Jayna Breigh is an award-winning writer of romantic legal dramas—Suspenseful, twist-filled mystery/thrillers with romance. She practiced “Big City Law” in Los Angeles for over a decade. Jayna loves funny, inspirational and painfully cute social media. The only real life drama allowed—British period pieces and games of Wordfeud.

In this interview, Jayna talks with us about her new book, The Hunted Heir.

FF: In real life, you are a retired attorney with extensive experience in trust and litigation. How did this lead you to write The Hunted Heir?
One character in The Hunted Heir is what lawyers call a “laughing heir.” My firm was not specifically an heir hunting firm, but during my practice, I worked on cases where the passage of time, interceding family deaths, and geography resulted in estates passing to heirs the deceased neither knew nor anticipated. These individuals are called “laughing heirs” because they laugh all the way to the bank, cashing their unexpected windfalls.

FF: Tell us about your book’s dedication, and who you dedicated the book to, and why?
I dedicated my book to my children and husband because they have supported me 100%. They are the best cheerleading team I could ever ask for.

FF: The Hunted Heir is an actual term. Can you tell us what it means?
I enjoy genealogy TV shows. There is always that long-lost relative who pops up with a compelling, quirky, or scandalous backstory. “Heir hunters” locate individuals entitled to a share of an estate. They find people who, because of forgotten memories, geography, or family secrets, are unaware of their connection to the deceased and their right to inherit. Heir hunters use detective work, obituaries, genealogy, and the internet to uncover these heirs. I found what I hope is an entertaining story by combining the surprise element of shows like Finding Your Roots with the legal legwork of actually locating heirs.

FF: Introduce us to your main characters Nona Taylor and DeMarcus Johnson and tell the audience a little about what brings them together.
Nona Taylor is a private investigator haunted by the death of a loved one, for which she blames herself. Facing financial troubles, she takes on an heir-hunting case for a pastor to pay her bills.

DeMarcus Johnson is a lawyer at a large firm striving for partnership. A former collegiate All-American basketball player with ADHD, he is assigned a multi-million-dollar case that will make or break his career. Nona and DeMarcus meet under unique circumstances, team up, and help each other with their respective cases.

FF: Why was it so important for you to bring DeMarcus’s ADHD into the story?
I have several loved ones with ADHD who are brilliant, high-functioning individuals excelling in their personal and professional lives. I wanted to showcase the challenges, complexity, and gifts associated with this form of neurodiversity.

FF: Readers are truly going to have a hard time believing this is your debut novel, talk about your process of writing it, and what surprised you most writing a book.
I start by developing the characters—their flaws, gifts, spiritual condition and life challenges. Then I create tough obstacles for them in both their personal and professional lives. Many of my experiences in trial work, case investigations, and interactions with lawyers and witnesses influenced my stories. One key legal thread in The Hunted Heir comes from an obscure area of property law about “spite fences.” I loved using my real world legal experience to shape the narrative.

FF: You introduce other interesting characters in the book, tell us about a character or two in the book that impacts the story.
My absolute favorite characters are G’Mama, Lady, and Bruiser. G’Mama is DeMarcus Johnson’s grandmother. She’s a devout, straight-talking woman who encourages DeMarcus to be a better man. Through her wisdom, wit, and tough love, she profoundly shapes his journey. Lady and Bruiser, Nona’s dogs, each dog provides support to Nona in different ways, either with protection or encouragement. I use the dogs to size up the character of the people in Nona’s life.

FF: What is more difficult, preparing for a case, or writing your first novel?
Preparing for a case is more difficult. Writing is a labor of love, while litigation is contentious and adversarial by design. You work just as hard on cases you dislike as on those you enjoy. In the end, I reminded myself to trust the legal system, which, though imperfect, remains a beacon of hope for many.

FF: What faith message do you want readers to take away from The Hunted Heir?
My characters have universal emotional wounds and flaws. I hope anyone who reads the book can see themselves or a loved one in the story, with the takeaway being that personal guilt and remorse cannot pay for our sins. Christ paid for our sins, and by His grace, we receive forgiveness and ultimate relief when we trust in Him.

FF: This is your debut novel; do you already have ideas for the next novel?
Yes! My next novel will feature courtroom scenes, including cross-examinations, depositions, and good old-fashioned attorney legwork. Readers will see more of the daily grind and drama of a lawyer’s life.

The Hunted Heir
Jayna Breigh
Kregel Publications
Genres: Suspense, Legal Thriller
Release Date: January 28, 2025

ISBN-10: ‎0825448867
ISBN-13: ‎978-0825448867

Book Summary:
After a tragic loss, private investigator Nona Taylor swore off romantic entanglements and distanced herself from the world. Once a year, on New Year’s Eve, she attends church to beg God for forgiveness, haunted by the guilt of driving her twin sister to her death.

Attorney DeMarcus Johnson is determined to climb the ladder to partnership by winning high-profile cases at his Los Angeles law firm, harnessing his ADHD hyperfocus to excel. He’s everything Nona knows to steer clear of–an overconfident ex-jock willing to do anything for success.

Their worlds collide when Nona’s pastor receives a mysterious letter claiming he’s the sole heir to a substantial estate. Desperate for answers, Nona infiltrates a lavish charity ball, only to be found out by a suspicious stranger–so she latches onto DeMarcus and concocts a fib about being his fiancée.

Now bound by a false engagement, the pair reluctantly join forces to discover the truth about the inheritance. But when an unseen enemy strikes, they realize the stakes are higher than they thought. Can Nona and DeMarcus overcome their differences to keep the pastor safe, secure DeMarcus’s partnership, and preserve a future for themselves?

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About The Author

Jayna Breigh is an award-winning writer of Romantic Legal Dramas - Suspenseful, Twist-Filled Mystery/Thrillers with Romance. She practiced “Big City Law” in Los Angeles for over a decade. Jayna loves funny, inspirational and painfully cute social media. The only real life drama allowed—British period pieces and games of Wordfeud.