Iris Johansen's $8.5 million mansion in Cartersville goes to auction

Crime and romance author Iris Johansen’s 8.5-million mansion in Cartersville, on the market for years, is heading to auction in August. The 47,000-square-foot home features five bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, four half-baths, a 5,000-square-foot closet, a 21-seat cinema, an office/library, a guest plaza and an outdoor kitchen. The 130-acre property also includes a dog kennel and stables.

Dewey Jacobs, president of Target Auction Company, the company which will holding the auction on Tuesday, Aug. 29, said the opening published minimum bid will be $4.6 million. The exact time of the auction has not been set, Jacobs said.

Courtesy of Pat Barnard / RE/MAX Unlimited

Courtesy of Pat Barnard / RE/MAX Unlimited

ExploreAccording to Curb.com, in 2014, this was one of the 13 largest houses on the market in the country.

Johansen, a The New York Times bestselling author has written, " Your Next Breath," "The Perfect Witness," "Live to See Tomorrow," "Dark Summer," and many others. Johansen began writing after her children left home for college. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of "The Wind Dancer." In 1996, Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction.The prolific writer has had 17 consecutive New York Times bestsellers over the past 10 years, according to her bio online. Johansen lives in metro Atlanta, and this mansion was never her primary residence, according to Jacobs.

“She wants to downsize and be closer to her kids and grandkids in Atlanta,” said Jacobs. “This is really a personal decision.”

Jacobs said the house, which also comes with 120 acres, would be a “great house for an entertainer or athlete.”