Description

An orphan races to uncover a killer—who may have come from the sea—when she and her beloved orcas fall under suspicion in this gothic historical mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl.

1918. Orcas Island, Washington.

Eighteen-year-old Lucy Nowhere has spent her life working on the massive estate of Dakon Sanders, the eccentric shipbuilder who took her in after she washed ashore as a baby in a green canoe. But she longs for a life away from the island, which, despite its abundance, holds no answers for her.

Just before her departure to attend university, Lucy discovers the head of her benefactor on a rocky beach. Rumors swirl that a mischievous spirit, the Orkus, has struck again, much like it commanded its minions, the seawolves, to kill a nameless cannery worker years ago. But Lucy doesn’t believe the seawolves are at fault. She believes that the seal heads that have started appearing on beaches have been placed there by a human hand.

Then, Lucy is named the heiress of the multi-million-dollar estate, displacing his dashing and mysterious nephew, Nash. The unexpected inheritance casts Lucy under new suspicion—and paints a large target on her back.

Though her best friend, the ruggedly handsome estate cowboy guard, Koa, urges her to leave the island with him, Lucy knows the only way she can discover who she is, and to free the island of its curse, is to find the real killer—before she becomes the next victim.