Thrills, Tragedies, and Twists
Katherine Black, aka the Mistress of Darkness, doesn’t just write thrillers and paranormal tales; she lives them. From managing a private zoo with over 2,000 animals to caring for a father-in-law with dementia, her life has been a rollercoaster of adventure and adversity. These experiences and her vivid imagination have inspired a stunning collection of novels that span genres and captivate readers worldwide.
When I first encountered Katherine Black’s novels, I was struck by their raw emotion, compelling characters, and intricate plots. Hush, Hush Honeysuckle, the first in her Silas Nash series, kept me so riveted I’d have wrestled to the death anyone who tried to snatch it from me, as I expressed in my Goodreads review. But spend a little time learning about the author behind the pages, and you’ll understand why she can craft such gripping tales. Katherine, whose real name is Sooz Simpson, doesn’t just imagine drama, she’s lived it.
Born in South Shields, Tyne & Wear, Katherine resides on the edge of the picturesque British Lake District with her partner and a quartet of quirky pets. Her household includes Teagan, a laid-back German shepherd; Echo, a feisty terrier with a penchant for barking at the world; Trevalion, a stubborn iguana who insists on winter garden escapades; and Ravnica, a python with an enigmatic gaze. This colorful menagerie reflects Katherine’s lifelong love of animals, a passion that once led her to manage Furness Reptiles, the ninth-largest private zoo in England during its time.
Katherine’s time at Furness Reptiles was as dramatic as any thriller. With over 2,000 animals in her care, including horses, pigs, and exotic reptiles, she thrived in an environment filled with challenges and wonder.
However, not all her memories are fond. A feud with a landlord — who owned a struggling owl sanctuary on the same property — turned dark when he attempted to sabotage her zoo by cutting off power to her generators during winter. “He tried to kill all my animals,” Katherine recalls. “We worked for three days with a vet to save them.”
The incident led to a lengthy court battle and ultimately forced her to dismantle the zoo, a heartbreaking decision that still haunts her.
“The people who abandon animals are the real villains,” she says, reflecting on her landlord’s eventual desertion of over 100 caged birds. Her experiences with betrayal and cruelty have undoubtedly influenced the complex antagonists in her novels, such as those in Leverage.
In recent years, Katherine was a full-time caregiver for her father-in-law, who had Alzheimer’s disease. “Between fishing teabags out of the washing machine and removing raw bacon from sandwiches, I found time to write,” she says with characteristic humor. This grueling yet deeply human experience has inspired the compassionate lens through which she views her characters, even the flawed ones.
“Caring for someone with dementia taught me patience and resilience,” she shares. “It’s like living in a thriller where the plot changes daily, and you’re never sure what’s coming next.”
The Mistress of Darkness’s Literary World
Katherine’s writing spans genres, but her psychological thrillers and paranormal detective series have earned her the title of Mistress of Darkness. Her works include A Question of Sanity, Cold-Blooded Carnival and Dying for Crystal.
he’s also the mastermind behind the DCI Silas Nash series, which blends murder mysteries with supernatural elements in titles like Hush Hush Honeysuckle, Lie Lie Lullaby, and Night Night Necropolis.
Katherine’s stories are laced with wit and humanity despite their dark themes. “Life isn’t just darkness,” she says. “There’s always a flicker of light, even in the bleakest moments.”
Writing for All Ages
Katherine has ventured into family-friendly fantasy adventures, penning Lizard’s Leap and Keepers of the Quantum. These stories showcase her ability to craft imaginative worlds that captivate younger readers without losing the depth and complexity her adult fans admire.
Katherine’s love of animals shines through in her novels. Her pets are not just companions but muses. Echo, her yappy terrier, even inspired a particularly spirited character in one of her books. “He was thrown down the stairs as a puppy and has been terrified of men ever since,” she says. “He’s hard work but worth it.”
Her experiences rescuing and rehabilitating animals have given her a unique perspective on resilience and survival, themes that permeate her work. Whether it’s a determined protagonist fighting against the odds or a villain facing poetic justice, Katherine’s stories reflect her belief in the strength of the human (and animal) spirit.
Katherine’s creative well shows no signs of drying up. With new projects in the pipeline and a loyal fan base eager for her next release, she continues to push her craft’s boundaries. “Every story is an adventure,” she says. “You never know where it’s going to take you.”
Katherine’s ability to transform personal hardships into compelling narratives has cemented her place as a literary force to be reckoned with. Whether she’s delving into the darkest corners of the human psyche or crafting fantastical adventures for young readers, her work is a testament to the indomitable spirit that defines her life and art.
- Visit Katherine Black’s website or her two Facebook groups: Katherine Black Reader Group and BBR .
- This article first appeared on Medium
