Liisa Eyerly writes award-winning historical murder mysteries that blend the intrigue of Agatha Christie with the faith-filled depth of Francine Rivers. Her debut novel, Obedient Unto Death, won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award and first place in Spiritual Fiction, launching her Secrets of Ephesus series set in the first-century Roman Empire. A former teacher, librarian, and small business owner, Liisa now writes from northern Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and a tenacious Border terrier. Through rich research and vivid storytelling, she weaves history, faith, and suspense—leaving reviewers to warn: prepare to be hooked.

Tell us about your newest book.

Powers of Death is the third in the Secrets of Ephesus series, where early Christians walk a razor’s edge between faith and survival. Awakened in the middle of the night, Sabina, my Christian sleuth, is plunged into a murder and cover-up of a childhood friend found murdered and floating in the pool of a luxurious private bath complex. Set amidst the political turmoil of Emperor Domitian, the secret Christian church in Ephesus draws the authorities’ attention, and no one cares about one drowned woman. Sabina follows suspects and clues into the courts of an incense-laden temple to Isis, with its eunuch priests and midnight initiations. Sabina risks everything to expose murder, betrayal, and corruption beneath the empire’s glittering surface.

What inspired you to write your story?

The series began with a cluster of “what ifs.” What happened to the church after the apostles were gone? How did ordinary believers endure persecution, political pressure, and Rome’s seductive culture? And who risked everything rather than renounce their faith? Those questions led me to Ephesus in 96 AD—a cosmopolitan city where paganism, imperial power, and the young Christian movement collided. Paul had once shepherded a vibrant but vulnerable congregation there. It was the perfect setting for mystery: bustling markets, hidden house churches, restless crowds, and a legal system ready to crush dissent.

What genre do you focus on.

My lifelong love of historical whodunit mysteries collided with my faith when I realized something was missing. The Roman-era mysteries I devoured rarely included Christian characters—yet the world of the New Testament pulses with drama, betrayal, danger, and a faith bold enough to defy an empire. Who were the men and women willing to risk execution rather than renounce their beliefs? What courage—or desperation—compelled them? What secrets did they carry? Those questions would not leave me alone. They ignited countless murder scenarios in my imagination. And when I couldn’t find the stories I wanted to read, I decided to write them myself.

Why do you write?

The spark came during a conversation with my son. He mentioned a friend who lost his faith after reading The Da Vinci Code, and that stopped me. It reminded me how powerfully stories shape belief. If a secular thriller could unsettle faith, could a carefully researched mystery strengthen it? That question became my calling. I set out to write suspenseful, historically grounded stories that illuminate rather than distort—novels that entertain deeply while inspiring lasting confidence in truth.

Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?

Sabina, the female sleuth of my series, is its heartbeat. A young Christian widow in 96 AD Ephesus, she lives between two worlds. While the early church offered women new dignity and purpose, Roman society still bound them with legal, social, and marital constraints. Sabina must honor her father—her sole financial support and a pagan magistrate sworn to enforce laws that outlaw her faith. Quick-minded and brave, she sometimes acts before she thinks, forcing her to improvise daring escapes. Watching her balance loyalty, justice, and belief fuels each mystery—and gives readers a heroine to cheer for.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?

Honestly? It’s wonderfully erratic—and I’m slightly embarrassed to admit it. I always imagine I’ll keep a tidy writing schedule with clear daily goals, but life has a way of rearranging my plans. What truly keeps me on track is my writers’ critique group. Every two weeks, I’m required to submit five pages. That steady accountability—five pages at a time—has carried each of my novels from first sentence to final chapter. It’s not glamorous, but it works. Book by book, page by page.

What is the hardest part of being an author?

Marketing my book. Luckily, writing conferences give a lot of information on marketing. With a small press like Cross River Publishing—or especially in self-publishing—much of the responsibility falls on the author. That means learning new platforms like Substack, creating YouTube content, connecting with genre-specific blogs, and building a reader community are necessary.

What’s the best part of your author’s life?

Research—hands down. Writing gives me permission to chase questions most people might casually wonder about but never pause to explore. That curiosity has carried me to Italy, Greece, and Ephesus in modern-day Türkiye, where apostles once lived and preached. Layer by layer, I reconstruct Sabina’s first-century world through everyday details: spiced wine paired with flamingo-tongue appetizers, vibrantly dyed tunics, the echo of conversation in marble bathhouses. Studying artifacts in museums and walking ancient streets helps me sense the textures and rhythms of her world—and my hope is that readers sense them too.

What’s one thing your readers should know about you?

I’m a social introvert. Solitude restores me—I do my best thinking and creating in quiet moments. Yet I deeply value my friends and family, and I genuinely enjoy meeting new people. I may need time alone to recharge, but meaningful conversation and connection energize me in a different, lasting way.

How have you changed or grown as a writer?

I’m continually growing—because writing demands it. With every book, I become more aware of the layers a strong story requires: structure, pacing, character depth, historical accuracy, emotional resonance, and thematic clarity. I take classes whenever I can and learn from fellow writers, critique partners, and readers. Each manuscript stretches me in new ways. My hope is that every novel reflects greater skill, deeper insight, and a stronger connection with my readers than the one before.

What is your favorite pastime?

I enjoy pickleball and tennis, which in Wisconsin can mean playing in 30-degree weather with snowflakes flitting around.

Do you have other books?

Obedient unto Death book 1

Fortunes of Death: book 2

Powers of Death: book 3 (coming in August)

We’d love to know.  What are you working on now?

Book Four in the Secrets of Ephesus series has begun to percolate in my imagination. That’s often how my stories arrive—quietly forming in the background while I’m still finishing the current manuscript. Threads of motive, setting, and danger start weaving themselves together long before I outline a single chapter. I’ve learned to pay attention to those whispers. A question, a historical detail, a “what if” moment—and suddenly Sabina has another mystery tugging at her sleeve. It’s still early, but the sparks are there, and I’m eager to see where they lead.

Website:

Link to book:

Crossriver Media   https://www.crossrivermedia.com/product/fortunes-of-death/

Amazon book page    https://amzn.to/3Di2gyQ

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22186290.Liisa_Eyerly

Social media links:

Website. www.LiisaEyerly.com

Author Facebook page at Liisa Eyerly Author page