Angela Steen asked Barry Lyga:

I just started reading I Hunt Killers (117 pages in) and I have to say, as someone who works in law enforcement, I have never quite had an author capture the twisted mind of a killer so well, let alone tell it from the point of view from his son. How did you get in the mindset of the Dent's? Was the thought processing to "being the killer" mentally taxing as you were writing? Thank you for your time!

Barry Lyga Hi! Thanks for your question.

I did a TON of research before writing the book -- everything from serial killer pathology to LEO tactics to the history of serial murder. I was just steeped in this stuff and so, honestly, it wasn't difficult or taxing at all. I just sort of channeled it all.

If I have any gift as an author, it's this: I am really, really good at pretending to be really, really bad people. So that's what I used for this. I tried to approach Billy in particular without judgement. Because he wouldn't judge himself. He thinks what he does is both good and necessary, so I just turned off that inner voice that says, "You can't do that!!!" and let it ride.

Glad you enjoyed it!

(Edited because all these months later, I just noticed a typo!!!)

flag