Tamara Merrill

Tamara Merrill is an award-winning novelist and short story writer with a diverse portfolio that showcases her literary talent. She has published one children’s book, and seven novels—including bestselling historical fiction; Shadows in Our Bones, and the Augustus Family Trilogy: Family Lies, Family Matters, Family Myths, psychological thrillers Just One More and Twisted Lives.

Her numerous short stories are featured in print magazines, online platforms, and fifteen anthologies.

As an award-winning author, Tamara enjoys meeting her fellow readers while speaking at book clubs, in-person or online meetings, and book fairs.

A passionate advocate for the craft of writing, Tamara frequently speaks at writers' events and teaches writing skills within the adult education system. Her dedication and extensive experience have made her a sought-after speaker and educator, enriching the literary community in the process.
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Currently residing in Coronado, CA, and Wickenburg, AZ, Tamara balances her time between writing, reading, and painting. Her passion for storytelling brings her joy and fulfillment, showcasing her belief that reading and writing can transform lives.

How does the snowstorm setting heighten the psychological tension and mirror Sarah Blake’s internal confusion and isolation?

The opening scene, set during a snowstorm, establishes the terror of waking to find your child missing. The snow obliterates all footprints, tire tracks, etc., leading the reader to doubt Sarah’s sanity and parenting skills. Her hangover heightens the tension. Her confusion mirrors the reader's – is she an unreliable narrator or not?

What role does memory play in the novel, and how does its instability challenge both Sarah’s sense of reality and the reader’s trust in what is true?

Memories are used to focus the reader’s suspicions on first Sarah, then Rodney, then Mrs. Henricks, then Claire, and finally on Lydia. Every time the reader thinks things will be okay, that they know who and why, the focus shifts.

How does the story explore the primal instincts of motherhood, particularly in Sarah’s unwavering belief that her son is still missing despite opposition?

Sarah’s difficulties with first infertility, then pregnancy through rape, cause her to have a difficult time with early motherhood. While the book begins with Sarah’s belief that she is at fault when Jeremy disappears, as the reader becomes aware of her life struggles, the story bounces back and forth between whether she did something and whether Jeremy is really missing.

In what ways does Rodney’s insistence that nothing is wrong create a deeper layer of psychological conflict than a more obvious antagonist might?

Gaslighting is behavior from one or more persons that causes the victim to question their own experiences and beliefs. Rodney has, during the years of their marriage, manipulated and isolated Sarah. Her drinking is a known problem, and he family and her friends have no reason to doubt him when he insists that the child in his home is Jeremy. No one available to Sarah contradicts him. The reader doesn’t like Rodney, but they see no reason to doubt him. All suspicion is directed first to Sarah.

How does the presence of the “wrong” child function symbolically—what does it say about identity, truth, and manipulation?

Truth is in the eye of the beholder. The child is there, the child says he is Jeremy, the father says he is his son. Even when the dog shows up, the child agrees with the father that he never had a dog. Sarah, the victim of this fabrication by her mother and, during her marriage, by her husband, is unable to convince herself that everything they say might be true. She is unsure of her self-worth, making her an easy target for Rodney.  

What does the novel suggest about the fragility of sanity when a person’s lived experience is constantly denied by others?

The story highlights how easy it is to fall into the trap of doubting your sanity and understanding of the situation when those around you deny your experiences.

How do isolation and surveillance—the housekeeper, the man in the woods, Rodney—contribute to Sarah’s sense of entrapment?

Being cut off from others (isolated) eliminates support, perspective, and alternative narratives, making situations feel inescapable and rendering problems unbearable or unsolvable. Surveillance, real or perceived: restricts Sarah’s behavior, fosters self-censorship, and creates the feeling that every action is monitored and punishable, shrinking her perceived space for freedom.

In what ways does the story blur the line between psychological thriller and emotional drama, particularly through themes of trust and betrayal?

The storyline blurs the line between psychological thriller and emotional drama through suspense, tension, mind games, and mysteries of motives/reality, while contrasting these with the development of character relationships, inner emotional journeys, and personal growth and loss.

How does Sarah’s determination evolve throughout the novel, and what does it reveal about resilience in the face of fear and uncertainty?

When Sarah realizes that Rodney has drugged her and stops eating or drinking anything he prepares, her focus becomes clear. Her self-doubt is managed, and she finds proof that the imposter child is not her son. The storyline points out that staying strong and focused allows one to confront and overcome their fears.

At its core, what is the story suggesting about the power of intuition—especially a mother’s instinct—when logic, evidence, and other people all seem to contradict it?

A mother’s instinct can power perseverance in adversity through several intertwined biological, psychological, and social mechanisms: The primary drive to keep children safe creates intense, focused goals—survival and the child's well-being become overriding priorities that sustain effort when other motives would falter. This novel further reminds the reader that reaching out for help is not a weakness but a path to power.

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