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The Sweetheart Swindle: An Agate Reach Mystery
Margot Slade moved to the Oregon coast to disappear. The con man should have picked a different town.
After her husband's death exposed a financial fraud that consumed everything she had, Margot starts over in Agate a foggy little town with a county clerk's office that needs part-time help, a cottage that needs everything, and a tuxedo cat named Margin who has no respect for personal space. Her plan is simple. Keep her head down. Trust no one. Stay out of other people's problems.
That lasts about a week.
When a charming "merchant marine officer" starts draining a lonely widow's life savings through an online romance, Margot recognizes the pattern instantly. She's seen this kind of deception before. Up close. Across her own dinner table. For twenty-four years.
And this time, she is not going to look away.
Armed with public records, a librarian's research instincts, and a cat who insists on supervising the evidence, Margot follows the paper trail from small-town Oregon to a strip-mall office in Tigard, where she discovers the scam is bigger, and closer, than anyone imagined.
The first book in the Agate Reach Mystery cozy mysteries built around real-world scams, where the crimes make you furious, the justice is satisfying, and the cat steals every scene.
For fans of Richard Osman, Tonya Kappes, and small-town sleuths who've been burned once and won't let it happen to anyone else. Read for free with Kindle Unlimited.
After her husband's death exposed a financial fraud that consumed everything she had, Margot starts over in Agate a foggy little town with a county clerk's office that needs part-time help, a cottage that needs everything, and a tuxedo cat named Margin who has no respect for personal space. Her plan is simple. Keep her head down. Trust no one. Stay out of other people's problems.
That lasts about a week.
When a charming "merchant marine officer" starts draining a lonely widow's life savings through an online romance, Margot recognizes the pattern instantly. She's seen this kind of deception before. Up close. Across her own dinner table. For twenty-four years.
And this time, she is not going to look away.
Armed with public records, a librarian's research instincts, and a cat who insists on supervising the evidence, Margot follows the paper trail from small-town Oregon to a strip-mall office in Tigard, where she discovers the scam is bigger, and closer, than anyone imagined.
The first book in the Agate Reach Mystery cozy mysteries built around real-world scams, where the crimes make you furious, the justice is satisfying, and the cat steals every scene.
For fans of Richard Osman, Tonya Kappes, and small-town sleuths who've been burned once and won't let it happen to anyone else. Read for free with Kindle Unlimited.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 17, 2026
Margot moves to a sleepy Oregon-coast town after some life-shattering events, and quickly finds a community there. When one of her new friends seems to be falling for an internet love scam, she steps in to investigate.
This was a tidy and non-violent cozy mystery that I would have liked even if it weren't written with poetry and empathy-- but the fact that it was made it that much more enjoyable. The author has a knack for realisitcally sparse dialog and selecting just the right descriptive details. More than once I found myself highlighting a particularly beautiful descriptive phrase just out of sheer delight. I loved Margot's cat, Margin, and his antics, and I really did feel like I had been to the coastal Fish Town after I finished the book. I can't wait for the next in the series!
Highly recommended.
This was a tidy and non-violent cozy mystery that I would have liked even if it weren't written with poetry and empathy-- but the fact that it was made it that much more enjoyable. The author has a knack for realisitcally sparse dialog and selecting just the right descriptive details. More than once I found myself highlighting a particularly beautiful descriptive phrase just out of sheer delight. I loved Margot's cat, Margin, and his antics, and I really did feel like I had been to the coastal Fish Town after I finished the book. I can't wait for the next in the series!
Highly recommended.
June 30, 2026
Enjoyed it.
Very interesting account of the ways people can come up with to swindle someone. Here it's an elderly woman, Helen, who recently lost her husband and joined a dating app for older people. She becomes acquainted with David, who is supposed to be on his ship out at sea. He's sweet, loving, interested in her life, and always knows the right thing to say. He's says he's having financial difficulties and needs a temporary loan of $8000. Margot knows a scam when she sees it and gets involved, trying to stop the woman from being scammed. The bigger picture is of a woman who has to start a new life after losing everything she thought she already had. But she's also learned a whole lot since then.
Very interesting account of the ways people can come up with to swindle someone. Here it's an elderly woman, Helen, who recently lost her husband and joined a dating app for older people. She becomes acquainted with David, who is supposed to be on his ship out at sea. He's sweet, loving, interested in her life, and always knows the right thing to say. He's says he's having financial difficulties and needs a temporary loan of $8000. Margot knows a scam when she sees it and gets involved, trying to stop the woman from being scammed. The bigger picture is of a woman who has to start a new life after losing everything she thought she already had. But she's also learned a whole lot since then.
August 27, 2026
A fun, cozy mystery with plenty of charm! I really enjoyed The Sweetheart Swindle. The story has an engaging mystery, likable characters, and enough twists to keep me guessing. I especially liked the small-town atmosphere and the way the personal relationships were woven into the investigation. It’s a light, entertaining read that’s perfect when you want something suspenseful without being too dark. Definitely a promising start to the Agate Reach Mysteries!
June 22, 2026
Very well-written. Good characters with an interesting storyline. I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series.
July 17, 2026
great story and relatable
I was scammed in a love scam 19 years ago, so this really hit home. She hit the nail on the head with everything.
I was scammed in a love scam 19 years ago, so this really hit home. She hit the nail on the head with everything.
October 8, 2026
Great!!
I am completely in love with Margin!! The story was very interesting and had great characters. Loved the ending. Can't wait to read her next book!
I am completely in love with Margin!! The story was very interesting and had great characters. Loved the ending. Can't wait to read her next book!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews