I am excited to have Katy Lee on the blog. Being an animal lover, I cannot help but want to pick this book up. But first, let us get to know Katy more. We are talking Nancy Drew, worthy villains, and of course, we are talking about faith. Let’s dive in!
About the Book
Tracing a Kidnapper’s Trail by Katy Lee
Series: K-9 Search and Rescue – Book 18
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: February 24, 2026
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Solving an abduction case
means a relentless K-9 manhunt…
When search and rescue worker Hunter Shelton and his bloodhound Libby are called to a crime scene, he discovers his ex-fiancée murdered and her young daughter missing—and he’s attacked. Soon, he realizes the little girl may have been taken by drug runners, and could possibly be his own child. With no one else to turn to, Hunter teams up with DEA Agent Marlee Price and her narcotics K-9, despite their rocky history. As they face escalating threats and uncover a rising body count, an old enemy from Marlee’s past resurfaces. Will they be able to rescue the child and bring dangerous criminals to justice before time runs out?
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
PURCHASE LINKS:
Goodreads |Harlequin |Amazon |Barnes & Noble
ChristianBook |Bookshop |BookBub |Other Places to Buy
About the Author
#1 Publishers Weekly, best-selling author Katy Lee writes character-driven romantic suspense that thrills and inspires her readers, keeping them coming back for more. She is a multi-award winner and nominee for the Rita Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award, Holt Medallion, and Selah Award, celebrating excellence in mystery and suspense. Katy lives in Utah’s beautiful, rugged mountains and is also a special education teacher. She runs a literary nonprofit called Story Haven Writers, helping people write their healing stories from trauma. Keep up with Katy and her latest news, including her monthly newsletter, “Novel Ideas” atwww.KatyLeebooks.com.
Author Q&A
CB: Katy, thank you so much for joining me on the blog. Author interviews are a favorite of mine. I’m excited to have the opportunity to get to know more about you and your latest release, Tracing a Kidnapper’s Trail.
Nancy Drew was one I especially loved when I was a kid, too! I had a goal of reading all the available Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books in the grade school library before I moved on to junior high. When you reflect on your childhood reading escapes, how did they prepare you for being a writer?
KL: Those early reading escapes taught me the power of story as a refuge. Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys showed me that books could transport you, help you focus on someone else, and give you courage through curiosity. They trained my imagination to look for clues, motives, and emotional stakes. Most of all, they instilled a love of finishing what I started. One mystery led naturally to the next. That sense of wonder and persistence absolutely shaped me into a prolific writer.
CB: You said that when you sat down and wrote Real Virtue in 2009, you realized that you “love to write a worthy villain.” What, exactly, makes a villain worthy, and how do you capture that in your novels?
KL: A worthy villain believes they are right. They don’t wake up trying to be evil; they justify their choices, often believing they’re protecting something or someone. I focus on giving villains intelligence, agency, and personal stakes. When a villain mirrors the hero’s wounds or twisted desires, the conflict becomes personal and meaningful. That tension elevates the story and makes justice feel earned rather than convenient.
CB: Over forty books later, your passion has endured. What keeps the creative spark alive story after story?
KL: Curiosity keeps me going. Each story asks a new “what if?” about people, faith, love, or redemption. I’m endlessly fascinated by how broken people still choose courage and compassion. Readers also keep the spark alive; knowing a story might encourage someone during a hard season is powerful motivation. Writing remains an act of discovery for me, not repetition.
CB: As a Love Inspired Suspense author, I can always expect a little faith tied into the books (my personal favorite). How does your faith influence your writing?
KL: My faith shapes everything, from themes of redemption to how characters face fear and forgiveness. I don’t preach, but I do write hope and redemption honestly and faithfully earned. Faith reminds me that light exists even in the dark, and that grace can meet people at their worst. That truth naturally weaves into my stories through characters’ choices, growth, and second chances.
CB: What type of research did you do for Tracing a Kidnapper’s Trail? There are murder, drug runners, and missing children, which hit all different types of crimes.
KL: I researched search-and-rescue procedures, K-9 work, DEA investigations, and real cases involving missing children. I also spoke with professionals and studied how trauma impacts decision-making. Accuracy matters, but so does respect, especially when writing about crimes that reflect real pain. My goal was realism without sensationalism, grounding suspense in authenticity and compassion. And I always change stories to not to exploit someone’s genuine pain.
CB: It seems that poor Hunter is pulled in every direction and must be churning with all the emotions at once. How did you decide to have Hunter take on so much?
KL: Hunter carries so much because life often doesn’t space out its blows. I wanted readers to feel the pressure he’s under—grief, responsibility, faith, and fear colliding at once. That weight forces him to confront who he is and what he believes. Growth often comes when everything feels impossible, and Hunter’s journey reflects that truth.
CB: Marlee and Hunter don’t have the best past, but they team up anyway. How does this dynamic impact the way they approach the crime(s)?
KL: Their shared past adds tension, for sure. But because Marlee and Hunter are professionals, they don’t waste time posturing. A child must be found. They challenge each other, question motives, and push harder because they know each other’s flaws…and capabilities. That friction sharpens their investigative instincts, deepens their trust, and brings healing. Emotionally complicated partnerships often make for the most effective—and meaningful—teams.
CB: Rescue worker Hunter is immediately pulled into the crime scene on a personal level when he finds his ex-fiancée murdered. How did you balance this emotion with the potential for a new love in DEA Agent Marlee Price (no spoilers!)?
KL: I treated grief and hope as parallel threads rather than opposites. Hunter’s loss doesn’t disappear because new feelings emerge; instead, love grows carefully alongside sorrow. I focused on restraint, respect, and timing—letting connection develop naturally without diminishing the weight of loss. Love doesn’t replace grief. It’s okay to be happy and sad at the same time.
CB: When readers close the book on Tracing a Kidnapper’s Trail or any of your novels, what do you hope they are left thinking about? Is there something you hope resonates in their hearts or minds beyond the final chapter?
KL: I hope readers close the book feeling that hope is stronger than fear. That even in chaos, God is present, redemption is possible, and love can rise from ashes. I want the story to linger—not just as suspense, but as reassurance that light still breaks through dark chapters. I want the message of our sins no longer defining us, because Jesus has nailed them to the cross, and we have been made new. Col. 2:13-14
CB: As we wrap up here, I’d like to know what readers can do to support you and your writing ministry. Besides reading and enjoying your books, what other ways can we support you?
KL: Word of mouth is everything—recommend books, leave reviews, share posts, and pray for the stories to reach the right readers. Engage with authors online, attend events, and encourage reading communities. Writing is my ministry, and readers are partners in it. Every kind word, share, and prayer matters more than you know.
And if you are in the Orlando area, come see me and six other fabulous Christian authors at the Barnes and Noble on Colonial Drive on March 17th @6 p.m. We would love to meet you!
CB: I appreciate the time and effort you put into this interview, Katy. I wish you the best on your book release and hope to see more from you soon.
KL: Thank you for having me!
Blessings!
Thank you to JustRead Publicity Tours for connecting me with the author.
That was an enjoyable enterview with Katy. I especially enjoyed hearing about the amount of research that went into her book and hearing about worth villians. I look forward to hearing more about Katy’s books and this series.
Comments are my love language.