Reading the Bones

A dead landlord. A shop full of secrets. And a boyfriend he never should have let go.Theo Faircloth has run Blackthorn & Bone, Port Avery's only occult shop, for eleven quiet years - tarot readings for tourists, crystals for the curious, and a private practice he keeps carefully out of sight. Then annual inventory night turns up a body in his stockroom: his least favorite landlord, dead beside a scattered handful of cast bones that tell Theo, before the police even arrive, that this was no accident.With his best friend (and very much unfinished ex) Desmond at his side and a surprisingly open-minded detective willing to take his strange evidence seriously, Theo has to untangle a knot of small-town grudges, a decades-old zoning secret, and a rival practitioner with a dangerous hunger for power he never wanted anywhere near his harbor town - all while finally working up the courage to say the thing he's been avoiding for six years.What's inside:¿ A classic cozy-mystery structure - a full suspect list, real red herrings, and a fair-play reveal¿ A warm, central gay romance: slow-burn, ex-to-something-more, no miscommunication drama¿ A charming coastal-Maine occult shop setting with real divination lore¿ A found-family cast of small-town shopkeepers, a loyal detective, and one very opinionated beagle¿ A complete, satisfying standalone mystery - no cliffhangers, no series requiredPerfect for readers who love gay cozy mysteries, small-town charm, tarot and folklore, and a love story that finally gets its second chance. A wonderful gift for anyone who wants their murder mysteries served with warmth, wit, and a little bit of wonder.