Hunter's Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor

HUNTER'S HEART RIDGE by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Agony Hill) is the second in a mystery series featuring state police detective Frank Warren and his neighbor Alice Bellows set in 1965 Vermont. It is the start of deer season when Warren and his assistant, Pinky Goodrich, are called to the Ridge Club, an exclusive hunting club, due to what is first presumed to be an accidental shooting death. Soon an early blizzard arrives, and the two police officers are marooned at the club, with plenty of likely suspects (diplomats, soldiers, and businessmen who have known each other for over twenty years) and even more weapons. Although Warren seems out of his depth at times and his questioning of suspects is rather repetitive, Taylor adds suspense due to the dangerous storm, discovery of another body, and an unexpected childbirth. She clearly cares for these characters, flaws included, and their tense, edgy adventures are likely to appeal to readers who enjoy works by Elly Griffiths, Ann Cleeves, and Jane Harper.

The Golden Spoon and A Mansion for Murder

Two new mysteries to be published in March:

THE GOLDEN SPOON by Jessa Maxwell is a delicious debut which, as the publicity materials note, combines elements of The Great British Bakeoff with Only Murders in the Building. It is a totally fun immersion in behind the scenes view of Bake Week, a television contest (complete with big white tent) hosted by “America's Grandmother,” Betsy Martin, at her longtime Vermont family estate called Grafton Manor. There are six contestants who share narrator duties with Betsy. That moves the story along as we see the varied plans for baked goods from Gerald, a precise and logical math teacher; Stella, a former journalist recently turned baker; Pradyumna, an entrepreneur looking for adventure; Peter, a restoration specialist; and Lottie, a nurse and long-time baker in contrast to Hannah, one of the youngest contestants ever on the show. Each has some backstory that is gradually revealed, adding to the ominous foreboding feeling as (of course!) a storm rages. Designed for amusement and entertainment, albeit with some serious elements, THE GOLDEN SPOON received enthusiastic starred reviews from Kirkus, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly.

I really enjoy the Kate Shackleton Mysteries so I have already finished a preview copy of A MANSION FOR MURDER by Frances Brody, number thirteen in the cozy mystery series. Once again, Kate is immersed in the affairs of a small village (Saltaire) and its manor house, Milner Field, is purported to be cursed. She has arrived due to receipt of a cryptic letter from a local resident named Ronnie Cresswell who, sadly, is killed before they have a chance to meet. There are echoes of much earlier deaths in the region and Kate and her colleagues step up to investigate motives (industrial espionage? thwarted love affairs? covering up a theft?) with plenty of suspects and unexpected connections across generations and between social classes. Kate is a capable sleuth and Brody has developed another multi-faceted mystery to keep her readers guessing. Enjoy!

The Hiding Place by Paula Munier

THE HIDING PLACE by Paula Munier is the third title in the best-selling and award-winning Mercy Carr mystery series, but it was a first for me. I enjoyed trying to puzzle out the mystery involving former military police soldier Mercy and her canine companion, Elvis. The story is set in Vermont and features another dog – Susie Bear – who works with game warden Troy Warner, a sometimes romantic interest for Mercy. This complex adventure involved the long ago disappearance of two young women (Beth Kilgore and Ruby Rucker) and the present day escape of the man convicted of killing Mercy’s grandfather, plus the kidnapping of a family member and the gruesome death of a young biologist. There is quite a bit to unpack, including Mercy’s efforts to adjust to civilian life. In fact, she shares a fable about a prisoner being locked up with a snake and concludes, “It’s a little lame. … But the moral of the story is good. A lot of what we’re afraid of is just rope – not snakes.” Quite popular with readers who will look forward to Mercy’s growth and escapades in future series entries, THE HIDING PLACE received a starred review from Library Journal.