Over the past several months, I’ve spent a lot of time in San Diego alongside Samantha Hayes, following clues, building behavioral profiles, and trying to stay one step ahead of a killer.
As much as I love writing psychological thrillers, there’s something special about returning to Willow Creek.
It feels a little like coming home.
The pace slows down.
The coffee is always fresh at Claire’s Curious Confections.
Friends stop by the bakery just to catch up.
And Lily is never far away, making sure everyone knows she’s in charge.
Of course, this is Willow Creek.
Even the quietest mornings have a way of turning into mysteries.
As I’ve been outlining Secrets and Scones, I’ve enjoyed slipping back into Claire’s world. Jordan is as dependable as ever, Emily is ready to lend a hand at the bakery, Hannah and Brady are trying to keep the town running smoothly, and Martin always seems to know a little more than he lets on.
Then one ordinary summer afternoon changes everything.
During a family tubing trip, a human bone is discovered along the riverbank.
What first appears to be an old forgotten tragedy quickly becomes something much more personal when Claire uncovers a letter her father left behind before his death.
The letter suggests James Anderson wasn’t finished investigating the case.
He simply ran out of time.
Now Claire has a chance to finish what her father started.
That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about this story.
Like every Willow Creek mystery, it has plenty of twists, hidden secrets, and small-town charm. But this time, the mystery also gives Claire an opportunity to understand her father in a way she never could while he was alive.
For me, that’s what makes Secrets and Scones more than just another mystery.
It’s about family.
It’s about legacy.
And it’s about discovering that sometimes the answers we’ve been searching for have been waiting for us all along.
I can’t wait to welcome you back to Willow Creek.
The bakery doors will be open, the coffee will be hot, and another mystery will be waiting.