An ex-con traces a victim’s clues to set a cold case ablaze in the streets of 1978 San Francisco. 🔍
Between fending off a lecherous parole officer who uses his power to make inappropriate demands and trying to get by in 1978 San Francisco on a waitress’s wages while living in a rundown hotel, private investigator Colleen Hayes struggles to put her life back together so she can reconnect with her runaway teenage daughter who disappeared into the city’s underground. Every day is a battle against the system that keeps ex-cons trapped, every decision weighted with the knowledge that one wrong move could send her back to prison. 💔
Then her life changes dramatically when a case literally walks through her door. She accepts an investigation from wealthy, retired industrialist Edward Copeland, a man whose fortune couldn’t save his family from tragedy. The old man is desperate to solve the brutal murder of his daughter Angela, a murder that took place in Golden Gate Park eleven years earlier—during the Summer of Love when the world was watching the Haight and nobody noticed one girl’s death. The case has since gone cold, her murderer never found, the investigation shelved when leads dried up and the police moved on to fresher crimes. Now, in his final days with cancer eating away at him, Copeland hires Colleen to find his daughter’s killer in hopes he might die in peace, finally knowing who destroyed his family. 🏛️
Colleen understands what it means to take a life better than most—she spent a decade in prison for killing her abusive ex-husband in what she maintains was self-defense but the jury called murder. The weight of that death follows her everywhere, colors every interaction, makes her both more empathetic to victims and more aware of the darkness humans are capable of. Battling her own demons and the PTSD that surfaces in unexpected moments, she immerses herself in San Francisco’s underbelly, where police corruption is rampant and cops protect their own rather than pursue justice. Her investigation turns deadly as she pries for information in dive bars and dangerous neighborhoods, yet there is little to go on after eleven years. Witnesses have scattered or died. Evidence has been lost or deliberately destroyed. The official files are suspiciously thin. 🚨
However, a song on the radio—a psychedelic ballad from 1967 that Angela apparently loved—makes Colleen wonder about something the police never considered: did the murdered girl leave any clues that others may have missed? What if Angela knew she was in danger and tried to tell someone? What if the answer has been hiding in plain sight all along, in the music, the art, the counterculture that defined that summer? 🎵
As Colleen digs deeper, she uncovers connections between Angela’s death and a series of other unsolved murders of young women during the Summer of Love, a pattern that suggests a serial killer the police either didn’t notice or chose to ignore. She finds herself caught between corrupt cops who want the case to stay closed, dangerous men who have everything to lose if the truth comes out, and her own desperate need to find her daughter before she disappears into the same dark corners that claimed Angela Copeland. ⚠️
Racing against time and her parole officer’s increasing threats, Colleen must decide how far she’s willing to go for justice—and whether solving Angela’s murder might somehow help her find her own lost daughter in the chaos of 1970s San Francisco. 🌉
What makes this a standout noir: Tomlinson creates a gritty, atmospheric 1970s San Francisco mystery with a complex ex-con protagonist whose own past makes her the perfect investigator for a cold case everyone wants to stay buried. The historical setting adds rich period detail while Colleen’s personal stakes drive genuine emotional tension.
