I’m very excited to announce that Book 2 in my cozy travel mystery series will be out on Christmas Day. If you haven’t ordered it yet, here’s a sneak peak. I hope you enjoy it!
You can also download your free review copy from Booksprout until the 15th January 2025!
Buy now from Amazon or read on Kindle Unlimited: https://mybook.to/moonlitsecrets
Prologue
The woman woke to the sound of rumbling outboard engines and the acrid smell of salt water mixed with gasoline. Confused and disoriented, she squinted into the dark, trying to make sense of her surroundings. As her eyes adjusted, she realized she was lying on a rough couch inside the cabin of a small motorboat. The cool sea air clung to her skin like a moist veil.
Slowly, she sat up and looked around. Across from her, two Thai women sat quietly, tired and absorbed in their thoughts. They were dressed in party clothes: sequined tops, short skirts, and gaudy makeup that was now slightly smudged. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach. What had happened? Where was she? A panicked thought flashed across her mind: Where is everybody?
The woman opened her mouth to ask what was going on but then decided to remain silent. Something wasn’t right. She looked to the right and saw two older Thai men—one by the boat’s engine and another at the boat’s wheel. One of the men seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place him; her dull head was pounding, preventing her from thinking clearly.
She glanced out into the inky darkness of the ocean. Other than the narrow beam of the boat’s headlight, the world around her was pitch black. Her heart thumped loudly against her ribcage as a terrible sense of dread washed over her.
Who are these people? And where are they taking me?
The boat cut swiftly through the water, its destination as murky as the thoughts clouding her mind. Her instincts screamed that something was profoundly wrong, but her throbbing headache and dizziness made it impossible to think straight.
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On the Ferry
The passengers from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan comprised an eclectic collection of souls. Thai locals sat alongside sunburnt tourists, who buried their faces in guidebooks or gazed in wonder across the shimmering sea. The scent of rotting sea algae filled the humid air mixed with wafts of greasy sunblock cream and the occasional spicy aroma of Thai street food that had been carried in small plastic packets onto the boat.
Harry, Euclid, and Sarah found a spot to sit down, away from the chatty tourists and locals napping on the shaded lower levels of the boat. As they settled into the plastic chairs screwed into the upper deck, the scene ahead was already turning into a picture-postcard view, with the looming silhouette of Koh Phangan framed by a sky ablaze with pink and orange.
“Thanks for convincing me to come, Sarah. The Full Moon Party is going to make for some great content on my travel blog,” Harry said, snapping a few photos with her phone.
Euclid chuckled. “I’m still not entirely sold on the idea, you know. But I do have a few days to decide, right?”
Sarah nudged him playfully. “Exactly! In the meantime, let’s just enjoy the beaches. And I know you’re itching to go diving.”
“Yeah,” Euclid said, grinning. “I’ve heard that Sail Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle are must-visits. Those spots are rich in marine life, and if we’re lucky, we might have a chance to see some whale sharks.”
“You’ll have to go alone on that trip, Euclid,” Sarah said, looking serious. “You know I’m not the world’s best swimmer, and I feel so nervous on small boats, especially if there are sharks around. I prefer to explore inland.”
Harry’s eyes lit up. “That sounds amazing! I’ve read about some stunning waterfalls on the island.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “That’s an excellent idea. How about we hike through the jungle to see them? Sounds to me like that would be a day well spent.”
Sarah leaned back in her chair, her eyes following the raucous seagulls swooping and circling the boat. “So, Harry, what’s the name of the resort we’re staying at?”
“Mango Moon Hideaway,” Harry replied, scrolling through her phone to pull up a picture. “It’s a bit secluded, but a high school friend of mine is staying there right now, and she’s recommended it.”
“That’s amazing! Why didn’t you mention we were going to meet a friend of yours?”
Harry hesitated, lost for words. “To be honest, Zoë is not a real friend of mine. We grew up in the same town, Ithaca, went to high school together and even worked as reporters in New York, but somehow, we never clicked. She’s just…” Harry’s mouth grimaced in discomfort. “It’s hard to say what’s wrong with her, but you’ll meet her, so I don’t want to prejudice your opinion. You’ll see for yourself. It’s hard to explain why Zoë rubs me the wrong way. Anyway, she’s also a travel blogger, and she told me the place is a hidden gem. Apparently, you can just lay in a hammock on your porch and let the sound of the waves lull you to sleep. I’ve seen photos on her Instagram.”
Sarah’s eyes closed briefly, picturing the scene. “Oh, that sounds absolutely divine.”
