A Sinking Secret

Book 8: Lakeside Cottage Cozy Mysteries

by Cindy Bell

Genres: Cozy Mystery; Animal Cozy Mysteries; Craft & Hobby Cozy Mysteries

Synopsis

Bobbie Walker has settled into life at the quaint lakeside cottage, enjoying summer days by the water with her lovable goldendoodle, Bailey, until a shocking discovery shatters the town’s calm.

When someone is found dead near the lake, Bobbie is assigned the story as a local journalist. But as rumors spread and tensions rise around the close-knit community, it quickly becomes clear that getting to the truth won’t be easy.

With Bailey, Rachael, and the rest of the crew, Bobbie must piece together a mystery filled with conflicting stories, uneasy locals, and secrets some people are desperate to keep hidden.

As the truth begins to surface, long-simmering tensions threaten to boil over. Can Bobbie uncover what really happened before the situation spirals out of control?

Release date: May 20, 2026

Sample

Chapter One

“Do it! Just do it!” Rachael West’s peppy but demanding voice hissed directly
into Bobbie Walker’s ear.
Bobbie shrank down in her office chair and squeezed her eyes shut. “I can’t, I
just can’t.”
Rachael began to massage Bobbie’s shoulders as she shifted to a soothing
tone. “Sure you can. You send emails for work all the time. This is the same thing.
It’s exactly like that.”
“No, it’s nothing like that!” Bobbie groaned. “At work, I’m writing about facts.
Things that don’t really affect me personally. But this is my home.” She looked back
at the screen in front of her. “This is me begging them not to sell it out from under
me. What if they ignore my email? What if they’ve already decided to sell to
someone else? What if I have to leave?”
“Wow, okay. You’re right.” Rachael smacked her glossy cherry-red lips and
shook her head. “I was totally wrong. You definitely can’t do this. I mean, ever since
that appraiser came by, you’ve been terrified of being kicked out. You’ve written and
rewritten this email, agonized over every word, asking them to please give you first
chance if they decide to sell. Just so you could keep it sitting on this computer, never
actually sending it. That’s definitely the way to save your home.”
“Reverse psychology? Really?” Bobbie swung around in her chair to face her
friend with disbelief, but as she did, her elbow struck the mouse, and the computer
chimed with the sound of an email being sent. “No!” The wail that escaped her lips
as she spun back to face the computer roused the goldendoodle who’d been happily
lounging on the couch in the living room of the small cottage. He jumped down to the
floor and howled right along with her.
“What? What is it?” Rachael shifted from one foot to the other and tried to get
Bobbie’s attention. “What’s wrong?”
“I hit the button!” Bobbie tapped on the keys in an attempt to stop everything,
but she knew it was pointless. The email had been sent. She couldn’t take it back.
“No!” She moaned again.
The dog set his head in her lap and looked up at her with mournful eyes.

“It’s okay, Bailey, I promise.” Bobbie ruffled her hand through his fur. “Really,
it’s not, but it’s done.”
“Yes.” Rachael clapped her hands and cheered. Her blonde pigtails danced
around her face as she spun in celebratory circles. “You did it, Bobbie! That’s the
first step.”
Bobbie wanted to slide right down out of her chair and onto the floor. She
wanted to curl up with Bailey, bury her face in his fur, and stay there forever. For
someone who’d spent most of her life feeling like she didn’t belong anywhere, this
little cottage in Newfield, Vermont, had become the closest thing she’d ever had to a
real home. The thought of losing it made her chest tight.
Between reconnecting with a grandfather she never knew existed and building
a life here, she was finally starting to feel like she had roots.
With her stomach in knots, Bobbie tried to force a smile to her lips. “You’re
right. What’s done is done. But I still wish that I could take it back.”
“I’m telling you right now, Bobbie, this cottage is your home. Anyone can see
how much you love this place and how much it means to you. They’d be crazy not to
work something out with you.” Rachael settled her hands on her hips. “Am I ever
wrong?”
“About what, exactly?” Bobbie raised an eyebrow. “Your dating life?”
“Ouch. That’s a low blow.” Rachael winced. “But other than that, I’m never
wrong. Right?”
A laugh bubbled past Bobbie’s lips. Despite her desire to stay stuck in the fear
of what the property manager would have to say, Rachael’s plucky optimism
managed to worm its way into her thoughts.
“Right, most of the time,” Bobbie said.
“See?” Rachael grinned. “You just need to distract yourself while you wait. We
should take a walk down by the lake. It’s only eighty-five out today.”
“Hot, that’s hot,” Bobbie mumbled as she stood up and stretched. “But you’re
right. I could use a walk, some fresh air, and Bailey is overdue for some exercise. It’s
breezy enough by the lake that he’ll be fine out there.”
“Perfect!” Rachael whistled for Bailey, who charged over to her with his
tongue lolling out as he gave her his best doggy smile. She clipped his leash on to
his collar, then looked up at Bobbie with a wide grin. “What you need is a little girl-
time. I have to tell you about what happened last night.”

“Perfect.” Bobbie led the way out the back door and down toward the lake.
“So, tell me about Daniel.”
“What a disappointment.” Rachael sighed. “I thought for sure we’d hit it off.
His profile said he liked to have fun, and he described himself as adventurous.”
“That sounds pretty good.” Bobbie took Bailey’s leash from Rachael.
“He brought his ex-girlfriend,” Rachael gasped. “Can you believe that? He
brought his ex-girlfriend on our first date!”
“Wait, what?” Bobbie’s eyes widened.
“Exactly.” Rachael gave an incredulous laugh. “I told them both to enjoy their
meal and left. I didn’t think it would be this hard to date in my twenties. I really didn’t.
I thought I’d meet a wonderful guy, we’d hang out, we’d get a cat, and then we’d be
together forever.”
Bailey glanced over at her with a skeptical look.
“No offense, Bailey. We’d get a dog after we were married, of course.”
Rachael smiled.
“That does sound like a good plan.” Bobbie nodded. “I still don’t understand
what went wrong with Jackson.”
“Let’s not talk about that.” Rachael waved her hand dismissively. “So, how did
you word the final version? Are you offering to buy it?”
“I told them I’d like the option to purchase if they’re planning to sell. Between
work and the book advance, I’m getting by, but I can’t really afford it. But if it means I
can keep staying in the cottage, I’ll figure something out. Work more jobs, whatever it
takes.” Bobbie sighed. “I don’t want to move out. It’s all I have left of my parents.”
“You’re not going to lose it,” Rachael said brightly. “I have a good feeling
about this. Maybe they’re not even selling. Or maybe they’ll love your email so much
they’ll give you an amazing deal. Or maybe, oh...what if it turns out the owner is
some sweet old lady who totally understands and wants to help you? The cottage is
meant to be yours. It’s going to work out, Bobbie. I just know it.” ...