Description:

It was more than just the cold and damp clime of the English midlands that kept Nara Blake awake at night. Her father was dying, and the man that she loved and once hoped to marry was avoiding her.

When someone tries to break into the old, stone Gate House where they live in the small town of Springfield in Lincolnshire, Nara quickly learns that that the house is filled with secrets. And soon the small English town where nothing ever happens is suddenly besieged with burglaries and a murder.

When police liaison Alex Collier arrives undercover on the trail of international art thieves, Nara and her family fall under suspicion. Can Alex help Nara clear herself and her family, or will he have to build the case against her?

Excerpt:

Nara was lost in her thoughts and began to leave the town on the other side. She knew the path continued on for some distance, maybe even to the next town. Other runners and cyclists passed her every few minutes. She would continue a bit farther and see where the trail led. This was one of the most fun things she had done since arriving in Springfield; she would just keep going and see where her footsteps led her.

The trail was much like the one that led past the Gate House, through tall grass and trees, and generally following the course of the river. This will be beautiful in the spring, Nara thought.

A flock of crows circled overhead. Fascinated, Nara slowed her pace to watch them. It was then that she noticed the car. It looked as if it were floating in the water. She stepped off the path into the brush to get a closer look, and her stomach cramped with shock. There was a car just below the surface of the water, and from the driver's window a hand waved eerily along the surface of the water. Someone was in the car, and was most likely dead. Nara stifled a scream. I have to notify someone. She had left her cell phone at home, not wanting the extra weight, and desiring the freedom of being out of touch for a short time. She stumbled back onto the path and could see a cyclist in the distance, heading toward her from town. Thank God!

She stepped out into the path and waved. In a moment he reached her and stopped, looking peeved at her for interrupting his ride, but curious. He was young; probably in his early twenties like she was.

"I'm sorry," she stammered. "There's—there's a car in the river, with a body in it."

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