A former naval reservist with a top-secret security clearance, Sherri Shackelford writes rapid-fire suspense featuring captivating characters and heart-pounding romance. She’s authored more than a dozen novels for Harlequin publishing, including both historical and contemporary suspense. Her latest novel is Killer Amnesia (Love Inspired Suspense): Branded outsiders in a sleepy Texas town full of dark secrets, can investigative journalist Emma Lyons and Deputy Liam McCourt escape an unknown threat dead set on robbing Emma of her past—and future? In this exclusive interview, Sherri explains more about the book, what sets her main characters apart, and the research she needed to get the details right…
No spoilers, but what can you tell us about Killer Amnesia?
Killer Amnesia is the story of an investigative journalist who specializes in writing about the victims of serial killers. She’s driven to make their stories personal and not sensational. During an investigation into a string of unsolved murders, she unwittingly unmasks the murderer—with chilling results.
Tell us about your main characters, investigative journalist Emma Lyons and Deputy Liam McCourt. What about these two made you want to tell their story?
I’ve always wanted to write an amnesia story. The trope can be a little tired in suspense, and there’s always the challenge of adding an element that will want to make the reader dive in.
I liked the idea of someone who was new to the town, who had no support system in place. Emma was incredibly vulnerable, and hopefully that makes for an exciting story!
Liam has a lot of guilt from a previous incident, and this is a story of redemption for him.
What kind of research or background did you need to get the details right in the story?
A few years ago, a friend of mine got a call from a policeman saying that her mother, we’ll call her Ardel, was at a city office and had no idea why she was there. Ardel was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with transient global amnesia (TGA). The episode lasted a few hours, and Ardel made a full recovery with no memory of the incident.
Ardel was extremely open and honest in helping me give the heroine an authentic reaction to her condition. As a writer, I’m incredibly grateful to people who are willing to open their hearts and tell me their own stories.
What spiritual themes run through the book?
Both characters question why God doesn’t step in to prevent suffering, and they have to learn to trust in God when life feels out of control.
What do you hope readers will take away after reading Killer Amnesia?
Ultimately, Killer Amnesia is a story of redemption. There is suffering in life, but there is also healing!
Visit Sherri Shackelford’s author page:
https://www.familyfiction.com/authors/sherri-shackleford/
Killer Amnesia
Sherri Shackelford
Love Inspired Suspense
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