Blood in the Garden

Harper Starling, a woman with a dark past, has found refuge in Cape Carnage, a quirky coastal town with a macabre reputation. She's the town's gardener—and its secret protector, disposing of predatory tourists with ruthless efficiency. Her garden flourishes, nourished by the remains of those who threaten her sanctuary. Harper's only confidant is Arthur, an elderly man with fading memories and a hidden history of violence. Together, they maintain a fragile peace, but Harper's sense of safety is as brittle as the bones she buries. The arrival of tourist season brings new dangers, and Harper's resolve to protect her home is tested as the ghosts of her past begin to stir.

Arrival of the Hunter

Nolan Rhodes, scarred in body and soul, arrives in Cape Carnage under the guise of a vacationer. Beneath his charming exterior lies a relentless predator, driven by the loss of his brother in a hit-and-run years ago. Each year, on the anniversary, Nolan claims a new victim, hunting those responsible for his pain. Cape Carnage is his final destination, and Harper Starling is his ultimate target. He checks into the local inn, his mind consumed by vengeance and the meticulous scrapbook of his kills. Nolan's presence is a storm on the horizon, promising chaos for the town and for Harper, who has no idea that the hunter has finally found her.

Tangled Fates Collide

Harper and Nolan's paths cross in a local coffee shop, their banter laced with flirtation and suspicion. Harper, ever vigilant, senses something off about the newcomer, while Nolan is both captivated and unsettled by her. Their chemistry is undeniable, but beneath the surface, each is hunting the other. As they walk through town together, the tension between them grows, both drawn in by the thrill of the unknown. Harper's carefully constructed life begins to unravel as Nolan's true intentions edge closer to the surface, and the line between predator and prey blurs with every shared glance.

Ghosts and Guardians

Harper's bond with Arthur deepens as she cares for him through his cognitive decline, their relationship a lifeline for them both. Arthur's past as a killer and his fading grip on reality threaten to expose them, especially as he grows more unpredictable. Meanwhile, Nolan's investigation intensifies, using local connections and technology to surveil Harper. The town's quirky façade hides a web of secrets, and as both Harper and Nolan dig deeper, they find themselves haunted by memories and hunted by those who would see them destroyed. The arrival of a true crime sleuth, Sam Porter, adds another layer of peril, as he begins to unravel the mysteries of Cape Carnage.

Predator Meets Prey

Nolan's obsession with Harper reaches a breaking point when he witnesses another man stalking her. In a violent act, Nolan eliminates the threat, leaving a gruesome message for Harper. Instead of fear, Harper responds with defiance, confronting Nolan in her garden. Their mutual recognition as killers creates a volatile truce, each testing the other's limits. The town becomes a chessboard, with Harper and Nolan maneuvering for advantage, their interactions charged with both animosity and attraction. The balance of power shifts as they realize they may need each other to survive the dangers closing in.

Dangerous Games Begin

The arrival of Sam Porter, the relentless sleuth, forces Harper and Nolan into an uneasy partnership. Sam's investigation threatens to expose not only Arthur's crimes but Harper's as well. With the sale of a property looming—and sixteen bodies buried on the land—Harper enlists Nolan's help to exhume and relocate the evidence. Their nights become a grim ritual of digging and deception, their days filled with suspicion and longing. As they work together, the boundaries between enemy and ally blur, and a dangerous intimacy grows. Each is haunted by the possibility of betrayal, but neither can walk away.

Unearthing the Past

Harper and Nolan's nightly exhumations force them to confront the ghosts of their pasts. The physical labor is grueling, but the emotional toll is greater. Harper's trauma resurfaces, memories of captivity and loss bleeding into the present. Nolan's rage simmers as he struggles with his desire for vengeance and his growing feelings for Harper. Their conversations, often sharp and defensive, begin to reveal vulnerabilities. The town's history of violence echoes in their actions, and as the bodies are unearthed, so too are the truths they've tried to bury. The past refuses to stay dead, threatening to consume them both.

Enemies in Alliance

As Sam's investigation closes in, Harper and Nolan's alliance is strained by suspicion and fear. Each questions the other's motives, their mutual blackmail a fragile tether. Harper's loyalty to Arthur and the town wars with her need for self-preservation, while Nolan's obsession with justice is complicated by his attraction to Harper. Their partnership is a dance of dominance and submission, trust and treachery. When a near-fatal accident forces them to rely on each other, the walls between them begin to crumble. In the darkness, they find a twisted comfort, their shared monstrosity a bond neither expected.