With the name Holliday, you’d think I’d be all about the Christmas season and living up to the festive expectations that come with it. Most years, I am—decorating early, blasting carols in November, the whole nine yards. But this one not so much. Between my ex being a real Scrooge-in-the-backside who’s fighting me over every detail of our divorce settlement, re-entering the workforce after fifteen years as a stay-at-home mom with a resume full of gaps, wrangling my two children through homework meltdowns and teenage attitude, and evading my eight-year-old’s increasingly sophisticated questions about Santa’s existence (complete with internet research and logical arguments), I’m struggling to believe in the magic myself. 🎄
Enter Nick, my next-door neighbor who moved in last spring. My very hot, single, fireman neighbor with biceps that could carry me up a ladder and a smile that makes me forget I’m a divorced mom of two who hasn’t been on a date in decades. He’s full of the seasonal spirit from hanging my outdoor Christmas lights (which I was attempting to do myself with disastrous results) to playing Santa for the local church breakfast, delighting children with his authentic belly laugh and genuine kindness. 🔥
Funny thing about Nick, he kind of resembles the man in red, in a younger, sexier, silver fox way, complete with snow-white hair and a beard that somehow manages to be distinguished rather than sloppy. Complete with actual snow in his beard after he shovels my driveway without being asked, but rather tight abs suggesting cookies are definitely not part of his diet when they are a staple of mine (stress eating is real, people). 🍪
Anywho, he’s sweet in a rugged sense, the kind of man who rescues kittens from trees for a living but also knows how to fix a leaky pipe and change a tire. And if he were the man making a list and checking it twice, I’d like to be in his naughty column. Because something tells me being a little naughty-ish with Nick from next door might bring me tidings of comfort and restore my joy in this season that’s felt more like an endurance test than a celebration. 😏
When he discovers I have a seasonal bucket list myself—things I used to do before marriage and motherhood took over, traditions I want to reclaim, experiences I’ve been putting off—he’s determined to help me accomplish all the to-dos. Ice skating at the outdoor rink even though I’ll probably fall on my behind. Making gingerbread houses that actually look like the pictures. Attending the holiday market I always drove past. Watching the tree lighting ceremony downtown. Each item checked off brings us closer together, his steady presence helping me rediscover who I was before I became someone’s wife and someone’s mom. 🎅
Only falling in love with my next-door neighbor wasn’t one of the items on that list, and neither was discovering that a silver-fox fireman who plays Santa might be exactly what this Holliday needed to believe in Christmas magic again. But now I’m juggling budding romance with single parenthood, my ex’s jealousy with my kids’ confusion, and my own fear that I’m too broken from my failed marriage to risk my heart again. Can Nick convince me that second chances are the best gifts of all, and that being a little naughty might lead to something nice? 💕
What makes this delightful: Dunbar delivers a sweet, steamy later-in-life romance with a divorced heroine finding herself again, a silver-fox hero who embodies Christmas spirit, and just enough heat to warm up cold winter nights. Perfect for readers who love second-chance romance with holiday magic and relatable single-parent struggles.
It is one thing to defy convention by living as London’s most notorious rake…but quite another to completely thwart it in the pursuit of insatiable desire when you discover your perfectly capable steward is actually a woman in disguise. 👑
His Grace, Martin MacGalloway, Duke of Dunscaby, has well-earned the reputation as the most celebrated rake on the entire isle of Britain, with a string of mistresses, scandalous wagers at White’s, and enough gambling debts to concern even his closest friends. But upon his father’s sudden death from a riding accident, he heads for Scotland where he finds his inheritance in a shambles—the estates are hemorrhaging money, his sisters are without prospects or proper dowries, and his younger brothers are relying on his patronage for their futures. And he’s not about to conquer his problems alone, not when he can hire someone competent to help him sort through the financial disaster his father left behind. 🏴
