The wind coming in off the ocean is chilly this early in the morning, but I breathe it in, savoring that lovely iodine tang of seaweed that brings me straight back to my childhood. I’m sitting in a weathered old Adirondack chair at the edge of a grassy bluff, looking out over the Georgia Strait off the east coast of Vancouver Island while I cradle a steaming mug of coffee in both hands. I love starting the day here. Behind me sits the Craftsman-style cottage I inherited from my Aunt Marguerite, its shingled siding painted a bright yellow that almost glows against the dark backdrop of the Ravenwood, the ancient rainforest that presses up close to the white picket fence surrounding the property. I’d come here every summer as a kid, until a series of painful misunderstandings conspired to keep me away for almost twenty years. The cottage hasn’t changed much, though, nor has the tiny village of Crescent Cove, spread out along the curving seashore.

With a glance at my phone, I realize I need to get going, so with one last look across the glorious expanse of the ocean, I head inside for a quick shower and then hop into the ancient powder-blue Volvo parked out back. A few minutes later, I pull up outside the quaint storefront I’d also inherited from my aunt, an old two-storey brick building on the town’s colorful Main Street. A wide window displays dozens of small objects beneath the stenciled words, Forget-Me-Not Antiques. Putting a hand on the bronze doorknob, I brace myself.

It’s time, I think grimly, to face Barnabus Delacruz.

Some people might believe it’s impossible to acquire an arch-nemesis after only two weeks in a new town. In my case, it took roughly forty-eight hours. Taking a deep breath, I push open the door and step into the small shop, which smells of beeswax polish and violets. Standing behind a glass display case at the back of the shop is my only employee, the dreaded Barnabus, whose presence in my life is surely the karmic result of some horrendous sin committed in a previous incarnation. He’s what people politely refer to as “eccentric,” and today he looks like Vincent Price: deep red velvet smoking jacket, paisley ascot, and a supercilious expression—though the latter, unfortunately, is a permanent fixture. His numerous facial piercings glint menacingly as he peers at me over his small round glasses and then curls his upper lip, complete with irritating handlebar mustache, in his traditional greeting.

Breezing past him with a cordial nod, I head into the tiny office and settle myself in front of the old-fashioned ledger where our sales are recorded. I have absolutely no idea how to run a business, but I hope that if I just stare at the books long enough, something will sink in. This morning, though, I find it hard to concentrate. I have something on my mind—or rather, someone. Sergeant Jack Munro, head of the local RCMP detachment, has occupied a lot of my thoughts lately. Once my childhood best friend, now he’s…something more. Maybe. We’d grown close while investigating the murdered man left in my back garden, and Jack was the main reason why I’d decided to stay in Crescent Cove instead of returning to Toronto. Let’s just say it’s almost impossible to resist a Mountie in full dress uniform.

So here I am, embarking on a new life full of exciting possibilities, a budding romance, and the occasional murder. I’m looking forward to more days like this.

The Body in the Back Garden, A Crescent Cove Mystery Book #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: August 2023
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

In this queer cozy series debut perfect for fans of Ellen Byron and Ellery Adams, Luke Tremblay is about to discover that Crescent Cove has more than its fair share of secrets…and some might be deadlier than others.

Crescent Cove, a small hamlet on Vancouver Island, is the last place out-of-work investigative journalist Luke Tremblay ever wanted to see again. He used to spend summers here, until his family learned that he was gay and rejected him. Now, following his aunt’s sudden death, he’s inherited her entire estate, including her seaside cottage and the antiques shop she ran for forty years in Crescent Cove. Luke plans to sell everything and head back to Toronto as soon as he can…but Crescent Cove isn’t done with him just yet.

When a stranger starts making wild claims about Luke’s aunt, Luke sends him packing. The next morning, though, Luke discovers that the stranger has returned, and now he’s lying dead in the back garden. To make matters worse, the officer leading the investigation is a handsome Mountie with a chip on his shoulder who seems convinced that Luke is the culprit. If he wants to prove his innocence and leave this town once and for all, Luke will have to use all his skills as a journalist to investigate the colorful locals while coming to terms with his own painful past.

There are secrets buried in Crescent Cove, and the more Luke digs, the more he fears they might change the town forever.

Meet the author
Mark Waddell is a recovering academic with a PhD in the history of science, medicine, and technology from Johns Hopkins University. After publishing two books and grading countless student essays, he left the exciting life of a humanities professor in search of greener pastures. He now lives on Vancouver Island with his husband and their two dogs and spends most of his time writing stories about murderous Canadians.

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