United Kingdom, Oct. 17 -- Reese Witherspoon wanted a skilful woman at the heart of her debut novel.

The 49-year-old actress has collaborated with best-selling author Harlan Coben on the thriller Gone Before Goodbye - which centres on Maggie, an accomplished surgeon who is trapped in a deadly conspiracy, and was determined to include a female protagonist who doesn't need to rely on her sex appeal or violence.

Reese told BBC News: "Growing up, I always saw James Bond movies, my dad was obsessed with them, but I was like, why are (the girls) all in bikinis, and I don't understand what that's got to do with solving the crime.

"If I was going to do a thriller, I wanted the woman to be at the centre of it. I wanted her to have a unique skil...