Some forgeries are worth killing for. Some secrets are worth dying to protect.
When bookbinder Celia Rodriguez is invited to demonstrate her craft at the prestigious Southwest Antiquarian Book Fair in Tucson, she jumps at the chance—and brings her detective Chihuahua, Taco, along for the adventure.
But the desert sun can't hide dark secrets.
On opening night, a priceless 18th-century Spanish mission journal vanishes from a locked display case, and its elderly owner is found drugged and unconscious. As Celia examines the evidence, her trained eye catches what others miss: the stolen treasure may not be what it seems.
With suspects ranging from a flashy dealer with too-perfect credentials to family members fighting over a dying man's estate, Celia finds herself tangled in a web of deception spanning three generations. When the danger escalates, she makes a call to Pine Valley—and Detective Jamie Hernandez catches the next flight to Tucson.
Together, they must unravel a conspiracy built on forgery, obsession, and a legendary hidden chapel that may hold treasures beyond imagination. But someone will do anything to keep the past buried—even if it means adding to the body count.
In the Arizona desert, Celia will discover that some books hold more than stories. Some hold the key to survival.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
When bookbinder Celia Rodriguez is invited to demonstrate her craft at the prestigious Southwest Antiquarian Book Fair in Tucson, she jumps at the chance—and brings her detective Chihuahua, Taco, along for the adventure.
But the desert sun can't hide dark secrets.
On opening night, a priceless 18th-century Spanish mission journal vanishes from a locked display case, and its elderly owner is found drugged and unconscious. As Celia examines the evidence, her trained eye catches what others miss: the stolen treasure may not be what it seems.
With suspects ranging from a flashy dealer with too-perfect credentials to family members fighting over a dying man's estate, Celia finds herself tangled in a web of deception spanning three generations. When the danger escalates, she makes a call to Pine Valley—and Detective Jamie Hernandez catches the next flight to Tucson.
Together, they must unravel a conspiracy built on forgery, obsession, and a legendary hidden chapel that may hold treasures beyond imagination. But someone will do anything to keep the past buried—even if it means adding to the body count.
In the Arizona desert, Celia will discover that some books hold more than stories. Some hold the key to survival.
Genre: Cozy Mystery