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The Missing Collection: A Cozy Small Town Mystery
When maritime journals surface at Mockingbird Books, bookshop owner Lila Hart discovers that some family treasures are worth killing for—and that a century-old preservation network is under attack from ruthless collectors.
Diana Blackwood arrives in Mockingbird Bay with weathered journals that may hold clues to Sebastian Marsh's legendary "Missing Collection"—cultural materials hidden along the coast in the 1880s. But when professional treasure hunter Marcus Wells and his team begin systematic extraction of preservation sites, Lila realizes that Diana's family has been protecting more than just documents.
As Lila and Sheriff Cooper Reid investigate, they uncover a sophisticated network of "guardian families" who have successfully preserved cultural heritage for generations using traditional methods. But Wells represents clients willing to use legal manipulation, commercial pressure, and escalating threats to acquire materials they see as valuable commodities rather than community heritage.
When hidden chambers beneath the bookshop reveal comprehensive archives of the preservation network, and Diana's family knowledge proves essential for accessing coastal repositories, the race is on to protect sites throughout the region. With state authorities providing support but Wells's operation extending across multiple jurisdictions, Lila must coordinate community resistance while learning her grandmother's role as regional preservation coordinator.
From dangerous tidal caves to sophisticated legal challenges, Wells's systematic assault on traditional preservation methods threatens to destroy a century of community stewardship. But when the investigation leads to the ultimate repository containing the collection's most significant cultural materials, Lila discovers that guardian families have been preparing for exactly this confrontation—and that some treasures are worth protecting not for their commercial value, but for the communities that preserve them.
The seventh installment in the Bookmarked Mystery series celebrates the power of community cooperation to protect cultural heritage while delivering a thrilling blend of maritime adventure and preservation ethics. Perfect for fans of Louise Penny, Ellery Adams, and Emily Brewster.
Diana Blackwood arrives in Mockingbird Bay with weathered journals that may hold clues to Sebastian Marsh's legendary "Missing Collection"—cultural materials hidden along the coast in the 1880s. But when professional treasure hunter Marcus Wells and his team begin systematic extraction of preservation sites, Lila realizes that Diana's family has been protecting more than just documents.
As Lila and Sheriff Cooper Reid investigate, they uncover a sophisticated network of "guardian families" who have successfully preserved cultural heritage for generations using traditional methods. But Wells represents clients willing to use legal manipulation, commercial pressure, and escalating threats to acquire materials they see as valuable commodities rather than community heritage.
When hidden chambers beneath the bookshop reveal comprehensive archives of the preservation network, and Diana's family knowledge proves essential for accessing coastal repositories, the race is on to protect sites throughout the region. With state authorities providing support but Wells's operation extending across multiple jurisdictions, Lila must coordinate community resistance while learning her grandmother's role as regional preservation coordinator.
From dangerous tidal caves to sophisticated legal challenges, Wells's systematic assault on traditional preservation methods threatens to destroy a century of community stewardship. But when the investigation leads to the ultimate repository containing the collection's most significant cultural materials, Lila discovers that guardian families have been preparing for exactly this confrontation—and that some treasures are worth protecting not for their commercial value, but for the communities that preserve them.
The seventh installment in the Bookmarked Mystery series celebrates the power of community cooperation to protect cultural heritage while delivering a thrilling blend of maritime adventure and preservation ethics. Perfect for fans of Louise Penny, Ellery Adams, and Emily Brewster.
151 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2025
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