The Sleuth Arrives

Sam, driven by ambition and a thirst for recognition, becomes a relentless force in Cape Carnage. His investigation is methodical, exploiting every weakness he finds. He surveils Harper, collects evidence, and manipulates the town's residents. Sam's presence is a catalyst, pushing Harper and Nolan to desperate measures. As he closes in on the truth, the danger escalates for everyone involved. The town's secrets are on the verge of exposure, and the fragile alliances holding the darkness at bay begin to fracture. Sam's pursuit is not just of a story, but of the power that comes with unmasking monsters.

Nightmares and Confessions

The relentless pressure of their situation forces Harper and Nolan to confront their deepest fears. Nightmares plague them both—Harper relives her captivity and loss, while Nolan is haunted by the death of his brother and his own capacity for violence. In moments of vulnerability, they confess pieces of their pasts, finding solace in shared pain. Their intimacy deepens, transforming from antagonism to something raw and real. But trust is a double-edged sword, and each revelation brings new risks. As the line between love and hate blurs, they must decide whether to cling to their old wounds or forge a new path together.

Death on the Doorstep

The fragile peace of Cape Carnage shatters as Arthur, in a moment of confusion and old habit, kills again. Harper and Nolan are forced to cover up the crime, their complicity binding them tighter. The town's veneer of normalcy cracks, and the threat of exposure looms larger than ever. Sam's investigation reaches a fever pitch, and the danger to Harper, Nolan, and Arthur becomes existential. In the chaos, Harper and Nolan's relationship is pushed to its limits, their loyalty to each other and to the town tested by blood and betrayal. The cost of survival grows higher with every choice.

Trust and Treachery

As the net tightens, Harper and Nolan are forced to confront the truth about each other. Secrets are revealed—identities, motives, and the real story behind the hit-and-run that set everything in motion. Nolan discovers that Harper is not who he thought she was, and the revelation shakes the foundation of their bond. Betrayal and forgiveness become intertwined, and both must decide whether to cling to vengeance or embrace the possibility of redemption. The town's fate hangs in the balance, and the monsters they've become may be the only ones capable of saving it.

Racing Toward Ruin

The annual Carnival of Carnage brings chaos to town, and Harper's participation in the soapbox race ends in disaster. A sabotaged car sends her careening off a cliff and into the sea, echoing the trauma of her past. Nolan, witnessing her fall, dives in to save her, risking his own life. The rescue is harrowing, and Harper's near-death experience forces both to confront the depth of their feelings. The town watches, oblivious to the true stakes, as the real battle for survival plays out beneath the surface. The race becomes a metaphor for their desperate struggle against fate.

Drowning and Resurrection

Harper's brush with death leaves her physically and emotionally shattered. Nolan, haunted by the possibility of losing her, stays by her side, their connection deepening in the aftermath. The experience becomes a crucible, burning away old grievances and forging a new bond. Both are changed—Harper, by the realization that she wants more than mere survival; Nolan, by the understanding that love can be as powerful as vengeance. As they heal, the threats around them intensify, and they must decide whether to run from the darkness or face it together. Resurrection comes at a price, and the past is not done with them yet.

The Truth Submerged

The investigation into the sunken van and the true identity of Harper comes to a head. Nolan uncovers the truth: Harper is not the woman who destroyed his life, but a survivor with her own scars. The revelation is both a relief and a new source of pain, as Nolan grapples with guilt and the possibility of forgiveness. The town's secrets, long buried, begin to surface, and the threat of exposure grows. The Sleuthseekers mobilize, drawn by the scent of blood and the promise of fame. Harper and Nolan must decide whether to flee or fight, their love tested by the weight of truth.

The Final Exhumation

With time running out, Harper and Nolan race to finish exhuming the bodies before the land sale is finalized. The work is grueling, the risks immense. Sam's investigation reaches its climax, and the threat of discovery is ever-present. In a final confrontation, violence erupts, and the cost of survival becomes clear. The town's fate, and their own, hangs by a thread. As the last secrets are unearthed, Harper and Nolan must choose between self-preservation and sacrifice, between running from their pasts and claiming a future together. The exhumation is both literal and symbolic—a reckoning with all that has been buried.

