Cut-Throat

The story's tension builds gradually, but I wondered if the pacing was planned from the start or evolved during writing. Did the author intentionally slow down at certain points?

Some characters seemed to hide their true intentions, making me question who to trust. Was this ambiguity a deliberate choice to keep readers guessing?

The atmosphere felt so authentic and foreboding. I'm curious whether real places or personal experiences influenced the setting or if it was purely fictional.