Codebreakers - (Wordhunter Mystery) by Stella Sands (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"What a captivating book! Clever, smart, ingenious, and absolutely irresistible." - Hank Phillippi Ryan

Maggie Moore and Detective Jackson, the genius sleuths introduced in the brain-teaser mystery Wordhunter, are back to solve another crime.

Steamy, seedy, swampy south-central Florida once again serves as the backdrop for the unlikely duo of loquacious, tattooed, trash-talking Maggie Moore and laconic Detective Silas Gabriel Jackson--linguistic genius and genius detective, respectively. Now operating their own agency and using their extraordinary skills in forensic semiotics (her), and good old-fashioned observation (him), the pair decode clues embedded in words and symbols to uncover a sadistic criminal who preys upon unsuspecting men.

The troubled and painful pasts of both Maggie and Jackson come into play as they try to track down bad guys and old friends, figure out how to trust--and whom to love. Once again, Stella Sands delivers a snappy, sharp-tongued and well observed story about life, love, and language.

"The most addictive crime/buddy/whodunnitnovel you'll ever read." - Jenna Blum

Review Quotes

"The two new partners in the S and M Detective Agency untangle a trio of unrelated cases . . . If this sounds like quite the breakfast buffet, it is . . . [with a ] down-home setting and rat-a-tat dialogue." ⎯ Kirkus Reviews

"As original and colorful as an expert tattoo, CODEBREAKERS is Florida-crazy (and you know that's pretty crazy), mad salty, and every-page laugh-out-loud hilarious, the most addictive crime/buddy/whodunnit novel you'll ever read, about one seriously badass woman and the power of words." ⎯ Jenna Blum, bestselling author of The Lost Family

"What a captivating book! Clever, smart, ingenious, and absolutely irresistible. If you love words, if you love twisty mysteries, and if you love a quirky genius of a main character, Codebreakers will be your new favorite book. Puzzles within puzzles propel this innovative and unique story⎯relentlessly tense and completely heartbreaking at the same time. Standing ovation for the talented Stella Sands⎯I absolutely loved this." ⎯ Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of All This Could Be Yours

"The unpredictable duo of Maggie and Detective Jackson are great fun to spend time with." - Wall Street Journal on Wordhunter

"A sloppy but talented student of forensic linguistics is summoned to help solve the abduction of a Florida mayor in this thriller that will appeal to fans of mysteries and wordplay alike. Think Wordle meets CSI: Miami and you're on the right track." - Seattle Times on Wordhunter

"Maggie Moore is tattooed and pierced and drinks beer for breakfast, but she's also a linguistic savant with a lightning quick mind. In short, she's a winning protagonist for a smart, original, and entirely entertaining mystery. If you love words, puzzles, or just a well crafted story, you will love Wordhunter." - Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Find Me, on Wordhunter

"True crime author Sands makes an auspicious fiction debut with this crackling mystery centered on a Lisbeth Salanderesque savant. . . . Sands nails the genius investigator formula on her first try, spinning Maggie into a memorable heroine and handing her an enthralling first case. This transfixes from the first page." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Wordhunter