DAMAGE CONTROL

by Kirsten Shuford

Retirement was supposed to bring peace, but for former intelligence analyst Andi Sheffler, it ignites a deadly game of deception. Events spiral out of control as Andi unravels a mystery tangled with lies, espionage and betrayals in pursuit of a missing man. In a race against time, will Andi uncover the truth before it costs her everything?

DAMAGE CONTROL is Kirsten Shuford's debut novel, and winner of the 2026 Silver Falchion Award (Killer Nashville) for Best Mystery, as well as the 2026 Independent Publishers Bronze Medal (IPPY) for Best Mystery/Thriller eBook.

Indie Reader says "Kirsten Shuford's Damage Control delivers a tightly plotted, page-turning thriller driven by richly drawn characters and vivid dialogue. Pairing a focused structure with well-executed twists, the novel builds a steady sense of momentum that will engage readers who appreciate character-driven mystery."

Genres: Fiction

369 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2025

About the author

Kirsten Shuford is an award-winning Washington, DC area-based writer of mystery and suspense. DAMAGE CONTROL is her debut novel, and winner of the 2026 Silver Falchion Award (Killer Nashville) for Best Mystery, as well as the 2026 Independent Publishers Bronze Medal (IPPY) for Best Mystery/Thriller eBook.

Kirsten is a retired intelligence analyst with more than two decades of service, including positions with the CIA, FBI, NSA, Department of Defense and US Navy. These qualifications inform and shape her writing, especially in the protagonist of DAMAGE CONTROL, amateur sleuth Andrea Sheffler.

Kirsten earned a BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a commission in the United States Navy. She completed postgraduate work at the University of Florida and Georgetown University and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. Find her online at kirstenshufordauthor.com and @kirstenshufordauthor on Instagram.

Kirsten is a competitive crossworder and loves Star Wars, John Willias soundtracks, the music of Rush, and attending Revolutionary War History camps.

Reviews

[Dawn]

I really enjoyed this! The plot is very believable and I found the main character Andi likeable and relatable. The pacing was fast and it was hard to put down. I truly hope she writes more and that maybe this is just the beginning of a series?

[Erin Yates]

Amazing debut novel! A suspenseful, engaging page turner, with complex characters, sprinkled with interesting insight into the world of a Washington DC insider/intelligence analyst.

[Cesily]

I won this book in a giveaway! I never leave written reviews, but I felt obligated this time! (Bear with me)

What a great debut novel! How well do we really know our friends? Spouses? Coworkers or Book club members?? "You never know what goes on behind closed doors", but what if you could take a peek? Would you? Should you? What if your good friend begged you to?? (Dont need to ask me twice, imma nosey b) What happens when you learn tooo much?? (You keep going! Duh!)
Follow Andi as she takes a deep dive into her friend groups secrets, unmasking their true identities and intentions..

[Stephanie]

Wow- really good. Fast and engaging. Total page turner and fun.

[Betty]

What I love about the author's characters is their real-life complexity. Smart and confused. Capable and needy. Funny and intense. Irritating and lovable. She covers all sides and masterfully recreates the dynamics and enduring appeal of life's great girlfriend groups. Layer in the mystery, suspense, action and blood ... pin it down with the author's exhaustive life experience and knowledge ... and well it's an irresistible read with a heart pounding ending.

[Teri Briggs]

Great character development. I couldn’t put it down.. felt like these could be my friends. Also loved the tour of the DC area.. Round Robin bar.. Pershing Park.
Fantastic first novel.. I’m excited for the next with Andi’s research service 😃

[Swati Saxena]

This book is a riveting account of a group of friends that has you engaged from the beginning. The author expertly unravels the characters as one reads along in the book. Kirsten is a prolific writer and every scene is vividly described, letting the reader experience the story vicariously.

[Angie]

This book kept me engaged from start to finish with unexpected twists. Definitely a book I didn’t want to put down!

[Ashleigh Smyth]

Suspenseful to the very end, an easy fun read!

[Laura Pitman]

I thought this was a very good first novel. The story line kept me guessing as to what actually happened.

[Mindi B]

This book had almost five stars on Goodreads, so I went in with high hopes. Those hopes were dashed almost immediately. How did so many reviewers get it wrong? I am left wondering if this author even had an editor. The punctuation errors alone should have been reason enough for me to put it aside. Add to that unlikable characters and a ridiculous plot, and you've got a debut novel destined for the bargain bin.

One out of five stars. Do not recommend.

[Marianne Waldrop]

This was a very relatable story. Seemed current, believable and made the reader feel they were close to the events and characters. I particularly liked the italics the author included for the “bubble thoughts” to offer additional insight into what the main character was really thinking. I am looking forward to another from Kirsten!

[Nan Williams]

Weak on plot and heavy on angst.

[Wynn Shuford]

Great book! Interesting characters and fast moving plot. The author’s background as an analyst really comes through as the plot was realistic as well.

[Maddy Pierski]

Read in 3 days!!! Loved it. Kept me interested the whole time.