The Challenge

The challenge was to create a cover for a dark crime thriller centred on revenge, betrayal and a group of divorced friends whose attempts at getting even quickly spiral out of control. The design needed to communicate the tension and danger of the story while avoiding a predictable or overly graphic crime aesthetic.

The Solution

I focused on the themes of jealousy, revenge and betrayal, using a minimal photographic approach. The isolated chairs reference the divorce-support group at the centre of the story, while the green lighting represents jealousy, one of the key emotions driving the characters and their actions. The dark setting creates an unsettling atmosphere, while the bold yellow typography provides contrast and gives the title strong visibility.

The Result

The final design creates a dark, tense and contemporary crime-thriller identity. The green lighting immediately communicates the theme of jealousy while also creating a sense of unease and danger. The isolated chairs hint at the characters and their fractured relationships without revealing too much of the story, allowing the cover to remain intriguing and commercially appealing.