Local author to sign debut mystery novel April 23

Retired educator Frances Oakes will be signing copies of her debut mystery novel from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 23, at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach. 

In “The Mischief Maker,” Oakes takes the reader into the life of Lainey Pinewood, an ex-FBI agent who now teaches second-grade students. When a beloved substitute teacher is murdered, Pinewood’s yearnings for her FBI days awaken and she goes on the search for the killer. Despite her detective daughter’s objections, Lainey takes best friend and fellow teacher Rachel Honeycutt with her in pursuit of justice. Has she just put her best friend in peril and risked a dangerous end to their friendship?

Oakes enjoyed teaching elementary students in Delaware and Maryland before she retired. She is a member of the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild, Eastern Shore Writers Association and Sisters in Crime. To learn more, email FrancesOakesAuthor@gmail.com.