Harry hadn’t been perfectly honest with her friends when she said that Zoë had merely recommended Mango Moon Hideaway. Zoë had written to Harry a few days earlier and demanded her help. Her DMs were cryptic, but the plea for assistance was clear.
I know we have not always seen eye to eye, but I’ve just noticed that you’re nearby, and I need help from someone I can trust. I can’t explain what it is about, but it’s big! This story will set us up for life. See the Google location of the resort where I’m staying below. I hope you can make it. Don’t tell anyone that I’m a reporter! See you soon!
Harry was still feeling indignant about how Zoë had assumed that Harry would rush to her assistance, but then, in all fairness, she could not resist a good story. What was Zoë was investigating? She was too close to just pass up on this opportunity. While Harry enjoyed her travel blogging, she had to admit that it was not intellectually challenging. She often struggled to make a fun story out of a mundane sightseeing trip.
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Euclid, who had been absorbed with his phone, interrupted Harry’s ruminations. “Okay, so I’ve found the place online. It looks like it’s perched right on the hills, overlooking the sea. The restaurant and swimming pool are on the cliff itself, and the huts are spread out below, each surrounded by mango and banana trees. It has some pretty solid reviews, mostly from backpackers. Listen to this one: Epic Foam Parties!”
Sarah raised an eyebrow, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. “Foam party? What on earth is a foam party?”
Euclid chuckled. “Ah, the classic foam party. The pinnacle of human civilization,” he said. “Imagine a swimming pool, but it’s filled with foam instead of water. People enter said foam-filled pool and dance around like they’re auditioning for a laundry detergent commercial. It’s truly an unforgettable experience.”
Harry burst into laughter. “A laundry detergent commercial? Oh, you’re such a poet, Euclid.”
“Hey, it’s not my cup of tea, but to each their own,” he continued, grinning. “Personally, I prefer my pool water without bubbles and my parties without the risk of accidentally getting soap in my eyes.”
“Well, I’m with you on that one,” Harry said, joining in. “Foam parties might not be so ‘epic’, but the resort itself sounds amazing.”
“As long as there’s an option to not be covered in foam, I think we’ll manage,” Sarah said, her eyes meeting Harry’s.
As the ferry approached Koh Phangan, the three young friends couldn’t help but marvel at the island’s natural beauty. Verdant hills met the horizon, fringed by shimmering golden beaches that seemed to stretch on forever. Palm trees stood like sentinels along the coastline; beyond them, the dense jungle beckoned with the promise of undiscovered adventures.
Amid the clatter of footsteps and the rustle of bags being gathered by the other passengers, Sarah turned to Harry. “Have you had any luck tracking down the captain of the boat where your parents… you know?”
Harry shook her head, her eyes never leaving the increasingly clear view of the approaching island. “I’ve got a name, but it’s a common one. I hope to ask around when we get there—maybe in some bars or restaurants where the locals hang out.”
“Why don’t you use Google Translate to search for Thai newspaper articles about the accident?” Euclid chimed in. “It could help, right?”
Harry sighed. “I’ve tried that. But you know how it is with translations. They don’t always make sense. Sometimes, it turns into an incomprehensible mess, and I don’t want to make any assumptions based on a bad translation.”
Sarah placed her hand reassuringly on Harry’s arm. “Well, I hope you find the truth. I can only imagine how much it means to you.”
Harry nodded, her eyes now filled with a mix of hope and resolve. “Yeah, me too. Either way, I won’t stop looking.”
As the ferry docked, the chatter of excited tourists and local commuters filled the air. The three friends grabbed their bags and joined the throng of passengers as they disembarked. Their thoughts were already focused on the adventures awaiting them on Koh Phangan.
The island port buzzed with activity as they left the ferry behind. A kaleidoscope of sights and sounds greeted them as they made their way along the lively quayside. Friendly locals hawked fresh fruits, trinkets, and island maps from makeshift stalls. Travelers—backpackers with dreadlocks, young families with excited kids, and couples holding hands—milled around, their faces flushed with the prospect of the island’s many adventures. An army of tuk-tuks, taxis, and scooter rental stands lined the perimeter of the harbor, each manned by keen tour operators who vied for the tourists’ attention by means of enthusiastic gestures and calls.
“Wow, this is quite the bustling little harbor,” Harry observed, soaking in the atmosphere.
“Yeah, it’s got everything from coconuts to sarongs,” Euclid agreed. “Speaking of which, we should head to one of those scooter rental places if we want to explore the whole island.”
