Grasping for Breadcrumbs is Available on Amazon

Available on Kindle eBook, Kindle Unlimited and Paperback

A missing sister. A past that won’t let go. A crossroads leading to salvation or lost humanity.

It’s June 1976 on Florida’s Gulf Coast when private investigator Jason Jensen’s dependable Wednesday night call from his kid sister, Jillian, never comes. Within hours he’s chasing whispers—an abandoned car, a deli order left unclaimed, a pale stranger with haunted eyes. When Jillian is spotted at a Tallahassee bank and “breadcrumbs” begin to appear—strands of long blonde hair, a cherished bracelet—Jason realizes Jillian is leaving a trail only he will read.

The search drags him inland to Poe Lakes, a tight-knit community where gossip travels faster than the sheriff’s radio and help arrives in the form of Southern ladies, diner waitresses, and one sharp-eyed realtor. As Jason closes in, he uncovers a slick new drug enterprise led by a man who believes he can turn crime into “business”—and bend good people to his will.

Haunted by the violent death of his wife, Jason must balance cool detective work with a brother’s desperation. To bring Jillian home alive, he’ll have to trust strangers, outsmart killers, and confront everything grief has made him fear.

Perfect for fans of small-town mysteries with heart, high stakes, and 1970s vibes—where courage, community, and family love light the way through the dark.

The front cover for the mystery Grasping for Breadcrumbs that includes the outline of a dead body, a locket of hair, a bracelet with a peace sign and an accounting ledger.

More About Grasping for Breadcrumbs

Grasping for Breadcrumbs is the first prequel to the upcoming cozy mystery series Poe Lakes Mysteries, which launches in early 2026. In this story, you’ll get your first glimpse into the fictional town of Poe Lakes, Florida.

Located in north central Florida, somewhere between the actual towns of High Springs and Keystone Heights, Poe Lakes is a small, cozy, close-knit community full of gossip, southernisms, recipes and casseroles, and of course a murder or two.

Curl up with a cup of hot tea or maybe a glass of sweet tea and join the fun.

Coming Mid December

A Very Merry Murder – The next Poe Lakes Mystery Prequel

Make sure to join the email list for the latest news on book availability, plus get recipes, trivia, and gossip from Poe Lakes.

Headshot of Camey Carson in front of a Florida lake and woods background.

Hello, I’m glad you’re here!

I’m Camey Carson which is an alter-ego and pen name created as I moved from over 30 years experience teaching, and writing non-fiction, and technical documentation.

Currently Available Books

Camey Carson’s currently available books include Grasping for Breadcrumbs, A Very Merry Murder, and The Secret in the Old Quilt, a short story.