In the seaside town of Bellmarsh, history is never as harmless as it looks.

When Theodora Vale arrives expecting little more than salt air, old portraits, and the usual small-town eccentricities, she finds herself drawn into a mystery hidden beneath layers of civic pride, family silence, and carefully edited history. What begins with a restored painting soon opens onto something far darker: buried scandals, stolen artefacts, secret ledgers, and a murder that proves Bellmarsh's past is not content to stay in the past.

As Theodora follows a trail through museum archives, harbour records, and long-forgotten committee papers, she discovers that Bellmarsh has spent generations protecting its reputation at any cost. With the help of sharp-witted librarian Mrs. Foss, steady constable Lena Vale, and the quietly compelling Rowan, Theodora must untangle a web of deception before another truth is lost—or another life is taken.

Rich with atmosphere, wit, and layered secrets, this cozy mystery blends village intrigue, historical scandal, and a deeply satisfying slow-burn unravelling of the past. Perfect for readers who love intelligent amateur sleuths, coastal settings, found-family dynamics, and mysteries where the dead still have plenty to say.

In Bellmarsh, every heirloom has a history. Not all of them are innocent.

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