“A Birthday to Die For” by Frank L. Atchley is a pulse-pounding psychological thriller that dives headfirst into the chilling world of cults, trauma, and the unrelenting pursuit of justice. Published by Citi of Books, this is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major retail platforms.
Blending the intricacies of investigative law enforcement with a haunting narrative of a woman plagued by dissociative identity disorder (DID), Atchley crafts a tense and emotionally layered story that leaves readers on edge from the first page to the last. With a backdrop of satanic ritual abuse and the ever-looming shadow of a sacrificial deadline, the novel delivers a taut and suspenseful tale centered on survival, belief, and courage
Frank Atchley is a retired police officer. He served twelve years as a homicide investigator before becoming an investigative sergeant for the Green River serial murder investigation in King County, Washington. Although the total number of victims cannot be accurately determined, in his jurisdiction, 48 women were murdered, the largest number of victims attributable to a serial killer in U.S. history. Atchley is very proud to have served that task force whose members worked 24/7/365 to solve these murders. He retired at the rank of captain. He and his wife now reside in Henderson, Nevada.
The novel begins with Dr. Paula Mitchell, a clinical psychologist specializing in sleep disorders and trauma, meeting a young woman named Kae Carlson. Kae, visibly tormented and fractured by past trauma, reveals a terrifying belief that she will be murdered on her twenty-sixth birthday. Her fear is not imagined—Kae suffers from DID, and through one of her alternate personalities, Connie, the reader learns of her past: ritual abuse, rape, and a chilling initiation into a satanic cult at the age of thirteen.
The cult, which demanded a child sacrifice, now seeks to punish Kae for failing to deliver. As the clock ticks down to her birthday, Paula enlists the help of Detective Jerry Riggs, a seasoned investigator and Marine Corps veteran, who must sort truth from delusion in a race against time. The story builds with high stakes, complex personalities, and a growing web of cult secrecy as Riggs and Paula fight to protect Kae from an evil that may be more real than they ever expected.
Frank L. Atchley’s “A Birthday to Die For” is more than just a thriller—it’s a gripping psychological journey that challenges readers to confront their assumptions about trauma, justice, and faith. With richly drawn characters, taut suspense, and a plot that masterfully intertwines psychological realism with occult mystery, the book is a standout in modern crime fiction.
For fans of dark thrillers, psychological investigations, and stories that explore the resilience of the human spirit, this novel offers both suspense and substance. It compels readers to ask themselves: what if the unbelievable is real? And what would we risk saving someone from it?
This book is a testament to the endurance of survivors, the complexity of the human mind, and the relentless pursuit of truth in a world shadowed by secrets.
“A Birthday to Die For” by Frank Atchley is now available for purchase through the links provided below: