AppleJacked

2021 Finalist: Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense

Elementary principal Ana Callahan knows a thing or two about flipping failing schools,

but she's discovered the learning curve on solving murders is steep.

Now in the second year of her school rescue, in Moccasin Cove on Florida's Gulf coast, Ana is on the verge of winning a pivotal grant award. But her grand plan hits a snag after a teacher is murdered and the crime is pinned on a runaway teenager Ana mentors. The story goes viral. Ana's campus is besieged by the media, angry parents, and complex questions about the dead teacher's past. Worse, the myopic rookie detective assigned to the case has her sights set on all the wrong suspects.

While grieving the teacher's death, Ana starts her own investigation, but her discovery of a body on the beach pins a bullseye on Ana's back. In her quest to solve two murders, locate the missing teen, and salvage the grant win, Ana unwittingly unleashes a riptide of childhood secrets that force her to learn a hard lesson... It takes a village to raise a child, but it may also take your life.

If you like your traditional mysteries with a cozy edge, a hint of Southern snark, a beachy vibe,

and always a happy ending, this series is for you.