Off the Record
(2025)(The fifth book in the Deadlines & Deadlines Mystery series)
A Story by Maisy Marple
Millfield's most prominent philanthropist is dead, and Managing Editor Lucy Hartwell suspects it's no accident.
When William Thornton collapses during a charity gala after announcing a controversial fifteen-million-dollar project, the town mourns the loss of its greatest benefactor. But Lucy's investigative instincts tell her something isn't right—especially after photographer Jake Bennett captures a suspicious interaction in the moments before Thornton's death.
As Lucy digs deeper into the Thornton Foundation's finances, she discovers a web of fraud, hidden accounts, and environmental crimes stretching back decades. With help from her team at the Millfield Gazette, Lucy follows the money trail through falsified records and offshore accounts, exposing long-buried secrets that powerful people want to keep hidden.
The investigation takes a deadly turn when a private investigator is found murdered and Lucy barely survives an attempt on her own life. Now she must unravel the tangled connections between Thornton, his daughter Alice, foundation board member Harold Winters, and rival philanthropist Gregory Nash before the killer strikes again.
In a town where charity masks greed and old grudges simmer beneath a veneer of small-town charm, Lucy's pursuit of the truth puts her directly in the crosshairs of a desperate murderer. With time running out before Thornton's memorial service, Lucy must expose the killer hiding in plain sight—someone willing to commit murder to protect a foundation built on lies.
Genre: Mystery
When William Thornton collapses during a charity gala after announcing a controversial fifteen-million-dollar project, the town mourns the loss of its greatest benefactor. But Lucy's investigative instincts tell her something isn't right—especially after photographer Jake Bennett captures a suspicious interaction in the moments before Thornton's death.
As Lucy digs deeper into the Thornton Foundation's finances, she discovers a web of fraud, hidden accounts, and environmental crimes stretching back decades. With help from her team at the Millfield Gazette, Lucy follows the money trail through falsified records and offshore accounts, exposing long-buried secrets that powerful people want to keep hidden.
The investigation takes a deadly turn when a private investigator is found murdered and Lucy barely survives an attempt on her own life. Now she must unravel the tangled connections between Thornton, his daughter Alice, foundation board member Harold Winters, and rival philanthropist Gregory Nash before the killer strikes again.
In a town where charity masks greed and old grudges simmer beneath a veneer of small-town charm, Lucy's pursuit of the truth puts her directly in the crosshairs of a desperate murderer. With time running out before Thornton's memorial service, Lucy must expose the killer hiding in plain sight—someone willing to commit murder to protect a foundation built on lies.
Genre: Mystery
Used availability for Maisy Marple's Off the Record