Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library

Faith Newberry's dream job may be morphing into a nightmare. Newly hired as the librarian at the upscale and pet-friendly Castleton Manor literary retreat, Faith sees her move from Boston to the quaint Cape Cod village of Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts, as a boon. But things turn ugly when she discovers that the first edition book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle proudly displayed in the library -- also his first in the Sherlock Holmes series -- is a counterfeit, and not a very good one at that. Who could have absconded with the real volume? Could it have been the former librarian when she mysteriously disappeared leaving only a cryptic note of resignation? Or has someone else duped the handsome heir to the Castleton estate, Wolfe Jaxon? Whichever is the case, it soon becomes clear that someone will stop at nothing to keep her from learning the truth. Just as Sherlock Holmes had his Watson to help solve mysteries, so does Faith. Only hers is a lovable stub-tailed cat bearing the same name. Faith rescued Watson as a kitten from behind a dumpster on a freezing New England night, and he -- like the fictional doctor -- has become her loyal sidekick. He is Faith's friend, confidante, and sometimes her rescuer in times of peril. Together they set out to uncover the truth. The members of the Candle House Book Club, a lively group of women headed by her aunt Eileen Piper, also join Faith in her quest for answers. Will they be able to find the missing librarian and the missing Sherlock Holmes volume before this chapter of Faith's life comes to a fatal close?

Faith Newberry is settling in nicely at her job as librarian at the upscale and pet-friendly Castleton Manor literary retreat. Even her cat, Watson, has taken to his new life in Lighthouse Bay on Cape Cod. With a cozy cottage on the grounds of the Massachusetts estate in which to live, and surrounded by books by day and friends by night, Faith thinks life couldn't get much sweeter. When celebrity pastry chef Sugar Worthington takes up residence at the manor, trailing a television camera crew and an entourage of adoring fans, Faith rises to the challenge of organizing a book signing for the baking diva. But things turn sour when attempts are made on Sugar's life, and Faith soon finds herself in a sticky situation. It seems Sugar has a dark side, and she's managed to make some enemies over the years-along with her drop-dead delicious desserts. Just how far will someone go for sweet revenge? Faith doesn't know what she'd do without her tailless, tuxedoed sidekick, but she does know there's no one she trusts more than Watson to help her solve the mystery. She will also get a little help from her beloved Aunt Eileen, and the other intrepid members of the Candle House Book Club, veterinarian Midge and sous chef Brooke. It will take their combined talents to turn up the heat on a would-be killer. Can they figure out who's got it in for Sugar without getting mixed up in a recipe for death?

It's Simmering Suspense Week at the Castleton Manor literary retreat in Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts. Librarian Faith Newberry has her hands full with a week of author talks and signings planned. But when the bejeweled guest of honor, reigning queen of romantic suspense Gloria Bauer, clears out her luxurious suite and disappears without a trace, Faith must scramble to keep the manor's other guests-and her cranky boss, Marlene Russell-satisfied with one less author. Charlotte Jaxon, Castleton's owner, thinks Gloria's absence is all a stunt. Didn't Agatha Christie do the same thing decades ago? But when both a ransom note and Gloria's dog, Sir Arfer Conan Doyle, turn up, Faith quickly realizes the danger could be real. In exchange for Gloria's safe return, the kidnapper wants not only the stunning diamond necklace the author stowed away in the manor's safe, he also demands a priceless, one-of-a-kind handmade book from the library's collection. Is it all a public spectacle, or has something royally dreadful happened to the author? Despite Charlotte's wishes, Faith begins to investigate. She can't help but wonder if Charlotte knows more about the kidnapping than she is letting on. After all, publicity for Gloria is also publicity for Castleton Manor. Meanwhile, the remaining authors don't seem all that concerned about Gloria being gone. Without her around, their stars will shine brighter than Gloria's diamonds. And what about the disgruntled fan who seems more than a little obsessed with her favorite author? Any one of them, or the other castle guests, could be behind the plot. To restore Gloria to safety, Faith will need all the help she can get from her best friends, tuxedo cat Watson and the trusty members of the Candle House Book Club. But can they find the interloping perpetrator before Gloria's deposed-permanently?

