The story behind Spear

I wanted a character who stood in sharp contrast to Marty — someone who would challenge him, unsettle him, and ultimately change him. Spear delivered on all cylinders. Where Marty is laid‑back, steady, and conventional, Spear is the exact opposite. She’s unpredictable, unconventional, and operating at an intensity most people never touch. She’s an upper‑echelon badass, full stop.

Her earliest spark came from the character Lisbeth Salander in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I didn’t want to copy Lisbeth, but I wanted to capture that same combination of brilliance, toughness, and emotional complexity. Like Lisbeth, Spear is a gifted hacker with a past that left its mark. But I also wanted her to have a soft side — something that wasn’t obvious at first glance. I found it in her devotion to animal welfare, which became an unexpected bridge between her and Marty’s girlfriend, Frieda.

I also wanted to have a little fun with her. One of my favorite moments to write was the block party scene, where Spear, who normally carries a goth-style appearance, shows up in a yellow sundress with strawberry‑blond hair. It’s such a sharp contrast to her usual persona that even Marty has to recalibrate. I loved writing that chapter.

Spear and Marty’s relationship begins with her inside scoop on the shooting at the State Capitol — a moment that becomes a turning point when Marty shares it on his podcast. From there, their dynamic grows, shifts, and deepens, becoming one of the central threads of the story. But this is a thriller, so that’s all I’m going to say for now.