A Goodreads user asked Kevin O'Brien:

Kevin, I've read 3 of your novels to date: Tell Me You're Sorry, Final Breath and Closer Than Close. I am proud to say I own each one. I"m amazed at your skill as a novelist. I read each book in two nights. Your characters jump right off the page. I can't wait to read the ones I haven't read yet. Why did you choose this genre?

Kevin O'Brien Hi, Aaron. Thanks so much! I'm pumped you enjoyed those three books. I wrote the first two, but CLOSER THAN CLOSE isn't mine. But it's a cool title! You have me curious now. I'll check it out!
My first two books ACTORS (1986, now out of print) and ONLY SON (1996) weren't thrillers. Though ONLY SON ended up getting film interest and doing a terrific business, it had been a long, long process finding a publisher for it (but worth the wait, I love my publisher, Kensington Books--they've published all my books ever since). My agent suggested I try writing a thriller, since it's a popular genre. I didn't need much coaxing, because I've always been a huge Hitchcock fan, and I love thrillers. I wrote THE NEXT TO DIE (1999), and it became a USA Today Bestseller. So--I found what works for me, and I'm sticking to it! Thanks for that question, Aaron.

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