A Chilling Thriller from the Mind of a Real-Life Homicide Investigator

Multiple Personalities. One Terrifying Secret. A Race Against Ritual Sacrifice.

Crescent Springs, KY, USA – WEBWIRE – Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Just how far would you go to stop a murder you believe is inevitable? In “A Birthday to Die For,” author Frank Atchley plunges readers into the psychological labyrinth of trauma, survival, and satanic obsession—crafted with the uncanny precision only a former homicide detective could deliver.

Dr. Paula Mitchel l is no stranger to troubled minds. But when her young patient, Kae Carlson, claims she will be killed on her 26th birthday—only weeks away—the stakes become chillingly real. Through Kae’s alternate personalities, Dr. Mitchell uncovers a buried truth: at age thirteen, Kae survived a brutal ritual by a satanic cult. The baby she miscarried was meant to be a sacrificial offering. Now, years later, they want Kae instead.

With time running out and cult members vanishing or dying before they can be questioned, Dr.

Mitchell turns to Homicide Detective Jerry Riggs. But tracking the cult is like chasing shadows—silent, evasive, and deadly. Can Riggs find the killers before the clock runs out? Or will Kae become the centerpiece of a gruesome ceremony hidden in plain sight?

Why This Book Matters
● A gripping psychological thriller exploring Dissociative Identity Disorder, ritual abuse, and the enduring fight for survival.

● Written by Frank Atchley, a retired police captain and former Green River serial murder task force investigator—lending rare authenticity to the police and procedural elements.

● Featured at the 2017 American Library Association Annual Conference.

This isn’t just another crime novel—it’s a disturbing plunge into the darkness some never escape from, and the desperate pursuit of light from those who dare to fight for it.

Frank Atchley spent over two decades in law enforcement, including twelve years as a homicide investigator and as an investigative sergeant for the Green River serial murder case—one of the most harrowing serial killer investigations in U.S. history. His insight into the minds of both killers and those who hunt them makes “A Birthday to Die For” a uniquely authentic and haunting read.

Now retired, Frank resides in Henderson, Nevada with his wife.

Available now.

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