Sea turtles. Murder. Politics. Romance. This stunning debut novel, often compared to Delia Owens's Where the Crawdads Sing and John Grisham's The Pelican Brief, takes place on a South Carolina barrier island, where murder brings together a sea turtle biologist and a local detective to unravel a mystery that might impact the race for the White House.

In late May, loggerhead sea turtles should be nesting on Anders Isle and scientist Brooke Edens should feel more at home on the island where she grew up. But something is amiss. When a dead body surfaces along with other big crimes, Brooke finds herself entangled in a homicide investigation with detective Drew Young, her closest friend (and sometimes love interest). At the same time, a favorite candidate is emerging for the upcoming US presidential election, and he happens to be the father of Brooke's ex-fiancé. While Brooke's knowledge of sea turtles helps Drew discover and decipher evidence, the many revelations, betrayals, and secrets threaten not only the investigation but also Brooke's closest relationships and her beloved turtles. Will they be able to untangle the web of crimes and catch the killer before it's too late?

Captivating, clever, and timely, At Loggerheads is a love letter to the barrier islands and coastal towns of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where the often-opposing forces of Mother Nature and human nature influence what people will do for money, for power, and for love.

Author Bio: KRISTEN NESS grew up in South Carolina and serves as a volunteer for the Island Turtle Team on Isle of Palms, SC. A graduate of Duke University and the University of South Carolina School of Law, she is an immigration attorney obsessed with marine biology. She lives near the coast in Charleston, South Carolina, with her family. At Loggerheads is her first novel.