Shayla C. Freeman brings the intensity of the emergency room straight onto the page. An ER doctor and author, she blends real medical insight with a cinematic storytelling style to create fast-paced, deeply human thrillers set around the world.
Shayla C. Freeman, MD is an Emergency Medicine physician whose work has taken her from Charleston to emergency rooms across the U.S. and around the world. Before medicine, she studied Journalism and Media Production at UNC Chapel Hill and worked in scripted film and television in New York and Los Angeles, a creative life she now pours into her books.
Kicking off in Barcelona in The Assignment, continuing through Singapore in ReAssigned, and expanding even further in her newest book, UnAssigned, Dr. Savannah Dawson’s world reaches far beyond the ER. Drawing from real trauma-room experience, Shayla C. Freeman blends global stakes, biological danger, and human complexity into fast, grounded thrillers that move with authenticity and heart.
Shayla writes in the in-between, where good and bad blur, where motive becomes survival, and where every choice is its own battlefield. Medicine showed her how breakable life can be. Fiction lets her trace the fault lines in human nature. Her novels move quickly, strike with clarity, and reveal the human truths she has witnessed firsthand: most people are not villains, only shaped by moments.
Shayla’s stories live on bookshelves, nightstands, and in carry-ons headed across the world, the perfect companions for a weekend escape or cozy night in. You’ll find her novels wherever good thrillers are sold, and you’ll find her online sharing the quieter moments behind the chaos: the writing days, the travel notes, and the sparks that turn into scenes.
Follow along: the journey, the stories, and the surprises are just getting started.
This book was such a fun, unexpected ride! I loved seeing Dr. Savannah go from the ER to navigating all the twists of Barcelona—and her chemistry with Tomas kept things super exciting. Perfect for anyone who loves a mix of suspense, romance, and adventure!
Review of The Assignment
I love a dark tale during the wintry season. Snuggling up with a warm blanket and a thrilling read does it for me. This was a well-developed story that left me thinking.
Review of The Assignment
The author has organised the chapters in the book well from start to end. The story keeps flowing and the more you read, the more you become curious and the book becomes more interesting and sweet.
Review of ReAssigned
I recommend this book to anyone who loves fast-paced stories with heart, unexpected twists, and characters who challenge your assumptions. If you enjoy adventure, romance, and mystery, this one’s for you.
Review of The Assignment
A captivating blend of romance, suspense, and adventure, as the protagonist steps out of her comfort zone into a whirlwind journey in Barcelona. The story weaves a compelling narrative, where the excitement of a new job quickly escalates into a high-stakes mystery involving a powerful family business. The chemistry between Savannah and the enigmatic Tomas Rey IV adds an intriguing layer of tension and passion. With strong character dynamics and an engaging plot, this book is a thrilling escape into the complexities of love, intrigue, and self-discovery.
Review of The Assignment
The storyline was well written and suspenseful even until the surprise ending. I loved the descriptions of each scene and the excellent research which allowed the reader to easily understand the medical terminology. Finally, the love match between two unlikely souls had you pulling for a different outcome. This was the author’s first book and with the surprise ending I can’t wait for the next “Assignment”.
Review of The Assignment
This book is engaging, detailed, and surprisingly educational. The medical elements feel authentic, and the character development—especially Savannah’s conflict between being a doctor and a CIA operative—pulls you in. The suspense is steady and gripping, with each chapter leaving you curious for more. It’s a strong pick for anyone who enjoys spy-driven thrillers with action, emotion, and tension. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Review of ReAssigned
Reach out to Shayla C. Freeman. Whether it’s PR, projects, partnerships, or simple curiosity, she’s one message away from turning a connection into a conversation.
Shayla is an Emergency Medicine physician based in Charleston, South Carolina, though “based” is a loose term. Since completing her residency in Atlanta, she has spent the past decade working as a travel doctor, moving from state to state and hospital to hospital. Her work has carried her from California to Nevada to Florida, and through countless emergency departments in between. Medicine has also taken her far beyond U.S. borders. She has practiced in the Caribbean, Central America, Asia, and Africa, combining her love of travel with her commitment to care for people wherever they are.
Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, Shayla studied Journalism and Media Production at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. That degree took her to New York and Los Angeles, where she worked in scripted television and film production before pursuing medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. After intensive Emergency Medicine training at Emory University Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital, she became a board-certified physician and carried her skills out into the wider world.
Despite years spent mastering the science of medicine, Shayla’s love for the arts never dimmed. Now, she’s intentionally making room for it again, nurturing the creative part of her brain through writing. The Dr. Dawson trilogy is just the start. Storytelling allows her to explore humanity in a different way, but with the same sincerity and depth she brings to patient care. She’s always believed that sometimes a listening ear can heal as powerfully as a prescription, and she channels that same authenticity into the characters and worlds she creates. Her hope is to bring these stories not only to the page, but eventually to the screen.
When she’s not working, writing, or traveling for medicine, you can find Shayla watching any Tar Heel sport, spending time by the ocean (or at least within view of water), or boarding a plane to chip away at her never-ending list of places to see. A bright spot in the midst of 2020 was meeting her husband, Cleve. Together they share two stepsons, a mini husky, and a large, loving family, both given and chosen.
