Codebreakers: A Wordhunter Mystery

by Stella Sands

Overview

Maggie Moore and Detective Jackson, the genius sleuths introduced in the brain-teaser mystery Wordhunter, are back to solve another crime.

Steamy, seedy, swampy south-central Florida once again serves as the backdrop for the unlikely duo of loquacious, tattooed, trash-talking Maggie Moore and laconic Detective Silas Gabriel Jackson—linguistic genius and genius detective, respectively. Now operating their own agency and using their extraordinary skills in forensic semiotics (her), and good old-fashioned observation (him), the pair decode clues embedded in words and symbols to uncover a sadistic criminal who preys upon unsuspecting men.

The troubled and painful pasts of both Maggie and Jackson come into play as they try to track down bad guys and old friends, figure out how to trust—and whom to love. Once again, Stella Sands delivers a snappy, sharp-tongued and well observed story about life, love, and language.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063475366
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/11/2026
Series:	A Wordhunter Mystery , #2
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320

About the Author

Stella Sands is the author of Wordhunter, an Amazon Editor's Best Books of 2024, as well as a bestselling author of six true-crime books: Baby-Faced Butchers, The Dating Game Killer, Behind the Mask, Murder at Yale, Wealthy Men Only, and The Good Son; a children’s book, Odyssea, and many educational books. She served as the editor-in-chief of the award-winning magazine Kids Discover for nineteen years. She has appeared on numerous television shows, including People Magazine Investigates, ABC’s 20/20, and several episodes of Investigation Discovery. Sands lives in Sag Harbor, New York.

Editorial Reviews

“The unpredictable duo of Maggie and Detective Jackson are great fun to spend time with.” - Wall Street Journal on Wordhunter
"A sloppy but talented student of forensic linguistics is summoned to help solve the abduction of a Florida mayor in this thriller that will appeal to fans of mysteries and wordplay alike. Think Wordle meets CSI: Miami and you’re on the right track." - Seattle Times on Wordhunter
 “Maggie Moore is tattooed and pierced and drinks beer for breakfast, but she’s also a linguistic savant with a lightning quick mind. In short, she’s a winning protagonist for a smart, original, and entirely entertaining mystery. If you love words, puzzles, or just a well crafted story, you will love Wordhunter.” - Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Find Me, on Wordhunter
"True crime author Sands makes an auspicious fiction debut with this crackling mystery centered on a Lisbeth Salanderesque savant. . . . Sands nails the genius investigator formula on her first try, spinning Maggie into a memorable heroine and handing her an enthralling first case. This transfixes from the first page." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Wordhunter

From the Publisher