Query Letter: The Patient’s Secret: A Debut Thriller from an Author who Studied Killers

It’s always exciting when an author has the perfect background for their book. In The Patient’s Secret, SA Falk used his degree in psychology and neuroscience – and study of serial killers – to delve into the mind of a psychopath.  The book follows a forensic psychologist, as she struggles to find out whether a notorious strangler has multiple personality disorder or is malingering - and if he claimed the life her own missing daughter. Falk's  newly released debut is already garnering great reviews, with a 5-Star rating on Amazon. 

Falk was kind enough to share the query letter that won him representation for his killer novel (originally titled Of Sound Mind):

Dear Liza,

Because of your interest in suspense that keeps you guessing until the end, I thought you might be interested in my 78,529-word psychological suspense, Of Sound Mind.

After a decade-long manhunt for the Blue River Strangler, prosecutors finally have the evidence they need to convict the accused, Kevin Blackford. The only thing standing in the way of securing a conviction is Blackford’s insanity defense. Hoping to prove otherwise, prosecutors hire renowned forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Walker Stevenson, to demonstrate Blackford’s culpability.

After his first interview with the accused though, Dr. Stevenson makes a startling discovery about Kevin Blackford; he suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder as it once was called). Unsure if he believes Blackford, Dr. Stevenson conducts a series of interviews during which he discovers eight distinct and legitimate personalities. Having never seen such a case of the disorder himself, Dr. Stevenson becomes fascinated by Blackford and delves into the maze of the killer’s psychosis.

The prosecutors refuse to believe Blackford’s act though. They hire another psychiatrist who determines that Blackford is faking his condition. With his career on the line, Dr. Stevenson must prove not only that Kevin Blackford is insane, but also that he himself has not become a pawn in the serial killer’s game of cat and mouse.

As part of my degree in Psychology and Neuroscience, I studied serial killers and their pathology extensively. The inspiration for my novel came from studying The Hillside Stranglers, Anthony Bianchi and Kenneth Buono, the former pretending to have Multiple Personality Disorder as part of his insanity defense. Of Sound Mind brings a unique twist to the mystery genre that investigates the sociopathic mind and its ability to manipulate and tantalize those who delve into it.

Thank you for your consideration,

[Name]