The Familiar Stranger

In a town of secrets, even the books whisper

By: River Penumbra

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

When the town librarian dies under suspicious circumstances, reclusive bookshop owner Clara Blue discovers that some secrets are worth killing for.

Clara came to the coastal village of Thistlewood seeking anonymity—inheriting her aunt's quirky bookshop and settling into a life of quiet routine. But when books start rearranging themselves overnight and her rescue cat begins offering sardonic commentary that only she can hear, Clara realizes her inheritance came with more than dusty shelves and unpaid bills.

The death of local librarian Hazel Tilling should have been a tragic accident. Instead, it's the first thread in a conspiracy that reaches back centuries, involving ancient agreements, territorial disputes, and magic that most of Thistlewood's residents have forgotten ever existed.

With a talking cat as her reluctant guide and a mystery that deepens with every page she turns, Clara must embrace abilities she never knew she possessed—before the next "accident" silences her forever.

Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a supernatural twist, "The Familiar Stranger" weaves together small-town secrets, ancient magic, and the unbreakable bond between a woman and her mysteriously intelligent cat.