Before the Tides Turn
(2026)(The first book in the Driftwood Harbor Bookshop Mystery series)
A novel by Veronica Mixon
Ellie Rose Callahan never expected to start over at fifty-two.
After her husband disappears without warning—taking their savings and leaving behind more questions than answers—Ellie returns to her hometown of Driftwood Harbor to reopen her grandfather's beloved bookstore and rebuild her life.
Before she was a wife and mother, Ellie was a forensic accountant. She spent years following money, uncovering secrets, and finding answers people hoped would stay hidden.
But now, she hopes for quiet days surrounded by books, familiar faces, and the comfort of home.
Instead, she finds a missing teenager, a murdered teacher, and a very opinionated ghost who refuses to leave the bookstore.
When local teen Alicia Dalton vanishes, Ellie joins the search. But when Alicia becomes the prime suspect in a shocking murder, Ellie is convinced there's more to the story than anyone realizes. Determined to uncover the truth, she begins digging into secrets that some people would prefer remain buried.
With the help of Detective Landon Parker, her lifelong friend Caroline, and Augustus Waverly—her grandfather's best friend, who died in the bookstore years ago and never quite left—Ellie follows a trail of hidden relationships, stolen money, and long-kept secrets.
In Driftwood Harbor, secrets are a lot like driftwood. No matter how hard people try to get rid of them, they eventually wash back ashore.
Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with memorable characters, small-town charm, a touch of the supernatural, and mysteries that keep readers guessing until the very end.
Welcome to Driftwood Harbor. Mind the secrets.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
After her husband disappears without warning—taking their savings and leaving behind more questions than answers—Ellie returns to her hometown of Driftwood Harbor to reopen her grandfather's beloved bookstore and rebuild her life.
Before she was a wife and mother, Ellie was a forensic accountant. She spent years following money, uncovering secrets, and finding answers people hoped would stay hidden.
But now, she hopes for quiet days surrounded by books, familiar faces, and the comfort of home.
Instead, she finds a missing teenager, a murdered teacher, and a very opinionated ghost who refuses to leave the bookstore.
When local teen Alicia Dalton vanishes, Ellie joins the search. But when Alicia becomes the prime suspect in a shocking murder, Ellie is convinced there's more to the story than anyone realizes. Determined to uncover the truth, she begins digging into secrets that some people would prefer remain buried.
With the help of Detective Landon Parker, her lifelong friend Caroline, and Augustus Waverly—her grandfather's best friend, who died in the bookstore years ago and never quite left—Ellie follows a trail of hidden relationships, stolen money, and long-kept secrets.
In Driftwood Harbor, secrets are a lot like driftwood. No matter how hard people try to get rid of them, they eventually wash back ashore.
Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with memorable characters, small-town charm, a touch of the supernatural, and mysteries that keep readers guessing until the very end.
Welcome to Driftwood Harbor. Mind the secrets.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
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