Welcome to Manatee Bay!
It’s the 1990's on the Florida Gulf Coast, and artist Kate MacGregor is living in the drafty remains of her family’s squandered railroad fortune. Her best friend Cindy’s popular High Tides Bakery is next door, and their menagerie of rescue animals now includes a mouthy macaw, two cats, an ex-racing star from the Derby Lane dog track, and a geriatric canine who thinks everyone is his new best friend.Life should be sweet, but Manatee Bay is full of eccentric characters with secrets both old and new, and Kate’s peace is about to be shattered.In a town where everyone is hiding something, the mayor claims to have been abducted by aliens (twice), and the local Bigfoot group meets Tuesdays in Cindy's bakery, getting to the bottom of a series of local mysteries is going to require more than just Kate's schooling in deduction and Cindy's 1960s flower-child intuition. It’s going to take a village of misfits.
The Ghost Moon Tide
Book #2 of the Manatee Bay Mysteries
Three holidays. Two ghosts.
And a town that knows how to take care of its own.It’s October 1998, and Manatee Bay is swept up in the Spooks and Spirits Festival—a bold new autumn weekend where Halloween, Samhain, and the Day of the Dead share the same stage beneath a rare Ghost Moon. Main Street sparkles with skeletons dressed in satin and lace, food stalls perfumed with cinnamon and citrus, the sounds of Caribbean drums and salsa lessons, and a float parade that feels more Mardi Gras than small-town Florida.But when a late-season hurricane exposes a skeleton long buried in the sand, whispers of the town’s Prohibition-era past begin to stir. And when the Florida lighthouse ghost appears again—just as she has for more than half a century—the old stories suddenly feel far less harmless.As a playful séance turns chilling and an unwelcome outsider’s arrival sparks deadly consequences, amateur sleuth Kate finds herself caught between buried secrets and fresh bloodshed. With Police Chief Tom breathing down her neck, Kate realizes that this Florida beach town has its own way of handling those who slip through the cracks of the justice system.Because in Manatee Bay, the past doesn’t stay buried.And when the law falls short, the tide has a way of evening the score.Under the 1998 Ghost Moon, some sins rise to the surface, and some are handled quietly.A haunting Gulf Coast cozy mystery filled with small-town gossip, family secrets, ghosts, paranormal intrigue, and festival-night danger, The Ghost Moon Tides is the second book in the Manatee Bay Cozy Mystery series—a nostalgic 90s coastal mystery set in a Florida beach town.
“For readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of the paranormal, a nostalgic setting, and characters who feel like old acquaintances, The Ghost Moon Tide offers an engaging visit to Manatee Bay.”
— Literary Titan ★★★★★"One of the stronger hooks I've come across in the genre this year... I was engaged enough to read through the entire book in one sitting! The mystery kept me guessing right up to the reveal. I'm genuinely invested in where this series goes next."
— Devi Nair, Views She Writes ★★★★"Filled with intrigue, adventure, and plenty of twists and turns... Grab a pumpkin spice latte and curl up in your coziest chair with this well-written and captivating mystery. It's absolutely spooktacular!"
— Jean Pugh Shipman, Author of ONE TRAGIC JUNE ★★★★★"Taffy Beach knows how to pack a punch! There is a lot going on within this story, but it all falls into place as you read, and all makes sense in that satisfying 'Aha' moment!"
— Missi Martin, Cozy Mystery Book Reviews ★★★★★“I feel like I know these characters and they are very real. The setting and small town adds a lot of atmosphere. I could not put the book down and was thinking about it during the day, waiting for quiet time to return to the story. […] If you love cozy mysteries, a touch of the paranormal and ESPECIALLY complex fascinating characters, you will love this book.”
— Michelle Brewer, ★★★★★“The Ghost Moon Tide continues the page-turning saga of Manatee Bay with an awesome mix of spooky spirits and a who-dunnit mystery! I cannot wait for the next book!”
— Andrew Ulmer ★★★★★“Taffy Beach has done it again. The Ghost Moon Tide is another fun read with interesting characters, wonderful descriptions of the town and its secrets and twisted relationships. Is the Sheriff falling for Kate? Ended too soon but much enjoyed.”
— Monica G ★★★★★“Great read. Taffy includes the relatable characters from the first book but with a new and intriguing plot. I love learning about the history and legends of Manatee Bay. A great story for Halloween and the season.”
— Kathleen Janiga ★★★★★
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Tides, Lies, and Alibis
Book #1 of the Manatee Bay Mysteries
Sunshine. Sea breezes.
Secrets deadly enough to sink a town.
Every tide brings something new to Manatee Bay.
This one brings murder.In 1998 Manatee Bay, Florida, sunshine and small-town secrets go hand in hand—and no one knows that better than artist Kate MacGregor, the last heir to a faded Florida dynasty with a grand house and an empty bank account. When the Spring Berry Festival takes an unexpected turn, Kate’s lifelong friend Cindy—owner of the local gossip center, High Tides Bakery and Café—lands at the center of a scandal. Her signature “Immaculate Confection” strawberry cream puff entry in the Berry Bake-off is suddenly a "murder weapon," and Kate decides it’s time to put her quick instincts and tactless charm to good use as an amateur sleuth.As gossip begins to rise faster than the Gulf tides and a parade of quirky locals (and a menagerie of rescue animals, including dogs, cats, a mouthy parrot, and a stray Golden Retriever) offer more confusion than clues, Kate soon finds herself digging into a mystery that goes deeper than a simple case of “baker’s envy.”This cozy mystery in the sunny Florida beach town she calls home takes Kate into a tangle of family secrets and old grudges. With the help of her Scottish immigrant father and a sharp-witted eighty-eight-year-old mentor who knows where the town's bodies are buried, this female sleuth begins to untangle a web of family secrets that trace back to her own grandfather’s dark history. As new suspicions grow, she’ll need every ounce of courage—and a few lucky breaks—to discover the truth before Manatee Bay jumps to all the wrong conclusions.Engaging, atmospheric, and filled with coastal charm, humor, and a touch of 90s nostalgia, Tides, Lies, and Alibis marks the start of the Manatee Bay Cozy Mystery series, set along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
“[Tides, Lies, and Alibis is] an appealing choice for readers who love amateur sleuth cozy mysteries, mature female protagonists, quirky animal companions, and seaside settings where an ordinary day can become surprisingly eventful. Between the irresistible bakery treats, sharp exchanges, and steady stream of clues, Beach gives readers plenty of reasons to return to Manatee Bay.”
