Cindy R.X. He and the Dark Thrills of This is Where We Die
Few novels arrive with such sharp edges and suspense as Cindy R.X. He’s This is Where We Die. Available now, He craftily revived my love for classic locked-room murder mysteries. As I noted in my previous review, the novel shoves readers into a tense reunion: six friends, haunted by a past tragedy, gather on a remote island to celebrate graduation—only for their celebration to spiral into a deadly game of secrets and survival.
He’s storytelling is straightforward and gripping, building tension that’s made for teens who crave twists and turns with a slow build up. Through alternating perspectives, we’re drawn into the fractured inner worlds of Sadie, Will, Isla, Anthony, Emily, and Charlie—each with their own motives, secrets, and regrets. As the body count rises, moral dilemmas and questions of forgiveness come to the fore, making for a thriller that’s as thought-provoking as it is compulsively readable.
We had the privilege of connecting with Cindy R.X. He, who took the time to answer some of our questions about her inspirations and the challenges of writing complex characters.
Inspiration
Locked room mysteries are a classic and challenging subgenre. What guided your creative process in crafting a puzzle that feels fresh yet honors the tradition?
He: I’ve always enjoyed reading locked room mysteries, and I’ve always wanted to try my hand in writing a fresh, modern, young adult And Then There Were None, infused with horror (but minus the anti-Semitism and racist stereotypes!).
Story and Character
What inspired you to create the killer’s calling card or warning? Was it based on real-life examples, symbolic meaning, or something unique you imagined to add depth to the character?
He: In And Then There Were None, ten china figurines mark the murders, disappearing one at a time each time someone dies, which raises the horror and tension throughout the book. I had the idea to do my own version of this warning using a picture of members of the Donner Party being crossed out because of the similarities between the secret buried in the characters’ past and the experiences of the unfortunate snowbound Donner Party that winter of 1846.
How important was it for you to create a protagonist that readers could sympathize with, and what traits did you emphasize to achieve that?
He: This Is Where We Die is different in that there is no main protagonist but an ensemble cast of characters all of whom we get to spend time with in their heads with during their POV chapters. It was important to me that no character was two dimensional. They all have their own reasons for being the way they are, marked by their own life experiences and tragedies, and that readers, even if they don’t like a particular character, can at least understand why they are the way they are.
Reflection
Looking back, what was the most challenging part of writing this locked room mystery, and how did you overcome it?
He: When it’s multi POV and one of the characters is the killer, the challenging part is not only to make each POV distinct enough, but also to make sure it isn’t apparent too early on from their private thoughts which one of them is the killer.
If you were trapped on the island with this group of friends, would you survive?
He: I’d probably be one of the first ones to die!
What’s Next
What are you working on next?
He: I’ve just turned in the first draft of the next young adult thriller, The Murder Party, to my editor at Sourcebooks Fire, and I am currently working on an adult horror involving f*cked up talking deer, demonic possession, and angry, hungry women whose appetite for vengeance will not be sated…
Well, you had me at “f*cked up talking deer” and “murder party.” I’m sold and can’t wait for both! Something primal inside me sat up and screamed, “Yes, more of that!” Thank you, Cindy R.X. He, for taking the time for us at Aber Stoat Books. We loved your book.
Thank you for reading. Please share if you enjoyed this interview.
Buy and Connect
Grab your copy of This is Where We Die from our small shop.
Join Cindy R.X. He’s newsletter here: Substack.
Cindy R.X. He’s Website
Please heart to help others find me!