There is something deliciously unsettling about a good thriller. The secrets we keep, the lies we tell ourselves, the people we think we know—and the moment we realize we've been wrong about everything. On Wednesday, October 14, the Chicago Literary Salon embraced its darker side with Dressed to Kill: Tension, Secrets, and Keeping Up Appearances, an evening dedicated to the art of suspense, the psychology of deception, and the stories that keep us turning pages long past bedtime.
Hosted at the beautiful Three Cities Social Club, the evening brought together three Chicago-area mystery and suspense authors—Marisa Walz, Mia P. Manansala, and Allison Buccola—for a lively conversation moderated by Sheila Schuenemann of Booked & Busy Reader.
The result was an evening filled with thoughtful literary conversation, unexpected revelations, plenty of laughter, and more than a few strong opinions about what makes a truly satisfying mystery.
Cocktails, Conversation, and a Little Mystery
We began the evening with a cocktail hour, giving guests the opportunity to mingle with fellow readers, meet our featured authors, and settle into the stunning surroundings of Three Cities Social Club. Our welcome cocktails were generously provided by Inspiro Tequila, a longtime supporter of the Chicago Literary Salon.
Guests enjoyed snacks from MadeGood while browsing a pop-up bookshop courtesy of Three Avenues Bookshop. Copies of books by all three featured authors were available for purchase, with a special 10% discount offered throughout the evening.
Adding an appropriately mysterious touch to the festivities, Trisha Tay Tarot returned to the salon to offer complimentary tarot card readings. A favorite from a previous event, Trisha brought a little intrigue to an evening already devoted to secrets, intuition, and the unknown.
Our friends at M.M.LaFleur helped dress our featured participants for the occasion, a fitting partnership for an evening exploring the ways appearances can conceal complicated truths. And throughout the night, EEBauer Photography was on hand to capture the conversations, connections, and memorable moments.
Meet the Authors: Three Different Approaches to Mystery
After cocktail hour, guests gathered for our author panel, moderated by Sheila Schuenemann, whose Booked & Busy Reader community has introduced hundreds of thousands of readers to their next favorite books.
Although all three authors write stories involving secrets and mysteries, their approaches to the genre couldn't be more different.
Marisa Walz introduced her debut novel, Good Intentions, an instant USA TODAY bestseller and slow-burn psychological suspense novel about a Chicago luxury event planner who becomes obsessed with a woman she meets in a hospital waiting room during a devastating personal tragedy. The novel explores grief, obsession, and the unsettling ways our lives can unravel.
Mia P. Manansala offered a lighter counterpoint with her award-winning cozy mysteries, including Arsenic and Adobo. She described her books as:
"Hallmark movies with dead bodies."
Her Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series combines Filipino food, family dynamics, humor, and murder, while her young adult mysteries feature a teenage sleuth in Chicago who reads tarot cards on the side. The latter made the evening's tarot activation feel especially appropriate.
Allison Buccola discussed her latest psychological suspense novel, The Ascent, which follows a woman who grew up in a cult that mysteriously disappeared when she was twelve. Twenty years later, she's built a new life and become a mother, but her carefully constructed sense of normalcy is threatened when someone from her past appears at her door.
Allison explained that while many cult narratives focus on escaping, she wanted to explore something different:
"You don't see that many stories about what comes after."
That question—what happens when the immediate danger is over, but its psychological consequences remain—became a fascinating entry point into our discussion about character, trauma, and suspense.
Where Do Dark Stories Come From?
One of the most interesting parts of the evening was hearing how each author found the inspiration for her work.
Marisa revealed that the final twist in Good Intentions was inspired by something that happened to her twenty years ago. She was careful not to spoil the ending for anyone who hadn't read the book, but she shared that reading Ashley Audrain's The Push gave her the creative spark she needed.
After finishing The Push late one evening, Marisa was so inspired that she stayed awake all night plotting Good Intentions. A story she'd been waiting two decades to tell suddenly had its structure.
Mia's inspiration arrived in a very different place: on Chicago's Blue Line.
After a conversation with her mentor about how closely cozy mysteries resemble romantic comedies, the opening line of Arsenic and Adobo suddenly came to her:
"My name is Lila Macapagal, and my life has become a rom-com cliché."
