Nancy Mehl is the author of more than fifty books, a Parable and ECPA bestseller, and the winner of an ACFW Book of the Year Award, a Carol Award, and the Daphne du Maurier Award. She has also been a finalist for the Christy Award. Nancy writes from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her husband.
In this interview, Nancy talks with us about Shattered Sanctuary, the first book in her new The Erin Delaney Mysteries Series.
FF: Can you please provide a brief summary of Shattered Sanctuary?
Ex-cop Erin Delaney is dealing with the trauma of losing her partner and accidentally shooting a young girl during a gang war in St. Louis. After leaving the police department she decides to write a book, in an attempt to live vicariously through a fictional character who works for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit – a dream she believes is now out of her reach. Someone recommends Kaely Quinn-Hunter, a retired analyst who is willing to work with Erin as a resource for her novel, Dark Matters. The two strike up a friendship and decide to spend some time in a cabin nestled in the small town of Sanctuary, Tennessee. However, their plan for a week of relaxation is shattered when the local police chief contacts them about what looks to him like the work of a serial killer. With their expertise, Chief Adrian Nightengale hopes they will help him stop the murders before someone else dies.
FF: Your protagonist, Erin Delaney, is grappling with a tragic incident from her past. How does this trauma shape her character and influence the story?
Although Erin has been traumatized by the events of the night that made her walk away from the police department, she’s unable to turn off her passion for justice. Meeting Kaely in Sanctuary is difficult for her because she wants to stay cut off from the world, hidden away in an apartment in St. Louis. But when she arrives in Sanctuary, she is faced with situations out of her control. She has to either step up to a challenge that will test all of her training or give in to the trauma that has held her in its grip since she walked away from her previous life.
FF: How do you approach writing complex characters like Erin, who are dealing with both personal trauma and external threats?
Truthfully, most of us have faced trauma in our lives. Connecting with those feelings isn’t that difficult. Although Erin’s situation isn’t mine, our reactions are still similar. I think readers can tell when you’re describing something real. If you’re able to connect with them and with their experiences, they have an easier time relating to your characters and your story.
FF: Kaely Quinn-Hunter is described as an enigmatic former FBI behavioral analyst. What unique perspective does she bring to the story?
Because of her past, she has the ability to understand Erin in a way most people can’t. Erin respects her and learns to trust her.
FF: Can you tell us more about the relationship between Erin Delaney and Police Chief Adrian Nightengale? How do their different backgrounds contribute to the investigation?
Actually, their backgrounds are more similar than different. Although Adrian is now the police chief in a small town, he used to work in Houston. His experiences there led him to leave his job and take up residence in Sanctuary. Erin walked away from St. Louis after a devastating night that traumatized her. They are both seeking a quieter life.
FF: The setting of the Smoky Mountains plays a significant role in the novel. What inspired you to choose this location?
Although I’ve never been to the Smoky Mountains, I have friends that love it there. I was looking for a peaceful place where someone might go to get away from the big city. It seemed like the perfect location. And now, I have a reason to go there. Research!
FF: Shattered Sanctuary involves a deadly game of cat and mouse. Without giving away any spoilers, can you give us a hint about some of the challenges Erin will face?
Erin is battling her inner demons. Even with Kaely’s support, she is still struggling with the past. Now she’s tracking a serial killer who is leaving clues that the women won’t understand until it may be too late. As storms wage inside and outside, Erin isn’t certain she will emerge alive from a challenge she’s not sure she can overcome.
FF: Shattered Sanctuary touches on themes of confronting personal demons while solving external threats. How do you interweave these internal and external conflicts?
Carefully. If Erin can’t overcome her inner turmoil, she may not be able to stop a serial killer who will push her to her limits.
FF: Shattered Secrets is the first book in The Erin Delaney Mysteries Series. What can readers anticipate with the rest of the books in this series?
Kaely Quinn-Hunter will show up in the other two books. I hope readers will enjoy seeing Erin and Kaely work together to solve complex cases as Erin learns more and more about the love God has for her.
FF: Can you tell us about any research you conducted to bring authenticity to the law enforcement and FBI elements in the story?
I have a retired FBI behavioral analyst and a police detective who help me with my research. I couldn’t write books like Shattered Sanctuary without them.
FF: For readers new to your work, what would you say sets your mysteries apart from others in the genre?
My books combine both mystery and suspense. I’m a mystery buff and love leaving clues for my readers. Also, character development is important to me. I want my characters to be relatable. Lastly, but most importantly, I add spiritual elements to my stories. Touching readers with God’s love is my heart’s desire.
Shattered Sanctuary
The Erin Delaney Mysteries Series #1
Nancy Mehl
Baker Publishing
Genres: Romantic, Mystery/Suspense
Release Date: March 18, 2025
ISBN-10: 0764244566
ISBN-13: 978-0764244568
Book Summary:
Grappling with the aftermath of a tragic incident that altered her life, ex-police officer and bestselling mystery author Erin Delaney finds solace in the tranquility of a cabin nestled deep in the Smoky Mountains. But her restful stay is shattered when cries pierce the night, hinting at a lurking presence haunting the woods. When local police chief Adrian Nightengale seeks her help with a carefully arranged murder scene, she is thrust back into the world of crime solving. As they delve into the investigation, Erin’s intuition reveals chilling truths about the killer’s motives and strategically perfected methods.
Joined by the enigmatic Kaely Quinn-Hunter, a former FBI behavioral analyst, Erin not only embarks on a quest to stop the merciless serial killer, but also confronts the revived ghosts of her past. In a race against time, Erin must defeat her own demons while outmaneuvering a cunning killer or risk becoming the next victim in this deadly game of cat and mouse.
CLICK TO BUY
Buy Shattered Sanctuary from the FamilyFiction Amazon Affiliate HERE!