The Seafarer's Secret

by Carol Ann Collins

Overview

Secrets are revealed. Lies are exposed. And in order to have a future, William and Eva will have to delve into the past.

William Templeton, widower and police chief of Eden, North Carolina is working the scene of a local woman's drowning when the body is found with an old gold coin in her pocket – identical to a coin that was discovered on Catherine's body, his estranged wife, over a year ago. Catherine's case, originally deemed a tragic accident, has been reopened, forcing William to step down as police chief.

Historian and Blackbeard expert, Eva Knightly, is brought into the investigation to help identify the coins and can't understand why her good friend Catherine never mentioned anything about it. When more coins surface at a local church, Eva and William know it's more than mere coincidence. With the entire town whispering about Blackbeard, cursed coins, and lost treasure, it becomes hard to separate what is true and what is a myth.

The Seafarer's Secret is a thrilling cinematic mystery featuring the exigent slow-burning romance between William and Eva as they work together to reveal the secrets and lies of Eden, North Carolina. Though, in order to have a future, they'll have to look deep into the past to keep from being a modern-day killer's next victim.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780825309076
Publisher:	Beaufort Books, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/26/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	258,253
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Writing allows Carol Ann Collins to combine two of her favorite things, history and romance. Her work is a combination of historical fact, pure fiction, and a vivid imagination. An avid reader since childhood, she is also a New York Times bestselling author under a different pen name. Though she is an introvert who had no problem staying inside during quarantine, she enjoys traveling with her husband and two adult children. In her spare time, she is an avid book collector and bargain shopper who loves to combine the two. To date, her favorite find is an 1869 edition of Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain purchased for $10.

Editorial Reviews

"A strong cast gives this conventional whodunit a healthy boost." — Kirkus

"An engrossing plot with believable characters set in the picturesque Outer Banks combine to make a delightful read." — J.F. Riordan, author of the North of the Tension Line series

"The Seafarer’s Secret is a treasure waiting to be unearthed!" — USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, Tara Sue Me

"For readers seeking a captivating journey into the past and present, this book is an absolute must-read. Collins' storytelling prowess shines, making The Seafarer's Secret a stellar addition to the world of mystery and romance fiction." — A Look Inside Book Reviews
 

"The Seafarer’s Secret is a treasure waiting to be unearthed!" — Tara Sue Me, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author
 

"For readers seeking a captivating journey into the past and present, this book is an absolute must-read. Collins' storytelling prowess shines, making The Seafarer's Secret a stellar addition to the world of mystery and romance fiction." — A Look Inside Book Reviews

From the Publisher

2024-05-03
A possible murder in a small coastal town seemingly involves Blackbeard’s buried treasure in Collins’ debut mystery.

A fatal drowning shocks the residents of Eden, North Carolina. Police discover a rare gold coin in the female victim’s possession, much like the one found with local woman Catherine Harper, who died over a year earlier after falling into a sand hole. As the coins link these now-suspicious deaths, William Templeton, who had been Catherine’s estranged husband, temporarily steps down as police chief. Local historian Eva Knightly, with assistance from her coin-expert colleague, delivers another surprise when she determines that the 18th-century coins are straight from the infamous pirate Blackbeard’s treasure. William, who “just can’t sit around,” investigates the most recent potential homicide, and Eva, who’d been Catherine’s best friend, offers to help. If they’re tracking someone who’s killed once or twice before, they must assume to culprit is willing to kill again. Collins skillfully fuses real-life history into this murder mystery, specifically intriguing background on Blackbeard, whose piracy is only one part of who he was. The fictional characters prove just as engaging; William still loved Catherine though he suspected she’d cheated on him, and Eva feels guilt over her years-long attraction to William. This creates a bit of tension between the two, though the story quickly nods toward the likelihood of a romance. The author captures the small-town setting with panache: Keeping news of a dead body quiet is a virtual impossibility, and Eva regularly eavesdrops on older townsfolk at a local diner so she can stay up to date on Eden gossip. Unfortunately, the mystery, which ignites a suspenseful final act, is less successful, as William and Eva’s investigation doesn’t turn up very compelling evidence.

A strong cast gives this conventional whodunit a healthy boost.

Kirkus Reviews