MSarA

Investigative journalist Ellie Harper returns to her fog-shrouded hometown of Haven’s Cove after her mother’s death, only to find the past clawing its way back: skeletal remains wash ashore, linked to her aunt’s unsolved 1985 disappearance. As Ellie digs into the cold case, she uncovers a secret society, The Mariner’s Circle, and a bloodstained heirloom that implicates the town’s most powerful figures—including her own family. But the killer, the Ferryman, is still active, taunting Ellie with riddles and corpses. Torn between exposing the truth and protecting those she loves, Ellie races against the rising tide to unravel a conspiracy rooted in betrayal, addiction, and ghosts of WWII. When the Ferryman’s identity shatters everything she knows, Ellie must decide whether justice is worth drowning for.

Shadows in the Tide

Weeks after the dust settled, a letter arrived at my motel room. The envelope was weathered, the postmark smudged but legible: Portsmouth, England.

I opened it with trembling hands, pulling out a single sheet of paper. The handwriting was familiar, sharp and precise.

The tide takes, but it also gives back. You've done well, but the Circle's roots run deeper than you know. The ruby is not the only key. There are others, scattered across the world, each holding a piece of the truth.

I've gone to find them. If you're brave enough—if you're ready—meet me in Portsmouth. But be warned: the shadows are watching.

I stared at the letter, my heart pounding. The ruby, now locked in a safe, seemed to hum faintly, as if calling to me.

Epilogue Teaser: The Letter