Interview with Lori Robbins, Author of Murder in Fourth Position

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Murder in Fourth Position?

I was itching to write a mystery set on Broadway, with all its glamor and grunge, and I finally got there with Murder in Fourth Position. Murderous motives weren’t hard to come by in a world filled with drama, both onstage and off!

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Murder in Fourth Position, what would they be?

“Popular” from the show Wicked is the perfect theme for this book, because social media, gossip, and the performers’ reputations play a central role.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I’m a dedicated armchair detective, which is why mysteries are my favorite genre, both to read and to write. There’s nothing more satisfying than solving a murder from the comfort of your home. And if there’s a bit of suspense and tension along with those carefully placed clues, so much the better!

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I’ve been reading a bunch of lesser-known Golden Age mysteries, like Mary Roberts Rhinehart’s The Circular Staircase. Also on the pile: The Hollywood Spy, by Susan Elia MacNeal, and The Raging Storm, by Ann Cleeves.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The second-to-last chapter, where Leah confronts the killer, was so much fun to write. In it, I tie together a series of clues that lead my protagonist to this inevitable showdown.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I am capable of drinking an enormous amount of coffee when the writing is going well. The same condition applies when things aren’t going according to plan.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

It’s always better to write something, as opposed to writing nothing.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

It’s tempting—and self-defeating—to define ourselves and others by what we do, as opposed to who we are.

Lori Robbins is the author of the new book Murder in Fourth Position

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