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Raccoon Key
Based on a true unsolved murder from 1873.
Cape Romain's marshland doesn't give up its secrets. Tides swallow footprints. Storms rearrange dunes. On Raccoon Key, two lighthouses stand guard over one unanswered question: What really happened to Brigitte Johansen?
They found her in the keeper's cottage bedroom-throat slit from ear to ear, razor nearby. For 150 years, the island kept silent.
Now marine biologist Lennon Wilder returns to the island she swore she'd left forever-and to Grey Sutton, the man she's never forgotten. Tired of loneliness and the discontented life she's built, she's ready to fight for a different future. But reconciling with Grey means coming to terms with everything she ran from.
The lighthouse cottage is long gone, but its foundation scars the sand. When Brigitte's journal and a cache of jewels surface from forgotten places and buried ruins, Raccoon Key fractures. Lennon and Grey set out to find the treasure's rightful owner, but every answer drags them deeper into greed, lies, and a mysterious death disguised as something it wasn't. The truth may cut closer to Lennon's life than she ever imagined.
Raccoon Key is a gripping dual-timeline mystery woven with coastal suspense, slow-burn second-chance romance, and the cost of truth when silence feels safer.
Perfect for fans of Colleen Coble, Jaime Jo Wright, Rachel Hauck, and Ruta Sepetys.
Cape Romain's marshland doesn't give up its secrets. Tides swallow footprints. Storms rearrange dunes. On Raccoon Key, two lighthouses stand guard over one unanswered question: What really happened to Brigitte Johansen?
They found her in the keeper's cottage bedroom-throat slit from ear to ear, razor nearby. For 150 years, the island kept silent.
Now marine biologist Lennon Wilder returns to the island she swore she'd left forever-and to Grey Sutton, the man she's never forgotten. Tired of loneliness and the discontented life she's built, she's ready to fight for a different future. But reconciling with Grey means coming to terms with everything she ran from.
The lighthouse cottage is long gone, but its foundation scars the sand. When Brigitte's journal and a cache of jewels surface from forgotten places and buried ruins, Raccoon Key fractures. Lennon and Grey set out to find the treasure's rightful owner, but every answer drags them deeper into greed, lies, and a mysterious death disguised as something it wasn't. The truth may cut closer to Lennon's life than she ever imagined.
Raccoon Key is a gripping dual-timeline mystery woven with coastal suspense, slow-burn second-chance romance, and the cost of truth when silence feels safer.
Perfect for fans of Colleen Coble, Jaime Jo Wright, Rachel Hauck, and Ruta Sepetys.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 2, 2026
About the author
Donnah M. Cole
8 books54 followersDonnah M. Cole is an award-winning author crafting heartfelt tales of faith, love, mystery, and redemption. Her acclaimed novels have captivated readers worldwide. When not weaving unforgettable characters and plots from her home in the Blue Ridge Mountains, she spends time with family, serves in her church, cooks too many batches of delicious granola, and loves to sew.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 1, 2026
Readers wishing to be transported to a distant time and place will find their magic carpet between the pages of this book!
Welcome to Raccoon Key Light Station, where dual lights have the potential to prevent wrecks at sea…but “push people to the edge”.
New-to-me author Donnah M. Cole’s well-drawn, memorable characters, and her narrative featuring a heart-wrenching tragedy, a broken heart, a missing fortune, a desperate woman who just wanted to go home again, and a husband whose story carried cracks, captivated me and left me remembering a woman pushed to the edge.
“These islands carry old stories. Unsolved things.”
Inspired by a true event, Cole has taken the events of one dark April night in 1873 and re-imagined the people who lived it. Her examination of the events surrounding the loss of life on this isolated lighthouse station brings lots of speculation, and she encourages us to ponder this death in light of the circumstances of the time. I don’t suppose we’ll ever get answers for this 150-year-old haunting mystery, but it is a great starting place to contemplate possibilities.
As much as I enjoyed Lennon and Grey’s characters, I loved Opal and was intrigued by the Crow Man.