— Literary Titan ★★★★★“The backdrop of the '90s is a fun choice, and readers who enjoy historical-leaning mysteries will want to add this to their shelves. Taffy Beach makes you feel like you’ve traveled back a few decades and will leave you reminiscing. […] A fast-paced read that will keep you guessing, Tides, Lies, and Alibis has delightfully quirky characters and a writing style with fun at every turn of the page.”
— Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★Fun light-hearted escape! The perfect weekend book.
-Sheryl Jackowitz ★★★★★If you like Richard Osman, you'll enjoy the goings on in Manatee Bay.
-Dennis Brennan ★★★★★Comforting with just enough bite... The final chapter hints at deeper family secrets to come, which has me already watching the calendar for book 2. With five more releases planned, this one promises the start of a series that will keep cozy fans well-fed and beach-dreaming...be sure to add this to your TBR file.
-Devi, Views She Writes ★★★★Secrets, intrigue and the fun interaction of the animals make this novel and the characters feel real. The story is both engaging and atmospheric. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys small-town mysteries with depth and intrigue.
-Jean Nine, author PHOEBE MOON’S ADVENTURE TO ROME ★★★★★Wow, are you in for a treat...A true delight of a read! Highly recommend!
-Jean Pugh Shipman, author ONE TRAGIC JUNE ★★★★★...You will be wishing you could pack a bag and visit as soon as possible. Luckily, we have more books coming.
-Missi, Cozy Mystery Book Reviews ★★★★★If you’re looking for a super fun beach read filled with quirky characters and small-town secrets, this one’s for you! The coastal setting and fast-paced mystery made Manatee Bay come alive on every page. Kate is such a likable main character, and her journey kept me hooked all the way through. I honestly didn’t want to leave Manatee Bay, and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series!
-Fran Kubick ★★★★★
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MoonTides and Mayham
Book #3 of the Manatee Bay Mysteries
Something is lurking in the swamp during the full moon.
And it’s leaving bodies behind.When people start disappearing around Manatee Bay, the town takes one look at the gruesome evidence and decides it knows exactly what’s happening. After all, one man was eaten—and the disappearances seem to be tied to the full moon. Suddenly, old family stories about a werewolf in the swamp don't seem quite so crazy.Then the Bigfoot hunters weigh in, and it turns into a free-for-all.Kate MacGregor isn't buying the monster theories. But as werewolf believers and Bigfoot hunters take sides, rumors spread faster than facts. The townies gear up for a beastly hunt before the next full moon while Kate's best friend Cindy, owner of the town's gossip-hub bakery, deals with her troublemaking ex, who is busy dubbing the killings the “Blue Moon Murders” in hopes of scoring his fifteen minutes of fame in the local newspaper.And with another pair of full moons approaching, Manatee Bay is getting nervous.As Kate races to uncover what is really happening, this female sleuth finds herself following a trail of clues through the secrets of this quirky Florida beach town—and into the shadows of her own family history. In this 1990s cozy mystery, the town may be hunting creatures, but Kate is searching for a murderer.And as the next full moon approaches, she needs to discover if she's actually chasing a monster…or something far worse.A funny, atmospheric Florida Gulf Coast mystery filled with small-town characters, animal sidekicks, family secrets, and 90s nostalgia, MoonTides and Mayhem is the third book in the Manatee Bay Small Town Cozy Mystery series.
Book #4
Available May 2027
When Cindy’s ex-husband escapes from jail with revenge on his mind and a plan to make her pay so he can win back his job back with the local pot dealer, the bodies pile up and the town braces for more than just a massive tropical rainstorm. But in a place where loyalties run deep, an unexpected hero may be the last person holding back a tidal wave of catastrophe.
Book #5
Available Nov 2027
What begins as a celebration to commemorate Kate’s fiftieth birthday and ring in the new millennium spirals into danger when Y2K paranoia collides with scores to settle. Kate's dream of a dog sanctuary is threatened by a murder, a kidnapping, and a long-buried family revelation, proving that in Manatee Bay, even a party can become a night of reckoning.
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About the Author:
Taffy Beach spent the bulk of her adult life in a small Florida Gulf town, a setting that continues to inspire the breezy atmosphere of her stories. She is the author of the Manatee Bay Mystery Series, set in the sunny, secret-filled coastal corners of 1990s Florida.While she promises that the eccentric inhabitants of Manatee Bay are entirely fictional, she has one very real-life character inspiration: the role of Edgar is closely modeled after Taffy’s own companion, a wise old tuxedo kitty who provides constant input, inspiration, and editorial oversight from the corner of her desk (or her lap).
When she isn't plotting murders or dreaming up new cozy beach escapades, Taffy is usually found with knitting needles or a crochet hook in hand. She spends her free time creating handmade pet toys, beds, and blankets to donate to local shelters, helping to bring a little extra comfort to animals waiting for their forever homes—under Edgar’s supervision, of course.
