The bestselling author shares the heart and faith behind her romantic thrillers.
Thanks to her mix of page-turning thriller fiction with the happy-ever-after of romance, author Dani Pettrey has sold more than 400,000 copies of her novels. Her stories have been lauded by the likes of Publishers Weekly, RT Book Reviews, and USA Today.
She wraps up her Cheaspeake Valor series with the pulse-pounding Dead Drift (Bethany House). Private Investigator Kate Maxwell and Luke Gallagher must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal while on the brink of a biological disaster that will shake America to its core. Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist’s next target?
Dani has also teamed up with Dee Henderson and Lynette Eason for The Cost of Betrayal (Bethany House). This collection features three romantic suspense novellas revolving around deadly betrayal.
In this exclusive interview, Dani explains her inside track into the workings of national security, shares about her contribution to the anthology, and outlines the challenges of writing about crime and danger as a Christian author…
So, Dead Drift is the finale of your Chesapeake Valor series? Tell us the overriding theme or connection for the books in the series…
Yes, Dead Drift is the final and concluding book in my Chesapeake Valor series. The connecting factor of the four books are the relationships between the four heroes.
While each book features a different hero from amongst the four men, each book follows the continuance of their friendship which started when they all met as children on their first Little League team—The Pirates. The series explores how, for a time, tragedy fractured their friendship and how a case brings the men, who are all in some form of law enforcement, back together.
Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about Dead Drift?
Absolutely. Dead Drift is the story of Luke Gallagher and Kate Maxell. The couple has been separated for seven years since Luke’s mysterious disappearance the day before their college graduation. The story reveals the truth about where he’s been and why he left.
What gave you the inspiration for this story?
The inspiration for the story came from a number of places, including brainstorming and exploring different ideas with my editor Dave Long. Also, from long conversations with my father who worked for several Presidents and was part of the nation’s National Security Council for many years. His knowledge combined with a wonderful book by Eric Schlosser and my imagination resulted in Dead Drift’s story.
Keep reading to find out what Dani learned writing Dead Drift…