What happens when the water master in the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting is found dead in George Washington’s Bathtub? The Water Detective, the first book in a new cozy mystery series set in Berkeley Springs, answers the question with a fun who-done-it.
“Berkeley Springs is the perfect town for a cozy mystery series,” says Boswell. “We have everything here: Parks, restaurants, shops, the spa, and a ton of things to see and do.”
The series features detective Eleanor Rigby Beaumont and Sergeant Billy Skye of the Morgan County Sheriff’s office. Rigby, a Philadelphia detective, has come to town to follow a lead on West Virginia’s oldest cold case “The Redhead Murder,” but she is quickly diverted to help investigate the death of the water master.
Rigby and Skye must navigate buried secrets to find a killer, all while confronting ghosts from Rigby’s own past. She arrives in Berkeley Springs feeling lost and punished, a talented detective relegated to a “make-work” cold case. The new investigation forces her to re-engage with her skills and, more importantly, to form emotional connections with people like her partner, Sergeant Billy Skye. The story isn’t just about solving the crime; it’s about Rigby rediscovering her passion and finding a community that sees her value.
“Rigby falls in love with Berkeley Springs,” says Boswell, “so she moves here in the second book, Murder in the Time of Apple Butter. I’m hoping The Water Detective and the subsequent books will not only provide fun reads but also attract more tourists to our amazing town.”
The Water Detective is available on Amazon and locally at Creekside Provisions & Supplies, as well as the Morgan County Public Library.
Len Boswell is the author of 24 books, including three award-winning series, The Simon Grave Mysteries, The Chronicles of Randall (epic fantasy), and The Pale Chronicles (historical fantasy), as well as additional works of fiction and nonfiction. He lives in Berkeley Springs with his wife, Ruth, and their adopted beagle, Daisy, who doubles as muse and manuscript shredder.
