The Incumbent Coroner: A Coastal California Mystery of Murder and Deception

A beloved mayor. A seedy motel room. And a murder that shakes the town to its core. Coroner Fenway Stevenson thought she was beginning to find her footing in Estancia. The coastal California town still sees her as an outsider—especially with her powerful father pulling strings behind the scenes—but she's starting to earn the trust of her team. Then the mayor is found dead in a run-down motel room, and everything changes.

The crime scene is strange. The prime suspect, the mayor's adult son, has a murky past-and when his young daughter goes missing, the case turns from complicated to explosive. Fenway's instincts tell her something is off, but the pressure to close the case is mounting fast.

As she digs into the investigation, Fenway finds herself stonewalled by those who once supported her. Political tensions simmer beneath the surface, and her father is quietly pressuring her to back his preferred candidate for the next coroner election.

With a missing child, a community on edge, and a case that refuses to make sense, Fenway must separate truth from illusion and stay focused-before another life is lost.

Taut, layered, and full of sharp turns, The Incumbent Coroner is the second pulse-pounding entry in the Fenway Stevenson Mysteries. With a tough, principled heroine at its core, this small-town mystery series blends forensic intrigue, simmering secrets, and emotional depth into a page-turner that keeps readers guessing.

'Fenway Stevenson's latest mystery had me really turning those pages! The smooth prose kept me interested not only in the outcome, but the characters themselves. Ardoin is a fantastic writer.'

—Carlie Lemont, author of Murder at a Discount

Ideal for fans of LJ Ross, Anne Shilolo, Willow Rose, and Blake Banner.