The Black Hourglass

By Pamela Poole

A hidden letter.
A stolen fortune.
A secret buried for over three centuries.

From the shadows of the past, truth will come to light.

In this Christian romantic suspense novella set against the historic backdrop of colonial St. Augustine, archaeologist Quincy Holmwood thought his work in Florida was done. But a cryptic message from a church archivist pulls him back into a mystery dating to 1688 - one involving a murdered friar, a crime against the Crown, and a brotherhood whose reach once extended from Spain's colonial courts to the Church itself.

With his fianc e, Mercedes Ellison, and a small archaeology team, Quincy follows a trail of symbols left by the friar for a future generation brave enough to uncover them. Each discovery brings more danger as the brotherhood's emblem - the black hourglass - a symbol that has silenced witnesses for three hundred years, marks every step of their path.

The brotherhood's last heir will do anything to ensure the truth remains buried. As the search escalates and turns deadly, Quincy must rely on more than knowledge and reason. Guided by his Christian faith and a conviction that he is the one for this appointed time, he faces the same choice the friar had in 1688. But faithfulness may demand a price - one that includes Mercedes, and everything they've built together.

What was hidden in darkness was never meant to stay there.

The Black Hourglass is Book 6 in the Strange Sands Suspense series - a Christian romantic suspense series blending faith, history, archaeology, and high-stakes mystery. Each book can be read as a standalone but is best enjoyed in order.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1956089330
• ISBN13: 9781956089332
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Pamela Poole
• Length: 172 Pages
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"