She immediately began typing into the Notes app on her phone. In just two sentences, she had discovered her protagonist's voice and the distinctive perspective she wanted to bring to a genre she had loved for years but rarely saw herself represented in.
Allison's inspiration for The Ascent came during the COVID pandemic, when she was living in a small Philadelphia townhouse with a baby and a toddler. As she watched documentaries about cults and thought about the isolation of the pandemic, she became fascinated by the appeal of intentional communities and the darker possibilities lurking beneath their promises of belonging.
Rather than beginning with an elaborate plot, Allison explained that her books typically start with a character and an emotional situation. Once she understands how that character feels, the story begins to take shape.
The Great Twist Debate: Does Every Mystery Need a Shocking Ending?
Perhaps the liveliest discussion of the evening centered on the expectations readers bring to thrillers, particularly the increasingly popular demand for a jaw-dropping twist.
Mia introduced a term that immediately resonated with the room: "twist culture."
She argued that the success of books like Gone Girl has created an expectation that every mystery must deliver an enormous, reality-altering surprise, even when that isn't necessarily what the story requires.
As Mia pointed out:
"If I guess the plot twist, that doesn't mean you wrote a bad book. It means that you foreshadowed it well."
It was a refreshing perspective, particularly from an author whose books are designed to invite readers to solve a puzzle alongside the protagonist.
Allison offered an important distinction between a reveal and a twist. A mystery needs a reveal—an answer to the central question driving the story—but a twist fundamentally changes how readers understand everything that came before it.
Not every mystery needs a Sixth Sense moment, she explained. What matters most is whether the ending feels earned and satisfying.
Marisa, whose Good Intentions features a particularly dramatic final twist, brought another perspective to the conversation. She explained that she often writes the first chapter and then the last chapter before filling in everything between them.
Knowing where the story is going allows her to build toward an ending that feels inevitable without sacrificing the emotional impact of the reveal.
The authors ultimately found common ground around one central idea: a successful ending isn't necessarily the one readers fail to predict. It's the one that delivers the greatest emotional satisfaction.
Keeping Up Appearances: The Psychology Behind the Characters
With M.M.LaFleur helping bring the evening's fashion-inspired theme to life, Sheila turned the conversation toward appearances and the ways authors use clothing, personal style, and physical descriptions to shape readers' perceptions.
The answers were surprisingly revealing.
All three authors admitted that they often have a much clearer understanding of their characters' inner lives than their physical appearances.
Mia shared that she doesn't naturally visualize elaborate scenes or detailed character descriptions while writing. Instead, she concentrates on voice, personality, and relationships, often adding descriptive details during revisions.
Marisa agreed, explaining that she becomes so immersed in a character's psychology that physical descriptions can feel secondary. In Good Intentions, however, she deliberately created a glamorous world of luxury events and Chicago social life to provide a striking contrast to the grief and darkness at the center of the story.
Allison noted that while she doesn't always picture exactly what her characters look like, she can vividly imagine the environments they inhabit and how they move through those spaces.
The conversation was a reminder that appearances in fiction aren't always about what a character wears or how they look. Sometimes the most important details are the carefully constructed lives they present to the world—and the unsettling truths hidden underneath.
Why Are Thriller Writers So Nice?
One of Sheila's most entertaining questions addressed a delightful contradiction: How can authors who create such dark, disturbing stories be so genuinely lovely in person?
The authors laughed as they reflected on the unexpectedly welcoming community they've found among fellow mystery and thriller writers.
Marisa shared that she had initially been intimidated by the publishing industry, only to discover how generous and supportive other suspense authors could be.
Allison observed that the irony goes even deeper. So many thrillers are built around the idea that nobody can be trusted, yet the writers themselves are often remarkably trusting of one another.
Mia suggested that some authors use their writing to work through their own fears, channeling anxieties and uncomfortable possibilities into fiction.
Allison also acknowledged that writing psychologically intense material can sometimes make it difficult to transition back into everyday life. While working on The Ascent, she spent hours inhabiting the fears of a mother terrified of losing her child, only to leave her desk and pick up her own daughter from preschool.
Music, she explained, could help her transition between those emotional worlds.
