Welcome to Manatee Bay!
It’s the 1990's on the Florida Gulf Coast, and Kate MacGregor—a 48-year-old artist and dedicated introvert—is living in the drafty remains of her family’s squandered railroad fortune. She spends her days painting and managing the Tidewater Gallery, a consignment shop filled with local art and handicrafts.Kate has everything she needs: her best friend Cindy’s popular High Tides Bakery is next door, and their menagerie of rescued animals now includes a mouthy macaw, two cats, an ex-racing star from the Derby Lane dog track, and a tiny, geriatric canine who thinks everyone is his new best friend.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.
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, sunshine and small-town secrets go hand in hand—and no one knows that better than artist Kate MacGregor. When the Spring Berry Festival turns unexpectedly chaotic and her lifelong friend Cindy lands at the center of the scandal, Kate decides it’s time to put her quick instincts and tactless charm to good use.With gossip swirling faster than the Gulf tides and a parade of quirky locals (and opinionated pets) offering more confusion than clues, Kate soon finds herself unraveling a mystery that goes deeper than a case of baker's envy. As old family grudges resurface and 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, Tides, Lies, and Alibis marks the start of the Manatee Bay Cozy Mysteries.
Fun light-hearted escape! The perfect weekend book.
-Sheryl JackowitzComforting 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 WritesIf you like Richard Osman, you'll enjoy the goings on in Manatee Bay.
-Dennis Brennan...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 ReviewsWow, are you in for a treat...A true delight of a read! Highly recommend!
-Jean Pugh Shipman, author ONE TRAGIC JUNEIf 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 KubickSecrets, 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
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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 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, Kate finds herself caught between buried secrets and fresh bloodshed. With Police Chief Tom breathing down her neck, Kate realizes that Manatee Bay 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 coastal mystery filled with small-town secrets, family legacy, and festival-night danger, The Ghost Moon Tides is the second book in the Manatee Bay Cozy Mystery series.
Book #3
Coming
December
2026
Something is lurking in the swamp during the full moon—and it’s leaving bodies behind. When panic grips Manatee Bay, sides are taken: Werewolf family-folklore legend or Bigfoot cryptozoology data? As the townies gear up for a hunt before the next full moon, Kate must uncover whether they’re chasing a monster… or something far worse.
Book #4
Coming
April
2027
When Cindy’s ex-husband escapes from jail with revenge on his mind and a plan to make her pay, 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
Coming
August
2027
The Weed Wars have come to Florida, but in Manatee Bay, the battle isn’t just political; it’s personal. The local marijuana grower has a plan to expand—and an old grudge to settle. As tensions ignite and an unexpected casualty results, Kate uncovers truths that push her closer to the family reckoning she’s been drifting toward all along.
Book #6
Coming
December
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. A murder, a kidnapping, and a long-buried family revelation prove 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. 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 has provided valuable input and constant support throughout the writing of this series.When she isn't plotting twists or dreaming up new mysteries, 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.
