Death at the Shipyard

Three workers dead. Three "accidents" that aren't accidents at all. And a forty-year quest for revenge that's only just beginning. When Emma Hartley's friend Sarah loses her uncle Carlos in a tragic accident at the Willow Creek Historic Shipyard, it seems like terrible misfortune—until Emma discovers that Carlos was the third worker to die at the restoration project in as many weeks. Each death looked like an accident. Scaffolding collapse. Diving equipment failure. Crane malfunction. But Emma's investigative instincts tell her something darker is happening. As Emma digs into the shipyard's history, she uncovers buried secrets from the 1980s—toxic waste, environmental crimes, and worker deaths that were never properly investigated. Someone is killing to keep those secrets buried. Someone with intimate knowledge of the site and sophisticated methods for making murder look accidental. The evidence points to Maggie Sullivan, historical consultant and descendant of the family that once owned the shipyard. She had access, opportunity, and motive to prevent discoveries that would destroy her family's reputation. But when Maggie flees and contacts Emma claiming she's being framed, Emma must decide: Is Maggie a cunning killer spinning a desperate lie? Or is someone else orchestrating an elaborate revenge plot that's been forty years in the making? With her fiancé Detective Jake Morrison, Emma races to expose the truth before more workers die—and discovers that the most dangerous investigations are the ones that force buried sins into the light. Death at the Shipyard is the fifth book in the Moonlight Café Cozy Mystery Series, featuring: ? A complex mystery with multiple suspects and shocking twists ? Environmental crime and its generational consequences ? A fierce female investigator who refuses to accept easy answers ? Small-town community dynamics and coastal Oregon atmosphere ? Romance that deepens through partnership and trust ? Themes of accountability, justice, and the weight of history Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with substance, strong character development, and investigations that reveal uncomfortable truths about how the past shapes the present.