Welcome to the JustRead Blog Tour for …

FBI agent Arizona Powers, recovering from a nervous breakdown, isn’t ready to call it quits. Hoping to prove herself, she takes on a protection assignment for Bridgette Van Sloan, the spoiled teenage daughter of an ambassador.

Nick Trueheart, a former escape artist, joined DSS as a risk analyst after the tragic death of his wife. Consumed by his obsession to learn the identity of his wife’s killer, Nick lacks the time and patience to handle the unstable field agent.

When Bridgette disappears from an escape room, Nick and Arizona become entangled in a dangerous game and a race against time. The risks are high as they confront their own failures and unravel secrets hidden within to save Bridgette—and themselves—from a sinister plot.

What is something interesting readers would enjoy learning about you?

I love boards games even though I’m usually not very good. I’ll play pretty much any game, any time. I enjoy learning how to play new games, and I enjoy the timeless classics. My favorites are Wingspan, Ticket to Ride, and Kingdomino.

What was your favorite scene to write in this story? And why?

The scene where Nick and Ari are at the hotel, and Nick cooks for Ari. This scene shows so much of Nick’s sensitive side and contains a vital conversation between Nick and Ari. It’s such a tender moment between the characters.

What unique research was required to write this story? 

I did a lot of studying about escape rooms and the types of puzzles and ciphers they contain. I also learned a lot about escape artists and the types of tricks they do and how.

What is one bit of research you wish you could have included in the story?

I learned that Lake Dillon, the inspiration behind Silver Lake in the story, had an eagle statue somewhere around the lake. I would have loved to include that eagle, but it just would have needed so much rewrite, and it felt unnecessary.

What was the inspiration behind your story?

I love escape rooms. My initial idea was to have a villain who moves an escape room into the real world. I thought it would be cool to have escape-room-type puzzles at a city-wide level. I combined that with an FBI agent who had nightmares no one could or would explain. And The Puzzle Within was born.

What did you learn while writing this story?

I learned to trust God’s timing. I began this novel four years ago. But if I had rushed ahead of God, it wouldn’t be what it is today.

What encouragement do you hope readers will take away from your story?

The central theme of The Puzzle Within is “God is God, and I am not.” My heart’s desire is for readers to know that God is trustworthy. We often can’t and don’t understand why God allows bad things to happen in our lives or the lives of those we love, but we need to remember that God knows. He has a purpose and a plan, and His will is always perfect. And when things become so overwhelming, we have the reassurance that He’s there walking through the trial with us. He’s still on His throne. And He has not left us alone. Sometimes, only God knows, and that’s good enough for me.