At the age of thirteen, when his best friend was interrogated by the police for over eight hours and confessed to a crime he didn’t commit, Victor Methos knew he would one day become a lawyer.

After graduating from law school at the University of Utah, Methos sharpened his teeth as a prosecutor for Salt Lake City before founding what would become the most successful criminal defense firm in Utah.

In ten years Methos conducted more than one hundred trials. One particular case stuck with him, and it eventually became the basis for his first major bestseller, The Neon Lawyer. Since that time, Methos has focused his work on legal thrillers and mysteries, earning a Harper Lee Prize for The Hallows and an Edgar nomination for Best Novel for his title A Gambler’s Jury. He currently splits his time between southern Utah and Las Vegas.

Q: What inspired you to write The Silent Watcher?
Victor: I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of control—how people try to impose it and what happens when they lose it. That, mixed with Vegas, which is just chaos and sequins, felt like the perfect place for a story.

Q: As an attorney, how does your experience inform your character Piper Danes? Is she based off of someone you’ve worked with?
Victor: She’s got a mix of instincts and drive that I’ve seen in a lot of young attorneys I’ve worked with. She’s not based on one person, but I borrowed bits and pieces.

Q: Vegas is just as much of a character as the actual characters. Why was it important to have that be the setting? What is it about Vegas that makes it the perfect place for Piper to do her investigation?
Victor: Vegas is wild—it’s all angels and devils, and you never know which side you’re going to get. It’s a city of masks, and that mirrors the story perfectly. Plus, the city has its own pulse—it keeps you on edge being here late at night.

Q: You’ve said that this book delves deeply into the psychological complexities of both investigators and criminals. What sort of research (if any) did you have to do to portray these complexities?
Victor: A lot. I read a ton of psychological profiles, especially about how criminals justify what they do. On the flip side, I looked into the toll investigations take on detectives—how it chips away at them over time. I even talked to a couple of professionals to get the details right. It was intense, but it really helped shape the story.

Q: Were there any scenes that were particularly difficult to write? Do you have a favorite?
Victor: The toughest ones were when Piper’s facade starts cracking. Writing someone trying to hold it together while falling apart inside isn’t easy because we all do it and it’s painful as shit. My favorite scene, though, is when she has this rare, quiet moment of clarity.. It’s like she’s standing still while the world spins around.

Q: Is there anything that long-time fans of yours will be surprised by as they read The Silent Watcher?
Victor: I think they’ll be surprised by how raw this one feels. I’ve always gone deep with characters, but this time, the emotions hit harder.

Q: What’s next for you?
Victor: Another thriller! This one’s about how far someone will go to protect what matters most. It’s got twists, it’s got stakes, and it’s already keeping me up at night—in the best way.