Penniless after her father’s gambling losses left her with nothing, Lady Julia St. Vincent has no choice but to dress as a man and accept a position as steward to the Duke of Dunscaby under the assumed name of Julian St. Vincent. It’s risky, it’s desperate, and if she’s discovered, she’ll be utterly ruined. But when she meets His Grace expecting a dissolute wastrel who’ll barely notice her as long as the accounts are balanced, she’s not expecting him to be dashing, charming, or utterly enchanting in ways that make her heart race beneath her binding and masculine clothing. And the more time she spends with the duke, working side by side to rebuild his estates and restore his family’s fortunes, the more difficult it is to ignore the flickers of passion smoldering in her heart. 💼
Martin instantly develops a fondness for the wee man who seems impossibly young, surprisingly delicate, and oddly flustered whenever they’re alone together. While they work together to rebuild the Dunscaby dynasty from near bankruptcy, traveling to London to secure loans and meet with solicitors, Martin takes it upon himself to introduce his sheltered steward to the world of manly pursuits—boxing matches, gentlemen’s clubs, gambling hells. It’s meant to be educational, a way to help young Julian gain confidence and worldly experience. 🥊
Julia falls from one mortifyingly compromising situation to another as she navigates male spaces while pining for a duke she can never have, watching him flirt with beautiful women who can offer him what she cannot, suffering through the agony of binding her chest and maintaining her deep voice even when exhaustion makes her want to scream. Until an old friend who recognizes her despite the disguise invites her to a masquerade ball where she can finally appear as herself, dressed in silk and jewels rather than wool breeches. 🎭
And there, masked and anonymous in a gown that makes her feel feminine for the first time in months, it takes but one kiss for Martin to stop at nothing in his pursuit of the mysterious woman who has captured his very soul—never realizing that the lady who’s stolen his heart and the loyal steward who’s saved his estates are one and the same. When the truth comes out, will Martin be able to forgive the deception, or will Julia’s desperate gambit cost her the only man she’s ever loved? 💕
What makes this captivating: Jarecki delivers a delightful gender-disguise romance with a rake who needs reforming, a heroine with remarkable competence in both male and female spheres, and the classic appeal of a hero falling for the same woman twice without knowing it. Perfect for fans of Scottish historical romance with cross-dressing heroines and swoon-worthy dukes.
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God rest ye merry gentlefolk, it’s time for the traditional St Mary’s Christmas jump – this year to Martingale Manor, where a murder mystery is unfolding… 🎄
It’s nearly Christmas and Leon has had a Brilliant Idea that he’s quite proud of. A holiday—to enable a very reluctant Max, who protests that she’s absolutely fine and doesn’t need coddling, to recover from her recently acquired injuries sustained during their last mission. Just a quiet, relaxing trip to the countryside with no danger, no disasters, and definitely no historical complications. What could possibly go wrong? 🏰
Devon, 1924 – Martingale Manor. Lovely surroundings straight out of a country house magazine, good food that doesn’t come from a military-grade canteen, and very pleasant guests gathered for a weekend party. Or, as they soon become known in classic fashion – the usual suspects. Because this wouldn’t be St Mary’s without something going catastrophically wrong.
The mysterious older woman with secrets in her past.
The absent-minded clergyman who seems to know more than he’s saying.
The doctor with access to all sorts of interesting poisons.
The military man with a temper.
The charming young couple who might not be as innocent as they appear. 🔍
Because this is the world of Agatha Christie that they’ve jumped into, and before long one of them is dead in circumstances that suggest murder most foul. And when the police arrive to investigate, conducting their interviews and examining the scene, the only person without a cast-iron alibi is… Leon. Yes, Leon, who planned this whole relaxing holiday to help Max recuperate. 😱
It was supposed to be a holiday, for heaven’s sake. A nice, quiet Christmas away from the chaos of St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research. But now Leon’s under suspicion, Max is determined to clear his name using all her historical knowledge and investigative stubbornness, and the St Mary’s team finds themselves trapped in a genuine murder mystery where the stakes are all too real. Can they solve the case before Leon is arrested, before the real killer strikes again, or before their presence in 1924 causes a temporal incident? ⏰
What makes this essential for fans: Taylor brings her beloved St Mary’s characters into an Agatha Christie-style mystery with all the humor, chaos, and time-travel complications fans expect. Perfect blend of historical mystery pastiche and the series’ signature wit, with stakes that feel genuine despite the comedic elements.