Love Among Monsters

In the aftermath of violence and revelation, Harper and Nolan find solace in each other. Their love, forged in blood and betrayal, becomes a sanctuary against the world. They accept the monsters within themselves and each other, finding beauty in the broken places. The town, forever changed, settles into a new equilibrium, its secrets safe for now. Harper and Nolan's relationship is a testament to the possibility of redemption, even for those who have walked through hell. Together, they face the future, knowing that love among monsters is still love—and perhaps the only kind that can survive in Cape Carnage.

The Storm Breaks

Just as Harper and Nolan find a fragile peace, the consequences of their actions ripple outward. The deaths of Sam and his assistant draw the attention of the Sleuthseekers, who mobilize for war. The town braces for the coming storm, its secrets threatened by those who would expose them for glory. In the shadows, a greater evil stirs—one who has watched and waited, ready to claim the title of monster for himself. The story ends on the cusp of upheaval, with Harper and Nolan united but surrounded by danger. The storm has broken, and the true test is yet to come.

Characters

Harper Starling (Autumn Bower)

Harper is a woman forged by trauma, having survived captivity and the loss of her beloved Adam. She reinvents herself in Cape Carnage, adopting a new identity and channeling her pain into vigilantism. As the town's gardener and secret executioner, she is fiercely protective of her sanctuary and those she loves, especially Arthur. Harper's psyche is a labyrinth of guilt, grief, and resilience; she is both monster and martyr, capable of tenderness and brutality. Her relationship with Nolan is a crucible—he is both her nemesis and her salvation. Over the course of the story, Harper learns to trust, to love, and to accept the darkness within herself, finding redemption not in innocence, but in the courage to face her past and fight for her future.

Nolan Rhodes

Nolan is a man consumed by vengeance after the death of his brother in a hit-and-run. Scarred physically and emotionally, he channels his pain into a ritual of retribution, hunting those responsible and memorializing his kills in a macabre scrapbook. Nolan's arrival in Cape Carnage is the culmination of years of obsession, but his encounter with Harper destabilizes his purpose. He is both predator and prey, drawn to Harper's strength and haunted by his own capacity for violence. Nolan's journey is one of transformation—from a man defined by loss and rage to one capable of forgiveness and love. His relationship with Harper is fraught with danger and desire, and through her, he finds a reason to live beyond vengeance.

Arthur Lancaster

Arthur is the aging scion of Cape Carnage, a man whose past is steeped in blood and secrets. Once a formidable protector of the town, he now battles cognitive decline, his memories slipping away even as his instincts for violence persist. Arthur's relationship with Harper is deeply paternal; she is both his confidant and his caretaker. His decline is a source of heartbreak and danger, as his actions threaten to expose them both. Arthur embodies the tragedy of lost greatness and the terror of becoming a danger to those he loves. His legacy is both a burden and a gift, shaping Harper's path and the fate of the town.

Sam Porter

Sam is an ambitious true crime investigator, driven by the desire for recognition and the thrill of the hunt. His arrival in Cape Carnage sets off a chain reaction, forcing secrets into the light and pushing Harper and Nolan to desperate measures. Sam is methodical, manipulative, and ultimately ruthless, willing to break laws and endanger lives for his story. He represents the voyeuristic hunger of the outside world, the threat of exposure, and the moral ambiguity of justice. Sam's pursuit is both a mirror and a foil to Harper and Nolan's own darkness, and his downfall is a testament to the dangers of obsession.

Lukas Lancaster

Lukas is Arthur's grandson and Harper's closest friend in Cape Carnage. He is the town's moral compass, embodying kindness, loyalty, and a quiet strength. Lukas is largely unaware of the true extent of the darkness surrounding him, but his trust in Harper is unwavering. He provides emotional support and practical help, safeguarding secrets and offering moments of levity. Lukas's innocence is both a shield and a vulnerability, and his presence is a reminder of what is worth protecting in a world gone mad.

Morpheus (the Raven)

Morpheus is Harper's hand-raised raven, a creature of intelligence and eerie mimicry. He serves as both a pet and a harbinger, his presence a constant reminder of death and the cyclical nature of violence. Morpheus's ability to speak and his taste for human remains add a layer of dark humor and symbolism, representing the thin line between nature and monstrosity, and the inevitability of fate.

Sheriff Yates

Sheriff Yates is the face of law and order in Cape Carnage, outwardly genial but with a calculating mind. He is both an obstacle and an enabler, turning a blind eye to the town's secrets when it suits him. Yates's true allegiance is ambiguous, and his actions suggest a deeper involvement in the town's darkness. He is a reminder that authority is not always just, and that the greatest threats may come from those sworn to protect.

