Susan Cronk

The End Of Things At Dark Island Susan Cronk

Castle adventures are not limited to America's cousins across the ocean. America has plenty of its own castles that lend themselves to tales of mystery, intrigue, and romance. The End Of Things At Dark Island is where Effie Portchester and Howard Mantry's story begins. Howard enlists Effie's help to solve a crime that others thought finished forty-six years earlier with the death of the thief. Howard's discovery of several journals among his deceased father's belongings leads him to believe that there are more mysteries waiting to be solved, and treasure to be recovered. Effie and Howard decide to wrap up the mystery once and for all. This tale begins around 1906, long before Effie or Howard were born, and resumes in 1952. Over the decades, technology has changed, people have grown older, memories have faded, and a generation has nearly passed. This first cozy mystery is set on Dark Island, one of more than 1,800 islands in the Thousand Islands area of the St. Lawrence River, spanning both sides of the border between Canada and the United States. Dark Island is home to what was once referred to as Dark Island Castle, originally The Towers, and later renamed Singer Castle in honor of its owner. While the American castle and the island upon which it was built are real, the characters and events within this story are entirely fictitious. The author has taken liberty to move a few things around in the castle and on the island.