Canvas of Secrets

Ray Stone, formerly of the LAPD (until he blew his cover during a major sting operation), is biding his time in California's sleepy, artsy town of Laguna Beach. He misses the adrenaline-fueled, high-octane police work of Los Angeles and is waiting for a chance to redeem himself. Early in the morning on New Year's Day, 1969, a call comes in from dispatch: "Dead body at Shaw's Cove." The victim is Amelia Hart, a wealthy 50-something member of the artistic community and an anti-war activist. The officer on the scene says it is a suicide, but Ray suspects there is more to the story.

Meanwhile, Dennis Driver, a reporter with the local Daily Pilot and a Vietnam War veteran, is battling depression and PTSD-like symptoms. On New Year's Day, his editor hands him an opportunity for his big break--a report on the suspicious death of Amelia Hart. Ray and Dennis, working separately but occasionally sharing information, begin digging into the secrets hidden behind the glossy facade of Amelia's life. Daigle is a skillful wordsmith who mixes tight dialogue with long descriptive sentences, leading readers through the dark underbelly of the high-priced art world.