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Toxic friendships, secret games, and deadly consequences. Alissa Lee’s debut takes domestic suspense into dark academia territory — and I couldn’t put it down, even at work.

In this episode, I sit down with debut author Alissa Lee to chat about her upcoming novel — a twisty, character-driven story about five college friends whose secret game spirals into betrayal and murder. We talk about how her background working for the CIA, Capitol Hill, and Big Tech shaped her storytelling; why long-term friendships inspired her book; and how community and writing groups became her creative lifeline.

If you love dark academia, female friendship drama, and slow-burn suspense, this conversation is for you.

With Friends Like These by Alissa Lee — Buy on Amazon | Domestic Suspense / Dark Academia / Female Friendship | Audio ✅ (coming November 4, 2025)

Sea Wife by Amity Gaige — Buy on Amazon | Domestic Suspense / Psychological Fiction | Audio ✅

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy — Buy on Amazon | Literary Thriller / Atmospheric Suspense | Audio ✅

Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall — Buy on Amazon | Suspense / Love Story / Gothic Vibes | Audio ✅

[00:00] Meet debut author Alissa Lee

[01:00] From CIA summers to Capitol Hill: her fascinating career path

[05:00] How maternity leave reignited her passion for writing

[07:00] The inspiration behind her debut: toxic friendships and authenticity

[10:00] Her writing process and legal-minded plotting style

[12:00] Why finding a writing community changed everything

[14:00] What Alissa’s reading now — and her mini masterclass in suspense

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