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The Compass Rose: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery
Paperback
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Aug 27 2025
Pages: 514
Weight: 1.50
Height: 1.03 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Detective Lieutenant Mac Thornfield came to Martha's Vineyard to escape his past-not to uncover deadly conspiracies hidden beneath New England's most exclusive island paradise.
Banished after a corruption case destroyed his Boston career, Mac thought Martha's Vineyard would mean nothing more challenging than tourist complaints and bicycle thefts. Then a red-haired bartender washes up dead near the legendary Jaws Bridge, and everything changes.
A MURDER THAT EXPOSES ISLAND-WIDE CORRUPTION
Scarlett Red Chandler wasn't just mixing cocktails at the elite Whaler's Club-she was documenting crimes that reach into the highest circles of island society. When Mac discovers she died trying to expose systematic looting of sacred Wampanoag burial grounds, he realizes this island mystery goes far beyond a simple drowning.
This gripping detective fiction plunges readers into a police procedural where every clue leads deeper into a web of:
- Archaeological theft targeting Native American sacred sites
- Federal cover-ups that reach from Martha's Vineyard to Washington
- Small town secrets protected by old money and newer corruption
- A conspiracy that someone will kill to keep buried
FROM EDGARTOWN'S HARBOR TO AQUINNAH'S ANCIENT CLIFFS
As Mac navigates this treacherous Martha's Vineyard mystery, he must decode:
✦ The marine biologist whose tidal data doesn't match the crime scene
✦ The Boston detective who arrives to help but wants the case closed fast
✦ The philanthropic patriarch whose foundation funds suspicious archaeological surveys
✦ The compass rose tattoo that might be the key to everything
With his former partner working against him and pressure mounting from local politics and federal authorities, Mac faces an impossible choice: his career or his conscience.
PERFECT FOR READERS WHO LOVE:
- Louise Penny fans craving atmospheric mysteries with moral complexity
- Tony Hillerman style mystery enthusiasts who appreciate respectful cultural storytelling
- William Kent Krueger readers seeking authentic small-town detective work
- Nevada Barr fans who love mysteries set in stunning natural locations
- C.J. Box style procedurals with environmental and cultural themes
- John Dunning mystery lovers who appreciate literary depth
WHAT MAKES THIS COZY MYSTERY SERIES SPECIAL:
A masterful debut that weaves together history, mystery, and moral complexity against the stunning backdrop of Martha's Vineyard. Emily Steele has created something truly special. - Advance Reader
Finally, a mystery series that treats Native American culture with the respect and complexity it deserves while delivering edge-of-your-seat suspense. - Advance Reader
This New England mystery combines:
- Authentic island atmosphere with the charm of Martha's Vineyard
- Respectful cultural storytelling that honors Wampanoag heritage
- Complex moral questions wrapped in compelling detective fiction
- Atmospheric police procedural elements that feel authentically local
DISCOVER THE MYSTERY EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT
Some secrets are worth killing for... and some places are worth dying to protect.
Perfect for fans of character-driven detective fiction with heart, atmosphere, and respect for the complex histories that shape our most beautiful places.
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