Megan Stanford talks about her life, how it began and how it is now, as a way to get to know her better. Take it away, Megan.

I feel guilty. I should have come home. I was there to watch her die, but I should have been there years before that. Her name was Rose Stanford. She married my grandfather and was instantly wealthy. Sadly, my grandfather disappeared, and Rose was left to manage his estate, his fortune, Misty Point, and carry on the philanthropy they delivered through the Stanford Foundation. Rose always hoped George would return but Rose recently passed and left everything to me.

My name is Megan Stanford. I grew up in Misty Manor, the Grand Victorian located on the coast of Misty Point, NJ.

When I was old enough, I left home for college and never looked back. Why would I? My parents were horrible. My mother disappeared, in the dark of night, and my father is a playboy narcissist.

But I should have been there for Rose. My grandmother raised me, but I didn’t value her love the way I should have. I was already on my way home when my father called to tell me she was dying. She was grateful I was there for her final weeks, but she never knew I was initially headed home because I had been fired from my job, not because I thought of moving back.

I took care of her at the end, but she and Misty Manor had been neglected for seven years, since I left for college, and then found a job as a journalist in Detroit. No one was there to help her clean up the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. She had no one to manage her health. I was silly to believe my father, her son, would support his mother.

Now it’s all up to me. The town, the estate, Misty Manor, the wealth, Stanford Foundation, and a few dead bodies. My parents barely tolerated me when I was young, so it’s a good thing I have no siblings. I guess that’s why I’m not married at the tender age of 30. When I blew back into town, I was welcomed by my grandmother and forgiven by my high school friends for not coming home sooner. My friends are my family now.

There was one friend, Nick Taylor. I refused his invitation to the prom. Back then, we lived on different sides of the tracks, but he grew up and I don’t see tracks anymore. Nick is now an officer with the Misty Point Police Department. He’s handsome and has a body that’s hard as nails. Working out helps to make that happen. Nick and I are dating. We haven’t discussed marriage. I think the fact that I own the town he patrols throws him off his game. I’m hoping one day he’ll see the light. We adopted two dogs and a cat. Technically one of the dogs is his, but Bella stays at Misty Manor with Dudley and me and our housekeeper, Marie.

Marie is a wonderful woman who helped Grandma Rose before she died and now helps me manage Misty Manor. She’s a fantastic cook and commands the kitchen, while I enjoy the wraparound porch, listening to waves crash on the sand and gulls screaming in the sky. I can always watch from my room, on the third floor, or the widow’s walk on top of the grand estate. I’m not fussy about location if I can feel the wind in my hair and smell the salty brine of the ocean.

I missed the Jersey Shore, the beautiful sunrises, the ocean, my friends and especially Rose, but I find reminders of her every day at Misty Manor including a few secrets I never knew about. Some of the secrets have come to light through the dead bodies that were found. Many are still hidden

To honor my grandmother and continue her work, my friends and I will continue to clean up Misty Manor and try to solve the mysteries, despite the warnings from Nick. Hey, I’m willing to work with him. Why can’t we all just get along?

We recently found a body at the local amusement park. Misty Midway is full of surprises but shows how far we’ll go to keep our town clean. Join us on our latest adventure.

Megan Standford

Misty Midway – A Misty Point Mystery, Book 7
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: September 2025
Format: Print, Digital
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Megan Stanford never expected murder to come with beachfront property and boardwalk fun. As the owner of Misty Manor-and most of Misty Point, New Jersey-she returned to her hometown to reconnect with her past. Instead, she found a corpse at the Calypso Amusement Park.

Now, Megan is caught in a web of federal investigations and criminal conspiracies. The DEA is in town, retired black ops operatives are lurking in the shadows, and someone is trying to kill her.

She doesn’t know why she’s a target, but when a trail of drugs and dirty money surfaces, Megan realizes the danger runs deeper than she ever imagined.

With secrets refusing to wash away with the tide, Megan must rely on her instincts-and the local police, especially the brooding officer she’s dating-to unravel a deadly plot before it’s too late.

About the author
Linda Rawlins is an American writer of mystery fiction best known for her Misty Point Mystery Series. She is also known for her Rocky Meadow Mystery Series, as well as two independent novels, Midnight Shift and Mystery of Heather House.

Linda loved to read as a child and started writing her first mystery novel in fifth grade. She then went on to study science, medicine, and literature, eventually graduating from medical school and establishing her career in medicine.

Linda Rawlins lives in New Jersey with her husband, her family and spoiled dog. She loves spending time at the beach as well as visiting the mountains of Vermont. She is an active member of Mystery Writers of America.

As a member of Sisters in Crime, Linda was the President of the Central Jersey Chapter for 2022, 2020, 2019 and the VP in 2018, 2025.

You can visit Linda at her website at www.lindarawlins.com.