Forgivable Sins

The story's mood is so visceral and brooding—I'm curious what influenced the author's choice to make the tone so gritty and emotional.

Her decisions felt so layered—sometimes sympathetic, sometimes frustrating. Did others find themselves rooting for her or questioning her motives?

The mix of intimacy and danger was so compelling, but I wonder how much was planned versus discovered during writing. What was the process behind this balance?