Author L.S. Stratton knows life can change based on the company you keep. I recently spoke with her about her latest release, In Deadly Company.
Tell me about your latest book.
Sure! My latest book is a dual timeline mystery/satire set in Hollywood and Hudson Valley, New York, told from the perspective of a black female assistant, Nicole Underwood…
As the assistant of the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Nicole Underwood has plenty of tasks on her to-do list—one of which is the blowout birthday celebration for her nightmare, one-percenter boss, Xander Chambers. But when the party ends in chaos and murder and Nicole is one of the survivors, suspicion—from the investigators to the media—lands on her. Was she the reason for all the bloodshed?
A year after those deadly events, Nicole tries to set the public record straight by agreeing to consult on a feature film based on her story. However, on the set in LA, she’s sidelined by inappropriate casting and persistent, bizarre script changes, while also haunted by the events of that party weekend with visions of her now-deceased boss. It seems clearing her name isn’t so simple when the question of guilt or innocence is…complicated.
Why did you decide to write it?
Prior to In Deadly Company, I’d written several serious mysteries and thrillers back-to-back that covered some heavy topics like racism, sexual assault, kidnapping, murder, and anxiety disorder. I wanted a little mental break from all the heaviness.
Prior to writing mysteries, thrillers, and women’s fiction, I used to write romantic comedies. That’s where my career started as an author. I wanted to explore my comedic side again in this novel.
Who is your favorite character in the book and why?
My favorite character to write was definitely Nicole’s boss, Xander Chambers. He’s a huge nepo baby with a drug habit and a penchant for sex workers. He’s used to having things go his way and people catering to him, and Nicole is one of the few who is willing to tell him no and try to keep him in line. He has some of the best, funniest lines in the book in my opinion. I had a good time writing him, even though I know most readers will find him frustrating—and honestly, they should.
What was the hardest part about writing the story?
I love writing dual timelines but it’s always a challenge knowing when to transition from the present to the past and back again while not losing the momentum of the narrative. In In Deadly Company, the present day section takes place during the movie production, and the past section takes place a year and half before in New York, showing what really happened during the birthday weekend that inspired the film.
I had an even bigger challenge with this novel because in the flashbacks, I changed perspectives between characters since some characters saw some things happen at Xander’s mansion that others did not. It was a delicate balancing act. I’m happy with the result though.
If you were to write a book about your life, what would be the title and why?
Finding Peace With Oneself. When I was younger, I was incredibly critical of myself. I always felt like I should be doing more, achieving more. I should be smarter, prettier, and healthier. But now that I’m older, I’m more at peace with who I am and what I’ve accomplished. I realize that insecurities only hold you back; they can’t motivate you. And as a mom, I know that when I’m being hypercritical of myself, I have a little person watching me. I don’t want her to pick up the same bad habits.
What would you tell your 16-year-old self?
Everything takes time. Don’t rush./Be patient. It will all come together in the future.
What is something readers would be surprised to know about you?
I was blessed by a Catholic cardinal (even though I’m not Catholic) who told my godmother that I would be famous one day. His prediction has yet to come true but there’s still time!
Tell me about a book that changed your life and why.
There are some books that make you want to become a writer. That book was Zoya by Danielle Steele for me. It was from my mom’s collection—she was a big romance reader when I was younger—and it was probably one of the first adult books I ever read.
The novel is about a princess whose family is killed during the Russian Revolution. (It was inspired by the story of Anastasia, one of the only Romanovs who was rumored to have survived until that rumor was eventually debunked.) Zoya is forced to flee Russia and becomes a ballerina to escape poverty and survive. It follows her many loves and lives as she transitions from a princess to a ballerina to a Hollywood mogul’s girlfriend to wealthy wife to a grandmother and family matriarch. I was so inspired by the epic story and depth of the character, Zoya. I knew I would never write a similar novel about a Russian princess, but I wanted to write a book that would affect someone as much as that book affected me.
What’s next for you?
My next novel is my first young adult fiction, which says a lot since I’ve written more than 30 books in my career. It’s going to be released in January 2026. It’s a paranormal mystery called Sundown Girls. It’s about Naomi, a 16-year-old girl who goes on vacation with her family to a secluded cabin in the Shenandoah Valley to try to bond and reconnect with them after she went missing for 14 years. But when their family arrives in the small town of Sparksburg, Virginia, strange things start happening. Naomi smells an awful stench around town that only she seems to be able to detect, and she notices a girl in a nightgown who keeps showing up outside her cabin window at night. She soon discovers that scenic Sparksburg was once a sundown town—a town where Black people weren’t allowed after sunset lest they be murdered—and that the past may still be present in Sparksburg along with a palpable danger for her and others.
In addition to Sundown Girls, I have an adult mystery coming in 2026.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
No, that covers everything!
Use the Black Fiction Addiction affiliate link to purchase your copy of In Deadly Company.
To learn more about L.S. Stratton, visit her website or connect with her on social media.
Website: www.shellyellisbooks.com
Twitter: @ellisromance
Instagram: @shellystrattonbooks