The Pelican Did It

Seventh book in the Southern Beach Cozy Mysteries series set on Amelia Island, Florida. Empty nests friends and sleuths.

A long-hidden discovery in the tangles of Jewel and Craig Mantelle's backyard reveals more family history than the Sophia Island Museum has in all its files. As the mystery unravels, Craig must confront the sordid past no one imagined in his family. Can he show his face on the island, knowing all this?

Jewel and her lunch bunch are recovering from the holidays when a woman invited to their lunches realizes her husband is missing. He's soon found dead, but everyone says it was just a sad accident. The clues suggest otherwise to Jewel, or does she now see murder everywhere? Clues or no clues, Detective Johnson declares the case is closed. After all, he's got love on the brain.

Jewel tries to distract herself from the closed case by focusing on her friend Annie's commitment issues and her friend Lucy's caregiving ones. Surely there can't be another crime in this sleepy, seaside community, especially not with Valentine's Day coming up? But on Sophia Island, you never can tell. The season of love might get steamy . . . or it might be downright dangerous.