Justice Bay Mysteries

Pacific Homicide by Patricia Smiley
Outside the Wire by Patricia Smiley

A Cold November Murder

Book 2 coming August 11th

It’s been two months since Emmaline McCoy moved from L.A. to the remote Northern California coastal town of Justice Bay. One cold November morning, as she runs along a rural road, she sees a flurry of one-hundred-dollar bills floating in the air and follows them to a meadow, where she finds a man shot in the head, execution-style.

Early suspects range from a Russian billionaire real estate oligarch to a local chicken farmer, but law enforcement’s failure to identify the victim hampers the investigation. Feeling an inexplicable responsibility toward the dead man, Emma uses her resourcefulness to search for a killer, relying on shoe leather and a series of strange visions that lead to a shocking truth, transforming Emma’s worldview and sense of safety.

A Dark September Night

Book 1 

The death of Emmaline McCoy’s beloved aunt Lydie in a hit-an-run accident shatters her world. Granted two weeks of bereavement leave from her corporate Los Angeles job, Emma heads to the small Northern California coastal town of Justice Bay to settle Lydie’s estate and sell her waterfront cottage.

As Emma navigates grief and lookie-loo home buyers, she opens a popup store in town to re-home the antiques and collectibles accumulated from her aunt’s travels. The sluggish pace of the police investigation and a growing belief that her aunt’s death was not an accident compel her to search for clues on her own. Her investigation uncovers alarming information and stimulates the onset of bizarre paranormal visions. Emma’s out-of-body images and her amassed evidence point to the person at the wheel of the murder car, landing her in a killer’s crosshairs. In her corner throughout the ordeal are her aunt’s wise and quirky Siberian Forest cat Boo, her retired FBI Special Agent neighbor, Walter Kestrel, and his easy-on-the-eyes nephew Cooper Dane, a recovering attorney-turned-sailor whose skill set extends beyond tying bowlines and litigating torts.

Praise

“Small town secrets prove deadly when Emmaline McCoy discovers a dead man loaded down with cash. Engaging and utterly unflappable, Emmaline is a force to be reckoned with in this crisply plotted mystery that will keep you reading until the end. Can Emmaline reveal why the murder occurred before the killer turns their sights on her? Fans of Richard Osman and Elle Cosimano will love Emmaline.”
—James L’Etoile, award-winning author of Illusion of Truth
on A Cold November Murder
“Bucolic Justice Bay lives up to its name in A Cold November Murder, thanks to intrepid heroine Emmaline McCoy. Readers will root for the former executive and current shop owner as Emma uses everything in her arsenal to ferret out a killer who not only threatens those she cares about but the Northern California town she’s come to love. There’s nothing like a visit to Justice Bay for beautiful scenery, witty banter, and gripping drama.”
—Ellen Byron, Agatha award-winning author of the Cajun Country Mysteries
on A Cold November Murder
“Longtime mystery novelist Patricia Smiley is on her way with a new series featuring businesswoman-turned-sleuth Emmaline McCoy and a sparkling location called Justice Bay. It’s all here: Smiley’s trademark humor, her witty observations, her memorable characters, her spot-on descriptions of places and people. Her observations about love, grief, and somehow getting on with life are tender and deep. A Dark September Night is a great start to a series that promises to be both memorable and great fun.”
—NYT bestselling author Elizabeth George
on A Dark September Night
A Dark September Night is a superb read, with everything you want in a mystery—relatable characters, a setting that draws you in, a plausible plot, and a satisfying resolution. I read it in one day! Couldn’t put it down.”
—Award-Winning Author Terry Shames
on A Dark September Night
A Dark September Night is the perfect book to cozy up with on a rainy day. Welcome to Justice Bay, a sweet small town full of romance, spies, a touch of the supernatural, and of course, murder. Emma McCoy is a feisty, funny heroine you’ll love rooting for.”
—Bestselling Author Matt Witten
on A Dark September Night