The North Carolina coast is the site of many shipwrecks. Some weather-related merchants but many are war casualties. Blockade of the barrier reefs has always occurred in times of war and many ships lie under the water here, from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and even WWII. The tales of treasure and artefacts within these wrecks is used by Sarah Shaber as the background for the finding of a body and the investigation of a mystery.

Local historian and amateur sleuth, Professor Simon Shaw is spending Thanksgiving with friends at Pearlie Beach, North Carolina when a body dredged from the sands that have over the years have filled the Intercoastal channel. A body identified as a naval man thought lost and drowned during WWII, a body from the time of the civil air patrol of the US coast, a body with a cache of gold coins minted in the Civil War.

The plot was more complex than I expected and very satisfying! ( )

Unlike the previous reviewer, I give this book a low rating specifically because of poor research. An author just can't decide something makes sense and is therefore true!!

The German Swastika has absolutely nothing to do with a Christian cross, Greek or otherwise. The word itself comes from Sanskrit and means "good fortune" or "well-being." The motif appears to have been used in Neolithic Eurasia. To this day, it is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Odinism.

Mothers, at least from the 1980s, do NOT give their children aspirin. (Ever heard of REYE'S syndrome?) Perhaps Shaber or Shaber's mother gave her aspirin along with teaspoons of bourbon to quell pain, but I'm sorry for the readers' children who may now be dosed with that combination. If you have three kids, you automatically travel with a first aide kit. Or you should.

Okay, so the aspirin may have been a mistake, but failing to do the proper research on the swastika was lousy, careless researching. Hire a copy-editor!! ( )

I really enjoyed this story set on coastal North Carolina! I didn't guess whodunit, so it was an interesting surprise! While Professor Simon Shaw does get a little snoopy (I dislike snoopy protagonists in cozy mysteries!!!!), the character snoops in a very smart way, I think. I enjoyed the plot and character development, and it seems that Shaber did a lot of research for this book. I look forward to reading more in this series! ( )