Christmas is no humbug affair in Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts. The merry festivities are well underway in the quaint seaside village, and the halls of the posh Castleton Manor literary retreat are decked out in full Victorian décor. This year, the manor is hosting the Charles Dickens Society's annual gala, compete with parlor games and dramatic readings of A Christmas Carol, and culminating in a costume ball. Faith Newberry, Castleton's private librarian and archivist, loves being part of the holiday hustle and bustle while catering to the eccentric guests' bookish whims. When a thief nicks some valuable antique jewelry from one of the suites, Faith is more than happy to leave the investigating to the Lighthouse Bay police. But then the obnoxious president of the society, Charles Huffam, is found dead as a doornail beneath the village's fifty-foot Christmas tree, and Faith's personal Scrooge, her boss Marlene Russell, is suspected of the crime. Faith has no choice but to make the unkind man's death her business. Marlene's not the only person who has a bit of undigested beef with Huffam. The murder weapon was a length of chain which had been brandished by the seemingly mild-mannered gentleman playing Marley's ghost during the reading. And what about the overbearing woman whose romantic advances Huffam spurned, and her daughter, for whom Huffam had more than a passing fancy? Even Brooke Milner, Faith's friend and fellow Candle House Book Club member, might have wanted to see a stake of holly driven through Huffam's dark heart. Faith will need all the help she can get from her friends, and especially from her fearless feline, Watson, to unmask the assailant -- or is that wassailant? -- before Castleton Manor's surplus population is decreased by yet one more.

A winter storm is brewing in Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts. But it's not just wind and snow swirling through the opulent halls of Castleton Manor. Eleven members of the Drelincourt family have booked the literary retreat for a private gathering. It's librarian Faith Newberry's job to convince the family patriarch, Max Drelincourt, and his nieces and nephews to sell their ancestor's complete, autographed collection of valuable Agatha Christie first editions. When Faith realizes that not everyone is on the same page about the sale, a mysterious affair begins. Trapped like mice when the roads in and out of the grounds become impassable, the Drelincourts squabble amongst themselves and Faith despairs of them ever coming to an agreement. Worse, the first editions, which had been divided up among the family, begin to disappear, until there are none. No one can get in or out, so the precious tomes must be somewhere in the manor. The Drelincourts have a nemesis -- but who is it? Meanwhile, a pair of unlikely gentlemen, stranded in the storm, take shelter at Castleton. They say they slid off the road. Was their accident really an appointment with near-death, or a clever ploy to get inside? And what about the young housekeeper Faith has taken under her wing? She seems interested in keeping her body in the library -- but Faith can't help wondering if that's all she wants. Nor can Faith discount the Drelincourts themselves, any of whom might benefit from bringing the curtain down on the others. Fortunately, Faith has the assistance of all the members of the Candle House Book Club, as well as her cat Watson, whose uncanny abilities may surprise everyone. Together, they'll find out if there's merely mischief on the Drelincourt express, or if something wicked has come to Castleton Manor.

