My dark thrillers are often described as eerie and atmospheric. Setting is no mere passenger to my plot. Often, place—as well as the protagonist’s voice—inspires much of the story arc before I’ve even started writing.

I snapped this picture of my workspace after very little staging. At times, despite my best efforts, the table becomes a depository for snail mail. I removed a few bills; otherwise, it’s accurate. The table is a zinc-top number that my wife and I found in the...