A Sticky End in Mercy Crossing

A retired outlaw finds a dead preacher in his molasses barrel.

Eighteen years ago, Vincent Sharman traded his outlaw past for the quiet life of a frontier general store owner in Mercy Crossing. He's kept his head down and his hands busy, until a late summer delivery brings more than just supplies: a travelling preacher, dead and hidden amongst the sweet, dark syrup. With a bloodstained hymnal nearby, old instincts rise in Vincent, urging him to keep quiet and trust no one. But this time, he chooses a different path, involving the town marshal and a motley crew of neighbours whose practical skills offer unique ways to decipher the grim discovery.

As Vincent and his allies meticulously piece together clues from ledgers, equipment, and witness accounts at the provisions shop, livery, print shop, clinic, and cooperage, they uncover a private grievance tied to a disputed charitable collection. Each new detail - the barrel's journey, the limited blood loss, the planted hymnal - points in a different direction, until the townsfolk compare their observations. Can they expose the true culprit before the trail goes cold, or will the secrets of Mercy Crossing remain hidden?

Unravel the mystery with Vincent Sharman and discover who gave the preacher a sticky end.