Booked in Betrayal - Cape Fear Bookshop Mysteries - Book Five

Aug 2, 2026

A mystery unfolds at Page’s Bookshop in Southport as the calm after-hours routine collapses into unease around Gracie Jean and Danny’s unsolved case. When she confesses she traveled to Charlotte to investigate details connected to Foster Bellamy, their relationship fractures between trust and secrecy. Evidence emerges from auction house records, including misleading appraisals, driving Page deeper into betrayal, deception, and looming danger.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages202

Reading Time5 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Booked in Betrayal

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

BOOKED IN BETRAYAL CAPE FEAR BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES BOOK FIVE [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) CONTENTS Booked in Betrayal Dedication Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) A Cape Fear Bookshop Mystery – Book 5 Simone Stier [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) © 2026 Simone Stier All Rights Reserved This book may not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Except for review quotes. This is a work of fiction. All people, places, names, and events are products of the author ’s imagination or a mysterious coincidence. Cover art by Mariah Sinclair [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) To amateur sleuths everywhere … [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) CHAPTER 1 By Sunday evening, Page’s Bookshop had settled into its after-hours quiet, but I was nowhere near settled. I went to the cafe in back, poured myself a fresh cup of Earl Grey and glanced toward Gracie Jean behind the counter. “I’ll be in the garden,” I told Gracie Jean. She gave a curt nod from behind the counter. I pointed to the coffee pot.“Join me when that finishes.” Gracie Jean peered over the top of her readers, then slipped them off so they dangled from the chain around her neck. For a second, I thought she might come up with an excuse. She had been doing that for two weeks now—sidestepping, delaying, promising she’d explain things when the time was right. Apparently, the time had arrived. For me, anyway. I carried my tea and a light cardigan outside and crossed the garden to the bench beneath the giant oak tree. Cali padded alongside me and sprang into my lap the second I sat down, settling herself like she’d been invited. The afternoon breeze carried the faint briny scent of the Cape Fear, along with the sweetness of jasmine drifting from the fence line. Summer had settled over Southport with a graceful charm. Very different from summer in the city. The garden was lush and full, green leaves crowding the beds while splashes of purple, pink and burgundy from the zinnias and vinca brightened the edges of the path. I let myself enjoy the quiet for a moment. The weekend had been steady at the shop. Tourists hunting for beach reads. Regulars drifting in for tea, coffee and whatever book they hadn’t meant to buy until I put it in their hands. I loved helping people find the right story. I did. But by Sunday evening, my smile usually felt a little wilted. Cali purred against my arm as I stroked her back. What had worn on me most wasn’t the weekend crowd. It was Gracie Jean. Ever since Pirate Week ended, every time I’d tried to circle back to our last conversation about Danny’s case, she’d found a way to put me off. She was still sorting things out. I was busy restocking inventory. There was more to explain, but she wanted to be locked in. It had started to feel less like caution and more like avoidance. I was done letting it slide. A moment later, the French doors opened. Gracie Jean came into the garden with a mug of black coffee in one hand. Her teal caftan, patterned with white zigzags, fluttered lightly in the breeze as she made her way down the path. She sat beside me without any preamble. “A few weeks back, I went to Charlotte on my own and met with Foster Bellamy at Mariner Auction House.” I turned to look at her.“You did what?” “I went to Charlotte to follow up on that consignee listed on the bill of lading declaration.” “Without me?” “You were busy with Pirate Week.” “So were you. When did you even have time?” She took a sip of coffee and said nothing, which was her way of telling me that question no longer mattered. Maybe it didn’t. I still didn’t like it. “I’m not sure how I feel about you sneaking around behind my

FAQs

What triggers the main conflict in the opening chapter?

Page is unsettled by Gracie Jean’s ongoing avoidance of their earlier discussion about Danny’s case, and the tension escalates once Gracie Jean reveals her independent actions in Charlotte.

What did Gracie Jean do in Charlotte, and why does it matter?

She met with Foster Bellamy at Mariner Auction House to follow up on a consignee listed on shipping paperwork, which connects to later evidence about falsified valuations.

How does Page react when she sees the auction-related evidence?

Page discovers that the valuation shown on the appraisals indicates the painting was not genuine and that the appraisals were fabricated, leaving her shocked and determined to understand what it means.

Aug 2, 2026

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