“Love ain’t all pretty words. It’s somebody walkin’ wid you when de road gets rough. It’s knowin’ somebody ain’t goin’ nowhere, no matter what.” - Opal
I’ll remember her for a long time and her sage advice: “An in dis house…it ain’t about what you got in it. It’s about what you give from it.” Love this thought.
This is a great mystery, with a twist I didn’t predict, legends that sucked me in, and a setting that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Welcome to Raccoon Key Light Station, where dual lights have the potential to prevent wrecks at sea…but “push people to the edge”.
New-to-me author Donnah M. Cole’s well-drawn, memorable characters, and her narrative featuring a heart-wrenching tragedy, a broken heart, a missing fortune, a desperate woman who just wanted to go home again, and a husband whose story carried cracks, captivated me and left me remembering a woman pushed to the edge.
“These islands carry old stories. Unsolved things.”
Inspired by a true event, Cole has taken the events of one dark April night in 1873 and re-imagined the people who lived it. Her examination of the events surrounding the loss of life on this isolated lighthouse station brings lots of speculation, and she encourages us to ponder this death in light of the circumstances of the time. I don’t suppose we’ll ever get answers for this 150-year-old haunting mystery, but it is a great starting place to contemplate possibilities.
As much as I enjoyed Lennon and Grey’s characters, I loved Opal and was intrigued by the Crow Man.
“Love ain’t all pretty words. It’s somebody walkin’ wid you when de road gets rough. It’s knowin’ somebody ain’t goin’ nowhere, no matter what.” - Opal
I’ll remember her for a long time and her sage advice: “An in dis house…it ain’t about what you got in it. It’s about what you give from it.” Love this thought.
This is a great mystery, with a twist I didn’t predict, legends that sucked me in, and a setting that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Read
May 21, 2026As the author, I’d like to share a bit of behind‑the‑scenes context.
This is a dual‑timeline coastal mystery / small‑town contemporary romance. I wrote this story out of a desire to explore historical fiction. While researching, I came upon an 1873 unsolved death on a remote barrier island on the Carolina coast. Two lighthouses still stand there today, surrounded by marshland and isolation, so this is more of an atmospheric mystery than high‑octane thriller.
The book’s content includes murder/suicide/death topics, and because part of the story is set in the South’s Reconstruction era, there are references to the Ku Klux Klan. The story contains no profanity and no sexual content, which is my consistent storytelling standard, and there are faith‑based elements woven throughout.
This is a reflective mystery where some questions intentionally linger, inviting readers to ponder what really happened to the lighthouse keeper’s wife.
If you are a KENP subscriber, RK is currently enrolled there for a free read!
I hope you enjoy your time on Raccoon Key with these characters, and if the story speaks to you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d leave an honest review.
This is a dual‑timeline coastal mystery / small‑town contemporary romance. I wrote this story out of a desire to explore historical fiction. While researching, I came upon an 1873 unsolved death on a remote barrier island on the Carolina coast. Two lighthouses still stand there today, surrounded by marshland and isolation, so this is more of an atmospheric mystery than high‑octane thriller.
The book’s content includes murder/suicide/death topics, and because part of the story is set in the South’s Reconstruction era, there are references to the Ku Klux Klan. The story contains no profanity and no sexual content, which is my consistent storytelling standard, and there are faith‑based elements woven throughout.
This is a reflective mystery where some questions intentionally linger, inviting readers to ponder what really happened to the lighthouse keeper’s wife.
If you are a KENP subscriber, RK is currently enrolled there for a free read!
I hope you enjoy your time on Raccoon Key with these characters, and if the story speaks to you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d leave an honest review.
April 22, 2026
This book was good, first I like atmosphere - first few chapters had mysterious, even horror vibe, love that. Even though I don't particularly enjoy dual timeline stories, this one was intriguing and I liked changing POV's from past to present. One story happens in 1873, another one in 2023.
It had everything - mystery, some death, action, second chance romance and charming and haunting isolated islands where you meet crows and maybe also some shadows. :-)
It had everything - mystery, some death, action, second chance romance and charming and haunting isolated islands where you meet crows and maybe also some shadows. :-)
March 16, 2026
I have been a Donnah Cole fan since my first book, and this is my favorite so far. It reminded me of a Jaime Jo Wright book. The dual timelines both kept me interested, and the author's note about the true story behind the historical timeline made it even more intriguing.
