"Lost in Yellowstone", by Nicole Maggi

 A National Park Mystery #2

Set against the beauty and danger of Yellowstone National Park this story follows Special Agent Emme Helliwell of the national Park Service while on a gruesome case of a sneaker-clad foot ejected from a geyser and uncovering what led this person to such a grisly end……The case draws Emme into the orbit of a private school for at risk-teens where radical backcountry excursions are part of the curriculum. Park Ranger, Holden Thrush, Emme’s ex-boyfriend, will assist her with the investigation.

“A foot in a geyser. A school in the wild. A truth no one saw coming.”

My expertise as an armchair sleuth was not very helpful, I kept guessing from start to finish and what a finish Ms. Maggi had in store for her readers. I didn’t have the slightest idea the whodunit was this person…. maybe you will, good luck.

I loved how Emme and Holden went about their investigation into the wilderness school and how the interacted with the teens and their councilors. The cast was wonderfully entertaining. How Emme confronted her personal issues including the unresolved tension with Holden was particularly sweet…..

In whole, this story is a gripping and an engaging one said in a prose that is effortless and very dynamic. The imagery leaves you with the beauty and dangers of Yellowstone. Maybe a chill or two…

This story is well-said and well done and one I enjoyed quite a bit.

My thanks to Oceanview Publishing for this ARC

"The Hired Man", by Sandra Dallas

Set in 1937 in Colorado, during The Dust Bowl era, this story captured the harsh realities of the time. Folks barely remember a time when the clouds were filled with rain instead of dirt and when the fields were green instead of brown. People were starving and no work was found…. women had to bear the brunt of their husbands’ frustration and the hunger of their children.

Young Martha Helen Kessler and her family were luckier than most, they had plenty on their farm and never hesitated to help others. So when Otis Hobbs, a drifter, showed up at the Kessler’s door during a vicious storm, Martha’s mother insisted they take him in…
…
When Frankie, Martha’s best friend was found murdered…. suspicion, jealousy and prejudice grip the neighbourhood……

Enjoy.

My thoughts:

The story moves very slowly to capture the harsh realities of life. The emotional impact is strong with themes of domestic violence, prejudice and the search for justice and to let Martha Helen face numerous challenges and learn valuable lessons about life. Mid-way, the tempo picks up and you find yourself in the middle of a murder mystery.

So many complex social issues are faced within the plot in ways that are not only historical accurate but said with care. I like the mix of the everyday life with mystery elements making this plot engaging and is easy to lose yourself in the story.

It is a good story I enjoyed quite a bit.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for this Arc which I received via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it

"Dangerous Midnight" by Melinda Woodhall

Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery book# 10

The evidence found at a crime scene links the murder to a serial predator known as the Midnight caller prompting FBI Agent Bailey Flynn to join the investigation into the tragic death of an unfortunate wealthy widow that was seeking a fresh start in Florida. As Bailey search the Florida Everglades, she found herself into a race to stop a sadistic killer before another dead body is found….

A Killer Hides Under the Cover of Darkness, Waiting for Midnight to Take His Next Victim

What can I say, once more Ms. Woodhall entertains by giving us not only a suspenseful story but one that will keep us guessing till the very last moment. Indeed, this story is engaging and hard to put aside for any thrill seekers. Who wouldn’t be captivated by a story that is concise and doesn’t beat around the bush by adding words to stretch the drama.

Leave it to Baily and her K9 partner, Ludwig, to team up with the local police and save the day. This story is a page-turner with a little more gore than the previous installments but why not after all it is a murder investigation…..

We do have recurrent players in Dalton, Cate and Sharma and some new players in minor roles to entertain us. A good story has side bars this latest gives us an update on Cate’s latest saga…..The family interactions and relationships add warmth to a somber tale.

One thing Ms. Woodhall has a formula that works very well although some may find the plots are becoming somewhat repetitive through time. I find them entertaining…..

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review