Storm of Secrets: A Haunted Bluffs Mystery
Paranormal Mystery
2nd in Series
Crooked Lane Books (November 12, 2019)
Hardcover – 327 Pages

Synopsis

A deadly storm, a missing three-year-old child, a suspicious death, and the eerie presence of the spirits of the dead set the stage for the second mesmerizing installment of Loretta Marion’s paranormal suspense series.

A powerful storm descends upon Cape Cod’s Whale Rock at the peak of tourist season–and the weekend Cassandra Mitchell’s and Daniel Benjamin’s wedding is set to take place at The Bluffs, the magnificent Victorian mansion Cassie inherited from her family. In the wake of the storm’s destruction, three-year-old Lucas Kleister goes missing–and the body of small-time drug dealer Lee Chambers is found in a restaurant dumpster. Now, the WRPD are faced with a murder to solve, a missing child to find, and the aftermath of one of the worst storms in recent memory.

While aiding with the clean-up and helping the displaced, Cassie has been receiving cryptic messages from the spirits of her great-grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, the original residents of The Bluffs. At first, the messages are benign, but soon, they begin to point to something more sinister. As Cassie works to decipher their meaning, the specter of a mysterious local legend surfaces. The tale of Barnacle Boy–and what happened to him during another destructive storm decades earlier–will weave through the desperate search to find Lucas and the identity of a killer.

 

“Modern and historic mysteries collide in Marion’s bittersweet storytelling.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[A] gripping sequel…Marion seamlessly weaves the multiple story threads together. Fans of tales of regional intrigue will be satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly

 

 

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Guest Post

 

The Lost Boy of Whale Rock, Who Was Raised by Dolphins

…and then Became One

 

There is a mention early in STORM OF SECRETS about Barnacle Boy – the young child whose sea-ravaged body washed up on the shores of Whale Rock decades earlier. The tragic story had become woven into local lore and the young boy was buried in the Mitchell family cemetery at The Bluffs. Cassie Mitchell, the main character in the Haunted Bluffs Mystery Series and current resident of the stately Victorian, was told wonderful made-up stories about Barnacle Boy by her Granny Fi – though she only ever referred to him as The Lost Boy of Whale Rock. The following is the one tale of Granny Fi’s that made the most lasting impression on young Cassie…

Many years ago, there was a shipwreck way out in the ocean, and a young boy became separated from all the others who’d been sailing on the boat. A school of dolphin found him clinging tightly to a floating piece of wood that had broken loose from the boat’s prow. The boy’s frantically kicking legs had drawn the attention of a hungry shark, and having observed this, the dolphins began circling the child as a barrier of protection from the predator. Finally the shark lost interest, and the dolphins whisked the little boy to the shores of Whale Rock at a place called Kinsey Cove.

The lost boy would spend every waking hour with his new adopted dolphin family, and they taught him how to swim and to fish for food. Over time he learned to dive deeper and deeper, holding his breath longer each time. He even learned their language, easily distinguishing between their whistles and vibrating clicking sounds, the trills and the squeaks. He learned their signals for danger as well as their sounds of happiness, and he loved laughing along with them, imitating their squeals of delight. In the evenings, when the dolphin family bid him farewell, the boy would lie on the beach and wish upon all the stars in the sky that one day he could leave with them. When he awoke each morning to gaze at his reflection in the sea’s mirror and seeing that it was the same little-boy-face that always looked back, he would lament: Why was I born a boy and not one of those beautiful sea creatures?

But then one day, a great storm suddenly came upon them as they were playing in the ocean. The winds became a great swirling force and the waves grew higher than the boy had ever seen. The dolphins grabbed the lost boy and dove deep to protect him from the howling angry squalls. The deeper they went, the faster he was able to swim, and oddly, he no longer felt the need to hold his breath. It was so dark in the depths of the ocean and yet he was able to see his dolphin family swimming alongside him. What seemed like an eternity passed before the lead dolphin signaled them to surface. The tempest had subsided, and the ocean had been left amazingly calm, allowing him a glimpse of his reflection in the water’s tranquil surface. The familiar face that the lost boy had wished away was no longer looking back at him. Instead, what he saw was a handsome young dolphin blinking curiously. He splashed at the water to erase the image, only to have the dolphin likeness return again and again. The other dolphins danced playfully around him, chirping joyfully, for that was the day his wish was finally granted. He had found a new family and would never again be left alone on the shores of Whale Rock.

Granny Fi always ended the story by telling Cassie, “Every time you see a family of dolphin dancing along the shore, make sure you wave. And if you look close enough, you just might just see the Lost Boy of Whale Rock waving back to you.”

 

 

 

 

About the Author

An author of fiction, Loretta Marion’s writing bridges the genres of mystery and suspense and women’s fiction, always with hints of romance and humor, sometimes delving into the psychological and paranormal. She creates strong but flawed and struggling characters as appealing as the rich atmospheric settings in which the stories take place.

Loretta is a true bibliophile and has loved reading and creating with words since she was a young girl. And that affection for the written word followed her like a shadow throughout her life as she put pen to paper crafting marketing and advertising copy, educational brochures, and newsletters. But her passion for writing fiction evolved from the unlikely world of hospice. As a volunteer, she set out to establish a Legacy Story program to honor and preserve the rich heritage of the fascinating people who were soon to leave this world. The meaningful experience inspired her to create her own interesting characters and stories. Her debut novel, The Fool’s Truth, was a twisty and suspenseful mystery with whispers of romance. Her newest novel, HOUSE OF ASHES – A Haunted Bluffs Mystery, is the first in a series published by Crooked Lane Books.

Though born and raised in the Midwest, Loretta fell in love with New England and has made it the setting for much of her writing. When not whipping out words on her laptop, she is traveling, enjoying outdoor pursuits, or is curled up with a delicious new book. Loretta lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Geoffrey, and their beloved Mr. Peabody, a sweet, devoted and amusing “Corgador” (Corgi-Labrador cross).

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