As Halloween approaches and the Carolina Beach boardwalk fills with lanterns, legends, and literary fans, Juliet Knight and her Aunt Linda are hosting Salt & Spirits: A Southern Gothic Author & Fan Festival—a three-day celebration of storytelling, suspense, and Southern charm. Between managing their antique shop Trinkets & Treasures and recording their hit podcast The Knight Shift, the duo is ready for a weekend of folklore and festivities. Romance simmers beneath the surface as Juliet finds herself caught between the lingering sparks of Deputy Cole Barrett—whose Fourth of July kiss still haunts her heart—and the magnetic charm of a visiting Southern Gothic author who seems to know just how to stir things up. But when the festival’s headline guest, a bestselling female author known for her haunting prose and reclusive nature, vanishes before her final appearance, whispers begin to swirl. With Sheriff Arden Hartley leading the investigation and secrets surfacing from every corner of the boardwalk, Linda and Juliet once again find themselves tangled in a mystery that’s anything but fictional. With Mr. Peepers, the shop’s brooding Scottish Fold, and Lady Bug, their pampered house cat, offering silent support, the Knights must unravel a chilling tale before the last jack-o’-lantern flickers out. Salt & Spirits is a cozy coastal mystery steeped in atmosphere, flirtation, and folklore—perfect for fans who love their suspense served with Southern soul.