In this episode, I talk with Amazon #1 bestselling author Daniel Hurst about the global trade paperback release of The Doctor’s Wife, rapid-release writing, and what it really takes to build momentum in psychological thrillers.
Daniel shares how he went from writing stories as a child to becoming a full-time author, why he prefers standalones over series, and how discipline and consistency shaped his success. They also discuss the appeal of trusted figures hiding dark secrets, the difference between indie and publisher workflows, and why short stories have become a powerful creative outlet.
Connect with Daniel Hurst
Latest Book by Daniel Hurst
Daniel Hurst Books
Show Notes, Video, and Transcript
Summary
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why psychological thrillers thrive on ordinary settings and big secrets
- How Daniel transitioned to full-time writing and stayed productive
- The advantages of standalones in domestic suspense
- Being a hybrid author (self-publishing and working with publishers)
- What working with a publisher like Bookouture is really like
- Why short stories can deliver sharper, more powerful twists
- Practical advice for aspiring thriller writers
Video
Transcript
Heads up: This transcript was created using AI with a quick human pass. Minor typos or odd phrasing may slip through because robots aren’t perfect 🤖
This is an abridged transcript, condensed from the full interview.
[00:00] Alan Petersen (Host)
You’re listening to Meet the Thriller Author, the podcast where I interview writers of mystery, thriller, and suspense. I’m your host, Alan Petersen, a writer and lifelong fan of the genre. This is episode 231—and the final episode of 2025.
Today’s guest is Daniel Hurst, an Amazon #1 bestselling author of fast-paced psychological thrillers. His novels include Till Death Do Us Part, The Passenger, and The Doctor’s Wife, which hit number one on the Amazon UK Kindle store. Daniel became a full-time author in 2021 and is known for writing fast, releasing often, and staying deeply connected with his readers.
We’re talking today about the trade paperback release of The Doctor’s Wife, his rapid-release mindset, and what it really takes to build momentum in psychological thrillers.
Before we jump into the interview, I want to share something I genuinely use and recommend. Between December 28 and January 8, MasterClass subscriptions are 50% off. MasterClass is an online education platform with courses taught by world-class experts, including bestselling thriller authors like James Patterson, David Baldacci, Walter Mosley, and Dan Brown.
James Patterson’s course, in particular, had a huge impact on my writing. His outlining strategy shaped how I structure my thrillers, and it’s a method I still use today. If you decide to check out MasterClass through my link, it helps support the podcast. You can find all the details at thrillingreads.com/masterclass.
All right—let’s jump into the interview. Here’s my conversation with Daniel Hurst.
[03:05] Alan Petersen (Host)
Hey everybody, this is Alan with Meet the Thriller Author. On the podcast today, I have Daniel Hurst, Amazon #1 bestselling author of fast-paced psychological thrillers. His novel The Doctor’s Wife is now available worldwide in trade paperback and finding new audiences.
Daniel, welcome to the podcast.
[03:30] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
Hi, Alan. Thanks for having me.
[03:34] Alan Petersen (Host)
Before we get into the new book, can you take us back to the beginning? What first drove you to write and publish your very first novel?
[03:45] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
Ever since I was a child, writing was what I did after school. If I saw something on TV that inspired me, I’d write my own version and give it to my mum and dad. I’d write one-page “episodes” as if it were a TV series I’d made up.
I always wanted to be a writer. I read constantly as a kid—Goosebumps by R.L. Stine was a big influence. As you grow up, you realize it’s not as simple as just deciding to be a writer. But I kept trying. In my early thirties, when I got married, I decided that was the time to really go for it. Fortunately, it worked out.
[05:05] Alan Petersen (Host)
Why psychological thrillers specifically? Was that always your genre?
[05:12] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
I’ve always been drawn to stories that could happen in real life. I’m not into sci-fi or fantasy. I like stories about ordinary people—something happening in a neighbor’s house or on the way to work.
Psychological thrillers felt natural, and I leaned toward darker themes. If I were to write another genre, it would probably be horror. But psychological thrillers are all I’ve written so far.
[06:15] Alan Petersen (Host)
Which authors influenced you early on?
[06:20] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
Commercially, books like Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. But an author who really inspired me was Ben Mezrich—not because of genre, but because he made being an author seem cool.
He wrote books like The Social Network, and I’d read his work on holiday from my nine-to-five job. Going back to the office afterward, I’d think, This person figured it out—maybe I can too.
[07:40] Alan Petersen (Host)
Did you start out independently, or with a publisher?
[07:45] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
I started independently because I was impatient. I didn’t want to spend years submitting and getting rejected. I wanted to get my stories out, find one reader, then two, and build from there.
