I want readers to feel like detectives, says Emirati author Ibrahim Al Marzooqi

What makes a thriller truly captivating? At the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair 2025, three acclaimed authors – Daniel G. Miller, Abdul Wahab Al Rifai, and Ibrahim Al Marzooqi – explored how pace, psychology, and character depth work together to create compelling stories that grip readers from the first page to the last.

Speaking at a session titled “Making a Killer: Marketing Your Thriller” and moderated by Dr Lamya Tawfik, the panel discussed how today’s writers can balance creativity and commercial success in an increasingly competitive literary landscape.

“If it doesn’t have the right hook, it will pass people by,” said Daniel G. Miller, the USA Today bestselling author of The Orphanage by the Lake and The Tree of Knowledge thriller series. “You have to capture people’s imagination. That was my biggest learning, knowing exactly who I was writing for.”

Miller, known for his fast-paced, emotionally charged narratives, described his process as character-driven rather than plot-first. “I go back to their childhood, their hopes, and their dreams and that’s where the story begins,” he said. “Every chapter should read like a short story. If a character becomes part of someone’s life, like Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes, you’ve created something that lasts.”

Panellists at the event.

For Abdul Wahab Al Rifai, a prolific Kuwaiti novelist with over 30 books to his name, the heart of a good thriller lies in psychology and curiosity. “People are naturally curious,” he said. “You give them a riddle without an answer, and they’ll go crazy. That’s what keeps readers turning the page.”

Citing influences such as Edgar Allan Poe and Ahmed Khaled Towfik, Al Rifai shared that his fascination with mystery began with films like The Sixth Sense and The Others. “That made me write my first novel, The Mysterious Dimensions, and I’ve never stopped since,” he said.

He added that the best thrillers are driven by relatable characters rather than superheroes. “I love writing about ordinary people — confused, flawed, and vulnerable because that’s what readers connect to. There’s no pure good or evil, only people shaped by their circumstances.”

Meticulous Emirati author

Emirati author Ibrahim Al Marzooqi echoed the importance of structure and immersion in storytelling. “I’m meticulous with my outlines. Every scene, every clue must serve a purpose,” he said. “I want readers to feel like detectives, piecing the story together, one revelation at a time.”

Al Marzooqi recalled his first encounter with thrillers as a child: “I was hooked the first time a story kept me awake, wondering what would happen next, that moment when you can’t stop turning the pages.”

The authors also discussed the resurgence of sub-genres like psychological suspense and locked-room mysteries, as readers increasingly seek intelligent, layered narratives that reward attention and reflection.

The session was one of the many thought-provoking panels taking place at SIBF 2025, held under the theme “Between You and a Book” and organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA). The 12-day fair continues until November 16, welcoming readers, writers, and publishers from around the world to attend the annual event.