Episode Notes
In a recent podcast interview, historical fiction author Crystal Caudill shared insights about her newest release, “Written in Secret,” the first book in her “The Art of Love and Danger” series. As a fan of her work, I was intrigued by the fascinating premise and thoughtful themes woven throughout this historical romantic suspense.
A Novelist Writing About a Novelist
One of the most interesting aspects of “Written in Secret” is that the protagonist, Lydia, is herself a novelist—specifically a dime novelist who writes crime stories based on real crimes under a pseudonym. Crystal shared that writing a character who’s an author was “a lot of fun and also scary because you see into my brain a little bit how I view things.”
The premise takes a dark turn when a vigilante begins murdering the criminals who escaped justice in the real crimes Lydia fictionalized in her novels. This puts Lydia in a terrible position, wondering if her writing somehow inspired these murders.
The Central Moral Question
At the heart of the novel is a profound question: How responsible is an author for how their work might influence others? Lydia grapples with guilt over the vigilante murders while maintaining that “it’s not literature that corrupts man, it’s sin.”
Crystal mentioned this reflects some of her own wrestling as an author who writes suspense: “We have to show the darkness of the world for God’s light to shine… it helps us to process the world we’re in because our world is a dark world.”
Rather than offering easy answers, Crystal aimed to create a story that makes readers think. When asked if there’s a clean resolution to this moral dilemma, she responded that it’s “not as cut and dry as everyone would like.”
The Hero: Abraham
The love interest, Abraham, is a Cincinnati police officer who hopes to make detective. He represents the opposite perspective from Lydia—he believes dime novels corrupt impressionable people and should be banned. This creates immediate tension between the characters.
Abraham is described as “black and white” in his thinking, stubborn, but ultimately a good man who sees the underbelly of society through his police work. Adding to his complexity, his sister is a bookworm who loves the very dime novels he despises.
Historical Research
Crystal’s research for the book included visits to the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum and interviews with a retired police chief and current officers. She discovered fascinating historical context about corruption in Cincinnati’s police department in the era, where political connections determined hiring and firing.
This creates additional tension for Abraham, as Lydia is the daughter of the city’s coroner and a friend of the mayor—making her both a suspect in his investigation and someone with political connections that could impact his career.
Contemporary Parallels
When asked about parallels to current events, Crystal acknowledged writing the book partly in response to the social unrest of 2020-2021, exploring “how do we handle when the judicial system doesn’t act in the way we think it should? And what is our responsibility as Christians?”
Crystal believes the book raises important questions about how we should respond “when the world is losing their mind” and reminds readers that “God is sovereign regardless of who’s in cont...
