by Donna Rocco
First published 2026
The laid-back island lifestyle masks darker currents when a beloved singer-songwriter disappears from his Key West compound. Local detective Maria Santos discovers that the missing musician's easygoing public persona concealed a web of financial disputes, romantic entanglements, and business rivalries. As Santos digs deeper into the case, she uncovers connections between the disappearance and a smuggling operation running drugs through the Florida Keys. The investigation leads her from waterfront bars to luxury yachts, where she must navigate both corrupt officials and dangerous criminals. Santos races against time as evidence suggests the musician may still be alive but in grave danger. The case forces her to confront her own assumptions about fame, loyalty, and the price of paradise. In a community where everyone knows everyone else's business, the truth proves more elusive than the tropical winds.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigation, secrets
Setting: Key West
Period: 21st-century
24 pages · Hardcover · Golden Books