The Bad Parents

I'm curious about what drew the author to explore themes of trust, betrayal, and parental failure. Was it based on real stories or a desire to probe darker aspects of family life?

The slow reveal added to the suspense, but I kept wondering if I was supposed to sympathize with the parents or see them as truly villainous. How did others interpret their motives?

The pacing kept me hooked while still allowing room for psychological depth. I'm interested in whether the narrative choices were planned from the start or evolved during writing.