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What Lies Buried follows a woman married to a man with Complex PTSD who struggles to support him while protecting herself and their child as secrets from the past come forward. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My characters inspired me. When I finished Secrets In The Mirror (which preceded What Lies Buried), I didn’t think there would be a sequel. However, early one pre-dawn morning, while in that half-asleep/half-awake state, Gavin intervened. He basically said “Now wait a minute. There are loose ends that must be tied up, and it will be dangerous for me to do that. And besides, you think I’m OKAY, after what you put me through in this story??!! Think again.” And he proceeded to lay out the plot. Well, most of it. So I did some research and realized that the emotional abuse and trauma he experienced all during his childhood in that first story probably gave him not just typical PTSD, but Complex PTSD, which is as difficult to treat as BPD (Borderline). As I began writing, following the thread Gavin revealed, his wife Katie – who’d often worried in the first book that the dysfunction in Gavin’s family might eventually manifest in him – came to me and told me her story. Many marriages in which one spouse has PTSD often don’t survive, and with C-PTSD it’s that most don’t, because C-PTSD has three additional symptoms that block the patient’s ability to respond to treatment. Then Katie reminded me that she’d always been SO responsible & selfless after her father died when she was a kid & she had to take care of her mother…so did she ever have passions for herself? Well, that led to a discovery in this book of what she’d buried long ago, and now she wants it back – but taking care of Gavin & dealing with the rollercoaster of his C-PTSD makes it nearly impossible.
What was your favorite character to write for and why? Was there a scene you felt captured the characters’ essence?
This story is a dual POV — Gavin & Katie. I used Gavin’s faithful counselor from high school (a long-time family friend), Dr. Pedersen, to enlighten Gavin, Katie & the reader about C-PTSD, and to show how it is affecting them & their toddler Maggie. Showing that is hard and dark on the reader, and a painful downer. Showing how it affects Katie & Maggie was a downer too, but the joy was in revealing how Katie re-discovers her talent & passion for art and finds new friends who encourage her to re-claim that & her identity beyond only being a caretaker of broken people. Katie’s friend Destiny, an intuitive spiritual artist from Niger, was fun to find & develop as a catalyst to Katie’s self-journey. Bringing Tray back as Gavin’s no-nonsense level-headed yet warmly caring friend was like a family reunion. And realizing Pedersen’s own history of loss & why ensuring Gavin’s well-being was so important to him personally was a meaningful development. Oh, and precocious little Maggie!! She steals the show, doesn’t she? Well, a kid, a one-eyed one-eared rescue dog who rescues this family — All the feels!☺️
The scene where Katie finds the picture of her nine-year-old self with her father posing with her blue-ribbon painting — how it affected Katie was emotional and meaningful for me. And the scenes in which she attempts to paint the light she wants to escape to, out of the darkness all around her – to freedom, to shelter from chaos… And the scenes where Maggie urges Mommy to FEEL, and Destiny urges her to BECOME… even more feels!
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
I had the “bones” of the story, which Gavin told me that early morning. But a story can lose its dynamic energy if you know it all before you begin. My characters take over, go places I hadn’t expected & discover things I hadn’t considered. I never know the end until ~three-quarters or later into writing the book. I hear about other authors getting excited when they finally type “The End”, but I’ve never done that. Because stories never really end. There’s always something that’s not fully resolved, something hanging in the air, in the characters…
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The end of What Lies Buried provides a hint of what is to come for Katie (perceptive readers will get it). So the next book is solely from her POV. Which doesn’t mean that Gavin & the other characters disappear, of course. I’ve begun writing that book – working title ‘Power Play‘ – but I’m also being nagged into writing a straightforward standalone psychological suspense (‘A Rose by any other name’) that keeps tugging at me. Which is a bit distracting. We’ll see which book wins prominence in line. Or maybe readers would like to vote on which they’d like to see, how soon?
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Scarred by a lifetime of emotional abuse and traumatic violence, Gavin battles the triggers of Complex PTSD. His wife Katie is determined to support him despite the strain of his unpredictable reactions on their marriage.
But returning to Boston to settle his father’s estate reactivates Gavin’s childhood scars, and more triggers. Then when he uncovers his family’s mob history, his volatile reactions put him in the crosshairs of dangerous people. Worried for his safety, Katie packs up their toddler and joins him. While there, she begins sorting through her late parents’ keepsakes, finding evidence of the artistic talent she abandoned after her father died, when she became child caregiver to her disabled mother. Eager to revive her unfulfilled past, Katie copes with Gavin’s increasingly unstable behavior through her painting and new friendships that encourage her journey to self-discovery.
As Gavin resists treatment and goes off the rails, secrets of his family’s past threaten them all. The generational dysfunction in Kain’s award-winning Secrets In The Mirror continues, as Katie faces her own emotional wounds and must choose between saving her marriage or saving their child…and herself.
What Lies Buried
In What Lies Buried by Leslie Kain, the narrative immerses readers in a world shaped by the haunting aftermath of suicide and the complex web of PTSD. Leslie Kain’s writing style is notable for its depth and psychological insight, effectively drawing readers into the protagonist Gavin’s internal struggle. The aftermath of his brother Devon’s suicide, coupled with a suicide note that blames Gavin, propels him into the depths of PTSD. This situation is further complicated when Gavin is summoned to handle his father’s estate, unveiling layers of past trauma and mob threats.
Kain’s approach to character development is robust, particularly in the gradual transition of focus from Gavin to another central character, Kate. This shift adds dimension to the narrative, introducing new perspectives and escalating tension. The dual perspectives in the narrative structure initially position Gavin as the primary character, but as the story unfolds, Kate’s role becomes more prominent, adding depth and complexity to the plot. Katie’s character is resilient yet vulnerable as she navigates through the turmoil of her husband’s deteriorating mental state. The author skillfully transports the reader into Gavin’s mindset, enabling them to vividly experience his anxiety and the constant struggle he faces with PTSD. The book goes beyond traditional thriller elements, offering a nuanced exploration of personal trauma and family dynamics. While it might not align with conventional thriller expectations, Kain’s rich storytelling, marked by well-developed characters and an integrated backstory, provides a thoughtful reading experience.
The author’s ability to create engaging world-building and intricate character arcs strengthens the bond between the narrative and the reader, making What Lies Buried a compelling read that deeply engages with its characters’ internal struggles and the impacts on their relationships.
Page: 346 | ASIN : B0CSWW8CFL
LITERARY TITAN 