotions? Why?

I’d actually say I love writing all of those three, and I’d say I’m especially good at conflict and emotions. In terms of characters, I think the greatest challenge is, if I’m writing more than one POV, making sure the voices sound distinct. You usually need another reader to let you know if you’ve succeeding in that or not.

8.  How likely are the people you meet going to end up in your next book?

Never. I don’t draw much inspiration from the people around me, at least not consciously. I know a lot of authors like to kill people they know in books, but I can tell you it’s not nearly as satisfying as it sounds.

9.  Tell us about your hero. Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses.

Well, for starters, my hero Poe is a she. And Poe has one overarching trait that is both her greatest strength and weakness: a relentless thirst for vengeance.

10. Tell us about your next book & when is it being published?

My next book Tell Me What You Did releases January 28th, 2025. In short, Tell Me What You Did follows Poe Webb, who runs the top-ranked true-crime podcast in the country, in which guests come on and anonymously confess past crimes. Poe started the podcast as a means of healing: she witnessed her mother’s brutal killing when Poe was only 13. But when a strange and oddly familiar man appears on her show, Poe is forced to take a second look. Not only because he claims to be her mother’s murderer from years ago, but because Poe knows something no one else does. Her mother’s murderer is dead. And Poe was the one who killed him.

About Author Carter Wilson…

 CARTER WILSON is the USA Today bestselling author of nine critically acclaimed, standalone psychological thrillers. He is an ITW Thriller Award finalist, a five-time winner of the Colorado Book Award, and his works have been optioned for television and film. Carter lives outside of Boulder, Colorado.

Dynamic and compelling, he now hosts his own podcast, Making It Up, interviewing authors like S.A. Cosby, Daniel Handler, Stuart Turton, Xio Axelrod, and Julie Clark to talk shop and riff an original story live. The result is a charming, authentic peek into the writing process.

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Links to Carter’s websites, blogs, books, #ad etc.:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4joCPw2

Carter’s website page here has the buy links for retailers: https://carterwilson.com/tell-me-what-you-did/

Everything about me, my books, my blog, and my writing company can be found at www.carterwilson.com and www.unboundwriter.com. 

Happy Reading!

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Thanks, Carter, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!

6 thoughts on “Karen’s Killer Book Bench #Crime #Thriller: TELL ME WHAT YOU DID, a Novel by Carter Wilson”

  1. Good morning , wow, your book sounds like a great page turner!! I enjoyed reading your interview, it sounds like you stay very busy. Thank you so much for sharing about your book . Have a great day and a great week.

  2. Welcome back to Karen’s Killer Book Bench, Carter. I am thrilled to hear you have another book. It’s going on my TBR pile. Love your books. Thanks for stopping by to share it with us today.

    I never thought of my writing as a superpower, but you’re right. It definitely is when you hold a character’s life in your hands. Great interview!

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