As always, Cole's descriptions shine, and I could picture myself in the little coastal area where the story takes place.
The romance in this one is very subtle, but satisfying. There is no language and there is a Christian faith thread.
Overall, I would recommend this to fans of Jaime Jo Wright, contemporary romance, dual timeline mysteries, and Christian suspense.
My thanks to the author for an ARC copy of this novel. I was not required to leave a positive review or rating.
As always, Cole's descriptions shine, and I could picture myself in the little coastal area where the story takes place.
The romance in this one is very subtle, but satisfying. There is no language and there is a Christian faith thread.
Overall, I would recommend this to fans of Jaime Jo Wright, contemporary romance, dual timeline mysteries, and Christian suspense.
My thanks to the author for an ARC copy of this novel. I was not required to leave a positive review or rating.
March 29, 2026
I received this ARC from Book Sirens in exchange for a review.
This book, as noted in the Author's Notes, is based on a historical mystery that happened on an island in South Carolina, known as Raccoon Key to the locals, or lighthouse island in more official documentation.
Two couples and a lone keeper were residents there during the event, and brief historical notations are available regarding their names and details. The remainder of the story, in order to fill out the narrative, is left to the author.
Fast forward a century, and a young woman who grew up in the local community nearest the island has returned to conduct research onto Loggerhead turtles and other marine wildlife (flora and fauna). She also intends to interview residents to create a documentary. As her first assignment with a new company, she gets unexpectedly abandoned by them, and is forced to seek the assistance of a former friend/classmate/boyfriend to reach the research location.
In the Lodge that the company has hired, she encountered the diary of the lightkeeper's wife, who was the focus of the mystery aforementioned. She becomes fascinated in learning more about this individual, and visits the local archives/museum to learn more. She intends to include it in her planned documentary.
Without giving away the story, the narrative works back and forth between the two time periods, giving two quite interesting stories to keep the reader turning the pages. It was well written. The characters are fleshed out and believable. It was a pleasure to read.
This book, as noted in the Author's Notes, is based on a historical mystery that happened on an island in South Carolina, known as Raccoon Key to the locals, or lighthouse island in more official documentation.
Two couples and a lone keeper were residents there during the event, and brief historical notations are available regarding their names and details. The remainder of the story, in order to fill out the narrative, is left to the author.
Fast forward a century, and a young woman who grew up in the local community nearest the island has returned to conduct research onto Loggerhead turtles and other marine wildlife (flora and fauna). She also intends to interview residents to create a documentary. As her first assignment with a new company, she gets unexpectedly abandoned by them, and is forced to seek the assistance of a former friend/classmate/boyfriend to reach the research location.
In the Lodge that the company has hired, she encountered the diary of the lightkeeper's wife, who was the focus of the mystery aforementioned. She becomes fascinated in learning more about this individual, and visits the local archives/museum to learn more. She intends to include it in her planned documentary.
Without giving away the story, the narrative works back and forth between the two time periods, giving two quite interesting stories to keep the reader turning the pages. It was well written. The characters are fleshed out and believable. It was a pleasure to read.
March 29, 2026
Donnah Cole's Raccoon Key grips readers from the first page to the last. If you love suspenseful stories with a creepy vibe and a bit of romance this one's for you. The dual timeline is craftily woven in and as always Donnah's descriptions.bring the scenes to life.
May 16, 2026
Perfect Read!!
This was a great story! I read it in one day at the beach as I couldn’t put it down! Looking forward to the next one Donnah!
This was a great story! I read it in one day at the beach as I couldn’t put it down! Looking forward to the next one Donnah!
April 1, 2026
A Gripping Coastal Mystery Across Centuries
This dual-timeline mystery set in Raccoon Key, South Carolina, successfully bridges 1873 and 2023. The story centers on the suspicious death of Bridgette Johansen, whose throat was found slit in 1873. Though the coroner ruled it a suicide, the mechanics of the wound suggest otherwise.
