Considering she only started writing during the pandemic, Alyssa Hall is prolific.

The thriller and suspense author of Trusting Claire, Wanting Aidan, Romero Pools, and Hero of Blackpool is back with yet another heart-pounding novel—this time set very close to home.

And Then I Heard The Quiet (May 22, FriesenPress) takes place in Fort Langley against the backdrop of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the Robert Pickton murders. Protagonist Valerie takes up a house-sitting job amidst this tension, and is soon propelled into a seedy underbelly of drug trafficking and dark killings. Proceed with caution when reading alone at night!

Here, Lower Mainland-based Hall discusses her own tumultuous past, her inspirations, and her favourite books.

Tell us about yourself. 

I grew up in a multigenerational household of Russian war refugees in Newmarket, Ontario. My parents and grandparents had spent years in a prison camp in Germany before being liberated by the Americans at the end of the war. Afraid of returning to Russia, they were sent to Canada. After a chaotic youth, I travelled to Europe, which proved to be a valuable experience. 

One by one, each of my four siblings had relocated; most had gone west, to BC, and eventually I followed. In 1988, accompanied by my eight-year-old daughter, my parents, and my grandparents, we sold our homes and made the drive across Canada to join the rest of my siblings. As dysfunctional as my family was, we seemed to want to be together. My Russian grandparents struggled in their new country and they needed family nearby. My working years were spent mostly at the Coquitlam School District, where I worked in various capacities until I retired in 2011. I began writing, coincidentally, just at the onset of Covid.

What’s something you want everyone to know about you? 

I have tenacity. My life started out poorly and I had to claw my way out of it and find something better for myself. Without guidance as a child, I had to learn everything the hard way. Friendships were tough and few. My grandmother was stoic. Since birth, her entire life had been a series of wars—from WW1, to the Russian Revolution, to the Civil War, to WW2—and I believe I inherited my stoicism from her. She and I were close, and we spent a lot of time together. I always maintained my Russian language, which was my first tongue.  

I am proud of where I am now, having fought very hard to get here. When I finally mustered the courage to pick up a pen, I realized I had so much to express about my past. However, I doubted whether my life story would be interesting enough to others. So I created Claire Perova, the heroine of my debut novel, Trusting Claire. I cherish this book the most as it reflects a part of my identity. 

I have written four more books since then, with my newest novel, And Then I Heard The Quiet, scheduled to be released on May 22. In this latest book, I also drew inspiration from my own life in my protagonist Valerie, who exemplifies resilience and determination in both her past struggles and her journey toward moving forward. In my brief tenure as a writer, stories have flowed effortlessly from me, and I am brimming with more stories waiting to be told.

What’s one book that changed the way you think?

The World According to Garp by John Irving. I learned how normal it was to be not normal.

What are you currently reading?

Zero Days by Ruth Ware. I’m not sure where the story is headed, but I absolutely loved the way it started. Fast and catchy.

What’s your favourite book to give as a gift?

It’s a toss-up between A Widow for One Year by John Irving or State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.

How would you describe your book tastes?

I’m not fond of “shoot ‘em up, bang, bang” books. I love human stories that explore primarily the characters, and secondly the events of the story. I love to delve into the depths of human nature…of love and loss and strength and survival. I try hard to write that way as well.

What’s one book you can’t wait to read?

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

What’s one book you thought you’d love but didn’t (or vice versa)? 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. It sounded so promising, but I thought the entire premise fell apart.

Favourite book store in Vancouver?

While I have not been to a Vancouver book store in some time, I always gravitated to Banyen Books on West 4th.

Favourite local author?

To date, my favorite is Gail Anderson-Dargatz. I read A Recipe for Bees.

Controversial: are you someone who has to finish every book you start, or can you abandon ones that aren’t working for you?

I used to feel I needed to read to the end—the curiosity of what would happen would spur me on. Since I started writing, I can drop a bad book pretty quickly. There are too many good books out there and I want to find them all.

What’s one book you wish you wrote?

The Searcher by Tana French. She is a genius in her writing. This book speaks to me—her style, her vocabulary, her mind.

Where’s your favourite place in Vancouver to read?

Although there was a time I liked to read in Stanley Park, I actually prefer to read at home, in my comfort zone, with no disruptions. I find I am easily distracted. The only exceptions are on a plane or by a pool in some peaceful, tropical destination.