Ashes and Alibis

Poppy Sinclair's husband is dead, and the only other key to his study belongs to her best friend, Gwen. The police think Poppy did it. To clear her name, she must team up with Gwen's estranged brother, Sam Okafor, a firefighter with a grudge and a good heart. Together they uncover Derek's secret life: offshore accounts, a fake identity, and a forgery ring operating out of a local art gallery. But the worst betrayal is yet to come—Gwen wasn't just Derek's mistress, she was his accomplice. As Poppy and Sam close in on the real killer, someone sets a warehouse on fire, and Sam must choose between saving Poppy and catching the arsonist. A cozy amateur sleuth mystery with a betrayal romance at its core, perfect for fans of locked-room puzzles and slow-burn second chances.