Q&A With Elle Marr 

Jennifer Richards at Over The River Publicity was kind enough to send me an early copy of Elle Marr’s upcoming release The Lie She Wears, which will be available on November 18^th. I spent the entire weekend devouring the compelling mystery. Elle is also the author of The Missing Sisters, Lies We Bury, Strangers We Know, The Family Bones, The Alone Time & Your Dark Secrets. Elle’s work has been featured in PopSugar, Woman’s World Magazine, Goodreads, Audible, and TV affiliates for CBS, ABC, Fox & NBC. 

Q: Welcome to Book Notions Elle! Would you please give a brief description of each of your books beginning with The Lie She Wears? 

A: I would love to! The Lie She Wears begins with museum curator Pearl, who receives a letter from her recently deceased mother—confessing to murder. Pearl thinks she’s uncovered her mother’s darkest secret, but then more letters surface and new victims appear. Quickly, Pearl realizes she is caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse—that someone is following in her mother’s footsteps. And they’re getting closer.

Your Dark Secrets is a propulsive up-all-night read that seamlessly blends globe-trotting adventure, suspenseful thriller, and rivals-to-lovers romance. Addison Stern, my protagonist, might be my favorite that I’ve written for all of her professional prowess and the vulnerability that she masks with cutting retorts. She’s wounded but fun to follow!

In The Alone Time, Fiona and Violet Seng were just children when their family’s Cessna crash-landed in the Washington wilderness, claiming the lives of their parents. For twelve harrowing weeks, the girls fended for themselves before being rescued. Twenty-five years later, they become the subject of a documentary that renews public fascination with the “girl survivors” and questions their version of the events. When disturbing details about the Seng family are exposed, Fiona and Violet must come together to face the horrifying truth of what happened out there and what they learned about their parents and themselves. Before any other secrets emerge from the woods.

The Family Bones features Psychology student Olivia Eriksen’s family—who are notorious among true-crime buffs. Faced with a legacy of psychopathy that spans generations, Olivia has kept a safe distance from her blood relatives for years, until Olivia agrees to attend a weekend reunion. But nothing is ever peaceful among the Eriksens for long. And true-crime podcaster Birdie Tan has uncovered a disturbing mystery in her latest investigation—leading her right to the Eriksens’ mountain resort. There’s a deadly twist in the family plot that even Olivia doesn’t see coming.

Strangers We Know delves into the secrets dormant within our blood, and a concept ripped from the headlines. Adopted when she was only days old, Ivy Hon knows little about her lineage. But when she’s stricken with a mystery illness, the results of a genetic test to identify the cause attract the FBI. According to Ivy’s DNA, she’s related to the Full Moon Killer, who has terrorized the Pacific Northwest for decades. Ivy is the FBI’s hope to stop the enigmatic predator from killing again. Motivated by a secret desire to unmask a murderous relative, Ivy reaches out to what’s left of a family of strangers. As Ivy ventures into a serial killer’s home territory, she realizes that she may be the next victim of poisonous blood ties.

My sophomore novel, Lies We Bury, centers a different type of headline. Two decades ago, Marissa Mo escaped from a basement prison—the only home she’d ever known. At twenty-seven, Marissa’s moved beyond the trauma and is working under a new name as a freelance photographer. But when she accepts a job covering a string of macabre murders in Portland, it’s impossible for Marissa not to remember. Everything is eerily familiar. The same underground lairs. Sad trinkets and toys left behind, identical to those Marissa had as a child. And then there is the note meant just for her that freezes Marissa’s blood: See you soon, Missy. To determine the killer’s next move, Marissa must retrieve her long-forgotten memories and return to a past she’s hidden away. But she won’t be facing her fears alone. Someone is waiting for her in the dark.

Finally, my debut thriller The Missing Sister was inspired by my love of Paris. Shayna Darby is finally coming to terms with her parents’ deaths when she’s delivered another blow. The body of her estranged twin sister, Angela—the possible victim of a serial killer—has been pulled from the Seine. Putting what’s left of her life on hold, Shayna heads to Paris. But while cleaning out Angela’s apartment, Shayna makes a startling discovery: a coded message meant for her alone…: Alive. Trust no one.

Taking the warning to heart, Shayna maintains the lie. She makes a positive ID on the remains and works to find out where—and why—her missing sister is hiding. Shayna retraces her sister’s footsteps, and they lead her down into Paris’s underbelly.