The modern narrative follows Lennon, a marine biologist who discovers a metal box and Bridgette’s diary. This discovery reignites the question of whether Bridgette took her own life or was murdered by one of several suspects, including her husband, the lighthouse keepers, an attendant that disappeared or the Klan who were terrorizing the Charleston area at the time.
The diary serves as the primary catalyst for the plot, offering a perspective that subverts expectations. It is an action-packed read that effectively connects a 150-year-old cold case to the current residents of the Key. The author provides enough clues to keep the reader engaged without making the resolution too obvious.
This dual-timeline mystery set in Raccoon Key, South Carolina, successfully bridges 1873 and 2023. The story centers on the suspicious death of Bridgette Johansen, whose throat was found slit in 1873. Though the coroner ruled it a suicide, the mechanics of the wound suggest otherwise.
The modern narrative follows Lennon, a marine biologist who discovers a metal box and Bridgette’s diary. This discovery reignites the question of whether Bridgette took her own life or was murdered by one of several suspects, including her husband, the lighthouse keepers, an attendant that disappeared or the Klan who were terrorizing the Charleston area at the time.
The diary serves as the primary catalyst for the plot, offering a perspective that subverts expectations. It is an action-packed read that effectively connects a 150-year-old cold case to the current residents of the Key. The author provides enough clues to keep the reader engaged without making the resolution too obvious.
April 11, 2026
Raccoon Key by Donnah M Cole is a powerful dual timeline novel that entertained me from the start.
The action is set in 1873 and 2023 in Raccoon Key. It is an isolated maritime community where life is hard as one battles the natural elements. The two time periods are linked by generational ancestors. People often did the same job as their father and his father before him.
An unexplained death in 1873 is still having ramifications one hundred and fifty years later. The coroner’s report at the time is at odds with present day thinking. An old diary recording the events leading up to the day is found – will this be the key to unlock the mystery?
Legends have sprung up, particularly around crows, and the significance of seeing one.
The American Civil War was over by 1873 but those in the South still faced prejudice and persecution as the Klu Klux Klan had sprung up. “Slavery had ended in ink and speeches… But fear still rode the back roads at night.”
The language of some is very colloquial as it is written as they would have spoken. This adds an authenticity to the tale.
There are motifs of light. “We trust the longest shadow will give way to light.” We remember that Jesus is the light of the world and He has overcome the darkness.
We see that greed destroys. When men chase riches, their values are in the wrong place.
There is the theme of forgiveness. When we forgive, we can live in freedom.
Raccoon Key was an engaging and entertaining read. I will leave you with my favourite quote:
“Love ain’t all pretty words. It’s somebody walking wid you when de road gets rough. It’s knowin’ somebody ain’t goin’ nowhere, no matter what.”
The action is set in 1873 and 2023 in Raccoon Key. It is an isolated maritime community where life is hard as one battles the natural elements. The two time periods are linked by generational ancestors. People often did the same job as their father and his father before him.
An unexplained death in 1873 is still having ramifications one hundred and fifty years later. The coroner’s report at the time is at odds with present day thinking. An old diary recording the events leading up to the day is found – will this be the key to unlock the mystery?
Legends have sprung up, particularly around crows, and the significance of seeing one.
The American Civil War was over by 1873 but those in the South still faced prejudice and persecution as the Klu Klux Klan had sprung up. “Slavery had ended in ink and speeches… But fear still rode the back roads at night.”
The language of some is very colloquial as it is written as they would have spoken. This adds an authenticity to the tale.
There are motifs of light. “We trust the longest shadow will give way to light.” We remember that Jesus is the light of the world and He has overcome the darkness.
We see that greed destroys. When men chase riches, their values are in the wrong place.
There is the theme of forgiveness. When we forgive, we can live in freedom.
Raccoon Key was an engaging and entertaining read. I will leave you with my favourite quote:
“Love ain’t all pretty words. It’s somebody walking wid you when de road gets rough. It’s knowin’ somebody ain’t goin’ nowhere, no matter what.”
