Dockside Secrets

About the Book

Author: Terry Overton

Genre: Christian Cozy Mystery

When Finley Burke moves to the peaceful lakeside village of Sunset Cove, she’s looking for a fresh start-not a mystery. But when a violent storm washes a strange tackle box onto her dock, she discovers more than fishing lures inside. Hidden within are antique jewels and secrets that link to a long-buried family feud and a suspicious death. As Finley digs deeper, she finds herself tangled in a web of lies that threaten the calm of the cove- and her own safety.

With the help of her quirky but loyal neighbors, a sharp-eyed detective, Finley must uncover the truth before the past catches up to her.

Full of Southern charm, close-knit friendships, and suspense that keeps you turning the pages. Dockside Secrets is a heartwarming cozy mystery that proves it’s never too late to start over or to solve a mystery.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Terry Overton is a retired university professor of educational and school psychology. She has an Ed.D. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology.

Her professional experience includes teaching public school, teaching at the university level, and being a college dean.

She has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

Her previous writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She now seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals.

Over the years, Terry’s books have won the Mom’s Choice Award, Christian Indie Award, Firebird Book Awards, American Writing Winner Awards, Bookfest Winner Awards, Pencraft Award, Reader Views Silver Reviewers Award, and International Book Award Finalist. Her writing examines real world events with a Christian worldview. She enjoys writing for young children, middle grade readers, YA fiction, and adult level novels.

More from Terry

I must admit I have probably watched and read just about every Hallmark cozy mystery I have come across! I have become addicted to mysteries lately! I don’t limit it to just the cozy mysteries. Lately, I have been watching plenty of true crime. The attraction for me is the puzzle. I mean, really, who can resist a “whodunit?” I prefer more of the gumshoe approach, but I also watch several crime scene investigations.

It started out with a curiosity about why people do such actions. What motivates people to commit these crimes and then try to cover them up? In many cases, criminals just aren’t that bright. But there are some cases that remain puzzling.

I decided to give it a go. Dockside Secrets is my first cozy. It was fun to write this mystery in the little community outside of a big city. We moved to this new little cove on a lake, Sunset Cove, and this is where the characters live. The large city in the book, Sagebrush Bend, is in reality, Fort Worth, Texas. Plenty of changing landscapes here, and these appear in the story.

Grab this cozy and meet the quirky cast of characters: a retired forensic psychologist, a very proper southern lady, a nutty and loud best friend, and a middle-of-the-road peacekeeper join a fumbling local sheriff and a handsome detective to discover what really happened at Sunset Cove.

My Thoughts

Secrets, sleuths, and surprises under the docks—Dockside Secrets by Terry Overton serves up a delightfully warm and entertaining cozy mystery. Overton’s descriptive writing brings Sunset Cove vividly to life, creating an inviting atmosphere that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile. The story unfolds at a comfortable pace, blending suspense and mystery with community, healing, and faith. Deceptive family dynamics, estate sales, and discoveries beneath the docks keep the plot lively, while the steadily building suspense kept me guessing about the culprit until the final few chapters.

At the heart of the story is the Sunset Sleuths, a fun and varied crew of amateur detectives that includes Finley, Amelia, Birdie, Lynn, and Clay. Their camaraderie adds warmth and comic relief, and the humorous touches given to both the police and the local detectives bring extra depth and levity. As the first book in The Finley Burke Mysteries, Dockside Secrets launches the series with charm, intrigue, and plenty of cozy fun—and I’m already eager to dock at Sunset Cove for the next installment!

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terry is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!! Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. Good Luck!

https://gleam.io/55lW2/dockside-secrets-celebration-tour-giveaway

Secrets, suspense, and a dash of dockside intrigue—your next mystery read has arrived! Dockside Secrets, the first book in The Finley Burke Mysteries by Terry Overton, is available from Amazon. Once you’ve uncovered its secrets, continue the adventure with the second book in the series, Suspicious Delivery. Be sure to follow Terry Overton on Amazon so you’ll be among the first to hear about her newest releases. Don't forget to enter the giveaway! I’ll return on Thursday, October 15, with Have Yourself a Merry Little Meltdown by Sheila Roberts. Until then, happy reading—and may your next bookish adventure be filled with captivating clues and delightful surprises!