Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl
Book One of The Erin Delaney Mysteries
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers, March 18, 2025
REVIEW BY JOAN HALL
Trying to deal with the aftermath of a tragic incident in which her partner and an innocent child died, ex-police officer Erin Delaney became a best-selling author. She only wrote the book because she believed it would be cathartic, and now her publisher wants additional novels.
But Erin still suffers from PTSD, and she’s become a virtual recluse. The only person she regularly interacts with is former FBI behavioral analyst Kaely Quinn-Hunter, whom she’s never met in person. Kaely convinces Erin to spend a week with her in a secluded cabin in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains. Erin reluctantly agrees. She admits the town name, Sanctuary, has appeal.
Life had certainly changed over the last several years. Now, it was pretty easy to cut yourself off from the rest of the world.
Nancy Mehl, Shattered Sanctuary
Soon after arriving, a young woman is found murdered, and a serial killer is on the loose. Local police chief Adrian Nightengale enlists Erin and Kaely to help solve the crime. Suddenly, the isolated cabin is anything but a sanctuary.
The book is filled with red herrings and clues. Tension mounts when Erin and Kaely are trapped in the cabin during a snowstorm. There are also scenes from the killer’s point of view. He believes he’s smarter than anyone and will never be caught. Will the police find him before he claims another victim?
Action and tension kept me turning the pages. The descriptions of the deceased victims were satisfactory—enough to know what was going on without excessive gore. There are elements of Christian faith throughout the book without being preachy.
“Like I said, Christians are still people. Some are better than others at showing who God is. ” She shrugged. “That’s why it’s important to follow Christ — not Christians.”
Nancy Mehl, Shattered Sanctuary
I give this book four and a half well-deserved fish.
I purchased the Kindle version of Shattered Sanctuary through Amazon.
The Well Read Fish 
Thorough review, Joan, and sounds like an excellent read. Heading to Amazon…
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Glad you liked the review, Grant. I enjoyed this book.
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Joan, this sounds like a super suspenseful book. I love the setup. I also like the idea of some passages written from the killer’s point of view which no doubt upped the tension. Great review!
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Yes, those passages added to the attention. As a reader, it made me want to see him brought to justice.
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You had to know this one would appeal to me. Thanks for sharing this one, Joan.
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I thought of you, Staci. At first, I wondered about the serial killer component in Christian fiction, but the author did a great job without getting gory.
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Scary in its own way, but this has the impetus to overcome her PTSD issues. I’m intrigued.
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Yes, that aspect added depth to the story. Thanks, Jacqui.
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Great review, Joan! I’m intrigued and will be checking this out. Xo
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Thanks, Denise.
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This sounds like a compelling story, Joan. I’m not familiar with this author. Thank you for sharing! I’m off to check it out.
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This was my first time to read any of Nancy’s work. I’ll probably read some more. The publisher has her books priced too high for me, but I’ll take advantage if any are on Kindle Unlimited or on sale (which this book was when I purchased it).
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Love the cabin in the mountains and snowy setting. That cover also beckons to me. Thanks for the rec, Joan!
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A cabin in the mountains is always intriguing to me. The snowy setting just added to the tension.
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I loved that last quote, Joan!
This sounds like a suspenseful read with a great setting (the Smoky Mountains). I also always enjoy a good snowstorm to add tension and a sense of claustrophobia.
Excellent review!
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I thought that was a great quote, Mae. The setting began in late fall, and I could “feel” the crisp clean air, smell the “scent” of autumn, and picture he vivid colors of the Smoky Mountains. The early snowstorm just added to the tension.
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This sounds like a heart thumper, Joan. Thanks for the review. I feel my TBR pile growing as i type.
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LOL, Kelly. Everything I “think” I have my TBR list manageable, I find other books to read. I’ll never run out of things to read.
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Right?
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Hi Joan, I hope you are well. This sounds like an intense thriller. Thanks for the review.
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Thanks for asking, Robbie. I’m doing well. This was a suspense filled book.
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