An Ocean Away (Barrier Island Series Book 2)

A family reunion at sea becomes a fight for survival.

Claudia Mercer is ready for a fresh start. With the ghosts of her past behind her, a luxury yacht voyage to Bermuda for her parents’ fortieth anniversary seems like the perfect chance to reconnect with family—and perhaps explore a growing romance with Wyatt Vicente.

But Claudia has reservations about the Aruba Belle and its larger-than-life captain. When a violent storm closes in, his reckless behavior puts everyone aboard in danger. Overheard conversations hint at hidden motives, passengers begin to disappear, and the possibility of murder turns an idyllic family reunion into a tense struggle to uncover the truth.

Set against the beaches and marinas of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the open Atlantic, and the shores of Bermuda, An Ocean Away by Susan Thumm Paxton blends atmospheric mystery, family drama, suspense, and characters whose secrets are never far beneath the surface.

Discover An Ocean Away, a standalone mystery for readers who enjoy high-seas suspense, complicated families, shifting alliances, and danger in unexpected places.

Excerpt from the book

Claudia

Claudia turned her head from the rain-splotched windshield. Wyatt’s taunt grip on the steering wheel made her stomach clench. He stared at the lashing rain. “It’s not about the oysters,” he said, his voice low. “Or the rain.”

They’d been over this. She kept her voice light to hide her anxiety. “We can stop somewhere until the rain lets up.” The two-lane highway would widen to four once they entered the larger town of Nags Head. They could wait out the storm in the parking lot of one of the many strip malls.

“I can drive in this. Rowen expects us.”

“Oh.” So this was about Rowen. Wyatt hadn’t mentioned his son as a reason for the unexpected excursion. She knew Wyatt’s relationship with Rowen had been tense ever since Rowen dropped out of college and took a job as a barback at a popular Sound front restaurant in Manteo. Rowen had called it “taking a gap year.” Wyatt had a different view.

“Rowen still working the afternoon shift?” She kept her voice casual. No need to get in the middle of their father-son dynamic. She and Wyatt were both in their mid-thirties, but Wyatt had become a father when he was about Rowen’s age and raised the boy on his own. Father and son had been through a lot together. She and Wyatt had literally weathered a difficult time a year ago, but since then, they’d eased into a relationship that had brought Claudia more joy than she’d known in years.

Wyatt frowned. “There’s someone he wants us to meet. Not sure who or why.” Wyatt shrugged. “Guess we’ll soon find out.”

Claudia wondered why Rowen would want her here. She hoped it wasn’t to be a buffer for a conflict that might upset Wyatt. Maybe he’d changed his mind about going back to college.

The crunch of the tires on the oyster shell parking lot of the restaurant coincided with the let up of rain. Claudia raced to the entrance and opened the door to find the benches lining the narrow hallway filled with waiting customers and buzzing with the energy of a popular hangout.

Rowen had assured his dad he’d made a reservation. The wait person beckoned when Claudia gave the name and led Clauda to a high-top table across from the long bar. “Here you are.” Claudia slid onto a chair. When she spied a head of hair the color of onyx bent behind the bar, she relaxed a bit. At lease she could see Rowen from here. She heard the crunching of ice. Good thing Rowen had swimmer muscles. Shoveling ice for a crowd like the one today wouldn’t be easy.