Former Resident Pens Debut Mystery Novel

White Plains, NY, October 11, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Debut Novel a Suspenseful, Psychological Thriller

Sometimes life seems like a madhouse. And sometimes it’s worse…

In her debut novel "Shadow Play," (North Star Press, 2013, $14.95), author D.A. Lampi delivers a tale of intrigue and suspense about widowed psychiatrist Grace Rendeau who picks up the pieces of her family’s life, only to have it shattered when her two children are kidnapped.

After her husband’s untimely death. psychiatrist Grace Rendeau forges a new life for herself and her two young children by moving to rural Minnesota. A prestigious position at the Rochester Forensic Center for the Criminally Insane offers her a new beginning while allowing her to spend more time with her children.

At the Center, Grace is immersed in a maelstrom of lives in disarray. She experiences the anguish and struggles of inmates who hope to regain a footing in sanity and face the devastating consequences of their criminal actions. In striving to heal her patients, Grace herself finds healing, a new strength, and a renew sense of hope for the future.

Among the possibilities is a budding romance with Alex Sawyer, a divorced doctor engaged in humanitarian work. Romance blossoms into love and Grace accompanies Alex on a medical mission to Indonesia. They return committed to a new life together.

But their joy is short lived. Grace returns home to an empty house—and a chilling kidnapper’s note. It asks for no ransom, makes no demands and holds out no hope for the return of her children. It is clearly an act of pure vengeance.

Suspects include a disgruntled security guard at the Center with a grudge against Grace; Alex’s bitter ex-wife; a recently escaped insane inmate. Enemies known and unknown haunt Grace’s every waking hour. Where are her children? What has happened to them? Who is attempting to destroy her? Will she find the answers in time to save her children, and retain her own last connection to sanity?

Grace’s riveting story illuminates the hopes and fears of every wife or husband, mother or father, woman or man, caught in life’s turmoil and striving to overcome it.

D.A. Lampi’s debut novel, published on June 1, 2013, by North Star Press is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at her website www.dalampiauthor.com. Ms. Lampi lives in southeastern Minnesota where she is hard at work on the next book in the Rendeau series.

Praise for Shadow Play

“A gripping story of one woman’s struggle amid life’s best hopes and worst fears, full of drama, intrigue and suspense, and rich with insight into the complexities of the human spirit.”
- Paul Negri, former president and publisher of Dover Publications, Inc.

"No author writing today knows the unexpected dark corners of the human mind like Debbie Lampi. Ms. Lampi proves this point with terrifying conviction in her page-turner Shadow Play, a new psychological thriller that puts the tenacious and vulnerable Grace Rendeau, MD in the cross hairs of a quietly demented individual. Miss a night's sleep, but don't miss this one!"
- John Klawitter, Hollywood Writer/Director and author of the EPPIE Award winning thriller novel Hollywood Havoc

“D.A. Lampi probes the psyche of her characters in a voyeuristic and sensual way. Shadow Play is a novel based on the complexity, beauty, and darkness of the human soul.”
- Annelie Wendeberg, Author of The Devil's Grin

"I have been very lucky to receive some fantastic debut novels to review and I was not let down by Debbie Lampi’s ‘Shadow Play’. This beautifully written novel deserves a lot of praise. Fast paced and not lacking in suspense, I would recommend this novel to any adult who likes quality time with a good mystery.

The characters are strong and well written with air of secrecy about all of them. They each have a past that laces them together even during conflict. Bud appears rough and malicious but is he really? Josie always has an excuse. What is her purpose? Is Alex really who he says he is?

Grace is a psychiatrist healing from the death of her beloved husband 2 years prior and raising her children, Dane the innocent 5year old boy who loves dinosaurs and Caleigh, the typical moody teenager… or is she? Beginning a new job in a new town, Grace hopes this will be healing for them all as she is finding her place in the world as a widow, trying to put one foot in front in of the other and get to Dane’s ball games on time. Earth shattering events take place that both fill her with love and emptiness at the same time. Grace must overcome her fears and doubts if she is to have any future. From Minnesota to Indonesia and Puerto Rico, Debbie Lampi takes us on a journey of self-discovery entwined with the all-enduring mothers love. Can it conquer all?"

Annelsye Blatch, Everything Books and Authors

About D.A. Lampi

D.A. Lampi was born in Fishkill, New York and grew up in a community of Finnish immigrants with whom she danced the polka, attended a bi-weekly community sauna, and enjoyed skinny dipping afterwards in the cold waters of the Fishkill Creek. She received a B.S.N. from new York Universoty and her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the New School for Social Research. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Twin Cities Sisters in Crime. Her second novel will be published in 2014.