It's late March in Lighthouse Bay and Castleton Manor is undergoing spring-cleaning. Librarian and archivist, Faith Newberry, envisions a little downtime while the manor is closed to guests. But her reverie is cut short when she is pressed into service for the organizers of the Gothic Studies Conference, who are meeting in a nearby seaside home. Though reluctant to leave her cozy cottage on the Castleton estate, Faith agrees, especially since her faithful cat, Watson, is invited along. No sooner has Faith arrived at Wintersea than she realizes all is not as it seems at the creepy mansion. Her hostess, Gothic scholar Ava Winterbourne, is experiencing eerie phenomena: lost objects, somnambulism, and a constant feeling of being watched. Is she mad? Or is someone mad at her? Ava's husband, Winslow, seems loving and attentive, and yet Ava lives in the deep shadows of his first wife, Regina, who committed suicide. Faith finds herself getting caught up in Ava's delusions. But she can't help wondering if Ava truly is a dreaming damsel in distress -- or if she's a dark, dangerous dame. Meanwhile, Faith's boss, Wolfe Jaxon, is being haunted by a nightmare of his own. Years ago, his fiancée drowned when she fell overboard from Wolfe's yacht. Now someone's been possessed to blackmail him, claiming that Valentina's watery death was no freak accident. He needs Faith's help. But is he putting her in peril too? Solving the mysteries of Wintersea will take all of Faith's sleuthing skills, but fortunately she'll have the support of the members of the Candle House Book Club and her preternatural pet, Watson. Can she reveal the secrets . . . before the veil descends on another victim?

As librarian at Castleton Manor, the upscale literary retreat in Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts, Faith Newberry cheerfully hosts various events for book lovers while accommodating the mansion's quirky guests. But during a poetry retreat, Faith's patience is tested by Emilie Smythe, an ill-mannered lecturer with an uncanny resemblance to Emily Dickinson. Emilie not only looks like Dickinson, but she dresses like her and also owns a Newfoundland named Carlo. Even stranger, Emilie claims to be Dickinson's great-great-granddaughter. No one believes her far-fetched story, but Emilie insists she has letters and documents to prove it. Faith is stunned when Emilie gives her a Victorian beaded bag containing the papers and instructs her to determine their authenticity. But the next morning tragedy strikes . . . Faith and her friends discover Emilie's body washed up on a desolate beach. It was widely known that Emilie was wealthy and eccentric and possibly even mad. Did she take her own life on the deserted beach? Or was she murdered? Even though an apparent suicide note is found, the list of suspects grows. The man walking on the beach the morning Emilie's body was discovered. Emilie's charming older brother and guardian. Her estranged half-sister who was left out of the family estate. And the poet at the retreat who publicly disparaged Emilie. As Faith and her friends in the Candle House Book Club seek answers, a string of break-ins occurs around town. Is someone searching for Emilie's letters and documents? Can Faith and her friends -- including her protective feline companion, Watson -- finally close the book on this mystery?

It's lights, camera, action at Castleton Manor, the exclusive literary retreat in Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts. Faith Newberry's role as librarian expands to include assisting the producer in filming a remake of Alice in Wonderland. Faith and her friends in the Candle House Book Club thrill in the behind-the-scenes drama, and even Faith's loyal cat, Watson, eagerly pursues his big-screen debut. But the production falls down the rabbit hole when the star playing Alice enters the maze to shoot a scene, then vanishes. The actress has a history of disappearing, and some claim she's mad as a hatter. Did she leave of her own volition? Or is there something more sinister going on? The situation gets curiouser and curiouser when more trouble and turmoil occur on the set, culminating in a serious crime. Faith's friend Midge is found at the scene, and she's hardly grinning like a Cheshire cat when she becomes the prime suspect. Faith vows to find the real culprit, but as she attempts to solve the great puzzle, she realizes the task is easier said than done. It's up to Faith and the rest of her friends in the book club-along with Watson who shows up right on cue to make a startling discovery-to clear Midge's name. But will they be able to pull a white rabbit out of their hat in time? Or will it be the final curtain for Midge?

The air crackles with anticipation in scenic Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts, when best-selling author Camilla Courtenay breezes into Castleton Manor to judge the final round of a Regency romance writing contest. The three finalists are competing for a publishing contract with Northanger Press, and the pressure intensifies when they accept their last-and most challenging-writing assignment. Librarian Faith Newberry eagerly assists the contestants with their research while looking forward to the lavish grand ball when the winner will be announced. But in the days leading up to the ball, Camilla experiences a few unusual-and potentially deadly-incidents. Are they simply accidents, or is someone attempting to permanently end her career? As Faith and her friends in the Candle House Book Club investigate the suspicious incidents, they discover a backstory of secrets, lies, and betrayals that could have been ripped from the pages of one of Camilla's novels. But truth is stranger than fiction, and the group learns that Camilla's name appears in all the finalists' black books. When every contestant is a suspect, how far will one of them go to win? With the clock ticking and the grand ball swiftly approaching, Faith and her friends-along with her mischievous cat, Watson-kick their investigation into high gear. Can they catch the culprit before Camilla's happy ending turns into a nightmare?

