The Codebook Murders

Author/Guide: Leslie Nagel

Why a Booktrail?

2000s: Series 4 in the Oakwood series set in Ohio!

ISBN: B07JR9VXCQ
Genre: Cosy crime

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What you need to know before your trail

Oakwood, Ohio, but she’s been known to set business aside to play detective when a mystery rears its head. And there’s no bigger mystery in Oakwood than the murder of Regan Fletcher—a case that’s haunted the town for decades.

Regan’s boyfriend, Carter, did time for the crime—until another man’s confession freed him. But did the “real killer” really do it? Or did Carter walk away with blood on his hands? When Charley stumbles on an old journal written in code, it only complicates the case by revealing a blackmail scheme that targeted dozens of Oakwood’s citizens, giving them all a motive for murder.

Now, with a spate of new suspects to pursue, plus a fresh murder and the abduction of her sleuthing partner, Charley must dig deeper still into the past—even as she risks being buried by her shadowy prey. Joining forces with Detective Marcus Trenault and the newly formed Oakwood Mystery Book Club, Charley turns to a classic whodunit for clues on catching a killer—before more lives are lost, and the truth dies with them.

Locations

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Travel Guide

Discover a cosy criminal series set in Oakwood , Ohio

Oakwood is real! It’s a fine place to explore and discover the locations in the novel.

Mack Hummon stadium

Unfortunately, the arched entry to the stadium provided almost no shelter.
“Not safe! Get inside!” he screamed, his voice almost carried away by the howling wind. A wrought iron table bounced toward them, hit the railing around the running track, and veered off, missing her van by inches. “Now!”

Wright Library

“They’ve remodeled Wright Library a bunch of times since it was built in 1938, including an addition in ’83 and a major renovation a couple of years ago. So I focused on the original space. All the old walnut shelves are still there, the big deep window casements, the stained glass windows. I tapped and jiggled all around the place, looking for hidey holes.” Katie grinned. “The staff thought I was bonkers.”

St Paul’s Church

“But she didn’t answer, frozen in place as the carillon at St. Paul’s Church began tolling the hour, the deep ringing both mournful and joyous, measuring the time, marking a deliberate count to seven.”

River Scape

“In secret, Doris filled a duffel bag with newspapers and put a thin layer of cash on top. She dropped it where the note specified she should–inside a trash barrell at RiverScape–and sat in her car, watching and waiting.”