It started with a key. It might end with a body count.

Sam Colton has a knack for finding trouble—or maybe it finds him. This time, it comes in the form of an unmarked key in his pocket after a bump from a stranger. No ID. No context. Just a mystery begging to be solved.

Following the trail leads him to a ghost from his past, a woman with too many secrets, and a pair of goons who think intimidation still works. Sam knows better.

But the deeper he digs, the more tangled it gets—and when someone from Gwen Zahn’s life turns up battered and terrified, Sam realizes the stakes aren’t just about a key anymore. They’re about loyalty, legacy, and the one woman who might actually understand him.

Hard-boiled charm. Razor wit. A mystery with bite.
If you’re a fan of smart-talking gumshoes, reluctant allies, and dogs who steal scenes, The Key to Happiness delivers classic noir with a modern heart.