April 2, 2026
Raccoon Key is an easy mystery with a strong sense of place and a dual timeline built around a real unsolved lighthouse death from the 1870s. Cole does a great job bringing the coastal setting to life, the marshes, water, and island community feel vivid throughout the story. The historical mystery is interesting, and the slow-burn, second-chance romance adds some emotional depth without overwhelming the plot.
The book leans heavily on description, and while fans of detailed prose may enjoy this, it often slows the story down. The momentum noticeably dips before the middle. With tighter editing, the story could have been trimmed without losing anything essential, allowing the mystery to feel more engaging and focused.
Overall, this is a solid, pleasant read with a compelling concept and strong atmosphere. Best suited for readers who enjoy calm, descriptive mysteries and don’t mind a slower pace.
★★★½
www.pinkstinx.blogspot.com
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. These are my honest thoughts.
The book leans heavily on description, and while fans of detailed prose may enjoy this, it often slows the story down. The momentum noticeably dips before the middle. With tighter editing, the story could have been trimmed without losing anything essential, allowing the mystery to feel more engaging and focused.
Overall, this is a solid, pleasant read with a compelling concept and strong atmosphere. Best suited for readers who enjoy calm, descriptive mysteries and don’t mind a slower pace.
★★★½
www.pinkstinx.blogspot.com
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. These are my honest thoughts.
May 2, 2026
This story pulled me in and held me hostage until the very end. I loved the ambiguity of this story where so many answers concerning the suspicious death of Bridgette Johansen were revealed bit by bit. The dual timeline was easy to follow, with both story lines intriguing, having their own twisty turns. Christian perspective through out the book but also shows how clearly the characters struggled to find the best solutions with the knowledge that they had. Donnah M Cole is a new-for-me author but I’m looking forward to reading more by her since reading Raccoon Key.
Another favorite part of the story is the Loggerhead turtles being researched as well as the documentary film being completed by marine biologist Lennon Wilder. (I would have loved to see that fictional film!) Adding to the wonderful contemporary timeline is Lennon and Grey Sutton’s reconnecting and second chance romance. All in all, this is one of my top 2026 books read.
Another favorite part of the story is the Loggerhead turtles being researched as well as the documentary film being completed by marine biologist Lennon Wilder. (I would have loved to see that fictional film!) Adding to the wonderful contemporary timeline is Lennon and Grey Sutton’s reconnecting and second chance romance. All in all, this is one of my top 2026 books read.
March 29, 2026
This is my first novel by Donnah M. Cole, and I truly loved it.
Lennon and Gray's story truly touched me (and I might have cried a few times), since I have had a similar experience, though mine didn't end the same.
The novel reads very quickly. However, I'll admit that I struggled with the 1873 English in the beginning but once you get the hang of it, it reads just as fast as the rest of the novel.
I love how all the characters developed throughout the novel, from the main characters to the smaller characters like Beulah Ann and Cory. The characters are extremely likeable, except of course for the bad guys.
The novel is based on historical facts and I enjoyed the last section of the novel where the author included the historical facts of the events that transpired on Raccoon Key Island on 8 April 1873
Lennon and Gray's story truly touched me (and I might have cried a few times), since I have had a similar experience, though mine didn't end the same.
The novel reads very quickly. However, I'll admit that I struggled with the 1873 English in the beginning but once you get the hang of it, it reads just as fast as the rest of the novel.
I love how all the characters developed throughout the novel, from the main characters to the smaller characters like Beulah Ann and Cory. The characters are extremely likeable, except of course for the bad guys.
