Bound by Murder

Talitha Robinson, a widow known to friends as Tali, has bought an older shop on the boardwalk in Lantern Beach, North Carolina. She intends to restore the space and open a store called Beach Bound Books and Beans. Her plans take an unexpected turn when she discovers a skeleton that has been hidden inside one of the walls for decades. Once news of the find spreads across the island, odd events begin happening around her, and it becomes clear that someone still alive knows more about the dead man than they want anyone to learn.

Mac MacArthur, who once served as the town's police chief and now serves as its mayor, is just as determined as Tali to uncover the truth behind the remains. The two join forces to investigate, but their partnership is complicated by a painful secret that surfaces along the way. As they dig into the past, they must also consider whether their growing closeness can withstand the search.

This is the first of four novellas in a series. The central mystery is solved by the end of this installment, while several storylines carry on through the rest of the books.