It was a fascinating glimpse into the human side of writing suspense, and a reminder that the people who imagine the darkest fictional scenarios often approach their work with tremendous empathy.
Kill It or Keep It? A Thriller Trope Lightning Round
To close the discussion, Sheila introduced a game called Kill It or Keep It, challenging the authors to weigh in on some of the most recognizable tropes in mystery and suspense.
Unreliable narrators? An enthusiastic keep.
Closed-circle mysteries featuring a limited group of suspects? Another favorite, with the authors agreeing that these stories are especially satisfying to read.
The seemingly perfect spouse who is inevitably hiding something? That trope received a more skeptical response, with several authors suggesting it might be time to retire the overly familiar setup.
Amnesia and memory loss proved divisive, as did the ticking clock that forces a protagonist to solve a mystery before time runs out.
And then there were creepy children.
Let's just say that not everyone wants to read about a sinister child, no matter how effectively the trope has been used in classic suspense fiction.
The lightning round ended the panel on a wonderfully playful note, reminding us that even among accomplished mystery writers, there is plenty of room for disagreement about what makes a story irresistible.
A Tarot Reading That Predicted a Book Deal
Before the evening concluded, Marisa shared one final story that perfectly connected the night's literary conversation with our tarot card readings.
Several years ago, just two days after her agent submitted Good Intentions to publishers, Marisa attended a party where Trisha Tay was offering tarot readings.
Marisa had never had her cards read before, but Trisha immediately sensed that something significant was about to happen in her career.
Her advice?
"Buckle up, buttercup."
The following Monday morning, Marisa received a call from her agent: a dream editor had read her manuscript over the weekend and wanted to offer her a book deal.
Marisa contacted Trisha before she even told her parents.
Years later, the two were reunited at Dressed to Kill, with Trisha once again offering readings to our guests. It was one of those wonderful full-circle moments that made the evening feel especially memorable.
Ending the Evening with Personalized Book Signings
Following the panel, guests had the opportunity to continue their conversations over wine and cocktails, enjoy additional tarot readings, and purchase books from Three Avenues Bookshop.
Our three featured authors stayed to meet readers and personally sign copies of their novels, providing a lovely conclusion to an evening dedicated to the stories we love and the people who create them.
One of my favorite aspects of the Chicago Literary Salon is watching conversations continue long after the formal program ends. Readers who arrived as strangers discover shared favorite authors, exchange recommendations, and leave with new connections—and, more often than not, another book for their already overflowing to-be-read piles.
A Special Evening for a Meaningful Cause
This particular salon also supported a cause close to my heart. A portion of ticket proceeds from Dressed to Kill was designated for Susan G. Komen in support of breast cancer research, in honor of my mother, a breast cancer survivor.
I'm grateful to everyone who attended and helped make that contribution possible.
I also want to extend a special thank-you to our wonderful partners: Three Cities Social Club for hosting us in such a beautiful setting; Inspiro Tequila for our welcome cocktails; Three Avenues Bookshop for bringing books directly to our guests; Trisha Tay Tarot for adding a little magic and mystery; MadeGood for providing snacks; M.M.LaFleur for helping our participants look the part; and EEBauer Photography for documenting the evening so beautifully.
And, of course, thank you to Marisa Walz, Mia P. Manansala, and Allison Buccola for their candor, humor, and generosity in sharing their creative processes, and to Sheila Schuenemann for guiding such a thoughtful and entertaining conversation.
The Chicago Literary Salon has always been my love letter to books, authors, and the conversations that happen when we bring readers together in a beautiful space. Dressed to Kill was a wonderful reminder of exactly why I started this series.
Until our next salon, happy reading—and perhaps think twice before trusting that seemingly perfect neighbor.
October 14, 2026 @ 7:00 - 9:00 PM | Three Cities Social, 320 W Ohio St #7E | Chicago, IL
Join us for a special edition of the Chicago Literary Salon devoted to the deliciously unsettling world of thriller, suspense, and mystery fiction.
What makes us willingly enter a story where we know something terrible is about to happen? Why are we fascinated by characters who lie, keep secrets, make questionable choices, and sometimes behave very badly? And how does an author create the kind of tension that convinces us to read just one more chapter—even when we know we should go to bed?
