The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective (The Marigold Cottages Mysteries Book 1)

Mrs. B, the landlady of The Marigold Cottages in Santa Barbara, rents only to people she cares about: Sophie, an anxious young playwright with a dark past; Hamilton, an agoraphobe; Ocean, a queer sculptor raising two kids alone; the perfectionist Lily-Ann; and Nicholas, a finance bro with secrets. The tenants live contentedly in their bungalows near the beach until Anthony, a quiet but potentially violent ex-con, moves in. Three weeks later, a body is discovered in the neighborhood. Anthony is arrested, but Mrs. B, convinced of his innocence, confesses to the crime herself at the police station. The tenants form "The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective" to save their landlady. As they uncover clues and secrets emerge, the community grows closer—until a second body is found. The story combines eccentricity, humor, and themes of community as the group works to solve the mystery.