Shells and Secrets
(2025)(The second book in the Sparkling Mysteries series)
A novel by Vera Langley and Maisy Marple
The tide is in, but not all treasures are meant to be found...
Jeweler Poppy Goldstein and her chatty African Grey parrot, Sherlock, are back and determined to leave their sleuthing days behind them. After helping recover the priceless Mermaid's Tear gemstone three months ago, Poppy wants nothing more than to focus on her jewelry shop in the charming coastal town of Seabreeze Cove, Maine.
But when the annual Beach Art Competition brings renowned shell artist Eliza Montgomery to judge the entries, old rivalries resurface and new tensions emerge. The competition's theme—"Hidden Treasures of the Sea"—takes on a sinister meaning when local shell collector Beatrice Crawford's prized Golden Cowrie vanishes, and competition entries begin to mysteriously disappear or suffer suspicious damage.
As if stolen shells weren't trouble enough, cryptic comments from Sherlock about "bad treasure maps" and "waves crash" hint at deeper currents running beneath the surface of this seaside mystery. When Poppy discovers fragments of Beatrice's stolen shells in a customer's jewelry commission, she's reluctantly pulled back into the role of amateur detective.
With the help of Sheriff Jim Thompson and gemstone gallery owner Marcus Webb, Poppy uncovers a web of secrets connecting Prohibition-era rum-running tunnels, a historically significant shell collection, and plans for the return of the Mermaid's Tear to Seabreeze Cove. But in a town where everyone has something to hide, sorting friend from foe proves as challenging as finding a pearl in an oyster.
As the competition reaches its climax, Poppy must navigate treacherous waters to expose the true culprit before Seabreeze Cove's treasures—both hidden and displayed—disappear forever.
Full of salty sea air, delightful small-town characters, and a parrot with an uncanny knack for spotting trouble, "Shells and Secrets" is the perfect beach read for cozy mystery lovers who enjoy a splash of humor and a dash of danger with their seaside escapes.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Jeweler Poppy Goldstein and her chatty African Grey parrot, Sherlock, are back and determined to leave their sleuthing days behind them. After helping recover the priceless Mermaid's Tear gemstone three months ago, Poppy wants nothing more than to focus on her jewelry shop in the charming coastal town of Seabreeze Cove, Maine.
But when the annual Beach Art Competition brings renowned shell artist Eliza Montgomery to judge the entries, old rivalries resurface and new tensions emerge. The competition's theme—"Hidden Treasures of the Sea"—takes on a sinister meaning when local shell collector Beatrice Crawford's prized Golden Cowrie vanishes, and competition entries begin to mysteriously disappear or suffer suspicious damage.
As if stolen shells weren't trouble enough, cryptic comments from Sherlock about "bad treasure maps" and "waves crash" hint at deeper currents running beneath the surface of this seaside mystery. When Poppy discovers fragments of Beatrice's stolen shells in a customer's jewelry commission, she's reluctantly pulled back into the role of amateur detective.
With the help of Sheriff Jim Thompson and gemstone gallery owner Marcus Webb, Poppy uncovers a web of secrets connecting Prohibition-era rum-running tunnels, a historically significant shell collection, and plans for the return of the Mermaid's Tear to Seabreeze Cove. But in a town where everyone has something to hide, sorting friend from foe proves as challenging as finding a pearl in an oyster.
As the competition reaches its climax, Poppy must navigate treacherous waters to expose the true culprit before Seabreeze Cove's treasures—both hidden and displayed—disappear forever.
Full of salty sea air, delightful small-town characters, and a parrot with an uncanny knack for spotting trouble, "Shells and Secrets" is the perfect beach read for cozy mystery lovers who enjoy a splash of humor and a dash of danger with their seaside escapes.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Maisy Marple's Shells and Secrets