She came to Lake Charles seeking gumbo. She found a century-old fraud... and a murder suspect with irresistible bayou-colored eyes.Digital archivist Cali Rhodes is ready for a break from the open road. Rolling her Ford van, The Wanderer, into the historic, humid city of Lake Charles, Louisiana, she settles in to explore the Cajun coast's unique architecture and legendary food.But local gossip quickly pulls her into a far darker history: Elton 'The Colonel' Guidry, a powerful local historian, has been found dead after a suspicious fall, and a legendary Mardi Gras heirloom-the fabled King Cake Charm-is missing.When the prime suspect turns out to be the intense, handsome preservation architect Felix Boudreaux, Cali's curiosity becomes personal. Felix and the victim shared a bitter feud over Lake Charles's beautiful, old houses, giving him a motive clear as the Calcasieu River.Now, to clear Felix's name and uncover the truth, Cali must trade her shrimp po'boys for old documents and use her archival expertise to dig beneath the town's polished facade. She soon discovers that the murder is merely the final chapter in a twisted, century-old scheme that has fabricated Lake Charles history for profit.Uncover the true secrets of the bayou in this atmospheric, fast-paced cozy mystery!Why you'll love this book: Start Here: This is a fully standalone mystery! You can jump right into the adventure.Armchair Travel: A vivid, atmospheric journey through the unique charm and cuisine of Lake Charles, Louisiana.Light Romance: Enjoy a thrilling, high-stakes partnership with a clever, rugged architect that leads to an unexpected, budding romantic element.Clever Mystery: Solve a locked-room puzzle that uses architecture, archival codes, and historical fraud to uncover the killer.