Showing Wipptee by Jai Baidell

A cosy mystery with a feisty enemies-to-lovers rural romance on the side. A young woman wants a quiet life in a small country town, but her past crimes as an animal rights activist return to haunt her.

Maddison Debranz returns to Australia after five years away, desperate for a happily-ever-after future with her husband. But Daniel is missing and wanted by the police. Maddie follows a lead to Rakali Springs, the town where everything first went wrong for her and Daniel. She receives a hostile reception, but the Brackton family, Grace and her four sons, are willing to give her a place to stay.

It doesn’t take long for Maddie to discover that everyone has an agenda. Grace, the family matriarch, is determined to end destructive land clearing on neighbouring Wipptee farm at any cost. Matthew guards his secrets well, Liam is sleazy and unpredictable, and Travis wants only regular work for his earthmoving business. Worst of all, Constable Theo Brackton never misses a chance to accuse, criticise, and think the worst of her.

With her chances of solving the mystery of Daniel’s disappearance shrinking fast, Maddie's life is at risk when a deadly enemy looking for revenge tracks her down. But Maddie has more friends than she knows, and in moments of despair she can always think about the little rakali swimming in peaceful quiet waters.

A romance/mystery set in the Australian countryside. For fans of Annie Seaton, Juanita Keys, Helene Young or Jennie Jones.