First published 2025
Sonny Rush trades ten years of LAPD patrol for a fresh start in Haven, California, a coastal town that calls itself "Mayberry by the Sea." She moves her elderly mother to this picturesque community to work with her godfather's growing private investigation firm. Her first assignment seems harmless enough: track down Figgy, a missing goldendoodle wearing a designer collar. The search for the stolen pet introduces Sonny to her new neighbors and the rhythms of small town life. But Haven's charm quickly sours when the case forces an awkward encounter with her wealthy ex-boyfriend. Then a teenager's corpse turns up on a hiking trail, pulling Sonny into mysteries that make her LA cases look simple. A local resident offers crucial advice: trust nothing at face value. This seaside paradise conceals dangerous truths beneath its perfect surface, secrets powerful enough to shatter the town's reputation or eliminate anyone who digs too deep.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, secrets
Setting: LAPD, Haven, California
Period: Present Day
374 pages · Paperback · Thomas & Mercer