The White Deer

An Ed and Annie DeCleryk Holiday Mystery

Magic is in the air for Lighthouse Cove, NY criminal consultant Ed DeCleryk and his wife, Annie, who heads the local historical society and museum, when one starry evening just before Christmas they spot an ephemeral white deer standing by an oak tree in their yard. Then, as suddenly as it appears, it disappears.
That same night Annie hears pacing on the widow’s walk of their circa 1870s home, built by sea captain Samuel Weatherfield for his young, beautiful wife, Lorelei. She’s certain it’s Lorelei’s ghost trying to tell her something, but Ed thinks what she heard were birds prancing on the roof. Then, after Ed has retired for the night, the deer reappears in the yard, this time with Lorelei by its side, and Annie is certain they are sending her a message.
Ed is positive there’s a rational explanation for the supernatural sightings; that is, until he and Annie discover skeletal bones next to the oak when they decide to plant their live Christmas tree during an early January thaw. What follows is a charming tale of a devastating loss, the enduring power of love, and reconciliation that occurs despite the odds.
Annie likes to bake, and at the end of the book she shares recipes she prepared for family and friends during the holiday season.