About The Wilderness Trap
The Wilderness Trap (Southwest Exposure Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Bushwhack, New Mexico
Independently Published (February 28, 2024)
Print length : 135 pages
Digital ASIN : B0CL34N9JJ
Explore nature, where the outdoors are wild, the tourists are clueless, and murder is the new adventure.
Andie Sullivan never thought her old nemesis would be running the elementary school career day. She was supposed to be discussing the wonders of nature, but when questions arise about her crime-solving side gig, some of the locals aren’t impressed.
But when Career Day turns into an actual murder, Andie finds herself on the case. And to make matters worse, the victim is her old nemesis. With the help of her hunky boyfriend, Sheriff Zac Mars, Andie dives into the investigation, determined to find the killer before they strike again.
Can she juggle her thriving outdoor business, and her budding relationship with Zac, and find an elusive killer? Or will her pursuit of the truth lead her straight into the crosshairs of a ruthless killer?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It’s Career Day at Bushwhack Elementary and Andie Sullivan is representing the business she shares with her brother Kyle. She is telling a fourth-grade class about Sullivan’s Adventure Tours. But her talk goes sideways when one of the kids asks about the dead bodies she has found. She knows her experiences probably aren’t appropriate for the kids but encouraged by another parent she shares a story of one of her body discoveries which leaves teacher and Sheriff Zac Mars’, high school girlfriend, Tina Rodhe very upset.
Later when Zac is called away from their dinner date, she follows his car to a house on fire. Zac was called because a body had been found at the scene. The body of Tina Rodhe. Her neighbor knows Andie by her reputation and he begs her to find out who killed his “sweetheart” of a neighbor.
Will her investigation mess up her new romance with Sheriff Zac Mars? or can they work together to solve the murder? And can she investigate without the killer coming after her?
I am so happy that after a bit of a wait, Jodi Linton has penned another Southwest Exposure Mystery.
A cold case from 1980 connects to a new murder in The Wilderness Trap. Andie was out of her element giving a career talk to schoolchildren but she jumped right into investigating their teacher’s death even though she was her old nemesis and the sheriff, her new boyfriend, was not amused when she showed up at the scene. He knows her history and lets her stay. She then is able to help him identify a key piece of evidence. She, her friend Vivian, and her brother Kyle, the newly christened, “Mountain Time Sleuths” take what Andie learned, at the station and the fire to ponder and theorize how Tina ended up dead.
All Ms. Linton’s characters are cleverly created. The amateur sleuths make some mistakes but do keep Zac in the loop. They followed the clues in a reasonable way and I enjoyed tagging along. The author takes some fictional license to allow Andie to go along with Zac to question witnesses, but it doesn’t go as planned. Then he leaves her alone with a piece of evidence which is a big no-no. I do like that Zac trusts Andie and appreciates her talents. She has come a long way since The clues did not come together for me before everything was revealed. The showdown was very interesting and entertaining.
The Wilderness Trap is a great addition to this series, it can also be read on its own. At just 135 pages it is easily read all in an evening. Engaging characters, a complicated mystery with some nice twists, and plenty of humor make for a very enjoyable read. I am looking forward to visiting Bushwhack, New Mexico again soon.
*Mild cursing will be found in this story.
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About Jodi Linton
USA Today Bestselling author Jodi Linton pens funny romances, whodunnits, and thrillers. She is the author of the Southwest Exposure Cozy Mystery Series, The Deputy Laney Briggs Series, and several standalone romances. She lives in the city with her husband and two teens. When she isn’t writing her next page-turner, she teaches and hikes.
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The Rest of the Series
Also Written by Jodi Linton
Great Escapes Praise for The Wilderness Trap by Jodi Linton
Bottom Line: The Wilderness Trap by Jodi Linton combines engaging characters with puzzling mysteries in a quick but enjoyable read. If you enjoy likable amateur sleuths and entertaining plots, you’ll want to check out the Southwest Exposure Mysteries by Jodi Linton!
~Reading Is My SuperPower
Clocking in at just 135 pages, this was such an entertaining read that I flew through in one sitting. An entertaining mystery with lots of twists and turns. I look forward to reading more!
~Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books
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after me telling him about this book. Like me, he is a stickler for reading series in order.
is scheduled to be released.
is an excellent addition to this series. I felt like it ended much too soon, I was not quite ready to wrap up my visit so I am really looking forward to the next Southwest Exposure Mystery. 
will hit shelves in October and I can’t wait.
