Bound By Secrets

A rare book. A hidden will. A deadly secret.

Sadie Whitfield didn’t come to Normal, Kentucky looking for trouble…she came for a book. Burned out from the fast-paced world of New York publishing, Sadie is driving south to figure out her next chapter when a rare book alert stops her cold. An 1880s edition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has surfaced in a tiny town tucked inside the Daniel Boone National Forest, and rumor has it, something is hidden inside. Something worth killing for.

When the estate’s executor turns up dead, Sadie—the outsider with a big-city past—quickly becomes the prime suspect. Now she has no choice but to clear her name.

As Sadie digs into Normal’s past, she uncovers buried secrets, tangled family ties, and a town where gossip travels fast and nothing stays hidden for long. But Sadie knows books. And she knows how to read between the lines.

With help from a thrift shop owner who runs on his own time, a sharp-eyed knitting shop owner, and the town’s infamous Laundry Club Ladies, who seem to know everything before anyone else does, Sadie must uncover the truth before the killer writes her out of the story for good. Because in Normal…nothing stays hidden forever.

Welcome to the Boone’s Book Nook Bookstore Mysteries—a brand new cozy mystery series set in the beloved world of Normal, Kentucky. Fans of A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series will recognize familiar faces, favorite places, and the small-town charm that started it all—while new readers can jump in and feel right at home. This is just the beginning of the Welcome to Normal Universe, where every corner of town holds a story… and a secret.

Perfect for readers who love:

small-town cozy mysteries
bookish mysteries & rare book intrigue
Southern charm & quirky towns
found family & community friendships
page-turning whodunits with heart