It’s hard work—you’re doing everything—but it suited me.
[09:05] Alan Petersen (Host)
You’ve found success with standalones, even though everyone pushes series. Did that worry you early on?
[09:15] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
All the advice was to write series, but my success came from standalones. Psychological thrillers don’t always lend themselves to long series. You can’t put the same characters through massive trauma ten times—it wouldn’t feel real.
I’d have one idea, then a completely different one. Standalones suited how my mind works.
[10:40] Alan Petersen (Host)
You’ve been full-time since 2021. What was that transition like?
[10:45] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
I didn’t slow down—I sped up. I finished my office job on a Friday, and by Monday morning I was writing at 7 a.m. I felt like it could all disappear, so I worked as hard as possible.
Looking back at the first six months, I barely knew what was happening in the world. I just wrote nonstop.
[12:10] Alan Petersen (Host)
What does your writing process look like?
[12:15] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
I focused on word counts. I’d push myself—1,000 words, then 2,000, then more. Eventually, I was writing up to 10,000 words a day, Monday through Friday.
If I told myself I’d write 10,000 and I was short, I’d go back and finish. No one made me do that—it was just discipline.
[14:00] Alan Petersen (Host)
What do you write in?
[14:05] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
Just Microsoft Word. No dictation—just typing.
[14:25] Alan Petersen (Host)
How did working with publishers change things?
[14:30] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
At first, it was an adjustment. I was used to working alone. But I realized there were opportunities—audio, translations, wider reach—that I couldn’t do alone.
It slowed me down in a good way. The Doctor’s Wife benefited from editorial discussions that made it stronger than if I’d rushed it.
[16:30] Alan Petersen (Host)
How long does the Bookouture process take?
[16:35] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
Around four to five months. Fast by publishing standards, but slow for me. Still, much better than the old one-book-a-year model.
[17:45] Alan Petersen (Host)
Let’s talk about The Doctor’s Wife. You’re seeing it everywhere now.
[17:50] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
It came out in early 2023 and hit #1 in the UK Kindle store. Now, two and a half years later, it has a new U.S. cover and is in physical stores. Seeing readers send photos from places like Texas and California is surreal.
[19:30] Alan Petersen (Host)
Where did the idea come from?
[19:35] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
I was hiking in a remote part of northern England and wondered who would live there. I imagined a couple moving from the city. The twist was that the husband moved there to stay close to his mistress.
The “doctor” element came later—it added contrast. Someone everyone trusts hiding dark secrets.
[22:10] Alan Petersen (Host)
Any major changes in the paperback?
[22:15] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
Just Americanizations—sidewalk instead of pavement, elevator instead of lift.
[23:20] Alan Petersen (Host)
Why do readers love trusted figures hiding secrets?
[23:25] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
Doctors represent trust. In fiction, flipping that expectation is shocking and compelling. It’s playing with opposites—and it’s fun.
[25:00] Alan Petersen (Host)
You’ve also released short stories recently. Why?
[25:05] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
I had a gap in my schedule—not enough time for a full novel. Short stories let me focus on a huge twist without buildup. I challenged myself to make each one punch hard at the end.
They’re fun because you get to the twist fast.
[27:40] Alan Petersen (Host)
Do you outline now?
[27:45] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
Yes. I used to dive in, but outlining makes everything less stressful—especially endings.
[28:40] Alan Petersen (Host)
What’s next for you?
[28:45] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
More books with Bookouture, and a prequel to The Doctor’s Wife called The Doctor, exploring his backstory. Writing a prequel was a creative challenge, but a fun one.
[30:20] Alan Petersen (Host)
Any advice for aspiring thriller writers?
[30:25] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
Control what you can—word count, consistency, effort. You can’t control reviews or sales. Pick one marketing method you enjoy. Momentum comes from not quitting.
[31:40] Alan Petersen (Host)
Where can readers find you?
[31:45] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
My website is danielhurstbooks.com. I’m on Facebook and Instagram at Daniel Hurst Books. I reply to messages.
[32:20] Alan Petersen (Host)
Thanks so much, Daniel.
[32:25] Daniel Hurst (Guest)
Thanks—I really enjoyed this.
[32:30] Alan Petersen (Host)
That wraps up my interview with Daniel Hurst—and another year of Meet the Thriller Author. Thank you to everyone who listened, subscribed, and supported the show in 2025.
This podcast celebrated its 10-year anniversary this year, and I couldn’t do it without this community. My latest psychological thriller, The Good Mother, is out now. You can find it at thrillingreads.com/mother.
Thanks again for listening. I’m Alan Petersen, and I’ll see you in 2026.
