The Candidate Coroner: A Hardboiled Mystery with a Small-Town Political Twist

Two contentious elections. One dead philanderer. A monumental conspiracy.

Acting coroner Fenway Stevenson has barely caught her breath when another high-profile murder rocks the coastal town of Estancia. The victim: a charismatic but notorious real estate mogul known more for his affairs than his business sense. When his body is found in a pedestrian underpass, it sends shockwaves through the community—and the evidence points in a direction Fenway never expected.

As the investigation unfolds, Fenway uncovers a trail of hidden relationships, suspicious financial transactions, and dangerous lies. Her hated stepmother is caught up in the case, forcing Fenway to navigate a minefield of family tension and public scrutiny--just as her own bid to remain coroner reaches a critical tipping point.

With the sheriff’s election also in full swing, political pressure mounts. Allies become suspects, and rivals exploit every misstep. When an attempt on Fenway’s life threatens to derail the case entirely, she realizes someone is willing to kill again to keep the truth buried.

Smart, gripping, and bristling with tension, The Candidate Coroner is the third explosive installment in the Fenway Stevenson Mysteries. With its sharp forensic detail, complex characters, and emotional stakes, this is a murder mystery for readers who crave both heart and grit.

Start The Candidate Coroner today and dive into a California beach town mystery where ambition is deadly, loyalty is a liability—and the truth is anything but simple.

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"Ardoin delivers a wonderfully creepy setup, a true-to-life father-daughter dynamic, and a great narrative flow. I enjoyed this book immensely--and I can't wait to see what happens next!"

--Jamie Thornton, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author