Steeped in Scandal
(2026)(The fourth book in the Scarlett James Cozy Mystery series)
A novel by Ashley Albi
A cold case colder than the Iowa winter. A killer as sharp as the autumn frost. In this cozy mystery series, amateur sleuth Scarlett James can't resist uncovering the truth, even when it's fifty years old.
Early September in Spirit Lake is all pumpkin spice and crisp autumn air, but for Scarlett James, the season brings buried secrets and fresh danger.
While sorting through her late parents' attic boxes, Scarlett stumbles onto their research into the infamous 1972 Mermaid Murders: photographs, interview transcripts, and her father's journal. But before she can follow the trail, a present-day mystery demands her attention.
At Violet's Fall Tea Festival, a deeply unpopular guest is found dead after a suspicious greenhouse fire. The victim had no shortage of enemies, but the case soon spirals into something far more sinister, reaching well beyond Spirit Lake's peaceful shores.
With her relationship with Gabe deepening, her best friend Zoey launching a mayoral campaign, and a ruthless killer silencing anyone who knows too much, Scarlett must piece together two interconnected puzzles — past and present — before she becomes the next victim.
Steeped in Scandal is Book 4 in the Scarlett James Cozy Mystery series, but don't worry, each mystery stands on its own. Perfect for fans of small-town whodunits, amateur sleuth mysteries, and stories where every cup of tea might be your last.
Genre: Mystery
Early September in Spirit Lake is all pumpkin spice and crisp autumn air, but for Scarlett James, the season brings buried secrets and fresh danger.
While sorting through her late parents' attic boxes, Scarlett stumbles onto their research into the infamous 1972 Mermaid Murders: photographs, interview transcripts, and her father's journal. But before she can follow the trail, a present-day mystery demands her attention.
At Violet's Fall Tea Festival, a deeply unpopular guest is found dead after a suspicious greenhouse fire. The victim had no shortage of enemies, but the case soon spirals into something far more sinister, reaching well beyond Spirit Lake's peaceful shores.
With her relationship with Gabe deepening, her best friend Zoey launching a mayoral campaign, and a ruthless killer silencing anyone who knows too much, Scarlett must piece together two interconnected puzzles — past and present — before she becomes the next victim.
Steeped in Scandal is Book 4 in the Scarlett James Cozy Mystery series, but don't worry, each mystery stands on its own. Perfect for fans of small-town whodunits, amateur sleuth mysteries, and stories where every cup of tea might be your last.
Genre: Mystery