The Light Beside the Sea

May 06, 2024

The Light Beside the Sea

The Light Beside the Sea
by Connie di Marco

About The Light Beside the Sea

The Light Beside the Sea (A Zodiac Mystery)
Traditional Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – San Francisco, California
Publisher – CMA Literary (May 6, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 341 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8989009596
Digital Print length ‏ : ‎ 318 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D393JQ87

San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti has been haunted for years by the hit and run death of her fiancé, Michael Sefton. The driver of the vehicle was never apprehended. The lone witness to the accident spoke to no one and now is dead. Even the cold case detective assigned to the case died before any resolution was found. Every time Julia thought she might be getting close to an answer, each clue led only to a dead end.

Michael, a graduate student, had just returned from an archeological dig in Guatemala when he was killed. But why did he mail his journal to Julia for safekeeping before his return home? What was he afraid of? Why did another graduate student fall to his death on that trip? And now, another man connected with that journey has been murdered closer to home. And the murderer hasn’t finished.

When Julia finally finds the courage to delve into the journal Michael sent to her years before, she learns of the undercurrents, jealousies and anger between members of the group. She begins to understand the pressure and fear her fiancé was coping with and his suspicions of their University mentor who was most likely engaged in unethical and illegal behavior.
But events soon take a darker turn when Julia finds a likeness of the Maya god Hunhau, god of death and the underworld, on her doorstep. A strange man covered with markings and tattoos keeps appearing to her but no one else seems to see him. With guidance from another professor she’s introduced to a world she never knew existed.

Is the man she sees human? And is he under the sway of the Maya god of death?

Will he unleash evil or is he here to right a wrong done to his people?

Julia must move quickly or her death will be the next.

About Connie di Marco

Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries featuring San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti, a woman who never thought murder would be part of her practice. The fifth book in this series, The Light Beside the Sea, has just been released.

Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the author of the national bestselling Soup Lover’s Mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime. You can find her excerpts and recipes in The Cozy Cookbook and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. Connie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers Association, International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.

Q&A With the Author:

What was your inspiration for writing this book?

I always knew, from the start of the Zodiac Mysteries, that my protagonist, Julia Bonatti (whose last name, by the way, was borrowed from a famous 15th century astrologer), would have to come to some resolution regarding the death of her fiancé. For several years, Julia carried the loss of the man she loved through a prequel novella and four full-length books.

I do believe Julia's personal tragedy helped to flesh out her character and bring her to life for readers. But in a series, there's an organic point in time when a certain thread must end, when questions must be answered. Julia needed to be freed from an event that marked her life so dramatically.

I knew the right time would come and I felt this fifth book was it. Julia needs to solve the mystery of her fiancé's death.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Michael, Julia's fiancé, is killed in a hit and run accident shortly after his return from a university dig in Guatemala. The research into that culture was fascinating and gave me the idea to use a strong paranormal element in this book. (No spoilers here.) This was a great jumping off point because I started with absolutely no idea why Michael died or who wanted him out of the way! I knew I'd have to make it all up and in the end, I think it turned out to be a real corker!

Do you have any other books you are working on that you can tell us about?

I've made the first small inroads into Zodiac #6, which will feature Gale, Julia's best friend, her past and her secrets. I do want to continue this series because I think Julia has many more adventures on her journey.

I've also finished another book, but I do want to refine it a bit more. For a long time, two characters have been rattling around in my head and they won't leave me alone. They are Betty and Flo, two mostly unemployed and well-past-middle-aged actresses who despise each other. That book is set in Los Angeles.

I've also started another book, set in present time, that features a ghost from an earlier century. Needless to say, I have a lot more work to do on that one.

Can you tell us about what you have planned for the future?

I just need time to finish all my projects, so I've asked the universe to clone me. I'm hoping that happens soon!

Anything more you would like to say to your readers and fans?

I really hope the fans of the Zodiac Mysteries are thrilled by The Light Beside the Sea! And satisfied with the solution to Michael's murder!