Cozy Under The Sun by Zara Altair

Jake Cozzens, affectionately nicknamed "Cozy" by his cop peers, finds tranquility disrupted by a mysterious phone call. Gail Fogarty, an old acquaintance now immersed in IT, reaches out with a chilling concern: her young son Ricky has claimed to find a dead body, only for it to vanish before police could verify the tale. Drawn by curiosity and a need for truth, Jake leaves his sunny sanctuary in Carlsbad for the picturesque yet deceptive serenity of Del Mar.

Follow Jake as he navigates through thick-skinned vegetation, secrets buried in idyllic suburban settings, and a tightly-knit community where appearances deceive and danger lurks just inches beneath the surface. In this sun-drenched mystery, Jake must piece together clues from the unlikeliest of witnesses—a determined 8-year-old with dreams of justice—to uncover a hidden truth and possibly unearth more than he ever expected. 

Tightly written and infused with the warmth of coastal California, "Cozy Under The Sun" is a gripping tale of deception, innocence, and the relentless pursuit of truth.