In this queer cozy series debut perfect for fans of Ellen Byron and Ellery Adams, Luke Tremblay is about to discover that Crescent Cove has more than its fair share of secrets…and some might be deadlier than others.

Crescent Cove, a small hamlet on Vancouver Island, is the last place out-of-work investigative journalist Luke Tremblay ever wanted to see again. He used to spend summers here, until his family learned that he was gay and rejected him. Now, following his aunt’s sudden death, he’s inherited her entire estate, including her seaside cottage and the antiques shop she ran for forty years in Crescent Cove. Luke plans to sell everything and head back to Toronto as soon as he can…but Crescent Cove isn’t done with him just yet.

When a stranger starts making wild claims about Luke’s aunt, Luke sends him packing. The next morning, though, Luke discovers that the stranger has returned, and now he’s lying dead in the back garden. To make matters worse, the officer leading the investigation is a handsome Mountie with a chip on his shoulder who seems convinced that Luke is the culprit. If he wants to prove his innocence and leave this town once and for all, Luke will have to use all his skills as a journalist to investigate the colorful locals while coming to terms with his own painful past.

There are secrets buried in Crescent Cove, and the more Luke digs, the more he fears they might change the town forever.

Mark Waddell's profile page

Mark Waddell is a recovering academic with a PhD in the history of science, medicine, and technology from Johns Hopkins University. After publishing two books and grading countless student essays, he left the exciting life of a humanities professor in search of greener pastures. He now lives on Vancouver Island with his husband and their two dogs and spends most of his time writing stories about murderous Canadians.

Praise for The Body in the Back Garden:
“There may be both a romantic and sleuthing future for this pair.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“[For] readers who crave LGBTQIA+ cozies.”
—Library Journal
“A light, entertaining read with memorable characters, small-town nostalgia, and plenty of twists.”
—Booklist

“Waddell’s debut, The Body In The Back Garden, hits every cozy mystery beat perfectly while adding a fresh and much-needed perspective to the genre. I can’t wait to read more of Luke Tremblay’s adventures in Crescent Cove (both in sleuthing and with his handsome Mountie ‘friend’)!”
—Mia P. Manansala, author of the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award-winning Arsenic and Adobo

“Waddell has crafted an enjoyable and satisfying mystery with a sympathetic sleuth, a small beach town to fall in love with, and a twisty plot that will keep you turning pages well into the night.”
—Dianne Freeman, author of the award-winning Countess of Harleigh mystery series

“Mark Waddell’s The Body In The Back Garden may be the new kid on the block, but don’t let that fool you. Everything about this story, from the Vancouver Island setting to mysterious denizens of Crescent Cove, is utterly delicious. All I can say is, move over Jessica Fletcher!”
—Ellen Hart, award-winning author of the Jane Lawless and Sophie Greenaway mysteries

“A quaint coastal island setting; a whip-smart writer-turned-amateur detective; a cozy cast of characters and lots of local flavor. The Body in the Back Garden by Mark Waddell is like a modern-day Murder, She Wrote—only set in Canada, and with a queer millennial man in the Jessica Fletcher starring role. Throw in his handsome Mounted Policeman love interest (Red Serge tunic, midnight-blue jodhpurs? Yes, please!) and this humorous whodunnit sizzles with enough romantic tension to keep readers turning/scrolling those pages. A welcome addition to the ‘quozy’ mystery genre.”
—Frank Anthony Polito, author of Renovated to Death

“Well plotted, perfectly paced, and wittily written, The Body in the Back Garden is a wonderful launch to what I hope will be a long-running series. I greatly enjoyed my visit to Crescent Cove, and can't wait to visit again!“
—T. G. Herren, author of A Streetcar Named Murder

“A supremely clever twist on the village mystery. Our hero, Luke Tremblay, is an impossible-not-to-root-for former journalist leading the charge. This is sure to be your favorite new mystery series of the season.”
—Zac Bissonnette, author of A Killing in Costumes