Depths of Deception
A Maxy Harper Mystery
by J.J. Macaw
Published: June 6, 2025
Publisher: J.J. Macaw Publishing
Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mysteries, Cozy Mystery
Blurb:
The beautiful vibrant seaside village of Coral Cove is hosting its famous annual book fair. Tony Blane eagerly anticipates unveiling his manuscript exposing the environmental crisis affecting the water supply and wildlife. Maxine "Maxy" Harper was Tony's fierce childhood friend and high school sweetheart covering the book fair for her podcast. Maxy, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist, returned to her childhood home to detox from the 24/7 stress of the crime beat in Washington, D.C.
Excitement turns to horror when he discovers that his manuscript has vanished. Things take a darker turn when Tony's college mentor, Dr. Edgar March, is found dead at the fair.
Maxy’s experience kicks in with a vengeance, and she dives into questioning witnesses, uncovering secrets past and present that point to the potential eventual death of Coral Cove’s children and wildlife. Maxy and Tony embark on an investigation filled with quirky locals, including a witchy "wise woman," a Haitian grandmother known to be a voodoo priestess, and corrupt officials.
Threats built to stop the investigation and the dismissive police chief are aggressively pressured to downplay the concerns and wrap up the murder quickly. Maxy follows clues and leads a covert expedition to a neighboring island, exploring pirate caves and discovering toxins that explain the poisoning of wildlife and people. A deadly confrontation ensues, forcing them to use every ounce of their wits—and humor—to outsmart their pursuers.
A successful ground roots campaign among the community produces pressure that can’t be ignored. It draws once reluctant state and federal authorities into Coral Cove’s fight. The heir of the Allen family businesses works with Maxy and newfound official support to uncover the fraud and corruption at the root of the life threatening tragedy to Coral Cove.
My Review:
The seaside village of Coral Cove conceals deep, dark secrets that someone is determined to keep under wraps, willing to go to great lengths to ensure these truths remain obscured. Maxy and Tony plunge into the enigmatic puzzles buried deep within the village.
Tony was thrilled to participate in the yearly book fair, only to find that a manuscript revealing the environmental crisis impacting the water supply and local wildlife had vanished. Maxy and Tony begin to interrogate witnesses, unveiling both historical and contemporary secrets that suggest a dire future for Coral Cove’s children and animals.
The mystery and tension had me captivated with each sentence as I anticipated what revelations Tony and Maxy would discover. I was eager to find out who was responsible for the water supply debacle and what was transpiring with the children and wildlife. I was also curious to learn how far these individuals would go to protect their secrets.
I am looking forward to uncovering the new crimes that await Maxy and Tony in the next chapter of the Maxy Harper Mystery Series.
I wholeheartedly recommend Depths of Deception to all enthusiasts of cozy mysteries. Be sure to grab a copy of Depths of Deception today!
Check out all the books in the Maxy Harper Mystery world I’ve read.
The Ashes of Coral Cove
Depths of Deception