As she gets closer to the truth—and to the killer—Shayna’s own life may now be in the balance…

Q: I devoured The Lie She Wears this past weekend! I love the idea of a museum curator trying to solve the mystery of her mother and the people she was connected to and how it all has to do with her. Where do your ideas for your stories come from? 

A: Oh, headlines. I am constantly making note of bold, eye-catching titles of articles that give me whiplash. The truth is almost always stranger than fiction, and I’ve brainstormed a good many books based on that fact. For The Lie She Wears, I was inspired by a local art museum, and all the museums I’ve ever visited. I thought that placing my protagonist, Pearl, in the museum as a curator, surrounded by all these artifacts, whose stories can never be fully known, was a great complement to Pearl’s own shoddy understanding of herself. This book is a journey for Pearl to uncover her own truth about the person she is, and how her mother’s past directly affected her.

Q: How long does it take you to write a book? Are there any messages and emotions you hope readers feel once they finish reading your books?

A: It takes me a minimum of six months, from start to finish. I have written books in a shorter time, but they’re never quite ready for a beta reader or my editor at that point. I’ve subsequently learned not to rush the process. Regarding The Lie She Wears, I hope readers sense the rollercoaster of growth that I’ve tried to seed throughout. All my books delve into matters of identity and personal stakes, but my new thriller forces its characters to face the past, willingly or otherwise. And, always, with a splash of hope. 

Q: If The Lie She Wears were to get a sequel, what do you picture Pearl, Zelda, Kai and Liam be doing right now? 

A: Hmm, to discuss any of their outcomes would be to provide spoilers. Suffice it to say, they would be living with no regrets!

Q: Congratulations on your books being featured in PopSugar, Woman’s World Magazine, Goodreads, Audible, and TV affiliates for CBS, ABC, Fox & NBC! How does it feel knowing that all those affiliates and publications feature your books? 

A: Absolutely incredible! I am so grateful for each reader and each platform that chooses to highlight my books. The Lie She Wears was a particular effort, in that I had drafted the book while pregnant, then significantly edited it while settling in with a newborn. The experience caused me to rethink how I manage my writing time, and to better organize my thoughts before I sit down at my computer. I’m immensely proud of The Lie She Wears, and it’s a huge joy to see the positive response it’s receiving from large and small outlets.

Q: Does Hollywood have the rights to The Lie She Wears or any of your other books? Who would be your dream cast for the characters you created? 

A: Hollywood is welcome to send me a message for the rights to The Lie She Wears, as well as my other books! There have been conversations in the past, but none of which have resulted in a film or TV adaptation – yet! My dream cast for these characters would be Lana Condor as Pearl, Chloe Bennet as Zelda, Randall Park as Liam, and Lucy Liu as Sally. If I’m dreaming, let’s also get Olivia Munn to make her directorial debut with The Lie She Wears! 

Q: It was hard for me to choose a favorite scene in The Lie She Wears because the entire story was that good. I do enjoy the twists because I did not see them coming! Which scenes were your favorites to create?

A: Thank you for saying so! I loved writing the opening scene in the art museum, where Pearl is immersed in all these stories from the past, while presently grappling with her mother’s past. The atmosphere of museums for me is always one of peace, yet which harbors the tension of untold stories. I also loved writing Fanny’s scenes, set in 1990’s New York City. Something about her voice was so much fun to write.

Q: Speaking of, since I devoured The Lie She Wears, can you reveal details for your next book? I eagerly anticipate it! 

A: Ooooh, yes! I’m grateful to write another one, and I hope that you read it when it publishes in fall 2026, though the official pub date is still in the works. I can’t say much about it yet, but it delves into the little-known world of medical cadavers and the greed that can permeate the industry—along with a healthy dollop of revenge. I’m having a ton of fun editing it right now with my editor, and I can’t wait for readers to discover my main character, Abi.

Q: What was it like living in Paris for awhile receiving your Masters Degree from the Sorbonne University? Which places in Paris are your favorite places to see?

A: I lived in the Paris suburbs for three years, and I went into the city every chance I got. I loved living in France and being immersed in the French culture! It was there that I first started writing novels, before I began studying at the Sorbonne. Both were life-changing experiences. My favorite places in Paris? The Louvre, the Galleries Lafayette (a giant, gold-bedecked mall with an incredible view), the Left Bank for all its beautiful cafes, and, of course, the Shakespeare & Company Bookstore. Living in France was a dream come true, and I’ll always be grateful to my younger self for selling everything she owned and moving there during a quarter-life crisis.