Retired actress Clara Fitzwater thought a jaunt to Flintlock in her daisy-decaled van, Bread Loaf, would net her some farm-fresh eggs and a dose of theater nostalgia. But when a festival play ends with a poisoned apple and her old friend Archie framed for attempted murder, Clara’s trip turns into a curtain-raising mystery. Alongside her savvy niece Jane and Archie’s lawyer son Collin, Clara dives into a web of jealousy, sabotage, and pirate lore tied to Captain William Flintlock’s lost treasure. As theater curtains burn and secrets unravel, from a lovesick innkeeper to a shadowy businessman dubbed “The Planner”, Clara must channel her onstage flair to unmask the culprit. With time ticking and Archie’s freedom at stake, will she crack the case, or will Flintlock’s past bury them all? A cozy mystery brimming with charm, humor, and unexpected twists in this relaxing, family and friends mystery series.

When Clara Fitzwater and her quirky crew roll into Cactus Creek in their trusty van, Bread Loaf, they’re expecting a lighthearted escape, cheering on her old theater pal Archie in his starring role in The Desert Deception. But the weathered Cactus Playhouse has other plans. Flickering lights, eerie creaks, and whispers of a ghost tied to the stage’s shadowy past hint at more than just faulty wiring. As opening night looms, Clara’s gut tells her someone, or something, is pulling strings behind the scenes. Is it Old Man Pritchard, the long-dead owner, haunting the boards? Or a flesh-and-blood saboteur out to dim Archie’s spotlight? In a desert town blooming with secrets, Clara’s about to uncover a drama that’s anything but scripted. Humorous summer read small town mystery! Catch the whole series