A peculiar experience of a housing viewing years ago led to C.M. Ewan writing "The House Hunt," wanting to explore the unusual phobias people have.
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
I write thrillers about everyday situations that go sideways, sometimes with shocking or deadly consequences. That means I’m very in tune with my own fears, and I’m always on the lookout for those “what would you do?” moments that could crop up on an ordinary visit to the supermarket, or the bank, or perhaps during something as commonplace as a job interview.
With “The House Hunt,” I was reminded of an experience my wife and I had when we were searching for a home to buy a little over a decade ago. We arrived at a property we had arranged to view, only for the homeowner to refuse to leave and insist that he, and not the estate agent, should conduct our viewing. As we toured the rooms of this stranger’s home, he began to confide in us, telling us that he didn’t want to sell, that his wife had cheated on him and was pushing for a divorce, that he would do anything to keep his house. It was shocking and bewildering (and needless to say we didn’t make an offer on the house!) but what really struck me was how intense and personal it can be to give someone a tour of your home.
All of that fed into me asking myself, what would be the worst possible thing that could happen on a house viewing? “The House Hunt” is my answer to that question.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
It means reading anything and everything without limit, and as an exploration and celebration of reading. It means opening oneself up to new worlds and new opportunities. I became a writer because of my local library, where I encountered all kinds of books and where the most empowering thing possible was being able to take any book I wanted down from a shelf. Nowadays, I love taking my kids to our local library and seeing them make their own discoveries.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Because books are many things, but they are also empathy machines. We read about life in all its brilliant diversity to better understand ourselves and others. All books represent the lived experience of someone, somewhere. I want to be able to read about as many varied people and stories as I can, and I’m almost certain that every reader feels the same way.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
“The House Hunt” tells the story of a young couple called Lucy and Sam who have spent two years renovating their beautiful Victorian home in London, but spiraling debts are forcing them to sell. When their estate agent calls to say that she is running late for a viewing, Lucy, who is home alone, reluctantly agrees to show a potential buyer around. The doorbell rings and Lucy opens her door to Donovan, who is handsome and charming, but soon after Lucy invites him in, Donovan’s unusual behaviour triggers her anxieties. When Lucy asks Donovan to leave, he refuses, leaving Lucy in breathless fear and reliant on her own will to survive.
As well as a (pretty unusual) house viewing, the book also delves into people’s fears and phobias. I was fascinated to learn about some of the more unusual phobias people have, and it proved a rich subject for me to explore and write about.
What can fans expect from your book?
A lot of intense and claustrophobic suspense, a LOT of surprises, and possibly a few tips on what NOT to do when you’re showing a house.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
My next thriller, “One Wrong Turn,” will be out in the US in 2025. It’s the story of Abi and Ben, who are driving home late at night in foggy conditions when they come upon a family with a baby stranded by a breakdown. They agree to give the family a lift, little realising the danger they have invited into their car. Meanwhile, I’m busy working a new thriller about a family who are caught up in a deadly mystery that unfolds during a journey on the Eurostar train from Paris to London. (I promise this wasn’t just an excuse for me to take my own family to Paris on a research trip!).
