I never imagined that cataloging artifacts for a small-town museum exhibit would lead me into the heart of a century-old mystery. But when I stumbled upon a forgotten letter tucked among pioneer relics, the past reached out and refused to let go.

The letter, faded and fragile, bore the name Mary Ann Sorensen—a woman history had all but erased. She was a leader, a protector, and a voice for the women of Ephraim in a time when their stories were rarely told. Her words hinted at a hidden artifact, an object of both spiritual and historical significance, concealed long ago to shield it from misuse. But before I could piece together her clues, the artifact vanished from the exhibit, setting off a chain of events that unearthed far more than I anticipated.

As a criminal justice instructor and historian, I’ve spent my career balancing facts and faith, following evidence while honoring the past. But my search for the missing artifact became more than just an investigation—it became personal. The deeper I dug, the more I uncovered long-buried tensions among Ephraim’s founding families, rivalries that had never truly died, and secrets some would do anything to protect.

The theft wasn’t just about a valuable relic—it was about power, about whose stories get to be told and whose are left to fade into obscurity. With each clue I followed, I found myself confronting a question I had long wrestled with: What roles have women played in shaping our history, and why have so many of their voices been lost?

The search led me to old journals, whispered warnings, and forgotten graves. I traced Mary Ann’s story through the lives of those who knew her—some who sought to honor her legacy and others who wished it would stay buried. As I navigated modern-day suspicions and the weight of the past, I found myself at odds with powerful figures determined to control the narrative. Even as Sheriff Mark Jensen worked to solve the case through official channels, I knew this was a puzzle only history itself could unlock.

But history has a way of resisting silence. And when I finally uncovered the truth of Mary Ann’s legacy, it was more profound than I could have imagined. Her artifact wasn’t just an object; it was a testament to the courage of the women who came before us, a challenge to the stories we accept, and a reminder that faith and truth are not always the same thing.

Buried Voices: Lost Women of Ephraim is the second novel in The Pioneer Legacy Mysteries, where history, faith, and justice collide in unexpected ways. If you love rich historical intrigue, compelling characters, and mysteries that unravel across generations, this book will pull you in and keep you turning the pages until the very end.