by Tom Ryan
First published 2025
Peter Barnett receives a cryptic letter summoning him to Maple Bay and the family mansion he never knew existed. At nearly forty, he has little direction in life until this mysterious invitation pulls him toward a seaside town where tourists have searched for legendary pirate treasure for almost a century. Seventeen-year-old Dandy Feltzen arrives with her own mission. Her grandfather's death left her alone, but his final clue sends her to Maple Bay to solve the mystery that consumed his entire life. Writer Cass Jones takes a housesitting job in the remote town after abandoning her literary dreams. She discovers the perfect story material and meets a sailor who might help her research it. Peter, Dandy, and Cass converge on Maple Bay without knowing their paths will cross. The town holds secrets deeper than buried gold. As they dig into the mystery that has defined this place for generations, fresh murders complicate their search. Each character seeks something different, but they must confront shocking truths and mounting danger together.
Genres: adventure, suspense, mystery, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Maple Bay
400 pages · Paperback · Atlantic Crime