Ten Seconds to Die

Marshall Mattingly writes thrillers steeped in Southern grit, atmospheric tension, and psychological depth. His debut novel, Ten Seconds to Die, unfolds in a fictionalized version of Dahlonega, Georgia—a former gold mining town nestled in the Appalachian foothills. Drawing on years of research and personal connection to the region, Mattingly crafts a setting rich in folklore, secrets, and slow-burning menace. Before turning to fiction, he spent a decade at The Wall Street Journal, where he honed his storytelling instincts amid world-class journalism. Later, he ran a successful advertising agency in Atlanta, writing award-winning TV and radio spots. But the pull of the novel never left him. Influenced by masters of suspense like Dean Koontz, Nelson DeMille, and John Grisham, Mattingly blends procedural realism with emotionally complex characters and a strong sense of place. His thrillers explore the shadows beneath small-town life—where history lingers, danger simmers, and no one is quite who they seem. Now retired in the South Carolina Lowcountry, he's working on the sequel to Ten Seconds to Die. When not writing, he explores the region's natural beauty with his wife Carolyn, an accomplished artist, and enjoys time with their children and grandchildren.