Arabella Stewart Historical Mysteries Series

Arabella Stewart, grieving the losses of her parents and brother, returns home from serving as an operator in the Great War to find Ballantyne, her family resort, and Moreley, her small hometown in precarious positions. Another impediment arises when she discovers the body of a neighbor and becomes involved in a murder investigation. Unfortunately, she must work with Constable Jackson Hastings. Once a big part of her life, Jax turned his back on Bella after her brother, his best friend, died in the trenches. The young constable's cold attitude hasn't softened, but she can't let that stop her. Both her hometown and family resort, once popular tourist destinations, may not survive if the crime isn't solved quickly.   Jax, a war veteran, faces his own challenges. Wounded in body and spirit, his dreams shattered, he finds himself doing what he said he'd never do—following in his father's footsteps as constable. When a crime wave hits town, culminating in the murder, his competence is questioned. In a struggle to find the killer and save his job, Jax needs all the help he can get—but he doesn't want assistance from Bella. Not when he feels responsible for her brother's death. But more is at stake than his job. He can't stand by and let Moreley become a ghost town. Nor can he watch while Bella loses Ballantyne.   Working together is the only way to solve the crime and offer hope—to their community and for themselves.    

After returning home from her service as a United States Army Signal Corps operator in the Great War, Arabella Stewart's goal, to save her family's resort, seems within reach as the summer season progresses. She and her business partner, Mac MacLendon, look forward to re-establishing a successful championship golf tournament, once the signature event of the resort's year. Problems arise when one of the contestants, an overbearing snob who has created problems at other competitions, clashes with more than one person. When he is found dead, the victim of a suspicious automobile crash, Bella once again helps Jax Hastings, the town constable and her childhood friend, investigate.  As they pursue answers, Bella and Jax find several suspects who might have wanted to make the victim suffer for his lethal arrogance.

What happens when a teacher from a girls' boarding school near Ballantyne resort is late getting back from vacation? Arabella Stewart is asked to substitute, but she finds the position involves more than lesson planning. Her sleuthing skills are needed, especially after the school secretary also goes missing. Bella and her friend Ida Byington, a faculty member, start investigating. Soon, Constable Jax Hastings is also on the case, and the trio work against time to solve more than one baffling absence.

Several months after arriving home from her service as a United States Army Signal Corps operator in the Great War, Arabella Stewart is focused on saving her family's resort. The first day of the season starts with excitement and anticipation but ends with a murdered guest. Once again, Bella wants to help Constable Jax Hastings, her brother's best friend and comrade-in-arms, investigate. Jax resists her involvement. Not only did her promise her brother Matt to watch over Bella, he is still coping with war wounds—both physical and emotional. As they pursue clues, Bella and Jax deal with the war's lingering shadows, shadows that fall on themselves, the victim, and the suspects. Several months after arriving home from her service as a United States Army Signal Corps operator in the Great War, Arabella Stewart is focused on saving her family's resort. The first day of the season starts with excitement and anticipation but ends with a murdered guest. Once again, Bella wants to help Constable Jax Hastings, her brother's best friend and comrade-in-arms, investigate. Jax resists her involvement. Not only did her promise her brother Matt to watch over Bella, he is still coping with war wounds—both physical and emotional. As they pursue clues, Bella and Jax deal with the war's lingering shadows, shadows that fall on themselves, the victim, and the suspects. 

What happens when Arabella Stewart's sweetheart, Jax Hastings, is blackmailed and framed for murder? Bella must overcome old doubts to keep him out of the electric chair.   As the Christmas season approaches, Arabella Stewart feels more festive than she has since before the Great War. Not only is her family resort flourishing, she and Constable Jax Hastings are finally courting. The future looks bright until Celeste Bouchard, a former French nurse, comes to town claiming to be Jax's wife. Armed with a fake marriage license and a photograph of their supposed child, she demands money to disappear. Jax adamantly denies the allegations and orders Celeste to leave town.   When the woman is murdered, Jax becomes the top suspect. Means, motive, and opportunity all combine to put him behind bars. But Bella is determined to prove his innocence and refute a treacherous accusation.