Sarah pointed to a row of shops just beyond the queue of taxis. “Those look promising.”
The trio navigated their way through the throngs of people and headed towards the scooter stands. Each rental spot was adorned with various models, all displayed like proud trophies by the stall owners. Rental rates were posted on colorful boards, typically accompanied by pictures of idyllic island destinations to entice potential customers.
“Should we go basic or sporty?” Sarah wondered out loud, eyeing the options.
“Basic is fine by me. We’re not entering a Grand Prix,” Harry joked.
Euclid laughed. “Agreed. As long as they get us from point A to point B.”
After a brief negotiation over the daily rental price and a quick tutorial on how to operate them, they each picked a scooter, strapped on their open-face, retro-style helmets, and set off. As they left the port behind, Harry couldn’t help but feel that this was the beginning of something unforgettable. With the wind in their hair and the smell of the ocean filling their senses, they rode steadily towards Mango Moon Hideaway, Euclid leading the way, his phone securely mounted on his handlebar for easy navigation.
They soon turned off the main road, leaving the bustling port area behind, and entered a quiet track shrouded by lush jungle. A dappled canopy of leaves overhead filtered the bright sunlight, casting playful shadows across the dirt trail. Their scooters hummed along in harmony with the songs of cicadas and exotic birds, which seemed to playfully guide them deeper into the island’s tropical heart.
“Wow, this is stunning!” Sarah called out from behind Harry, her eyes wide with wonder. “Look at all the colors!”
Indeed, the track was flanked by an explosion of tropical flora—wild orchids with their vibrant hues, ruby-red hibiscus flowers, and flamboyant plumeria in whites and pinks. They rode past groves of coconut palms and towering rubber trees, their leaves shimmering in the occasional shafts of piercing sunlight that broke through the canopy.
As they climbed a steep hill, the forest began to thin, offering flashing glimpses of the cerulean sea below. Harry’s heart swelled as they reached the top, where a viewpoint clearing revealed a breathtaking panorama: a sparkling blue-green bay on one side and, in the distance, the misty majestic silhouettes of Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan. The sight was so beautiful and tranquil that Harry momentarily forgot the dark question that had originally brought her to Thailand.
After soaking in the view and taking some photos, they descended the other side of the hill, following the winding trail indicated on Euclid’s phone. Before long, a rustic wooden sign came into view, with the words ‘Mango Moon Hideaway’ hand-painted in bright colors.
As they rode through the entrance to the resort compound, it was clear they had arrived at a slice of paradise. Nestled among the jungle foliage, the resort was a secluded haven. The restaurant and pool area were perched atop a small cliff with a panoramic view of the sea and surrounding islands. Wooden huts, each adorned with a small porch and a hammock, were tucked away below the cliff, almost hidden by a curtain of tropical greenery.
“Wow,” Sarah said, breathing heavily as they dismounted their scooters. “This place is divine.”
Harry grinned, taking off her helmet. “I told you it was worth the ride.”
Walking toward the reception area, they passed clusters of young people, their skin slightly pink from sun and saltwater. Towels were draped over their youthful shoulders or tied around slender waists. A couple of young lovers supported each other by the elbow as they shook the sand out of their flip-flops, while others chatted and laughed under the trees, recounting tales of their underwater adventures.
“Hey, how’s it going?” one guy greeted them, waving cheerfully, a surfboard tucked under his arm. “Welcome to paradise!”
“Thank you!” Harry replied, returning the wave. “We’ve just arrived. I’m Harry, and these are my friends, Euclid and Sarah.”
“Nice to meet you all. I’m Grove.” The young man put the surfboard down and insouciantly pulled his blonde hair into a perky ponytail.
“Where do we check in?”
“The reception is on the main deck, just over there,” he said, pointing to a large wooden structure perched on the cliff. “See you around, guys.”
As they reached the deck, they saw the sea sprawling endlessly before them. Sarah let out a low whistle. “This is incredible. Can you imagine waking up to this every day?”
“It really is paradise,” Harry agreed, feeling the sea breeze on her face and letting her eyes linger on the horizon where sky kissed water.
The reception office was tucked away at the back of the deck, a cozy little nook filled with useful travel brochures and maps. A friendly-looking receptionist was sitting behind a bamboo counter, but what caught Harry’s eye was the glass-fronted fridge standing to the side of it. It was filled with an assortment of cold beverages—from coconut water to local beers.
