If I didn’t love my brother Jesse so much, he would be the death of me. Of the four children in my family, he is the one with the keenest sense of humor, the greatest appetite for adventure . . . and the most vexing habit of keeping secrets.

Sometimes the secrets are harmless pranks, such as the time he put a frog in Mother’s cap and let my eldest brother, Sylvanus, take the blame. But lately, his secrets have become more serious. Even dangerous.

Until September 24, 1777, a day in my life typically began before dawn and ended when my family’s tavern closed for the night. I spent the in-between hours helping with the chores necessary to keep our inn clean and welcoming, cooking meals, and hoping the fighting between the Continental Army and the British redcoats did not stray south of Philadelphia and into our little corner of New Jersey.

But something happened on September 24th that changed everything. Now, because of a secret Jesse kept from us, I find myself in a constant state of fear: I fear going outside alone. I fear for my sister’s safety—she being the youngest of the four of us and frail from birth. I fear what might happen if Jesse takes the irrevocable step he discussed with me last week—one that is prohibited by the Society of Friends and is certain to cause great upheaval in our household.

Worst of all, I fear someone close to me has committed the ultimate act of violence.

Oh, if only Jesse had not invited the stranger to our home . . .

A Traitor Among Us, A Cape May Historical Mystery #2
Genre: Historical
Release: April 2022
Purchase Link

The war for American independence rages just seventy miles away from the country inn and tavern owned by the Rutledge family in southern New Jersey. Tensions are running high between those who support the Continental Army and those who remain loyal to the English crown.

When Etta Rutledge stumbles upon the body of a ne’er-do-well British sympathizer on her family’s property, unsettling questions regarding her older brother, Jesse, begin to arise. What was his connection to the victim and why was he keen to keep it hidden?

Another shocking death, this time much closer to the heart of the family, draws Etta ever closer to unlocking the secrets swirling around her—secrets that someone will go to any length to protect. . .

Will Etta survive the discovery of the traitor in their midst?

About the author
Amy M. Reade is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of historical, cozy, and Gothic mysteries. A former practicing attorney, Amy discovered a passion for fiction writing and has never looked back. She has so far penned fourteen novels, including three standalone Gothic mysteries, the Malice series of Gothic novels, the Juniper Junction Holiday Cozy Mystery series, and the Cape May Historical Mystery Collection. In addition to writing, she loves to read, cook and travel. Amy lives in New Jersey and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. You can find out more on her website at amymreade.com.

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