A suspicious death. A grieving father. A journalist who can’t walk away.
She left him behind twenty years ago. Now he’s dead—and nothing about it makes sense.
Audrey Lord never planned to return to Bennington, a coastal town on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula with a murky past and more secrets than sunshine. But with two kids, a husband working the oil rigs, and a job at the local paper that pays the bills, she’s back—and trying to move forward.
Until Jack Masters dies.
The official story is suicide.
But the signs don’t add up.
His father, Leonard, knows something’s wrong.
Audrey remembers Jack—brilliant, kind, her first love.
Then they find his notebook—cryptic notes, coded initials—and the trail leads straight into Bennington’s dark heart: government minders, shady developers, and secrets no one wants exposed.
With Leonard by her side, Audrey starts digging. What did Jack uncover at Bennington Council? Why was he looking over his shoulder? And who’s making sure no one asks too many questions?
As Audrey edges closer to the truth, she risks her job, her reputation—and her life.
Because some towns keep their secrets buried deep.
And some people will kill to keep them that way.
Gritty, emotional, and layered with suspense, The Permit introduces Audrey Lord—a sharp, determined journalist with everything to lose—in a powerful mystery series where the past is never really gone.
“Thank you for writing this wonderful book!”
“Really enjoyed this story. I read it straight through! Great who-done-it.”
“Great story, plenty of twists to keep you engrossed, great characters.”
“It was an emotional roller coaster watching Audrey reach the truths she needed… exciting to watch Audrey’s investigative skills develop.”