This salon brings together three acclaimed Chicago-area authors—Marisa Walz, Mia P. Manansala, and Allison Buccola—whose books approach suspense from distinctly different angles, from psychological tension and dark secrets to clever mysteries and characters whose choices keep us guessing.
Moderated by Sheila Schuenemann of Booked & Busy Reader, our conversation will go behind the scenes of writing suspense: how authors plant clues without giving too much away, create believable red herrings, develop characters we aren't quite sure we can trust, and build toward the twists and revelations readers crave.
Your evening includes:
An intimate panel conversation with three thriller, suspense, and mystery authors
A welcome cocktail to begin the evening sponsored by Inspiro Tequila
A curated selection of wines from Grand Cru Chicago
An exclusive offer from M.M. LaFleur of $100 off of $500 or more as a special thank-you for joining the event
A pop-up of Three Avenues Bookshop featuring books by our participating authors
Complimentary Tarot Card Readings by Trisha Tay Tarot
Complimentary Photobooth by The Lavish Kay and Co.
Printed conversation prompts designed to inspire thoughtful discussion and connection
Time to meet the authors, purchase books, and have them signed following the conversation
An evening surrounded by fellow readers who understand the particular joy of a book you simply cannot put down
Whether you devour psychological thrillers, prefer your mysteries with a cozy edge, or simply love a story that keeps you guessing until the final pages, this evening is an opportunity to explore how some of our favorite page-turning stories are made.
The Chicago Literary Salon is designed to feel both elevated and welcoming—a place to discover new writers, engage deeply with ideas, and connect with fellow readers over stories worth talking about.
The Evening Will Feature
Marisa Walz writes books about people behaving badly. Her debut novel, Good Intentions, was an instant USA TODAY bestseller.
A lifelong writer and alum of The Writers' Loft in Chicago, Walz began writing at seven, filling painstakingly detailed childhood diaries and trying her hand at some admittedly terrible poetry. She later wrote for her college newspaper before eventually finding her way to fiction.
Today, she fits her writing around life with two young children and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, kids, and a labradoodle known for throwing balls to itself—and eating entire socks.
Mia P. Manansala is a Chicago writer who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. Her debut novel, Arsenic and Adobo, earned starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness and became an ABA Indie Bestseller.
Her work has earned numerous honors, including Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards, as well as recognition from the Chicago Reader. Across her writing, Manansala deftly intertwines mystery with family, food, love, and community, creating stories in which solving the crime is only part of what keeps readers turning the pages.
A lover of all things geeky and cozy, she spends her time writing, reading, gaming, procrasti-baking, eating, and staring adoringly at her dog, Gumiho.
Allison Buccola is the author of The Ascent and Catch Her When She Falls. Her novels explore the unsettling territory between what we believe, what we remember, and what may actually be true, drawing readers into psychologically charged stories filled with secrets and uncertainty.
Buccola holds a JD from the University of Chicago and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and their two young children.
Moderated by Sheila Schuenemann of Booked & Busy Reader
Sheila Schuenemann is the creator of Booked & Busy Reader, a Chicago-based platform dedicated to helping readers discover books worth their time. She has been reading more than 100 books a year for over 11 years and shares her curated recommendations with a community of more than 500,000 readers.
She is also the founder of the Booked & Busy Book Club, where she selects one standout book each month and creates space for thoughtful conversation among readers. Known for her approachable, insightful recommendations across genres, Sheila has built a community around one simple pleasure: finding a book you can't wait to tell someone else about.
About Three Cities Social
Three Cities Social is a third space in Chicago, a social club in River North where adults come to build community. The clubhouse on Ohio Street is open every day, with programming every week.
About M.M.LaFleur
M.M.LaFleur is a New York-based fashion brand celebrating women through thoughtfully designed clothing, personal styling, and a community of more than 100,000 purposeful women. This salon remains proudly supported by M.M.LaFleur as we anticipate the grand reopening of their new Chicago location.
At the heart of M.M.LaFleur is the belief that when women succeed, the world becomes a better place—a mission reflected in its longstanding commitment to supporting women through community, purposeful design, and initiatives advancing gender equality.