Ashes & Alibis

In Cypress Hollow, the past doesn't burn clean.

When a respected local businessman is found dead in the ashes of his own store, the town is quick to settle on a convenient explanation. Accidents happen. Tragedies fade. Life moves on.

Valerie Reed isn't so sure.

Pulled into the investigation by proximity, circumstance, and a growing sense that something doesn't add up, Valerie finds herself navigating a case layered with half-truths, buried grudges, and secrets people are desperate to keep hidden. The deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes: this death wasn't just about money or motive, it was personal.

Assigned to the case, Detective Clark Langston is caught between duty and instinct, tasked with protecting Valerie while struggling to keep emotional distance as the danger closes in. The closer Valerie gets to the truth, the harder it becomes for Clark to draw the line between investigator and something more.

As alibis unravel and old wounds resurface, Valerie must decide how far she's willing to go for answers, especially when uncovering the truth could cost her more than she's prepared to lose.

Ashes and Alibis is a cozy noir mystery filled with small-town secrets, emotional stakes, and a slow-burn romance simmering beneath the surface. It's Book Two in the Cypress Hollow Cozy Mysteries and is best enjoyed after Book One, Killer in the Hollow.