Arabella Stewart and her best friend, Ida Byington, look forward to a long weekend with college girlfriends on a remote Lake Erie island. Bootlegged booze and hidden grievances soon shatter the peace. When a gale knocks out electricity and telephone service, the women become stranded. After one dies, Bella's suspicions increase. Who is responsible?   Jax Hastings, now a Prohibition agent, returns home to see Bella, only to find her away. When he and Griff Biggins, Ida's beau, try to reach the women by telephone, they learn about the death—but not who died. Alarmed, they head to the island, where Bella and Ida reveal their suspicions—about rumrunners on the island and the suspicious death of their friend. Soon, clues point to several people who may be at the heart of a fatal reunion.

Will another murder turn amateur sleuth Arabella Stewart's long-awaited wedding into an uncertain ceremony? She and her betrothed are determined to crack the case ahead of their nuptials, but can they?   Excitement is in the air as Bella and her best friend prepare for their double wedding. Only days ahead of the big event, the young women head to the final fittings of the gowns, only to find their dressmaker strangled with Bella's veil. Shreds of lace and silk are strewn across the room, and a threatening note is pinned to the design board: Cancel the wedding or regret it.

A Precarious Homecoming (Book 1) What happens when an Army Corps Signal Corps operator returns home from the Great War determined to save her family resort and get her life back to normal? She finds the body of a neighbor and becomes involved in the murder investigation, much to the dismay of the town constable, her childhood friend and girlhood crush. But Jax Hasting's job is on the line, so he needs all the help he can get. As Bella and Jax probe the case, they navigate precarious circumstances.   A Lingering Shadow (Book 2) Several months after returning from serving in France during the Great War, Arabella Stewart remains set on saving her family's resort. The first day of summer season day begins with excitement and hope but ends with a murdered guest. Bella soon finds herself immersed in the case. But lingering shadows fall on her, on Constable Jax Hastings, on the victim, and on the suspects.   A Lethal Arrogance (Book 3) In the wake of the Great War, Arabella Stewart's goal, saving her family's resort, seems within reach as the summer season progresses. Problems arise when a guest—an arrogant cad—clashes with several people before turning up dead. Bella once again helps Constable Jax Hastings investigate. As they pursue answers, Bella and Jax find several suspects who wanted to make the victim suffer for his lethal arrogance, but they also find themselves still at odds over the past.   A Baffling Absence (Book 4) What happens when a teacher from a nearby girls' boarding school does not return from vacation? Arabella Stewart is asked to substitute, but she finds the position involves more than lesson planning. Her sleuthing skills are also needed, so Bella and her friend Ida Byington, a faculty member, start investigating. Soon, Constable Jax Hastings is also on the case, and the trio work against time to solve more than one baffling absence.

A Fatal Reunion (Book 5) Bella and her best friend Ida join girlfriends for a remote island getaway. When a storm wreaks havoc, the group is stranded. After one young woman dies under suspicious circumstances, Bella and Ida investigate. Jax Hastings—now a Prohibition agent—soon arrives on the island and joins the pair in unraveling the cause of a fatal reunion.   A Surreptitious Undertaking (Book 6) When shell-shocked veterans disappear and die at a remote hospital, Bella and Jax go undercover. After he disappears, she works against time to rescue him and solve the case. Will Bella succeed? Or will a surreptitious undertaking end their partnership permanently?   A Treacherous Accusation (Book 7) As Christmas approaches, Bella feels more festive than she has since before the Great War—mostly because she and Jax are finally courting. Then, a former French nurse comes to town claiming to be his wife. When the woman is murdered, Jax is the prime suspect. Can Bella prove his innocence and refute a treacherous accusation?   An Uncertain Ceremony (Book 8) Only days ahead of Bella's long-awaited nuptials, her dressmaker is strangled with Bella's veil. A threatening note is pinned to the design board: Cancel the wedding or regret it. Bella and Jax are soon on the trail of a killer. Can they discover "whodunit" in time to avoid an uncertain ceremony?