The once pristine waters of Everglades National Park are being looted once more, but this time the treasures being stolen aren’t natural—they’re historical, and potentially worth millions. Invasive pythons have taken over as the top predator, disrupting the ecosystem in ways scientists are still trying to understand. Water levels have dropped to an all-time low as resources are diverted to maintain the agricultural industry’s demands, exposing areas that have been underwater for decades. And a rusting hulk has been lying undiscovered for eighty years in the murky depths, waiting for someone to stumble upon it. Until Billy Rainwater stumbled upon it during a routine survey. ⚓
After several years of negotiations, mountains of paperwork that would intimidate anyone less determined, and a healthy dose of South Florida “good ol’ boy” palm-greasing to get the right permits and permissions, Billy and his two closest friends, Jesse McDermitt and Rusty Thurman—three men who’ve shared more adventures and near-death experiences than most people have in several lifetimes—have begun the tedious recovery of the U-320, a World War II Nazi submarine which had been driven deep into the Glades by the great hurricane of 1944. The sub is a historical treasure in itself, but none of them know what cargo it might have been carrying when it went down. 🌊
A fortune in Nazi gold is at stake—gold that was looted from conquered nations and never accounted for, gold that could change lives or fund causes depending on who claims it—and the trio of long-time friends and adventure seekers don’t know they’re sitting on it until it’s almost too late, until people start dying and someone with resources and zero conscience makes it clear they’ll kill anyone who stands between them and the treasure. At the same time, but on a different front, evil stalks a middle schooler in Jesse’s community, a predator whose crimes demand justice but who seems protected by connections and money. Jesse has to find a way to bring the man to the kind of justice Jesse’s known for—the kind that doesn’t always go through official channels. ⚖️
Can the wealth looted from a great European city during the darkest days of the war be recovered and returned to its rightful owners or their descendants? Or will it sink into the muck along with the instruments of war which brought it to these shores, lost forever in the swamps? The stakes rise exponentially as lives are threatened, old enemies resurface with new grudges, and the tranquil waters of South Florida once more erupt into chaotic violence that will test the bonds of friendship and the limits of courage. 💰
What makes this series continue to deliver: Stinnett brings authentic South Florida atmosphere and maritime expertise to this 31st entry, balancing treasure-hunting adventure with Jesse’s ongoing commitment to protecting the vulnerable. The dual plotlines showcase both the action and the moral center that have made the series so popular.
In the romantic mystery BOURBON GIRL, a young woman takes a job as a tour guide on the trail of bourbon distilleries in Kentucky to search for her biological father, and finds so much more along the way—including mystery, danger, romance, and a sense of belonging she never expected. 🥃
This BOURBON GIRL, Part 6 novella is a month’s worth of daily episodes covering DECEMBER, where everything that’s been building throughout the year comes to a head. The holiday season in bourbon country brings tourists, festivities, and the final pieces of a puzzle that’s taken months to assemble. Secrets that have been carefully guarded for decades are finally revealed, relationships that have been developing reach their culmination, and our heroine must decide what family really means when biology and choice point in different directions. 🎄
The Part 1 novella is JULY (when the journey begins), Part 2 is AUGUST (settling into the tour guide life), Part 3 is SEPTEMBER (digging deeper into the mystery), Part 4 is OCTOBER (complications and connections), Part 5 is NOVEMBER (truths start emerging), and part 6 is DECEMBER (resolution and revelation). In total there are 6 parts to BOURBON GIRL, designed to be read as daily episodes that unfold like a favorite serial. 🔍
The series format allows readers to savor the story the way bourbon itself should be savored—slowly, appreciating each layer of complexity, noting how flavors develop and change over time. Each monthly installment builds on the previous one, deepening the mystery while developing relationships with the Kentucky bourbon community, the cast of characters who work at the distilleries, and the potential fathers our heroine is investigating. By December, readers have spent half a year alongside her, experiencing every triumph and setback, every clue discovered and dead end encountered. 💕
What makes this series special: Bond’s innovative serialized format creates genuine anticipation and allows character development to unfold naturally over six months. The bourbon trail setting provides authentic Kentucky flavor and atmosphere, while the biological father search adds emotional stakes to the cozy mystery elements. Perfect for readers who enjoy episodic storytelling and southern charm.