Step into the shadows at Bouchercon 2025 with “Psychological Focus: Going Inside the Mind of a Killer,” a gripping Friday morning panel moderated by author Brian Tracey. Featuring a powerhouse lineup—Lisa Jewell, Joshua Moehling, Linda Sands, Diane Schaffer, and Miranda Smith—this session delves deep into the dark corners of character psychology. Discover how today’s top crime writers craft believable villains, explore twisted motivations, and blur the lines between good and evil. It’s the panel that will change how you write (and read) a killer.
Why do killers kill? What drives their decisions, and how do writers make it feel real? Join a lineup of darkly brilliant crime writers as they explore the twisted—but often disturbingly logical—motivations behind their most chilling villains. Learn how psychological depth transforms antagonists into unforgettable characters.
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Panel Participants
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Moderator: Brian Tracey
Co-author of the cozy mystery series under J.B. Abbott; here bringing a sharp lens to psychological suspense.
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Lisa Jewell
Internationally bestselling author of dark psychological thrillers like Then She Was Gone and None of This Is True.
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Joshua Moehling
Author of the Deputy Ben Packard series, known for layered characters and Midwestern noir vibes.
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Linda Sands
Award-winning author of gritty thrillers and Southern-set crime fiction.
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Diane Schaffer
Up-and-coming voice in psychological suspense, blending chilling twists with emotional undercurrents.
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Miranda Smith
Author of fast-paced domestic thrillers with morally complex protagonists and shocking endings.
2025