The Conch Republic Conspiracy
(2025)(The fifth book in the Isla Marlow Mysteries series)
A novel by Evelyn Harper
Key West has always worn its quirks proudly—a sun-drenched paradise where laid-back locals and curious tourists coexist under flamboyant sunsets. But beneath the pastel facades and lively rum bars lurks a darker current, one that Detective Isla Marlow can no longer ignore. After fleeing the concrete grind of big-city policing, Isla believed she’d found solace in these coral reefs and eccentric festivities. Yet when a respected local historian is found brutally murdered, the island’s famed bohemian magic turns ominous, revealing shadows far beyond a simple homicide.
In this intoxicating mystery charged with political intrigue, Isla stumbles upon fragments of Key West’s past that refuse to stay buried. Whispers of clandestine meetings, coded documents, and an underground group determined to resurrect the island’s satirical 1982 ‘Conch Republic’ secession begin to swirl. What starts as an odd historical quirk—beloved by locals as a playful jab at mainland bureaucracy—spirals into a high-stakes conspiracy. Every clue Isla uncovers points to powerful figures with hidden motives, all conspiring to carve out an independent Key West by any means necessary.
But the deeper Isla digs, the more she realizes that no one is truly neutral in a place defined by old rivalries, new money, and a cunning devotion to preserving—or exploiting—Key West’s identity. As tropical breezes turn to whispering threats, she navigates a maze of shady developers, suspicious city officials, and a community teetering between loyalty and fear. With each witness she questions, each hidden ledger she unearths, Isla exposes secret networks that may have orchestrated more than one unsolved death. The pursuit becomes personal when her own safety and that of her newfound allies—like her archivist cousin, Olivia ‘Liv’ Marlow—come under threat. Liv’s knowledge of Key West’s storied history proves essential, yet their familial bond is tested by haunting revelations.
Amid swirling tensions, an old dream of '''Conch Republic’ independence smolders in the hearts of fanatics convinced they can force the island to sever ties with the mainland. While tourists clink glasses on Duval Street and sunsets spark applause at Mallory Square, unseen puppeteers plot a radical—and potentially violent—transformation. Muddled in the undertow of local politics and emotional ties, Detective Marlow must untangle who is merely nostalgic for local lore and who has weaponized that nostalgia into a lethal cause.
Blending sunlit serenity with psychological depth, The Conch Republic Conspiracy delivers a vivid portrait of paradise at war with its own secrets. Fans of twisty, atmospheric mysteries will relish the charged interplay between local color and sinister ambition. From the briny tang of the ocean to the hush of dusty archives, from candlelit vigils to unsuspected betrayals, this novel unveils the hidden complexities of an island that refuses to be caged. Propulsive, haunting, and laced with the battered hopes of a community longing to stay free, The Conch Republic Conspiracy is a gripping tale of murder, legacy, and the tenacious hold a place’s history can wield—especially when that history is nurtured by both love and the promise of absolute power.
Genre: Mystery
In this intoxicating mystery charged with political intrigue, Isla stumbles upon fragments of Key West’s past that refuse to stay buried. Whispers of clandestine meetings, coded documents, and an underground group determined to resurrect the island’s satirical 1982 ‘Conch Republic’ secession begin to swirl. What starts as an odd historical quirk—beloved by locals as a playful jab at mainland bureaucracy—spirals into a high-stakes conspiracy. Every clue Isla uncovers points to powerful figures with hidden motives, all conspiring to carve out an independent Key West by any means necessary.
But the deeper Isla digs, the more she realizes that no one is truly neutral in a place defined by old rivalries, new money, and a cunning devotion to preserving—or exploiting—Key West’s identity. As tropical breezes turn to whispering threats, she navigates a maze of shady developers, suspicious city officials, and a community teetering between loyalty and fear. With each witness she questions, each hidden ledger she unearths, Isla exposes secret networks that may have orchestrated more than one unsolved death. The pursuit becomes personal when her own safety and that of her newfound allies—like her archivist cousin, Olivia ‘Liv’ Marlow—come under threat. Liv’s knowledge of Key West’s storied history proves essential, yet their familial bond is tested by haunting revelations.
Amid swirling tensions, an old dream of '''Conch Republic’ independence smolders in the hearts of fanatics convinced they can force the island to sever ties with the mainland. While tourists clink glasses on Duval Street and sunsets spark applause at Mallory Square, unseen puppeteers plot a radical—and potentially violent—transformation. Muddled in the undertow of local politics and emotional ties, Detective Marlow must untangle who is merely nostalgic for local lore and who has weaponized that nostalgia into a lethal cause.
Blending sunlit serenity with psychological depth, The Conch Republic Conspiracy delivers a vivid portrait of paradise at war with its own secrets. Fans of twisty, atmospheric mysteries will relish the charged interplay between local color and sinister ambition. From the briny tang of the ocean to the hush of dusty archives, from candlelit vigils to unsuspected betrayals, this novel unveils the hidden complexities of an island that refuses to be caged. Propulsive, haunting, and laced with the battered hopes of a community longing to stay free, The Conch Republic Conspiracy is a gripping tale of murder, legacy, and the tenacious hold a place’s history can wield—especially when that history is nurtured by both love and the promise of absolute power.
Genre: Mystery
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