“Hey, check this out,” she said to Sarah, who was still captivated by the view. Harry gestured toward a handwritten note taped to the fridge. “They’ve got an honor system here. You just jot down what you took and your name and they add it to your bill later.”
Sarah walked over and read the note. “That’s so trusting. I love how laid-back this place seems.”
Both of them felt a wave of relaxation wash over them.
“Sawasdee kha. Welcome to Mango Moon Hideaway!” the petite Thai woman with a heart-shaped face said, greeting them warmly as they approached the reception counter. “My name’s Somchai, and you must be Harry, Sarah, and Euclid. We’ve been expecting you.”
“Thank you, Somchai,” Harry replied, taking in her kind eyes and inviting smile. “We’re thrilled to be here.”
Somchai handed them their keys. “Your reserved accommodation is down this way, on the cliffside, not far from the beach. Would you please follow me?”
As they prepared to leave the reception area, Harry noticed a colorful flyer for a Thai cooking class tucked in among other tourist information pamphlets. She picked up the paper and showed it to Sarah. “What do you think? A cooking class might be a fun way to immerse ourselves in Thai culture.”
“Sounds amazing,” Sarah agreed. “The food in Thailand has been so good; it would be great to learn how to make some of it ourselves.”
They followed Somchai down a stepped gravel pathway framed by lush tropical vegetation descending towards the beach. The air grew thicker with the briny scent of the ocean as they reached their small one-room huts.
“As you can see, each hut comes with its own bathroom and a hammock to enjoy the view,” Somchai explained, setting down their bags. “If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“It’s all wonderful,” Sarah said. “By the way, your English is impeccable. Did you learn it here on the island?” the English teacher in Sarah couldn’t help but ask.
Somchai blushed a little. “Thank you so much. I went to an American school in Bangkok. I grew up there, but I prefer the slow pace of the islands.”
“I don’t blame you,” Sarah answered.
Just as Somchai was turning to leave, a booming voice echoed from the top of the path. “Ah, fresh faces! Welcome, welcome to paradise!”
Harry, Sarah, and Euclid turned around in unison to see a tall, slightly overweight man with dark, thick hair sauntering towards them. He carried himself with an air of self-assurance that bordered on arrogance.
“Reggie’s the name, and this is my sanctuary, my Utopia, my Eden, if you will!” He stretched out his arms as if he were embracing the horizon. “Bet you’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
Harry couldn’t shake off the feeling that she had seen Reggie before; his tall stature, muscular build, and dandy appearance reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t put her finger on who.
“It’s beautiful,” Sarah said politely.
“Beautiful? My dear, it’s magnificent, awe-inspiring, a marvel of modern hospitality. Took all my money to carve this Eden out of the wilderness.”
Harry and Euclid exchanged glances, clearly picking up on Reggie’s pompous demeanor. It was when she heard his Australian accent that she realized who Reggie reminded her of.
“It’s wonderful,” Harry finally said. “I’m sure it has taken many years to develop this resort.”
“Years? No, I don’t have that much patience. I opened the place two years ago, and it was an immediate success. We’ve been featured in top travel magazines around the world as a must-stay-and-see destination in the Gulf of Thailand.” He winked exaggeratedly and turned back up the path. “Enjoy your stay!”
As Reggie’s voice trailed off, Somchai rolled her eyes and then smiled at the guests. “If there’s anything you need, please let us know. Have a wonderful time.”
Somchai was about to head back to the reception when she remembered something.
“By the way, we are having a crab feast tonight on the restaurant deck if you’d like to come. One of our guests has generously purchased three cases of fresh crab and has asked our chef to prepare something special for everyone to share,” Somchai informed them before ascending to the reception area.
“That sounds wonderful,” Sarah said. “Are you coming, Harry?”
“Yes, of course. It sounds like it might be fun. By the way, don’t you think that Reggie looks just like Matt Preston? He could be his twin brother.”
“Harry, you know very well I don’t follow celebrities.” Euclid gave his friend a look of fake indignation.
“He has no idea who Matt Preston is,” Sarah added, laughing at her boyfriend’s ignorance concerning minor celebrities. “But I agree with you. Reggie does look like that tall guy who used to be the judge on MasterChef Australia. The resemblance is uncanny.”
Harry, Euclid, and Sarah retreated into their respective huts to rest and freshen up, each pondering Reggie’s larger-than-life personality.
Download your free review copy from Booksprout until the 15th January 2025!
Buy now from Amazon or read on Kindle Unlimited: https://mybook.to/moonlitsecrets
Sabina Ostrowska 