Faith Clarke Mystery

April 1774 - Within the colonial capital of Virginia, Faith Clarke awakes in the middle of the night to discover a man savagely murdered in her tavern. Phineas Bullard was no stranger. Faith's late husband had borrowed heavily from the man and left Faith to struggle to pay the debt. With unrest growing in the American Colonies, the British are eager for a quick resolution at the end of a noose, regardless of guilt. Under suspicion for the crime, she must use every resource at her disposal to prove her innocence and protect those she loves. Her allies are Olivia and Titus, slaves left to her by her late husband's family, individuals she must find a way to free, even as she finds they also have motives for murder. Faith seeks to uncover the dead man's secrets even as they draw close to home. Determined to find the truth, she continues headlong into a web of secrets that hides Tories, Patriots, and killers, not stopping even though she fears no one will hear the cry of the innocent.

Winter 1778. As the Continental Army settles into its Winter Camp, Faith Clarke travels north with Lady Washington to help out. Despite her joyous reunion with Will McKay, she is troubled by what she sees. The camp is plagued not only by cold but by inadequate shelter and shortages of food and clothing. Joined by her older sister, Hannah, a refugee from occupied Philadelphia, the women work to help the struggling camp. Whispers permeate the camp of an unseen enemy who is killing soldiers and taunting Washington after each death. The General asks colonial spy Jeremy Butler and Will to investigate. Faith discovers the body of an officer hanging in the forest, strung up by his own scarf. While some believe it is suicide, Faith believes something far more grim has occurred. Aided by Hannah, the women seek answers as more bodies are found. When Butler shares that Washington receives a macabre poem describing the deaths, plus some not yet committed, Faith realizes they are running out of time. Trapped by the weather within the camp, they have to pursue all leads in order to unmask the enemy within.

Winter 1777 While the Revolutionary War rages up north, Faith Clarke struggles to survive in an economy that has faltered since the war's onset. Cut off from her family in Pennsylvania, she has never felt more alone. When a group of Virginia Militia takes over her tavern for quarters, she is relieved to have the income even as she wonders what trouble this will bring. The troops are young, undisciplined, and led by the mysterious Captain Hoag. When rumors run rampant regarding an imminent invasion, Faith finds herself caught in the panic. Adding to the discord is her young brother Seth's obsession with an enslaved woman owned by the prominent Randolph family. When the body of an enslaved woman is found strangled outside the market, tensions flare as a frightened populace looks for someone to blame. When a second enslaved woman is found murdered, accusations fall on Seth, whose volatile behavior leaves him open to suspicion. Faith is torn between who and what to believe. Did his love for one woman lead him to silence others? Shortly after his arrest, one of her staff is raped a stone's throw away from Clarke Tavern. Having such a violent act happen so close to home galvanizes Faith. She has to discover the truth. Despite the increased military presence, deaths continue. An evil presence has soaked the besieged town in fear. No one knows what is more terrifying, the threat of British invaders without, or a cold-blooded killer within. When Seth escapes, Faith realizes time is running out to prove his innocence. He has angered the wrong people who see him as a threat in more ways than one. When a young soldier is found dead next door, Faith realizes that there is more going on beneath the surface. Someone is willing to do anything to keep a secret. Faith seeks answers among the free and enslaved, hoping someone reveals the answer. As losses mount, she realizes there is no greater loss than to lose everything one holds dear.

Summer 1776. Different missions call Faith Clarke and Jeremy Butler to Philadelphia, where delegates are meeting to determine the path of the rebellious American Colonies. Faith has been called back to her childhood home to make peace with her terminally ill mother, while Jeremy has been summoned by General Washington to report to Philadelphia to deal with a crisis impacting the Continental Crisis. Yet nothing is as it seems. Her mother's wandering mind reveals a secret that no one wants to discuss, but Faith realizes must come to light. A child, born out of wedlock, haunts her mother's memories and destroys her peace. No matter the cost, Faith knows this child must be found for her mother to pass in peace, even as her own family tries to stop her. Only her older sister, Hannah, is willing to help her find the truth that will allow her mother to die in peace. Meanwhile, Jeremy Butler hunts for an assassin determined to kill a member of the congress meeting to draft a proclamation from the American Colonies. All attempts lead back to Benjamin Franklin, who is at the heart of the negotiations to send a united message to the King of England. But who would want to kill Franklin, a man respected by all? Alone in a strange town, Jeremy enlists the help of Faith's sister, Hannah, a formidable widow with a mind of her own. Together, they work to keep Franklin safe while hunting a ruthless killer wandering the streets of Philadelphia. While Jeremy seeks answers from Franklin's estranged son, William, Faith, and Hannah hunt for their long-lost sister, who they believe may still be living in Philadelphia. None of them realizes that in a city rife with rebellion, anyone could be tempted to rise up and revolt against those held responsible for the deepest of betrayals.