Smoke and Mirrors

Barbara Michaels creates such a hauntingly immersive world—I'm curious whether the setting was based on real places or purely imagined. How did she craft this mood?

The chemistry between characters was intense, but I kept wondering if the romantic moments were more about the suspense. Was that intentional or just my interpretation?

The suspense kept me guessing, but it also seemed to heighten the emotional stakes. Did the author purposefully intertwine the two to deepen the story?