The Compass Rose

When paradise becomes a crime scene, some secrets are buried deeper than ancient bones…Detective Lieutenant Mac Thornfield came to Martha’s Vineyard to escape his past-not to uncover deadly conspiracies hidden beneath New England’s most exclusive island paradise.

Banished after a corruption case destroyed his Boston career, Mac thought Martha’s Vineyard would mean nothing more challenging than tourist complaints and bicycle thefts. Then a red-haired bartender washes up dead near the legendary Jaws Bridge, and everything changes.

A MURDER THAT EXPOSES ISLAND-WIDE CORRUPTIONScarlett “Red” Chandler wasn’t just mixing cocktails at the elite Whaler’s Club-she was documenting crimes that reach into the highest circles of island society. When Mac discovers she died trying to expose systematic looting of sacred Wampanoag burial grounds, he realizes this island mystery goes far beyond a simple drowning.

This gripping detective fiction plunges readers into a police procedural where every clue leads deeper into a web of:

Archaeological theft targeting Native American sacred sites
Federal cover-ups that reach from Martha’s Vineyard to Washington
Small town secrets protected by old money and newer corruption
A conspiracy that someone will kill to keep buried

FROM EDGARTOWN’S HARBOR TO AQUINNAH’S ANCIENT CLIFFSAs Mac navigates this treacherous Martha’s Vineyard mystery, he must decode:

✦ The marine biologist whose tidal data doesn’t match the crime scene
✦ The Boston detective who arrives to “help” but wants the case closed fast
✦ The philanthropic patriarch whose foundation funds suspicious archaeological surveys
✦ The compass rose tattoo that might be the key to everything

With his former partner working against him and pressure mounting from local politics and federal authorities, Mac faces an impossible choice: his career or his conscience.

PERFECT FOR READERS WHO LOVE:

Louise Penny fans craving atmospheric mysteries with moral complexity
Tony Hillerman style mystery enthusiasts who appreciate respectful cultural storytelling
William Kent Krueger readers seeking authentic small-town detective work
Nevada Barr fans who love mysteries set in stunning natural locations
C.J. Box style procedurals with environmental and cultural themes
John Dunning mystery lovers who appreciate literary depth

WHAT MAKES THIS COZY MYSTERY SERIES SPECIAL: “A masterful debut that weaves together history, mystery, and moral complexity against the stunning backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard. Emily Steele has created something truly special.” – Advance Reader

“Finally, a mystery series that treats Native American culture with the respect and complexity it deserves while delivering edge-of-your-seat suspense.” – Advance Reader

This New England mystery combines:

Authentic island atmosphere with the charm of Martha’s Vineyard
Respectful cultural storytelling that honors Wampanoag heritage
Complex moral questions wrapped in compelling detective fiction
Atmospheric police procedural elements that feel authentically local

DISCOVER THE MYSTERY EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUTSome secrets are worth killing for… and some places are worth dying to protect.

Perfect for fans of character-driven detective fiction with heart, atmosphere, and respect for the complex histories that shape our most beautiful places.