Roon & Raud and the Case of the Deadly Derby (Roon & Raud Mystery, Book 2), Nora Bellamy

Description

In the delightfully oddball town of Laurel, retired partners Roon and Raud have perfected a life of activism, ritualized morning coffee, and affectionate bickering. Their quiet routine changes when they open their home to Tristan, a young trans man rebuilding his life after family rejection. Just as their unconventional household begins to find its rhythm, Laurel’s most beloved tradition turns deadly.

The annual Running of the Cats festival, a famously eccentric race where humans compete alongside their feline companions, ends in tragedy when frontrunner Elara Voss is found murdered. The police make a quick arrest, pinning the crime on Echo, a nonbinary street musician newly arrived in town. Certain the authorities have gotten it wrong, Roon, Raud, and Tristan decide to investigate on their own.

Disguised as members of the fictitious Benevolent Order of Old Belles, the trio begins questioning everyone connected to Elara and her most recent discovery: the mysterious Laurel Reliquary, a historical artifact rumored to be far more valuable than anyone realized. Their investigation leads them through libraries, museums, and antique shops, uncovering academic rivalries, small-town secrets, and a web of motives hiding just beneath Laurel’s friendly surface.

As the case deepens, Tristan’s personal journey becomes entwined with the mystery. Encouraged by Roon and Raud, he finds community and confidence through the Laurel Trans Wellness Coalition, bringing new skills and fresh perspectives to their sleuthing. Together, the three generations form an unlikely detective team, blending lived experience, internet savvy, and sheer determination.

With Echo still behind bars and danger closing in, the trio must uncover the truth before the real killer strikes again. Roon & Raud and the Case of the Deadly Derby is a warm, unconventional cozy mystery that celebrates queer elders, chosen family, and the radical idea that justice belongs to everyone.

Binding: Paperback
Publication Date: January 5, 2026
Series: Roon & Raud Mystery