Maya

Maya is the town's chemist and purveyor of magical mixtures, providing Harper with both practical tools and emotional support. She is perceptive, resourceful, and quietly courageous, offering wisdom and assistance without judgment. Maya's presence is a stabilizing force, her shop a haven for those navigating the town's dangers. She represents the possibility of healing and the importance of community in the face of chaos.

Vinny Meschino

Vinny is Sam's assistant and drone operator, drawn into the investigation by loyalty and curiosity. He is ultimately a victim of forces beyond his control, his fate a warning about the dangers of meddling in secrets too dark to comprehend. Vinny's role is minor but poignant, illustrating the collateral damage wrought by obsession and the cost of proximity to power.

Adam Cunningham

Adam is Harper's (Autumn's) beloved, murdered during their captivity years before. His presence lingers as a source of grief, guilt, and motivation. Adam's memory shapes Harper's choices, her promise to survive and protect others rooted in the love they shared. He is both a ghost and a guiding light, the wound that never fully heals but also the reason Harper fights to reclaim her life.

Plot Devices

Dual Narratives and Shifting Perspectives

The novel employs a dual narrative structure, alternating between Harper and Nolan's points of view. This device allows readers to inhabit the minds of both hunter and hunted, blurring the line between villain and victim. The shifting perspectives create dramatic irony, as each character's secrets and motivations are revealed to the reader before they are known to each other. This structure heightens tension, deepens character development, and invites empathy for both protagonists, even as they plot each other's destruction.

Symbolism and Motifs

The story is rich with symbolic elements: the garden nourished by blood, the raven as a harbinger, the ouroboros tattoo representing cycles of destruction and renewal, and the recurring motif of exhumation—both literal and metaphorical. These symbols reinforce the novel's exploration of trauma, survival, and the possibility of redemption. The soapbox race, the sunken van, and the act of digging up bodies all serve as metaphors for confronting the past and unearthing buried truths.

Foreshadowing and Red Herrings

The narrative is laced with foreshadowing, from the early mention of the woodchipper to the arrival of Sam Porter and the looming threat of exposure. Red herrings abound, as characters misinterpret each other's actions and the true nature of the town's darkness is gradually revealed. The use of misdirection keeps readers guessing, sustaining suspense and complicating the moral landscape.

Blackmail and Leverage

The alliance between Harper and Nolan is built on mutual blackmail—each holds evidence that could destroy the other. This device creates a tense dynamic, as trust is always provisional and betrayal a constant possibility. The shifting balance of power drives the plot, forcing the characters into ever more desperate and intimate collaboration.

Trauma and Memory

Both protagonists are haunted by trauma, their actions and relationships shaped by memories they cannot escape. The novel explores the unreliability of memory, the ways in which pain distorts perception, and the struggle to reclaim agency in the aftermath of violence. The exhumation of bodies becomes a metaphor for the excavation of buried pain, and healing is depicted as a process of confronting, rather than erasing, the past.

Subversion of Genre Tropes

The novel subverts expectations by blending the conventions of dark romance, psychological thriller, and small-town mystery. The protagonists are both killers, their love story unfolding amid violence and moral ambiguity. The town itself is a character, its quirky charm masking a history of bloodshed. The narrative structure, tone, and plot devices all work to destabilize easy judgments, inviting readers to question the nature of justice, love, and monstrosity.

Analysis

Tourist Season is a razor-sharp, darkly comic exploration of trauma, vengeance, and the search for redemption among monsters. By centering two serial killers—each shaped by loss and violence—the novel subverts the conventions of both romance and crime fiction, inviting readers to empathize with characters who are both perpetrators and victims. The story interrogates the nature of justice, the allure of vigilantism, and the cost of survival in a world that punishes vulnerability. Through its dual narrative, the book examines how love can grow in the most inhospitable soil, and how trust, once broken, can be rebuilt through shared pain and mutual recognition. The setting of Cape Carnage, with its blend of quirky charm and lurking menace, serves as a microcosm for the human psyche—beautiful, haunted, and capable of both cruelty and grace. Ultimately, Tourist Season suggests that redemption is not found in innocence, but in the courage to face one's darkness, to love without illusion, and to fight for a future that is always at risk. The novel's blend of violence, humor, and tenderness challenges readers to reconsider the boundaries of morality and the possibility of forgiveness, even for those who have walked through hell.

Last updated: September 24, 2025