The Arlington resident and former George Washington University professor has written two police thrillers set in the D.C. area. “It’s in the Eyes” was released in August 2009, and the sequel, “Eyes of Cold Case Killers,” will be released this fall.
Why did you write “It’s in the Eyes” and “Eyes of Cold Case Killers?”
I was inspired by a haunting effect I had when one of my top students — her name was Nicole Paul — was raped and murdered several blocks from George Washington University. I kind of carried that around in the back of my mind. I knew that one day I’d write a book in her memory.
What is your new book about?
“Eyes of Cold Case Killers” is going to be a journey for the reader in learning about what homicide detectives go through in pursuing cold case killers. It’s also about what families have to live through.
What role does the D.C. setting play in your works?
In both works, one thing I get a lot of feedback on is that readers love it that I use real places. They’re real restaurants. People have been there before. I give the names of roads, of memorials visited.
What research did you do to write the books?
You think in the academic world you do a lot of research, but this is really heavy research. I’ve gone to every place that’s mentioned in the books. I don’t write about anything I haven’t been to before. My sleuth has to go to Sunrise Assisted Living. I went there, met with the director. Separately, I interviewed the Arlington County police chief, two deputy chiefs, seven homicide detectives and two FBI agents. I wanted to be accurate. … I want to use the correct, current terms.
— Emily Babay
