Why did the prosecutor turn to crime writing? "As a young assistant district attorney, I was in court one day talking with another ADA and a Boston cop. They were discussing a certain author who they thought was the best 'serial killer' writer. The discussion piqued my interest, so I borrowed a book by this author, read it, and told my wife, 'I think I could write something like this.'"

Featuring a well-drawn ensemble of prosecutors and cops, the book sends Detective Alves along a twisting path as a gruesome pattern emerges--the killer murders his victims, fills the victim's bathtub with their blood and then removes the bodies. What is the killer doing with the bodies, and is it based on a case Yessayan actually encountered in his years as a prosecutor? "No, the plot is pure fiction. But I wanted to create a complex, interesting, provocative killer, someone the reader could understand and maybe even like, yet still be horrified by his actions."

Many authors struggle to find a balance between the quick pace of a thriller and developing believable characters, while still remaining true to the human emotions involved in a murder investigation. Yessayan tries to bring awareness of this dilemma to his work. "So much is at stake every day. Victims of violence have been scarred. Defendants face the loss of liberty, and if someone is doing life in state prison, that defendant's mother and grandmother are doing life too. My ability to view the system from these different perspectives, I believe, influenced my writing."

Based on his work with victims, Yessayan believes that a thriller can accurately portray the realities of life, but must stop short of giving ideas to real criminals. The author found himself consulting with a number of experts. "I consulted with a funeral home director, a fellow prosecutor, a college wrestling champ, a professional weight lifter, as well as members of the Boston Police Department to ensure that my details were accurate. All of my early readers have commented on the realistic details of working a crime scene, the interaction between police and prosecutors and the courtroom procedure. As for copycats, my writers' group consists of women, and they would not have been overly supportive of a book that perpetuates violence against anyone. So, I wanted to make sure the crimes couldn't be duplicated in real life."

Did anything about the process surprise him? "I was absolutely freaked out by the room in the funeral home where they do the embalming! That is one job that I know I could never do."

What about Connie Darget, Angel Alves and Wayne Mooney? Will Eight in the Box be the first and only case that the readers get to experience them? "I'm currently working on a sequel of sorts with some of the same characters--at least those who are still alive at the end! But book two will shift into a realm I know well . . . the streets, gangs and an intriguing killer."

Contributing editor Cathy Clamp is the co-author, with C.T. Adams, of two USA Today bestselling paranormal romantic thriller series from Tor Books. They were recently nominated for a Career Achievement Award in paranormal romance by RT BOOKreviews Magazine, which will be awarded in April, 2008. Their next thriller, TIMELESS MOON, hits the shelves in March, 2008.