Tumbling in the Downdrift

Even the sunny clime of a Florida beach town has its dark undercurrents. When the body of a real estate agent is found floating in the water just off the panhandle near Santa Rosa Island, only one woman has the wits, and knows the ways of the waters, to track down her killer. That woman is Carla Harper, though she's not exactly in the best spirits these days to go chasing the bad guys. Tumbling in the Downdrift is the debut novella by T.K. Hatfield that tells the story of murder and betrayal, with a loyal mutt thrown in for good measure. It's a page-turning mystery that will enthrall readers who like their characters with a dash of sea salt, and their murder served beachside. Out on her boat, Tenacious, on the beautiful Emerald Coast beaches-in an effort to recover from a tragedy involving her late husband Marty-former Coast Guard officer Carla Harper discovers the strangled body of her friend. A local real estate agent, Crystal Mason was the wife of Dale, and the couple had spent many a convivial evening with Carla and Marty. Before she knows it, Carla is wading knee-deep in the investigation, in spite of the fact that she doesn't have law enforcement authority in Florida. Using her military investigations training, Carla works to clear Crystal's husband Dale from suspicion, with a trail of leads wending its way as far as Mexico to find out just what a wiry Dockside dude knows about the circumstances. And when a tony local named Nicholas Dickson Price gets involved, the stakes become perilously high. As Carla chases down leads, the bodies mount and Carla herself becomes the target of break-ins and police acrimony. However, the slowly healing Carla can always rely on her colorful mother, Jolie, to give her a laugh when she needs one, or a kick in the pants if she needs that, too. Also, her trusty four-legged sidekick Molly always offers comfort when the world turns chillingly cold. With shored up reserve and a new mission in life, Carla musters the strength to sleuth out the real killer, all while grieving the recent loss of Marty in upsetting dreams and lingering guilt for moving on. As the plot thickens and the pace quickens, Tumbling in the Downdrift offers a heart-racing, maritime mystery that's sure to make your blood pump every turn of the story. It's a must-read for those who seek a complete immersion in an inscrutable crime, with a protagonist with the will and water know-how to crack the case.

T.K. Hatfield is a senior officer in the US Coast Guard and a national technical expert in its marine safety program. She joined in 1987, and after one enlisted tour, she spent the next few years working in the real estate industry. In 1998 she joined the Coast Guard Reserves, and in August 2001 she received a Reserve Officer Commission. When the attacks of 9/11 occurred, she was recalled to active duty, and her work since then has encompassed port security, planning, marine inspections, and investigations. She is a graduate of the University of West Florida with a degree in environmental studies; the Naval War College; and is currently working on her master’s thesis in environmental planning and management. Born in Homestead, Florida, she is currently stationed in Louisiana, and she and her husband divide their time between there and Florida. They have five children between them, and have four adopted dogs of various sizes and shapes. Tumbling in the Downdrift is her debut novella.