It's Gatsby Week at Castleton Manor, the elegant retreat for booklovers in Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts, and the roaring twenties are in full swing. Charlotte Jaxon, owner of the manor, arrives to put on the ritz and oversee the festivities celebrating the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Faith Newberry is sitting pretty when she receives a brief respite from her duties in the library to assist Charlotte in organizing the events that have everyone jazzed up, including a fashion show, an antique car race, and a Gatsby Ball. But then something happens that's not on the agenda: one of the guests starts receiving threatening letters. Avis Roth is a powerful-and ruthless-literary agent, so everyone around her quickly dismisses the intimidating letters, assuming they're from an author who was in a lather over being rejected. When Avis is involved in a frightening incident at the manor and then a freakish mishap at the country club, the plot thickens. Were they merely accidents, or is someone determined to put the big cheese agent out of commission? As Faith and her fellow Candle House Book Club members search for clues, they discover that not many people consider Avis to be the bee's knees. She and her associates are rarely on the same page, and some have a serious beef with her. It's past time to deliver the goods on the perpetrator, but will Faith-aided by her clever tuxedo cat, Watson-determine who's on the level and who's feeding her a line? Or will the culprit avoid getting caught and remain on the lam?

A heat wave grips Cape Cod, but the attendees of the So Noir literary retreat don't allow the hot weather to dampen their enthusiasm. They roam the halls of Castleton Manor in Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts, wearing trench coats and fedoras, just like their favorite fictional private eyes. Librarian Faith Newberry gets herself in a jam when she agrees to deliver a lecture about the detective code. It's not exactly duck soup to grab the audience's attention, but Watson, her devoted feline companion, listens attentively. He realizes that he's the quintessential hard-boiled detective because he's smart and tough and always saving hapless humans. When Oscar North, chef and local restaurant owner, falls from the balcony and dies, Watson gets his first case. Oscar's death is rumored to be a homicide, and chaos breaks out at Castleton. The joint's lousy with wannabe gumshoes, and they launch their own investigation into who bumped off the chef. Meanwhile, Oscar's widow knocks Faith for a loop by begging her to find her husband's killer. As Watson sniffs out clues, Faith presses the suspects for information. But they clam up, and it's difficult to discern who's on the square. Then Faith becomes a target, and it's noir or never to solve this case. Will the two sleuths drop a dime on the crook before the murderer can scram?

When the Nancy Drew Clue Colloquium converges on Castleton Manor in Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts, scholars and fans, dressed as their favorite detective, arrive in their 1930s roadsters. But it turns into a bumpy ride when Nancy A. and Nancy Z. -- the good-natured bad girls of Nancy Drew fandom -- start pulling pranks. Their group, the River Heights Roundtable, clashes with the Nancy Drew Clue Society, and librarian Faith Newberry strives to keep the peace between the two rival groups. The event takes a sinister turn when an ominous letter arrives and mysteries from the Nancy Drew series leap out of the books and into real life. As Faith puzzles over what is true and what is fiction, an even bigger mystery unfolds. One of the guests is found dead. Was the death a terrible accident? Or was the guest murdered? Faith and her chums in the Candle House Book Club get to work sleuthing out clues. But their snooping uncovers more questions than answers, and Faith fears they will never solve this whodunit in time. Fortunately, Faith's clever tuxedo cat, Watson, lends a paw to their investigation. His keen discovery sends Faith down a new road, but it leads to even more twists and turns and dead ends. Will she be able to motor through and finally turn the page on this mystery before it's too late?