With her wife of 38 years dead and her lighthouse decommissioned, lighthouse keeper Nettie Harris wants to be left alone to grieve. Unfortunately, the residents of the lakeside village of Forster’s Landing are incapable of staying out of their neighbors’ business. Only Helen Godfrey—stiff-necked, straight-laced head of the village council and founder of the local historical society—treats Nettie as she always has, which is to say with disdain, irritation, and an utter disregard for Nettie's feelings.
When Helen is found dead at the foot of the lighthouse, Nettie feels like the last constant in her life has died, too—even if it was an insufferable constant like Helen. With her home a crime scene and the village police fumbling the investigation, Nettie takes charge of the case herself, soon becoming [embroiled] in a multitude of suspects, too many children, and a young detective who inexplicably seems to like her. But when a second body turns up—the Coast Guard ensign Nettie blames for both her wife’s death and the loss of her beloved lighthouse—Nettie becomes the prime suspect.
Goal: 30,000 words (but if I go hard and finish a first draft, awesome)
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