The novel is based on historical facts and I enjoyed the last section of the novel where the author included the historical facts of the events that transpired on Raccoon Key Island on 8 April 1873
March 25, 2026
Thank you to the author and their team for providing a copy of this book
Personal Rating: 4/5
Heartfelt
Compassionate
Very solemn setting
Rounded characters, and the fact that's its inspired by a true event elevated it over a regular fiction tale
The afterword made it all feel very real
But, expected more of the crow, and felt like it/they could play a pivotal character
Criteria based rating
1. Emotional depth/description: 4/5
2. Characters' weight/nuances: 4/5
3. Realism/Believability: 4.5/5
4. Re-readability: 3.5/5
5. Plot/Structure/Storytelling: 4/5
Calculated average: 4/5
Personal Rating: 4/5
Heartfelt
Compassionate
Very solemn setting
Rounded characters, and the fact that's its inspired by a true event elevated it over a regular fiction tale
The afterword made it all feel very real
But, expected more of the crow, and felt like it/they could play a pivotal character
Criteria based rating
1. Emotional depth/description: 4/5
2. Characters' weight/nuances: 4/5
3. Realism/Believability: 4.5/5
4. Re-readability: 3.5/5
5. Plot/Structure/Storytelling: 4/5
Calculated average: 4/5
March 6, 2026
First time a prologue ever drew me right in to this story. The dual timeline kept drawing me in "for just one more chapter."
What surprised me most was how invested I became in the characters. The past and present protagonists mirror and challenge each other in such a compelling way that I found myself caring as much about their inner lives as the central mystery. The slow-burn romantic thread is tender, earned, and beautifully understated, adding warmth without ever overshadowing the suspense.
Great story! Highly recommended!
What surprised me most was how invested I became in the characters. The past and present protagonists mirror and challenge each other in such a compelling way that I found myself caring as much about their inner lives as the central mystery. The slow-burn romantic thread is tender, earned, and beautifully understated, adding warmth without ever overshadowing the suspense.
Great story! Highly recommended!
April 7, 2026
This is a really interesting Historical Mystery with a dual timeline.
One time line is set in America in the mid 1800s. Following a lighthouse keeper and his wife who dies under very suspicious circumstances. However the death was never properly investigated.
The second timeline is set in 2023 and it follows Lennon who reconnects with her childhood sweetheart as they get a second chance to be together whilst trying to discover what happened in the 1850s!
Really interesting!
One time line is set in America in the mid 1800s. Following a lighthouse keeper and his wife who dies under very suspicious circumstances. However the death was never properly investigated.
The second timeline is set in 2023 and it follows Lennon who reconnects with her childhood sweetheart as they get a second chance to be together whilst trying to discover what happened in the 1850s!
Really interesting!
May 20, 2026
Wow, this book was wonderful. Second chance romance, mystery of a true crime back in the 1800s and characters you just wanted to know more about. Donnah Cole really draws you in with the dual timeline that keeps you captivated with the crime mystery and the romance. One of her best books.. I highly recommend this book.
May 2, 2026
Based on a true mystery from 1873 this novel connects past and present intriguingly.
Elements of faith are presented in a natural way. There's enough suspense to keep you reading. The writing is smooth and fitting for the historical theme.
Elements of faith are presented in a natural way. There's enough suspense to keep you reading. The writing is smooth and fitting for the historical theme.
May 9, 2026
A mysterious death, a stolen fortune and a second-chance romance set against the background of the South Carolina keys. A dual timeline mystery with elements of faith and romance.
Quite slow paced but well-written and engaging.
Quite slow paced but well-written and engaging.
May 11, 2026
This was such a great story that kept me reading and turning the pages from start to finish with such amazing characters I highly recommend this book I was given a compilatory copy and this is my own honest opinion!
March 13, 2026
Great novel! Highly recommended historical fiction and modern day romance. Loved it!
April 19, 2026
A dual timeline mystery thriller. I enjoyed it very much. Donnah M. Cole is a new author to me. I look forward to reading more of her books.
April 25, 2026
This is my first book by this author but I loved this book! The intriguing mystery behind this story was just interesting to me!
March 14, 2026
Raccoon Key is the kind of story you sink into and don’t want to leave. The dual timelines are woven together beautifully, with each chapter adding another layer of intrigue. The characters feel deeply human, especially in the way they wrestle with grief, guilt, and faith. The romance is clean but emotionally rich. If you enjoy Christian fiction, no‑spice romance, and intriguing mysteries, Raccoon Key is a must‑read. I’ll be thinking about these characters—and that island—for a long time.
April 22, 2026
I liked this dual timeline story and second chance romance. There was some mystery. Recommend! I received this book for free and giving honest review.
4 stars.
4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews