Betrayal of a Sudden Death

Diana Louise Webb Author Interview

Last of the Autumn Rain follows a woman who witnesses the death of her best friend in a tragic nightclub accident, causing her to spiral into a psychological journey that touches on abuse, betrayal, obsession, and revenge. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

My best friend committed suicide, and my ex-boyfriend tried to murder me. I wanted to take those external events to explore the raw aftermath of sudden trauma.

What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great psychological fiction?

The fact that humans are often their own worst enemies and have a skewed perception of reality is a goldmine for psychological fiction. A character’s memories can be distorted by trauma, guilt, or self-deception, which creates suspense and forces the reader to question everything they’re being told.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

(1) Betrayal: It’s not just the betrayal of a sudden death, but the suspicion of deeper betrayals that drive the plot. (2) The Unreliable Self: The protagonist isn’t just an unreliable narrator for the audience; she’s unreliable to herself. Her memories are suspect, her perceptions are skewed by trauma, and she struggles to differentiate between paranoia and genuine threats, and a search for justice. (3) Search for Justice: Can earthly justice truly be served when the motive is fueled by obsession and a distorted sense of reality?

Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?

Last of the Autumn Rain: The Storm Within is Book 1 of a trilogy called the Broken Reflections Series. Book 2 of the series is titled A Twisted Crucible: The Riddle of the Ruined Soul, and Book 3 is titled Game of Souls: The Reckoning. A Twisted Crucible is a chilling tale of what turns out to be a serial killer’s descent into darkness and a father’s agonizing choice. Game of Souls is a poignant exploration of grief, guilt, and the human capacity for redemption through the eyes of a father. It probes the depths of the human psyche, examining the power of ancient rituals and the transformative potential of psychedelic experiences to seek healing and enlightenment.

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Diane Webb | Diane Louise Webb | Amazon

It was Friday night, September 2, 1983. Julie Cromwell will never forget that shocking day when she lost her best friend, Candice Wentworth, in an upscale oyster bar. No, Candice had not disappeared. She had died when the club’s suspended dance floor gave way, a sudden and seemingly random tragedy, casting 500+ dancers to their deaths in a 30-foot drop.

Her life ignobly snuffed out at the young age of 32, Candice exemplified a fun-loving lifestyle and a warm kindred spirit—possessing all the requisite traits for a promising future. She never entertained a trace of ill will toward anyone. How could something so grisly happen to such a compassionate, enchanting human being?

Julie struggles to make sense of it all, reminiscing as she travels back to her hometown of Trenton, New Jersey. The two had met in Milwaukee and worked as underwriters for The Walden Company. But something went horribly wrong. Julie’s journey is one filled with elation and fear, jealousy and regret, happiness and indignation, and a horrifying act of disloyalty.

An unforgettable, tumultuous ride, Last of the Autumn Rain delivers an introspective and jaw-clenching tale, which not only rocks one’s moral compass, but invites a chilling question: in a world where the ground can literally fall out from under you, what else might be lurking beneath the surface?

Posted on August 10, 2025, in Interviews and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.

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