Her Last Best Friend (Shadow Lake Ranch Murders)
by Nellie H. Steele
About Her Last Best Friend
Her Last Best Friend (Shadow Lake Ranch Murders)
Psychological Thriller
1st in Series
Setting – Shadow Lake Ranch, a working ranch in Montana
Publisher : A Novel Idea Publishing, LLC
Publication date : September 23, 2025
Print length : 316 pages
Paperback ISBN-13 : 979-8891151017
Digital ASIN : B0F1M1C92D
A friendship. A betrayal. A body. Welcome to Shadow Lake Ranch…where friendships come to die.
Quiet Lindsey isn’t sure about spending twelve weeks at Shadow Lake Ranch. Her best friend, Mel, swears the luxury retreat will be the perfect escape—horseback riding, yoga, emotional bonding. A killer summer.
But from the moment they arrive, something feels off. Lindsey can’t shake the dread curling in her stomach. And when she meets Travis—the charming cowboy who seems to only have eyes for her—things get even more complicated.
Especially when it seems Mel has set her sights on him, too.
As the lines between truth and paranoia blur, Lindsey begins to question everything—her friendship, her relationship, even her own mind.
And when Mel turns up dead, Lindsey becomes the prime suspect.
Was she the jealous best friend who finally snapped? Or is someone else hiding a much darker secret?
At Shadow Lake Ranch, nothing is what it seems. And there’s only one truth: You can’t trust anyone.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Mel convinces Lindsey to go on a best friends adventure and spend the summer at Shadow Lake Ranch. Lindsey wanted to turn around and go home before they stepped off the bus. Then she meets Travis, a cowboy who works at the ranch. There is a mutual attraction, but Lindsey is not ready to jump into another serious relationship. Mel pushes Lindsey to give Travis a chance until it seems Meg wants Travis for herself.
Then Meg is killed, and her best friend Lindsey is the number one suspect. Her adventure with her best friend has turned into a nightmare. She doesn’t understand what’s happening or who she can trust.
Melanie “Mel” Halston and Lindsey Hartwell couldn’t be more different. Mel is the party girl, always needing to be the center of attention, ready for fun and never for work. Lindsey is shy and timid, healing from a bad break-up, and decides to take in the Shadow Ranch experience. Cowboy Travis is immediately attracted to Lindsey. At first, I thought it was just an element of the ranch to keep visitors happy, but his feelings were true. We also meet Jesse, another cowboy who is also drawn to Lindsey. That doesn’t bode well for Lindsey. She is drawing attention away from Mel. Mel is a master manipulator and pulls people into her crazy web.
The story is told from multiple points of view and varying timeframes over the stay at Shadow Ranch. This gives the characters depth, allowing readers to get to know their strengths, weaknesses, and emotions. A peek into the heads as the story unfolds. Detective Nolan Briggs and his partner, Kara Brandt, take Lindsey through her story, bringing in others to corroborate or add their parts to the narrative. Lindsey is put through so much; my heart ached for her.
Ms. Steele grabbed my attention with the book blurb. The Prologue pulled me in, and the story refused to let me go. Set in a remote location in Montana, sets up an atypical closed room type mystery with a limited number of suspects. I had my own theories, but the final twist was a total surprise.
Her Last Best Friend is a gripping psychological thriller, a story of a friendship full of betrayal and what happens when history catches up with you. A summer that changed everything. I see there are 3 more books planned in this series. And I can’t wait to get my hands on them.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.
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About Nellie H. Steele
Nellie H. Steele is a storyteller who doesn’t just write books—she writes the stories her characters tell her. With distinct voices and minds of their own, her characters often take over, guiding her through tales of romance, mystery, adventure, and suspense.
A lifelong bookworm, Nellie vividly recalls sitting on the concrete floor of her childhood library, eagerly devouring Nancy Drew books and dreaming of solving mysteries of her own. Now an award-winning author, she spends her days crafting immersive worlds and unforgettable characters that feel like old friends. Her house is a zoo—literally—thanks to her rescue animals who seem perfectly happy napping while she writes.
Nellie’s writing process often involves background TV she never actually watches because she’s too wrapped up in her characters’ antics. When she’s not spinning stories, she works as a professor of statistics, where students who know her as an author are often surprised to find she really does teach math.
If you love twisty mysteries, soap-opera-style romance, and thrilling adventures, dive into Nellie’s books today and discover worlds you won’t want to leave. Connect with Nellie on Facebook at @NellieHSteele—she loves chatting with readers about characters, stories, and more!
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Purchase Links:
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Also by Nellie H. Steele
Find all of Nellie’s Books HERE.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
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A Nutcracker Nightmare (A Killer Chocolate Mystery)
, and visited again after finishing this one. The candy there does not have the poisonish names like the ones in the books but it sure cures my cravings. I do wish there had been more emphasis on the chocolate competition Hanna had entered. I can never get enough chocolate and would have loved to hear about what everyone entered.
was a very enjoyable read filled with fun characters and a perplexing mystery. I can’t wait to return to Harriston, Montana, and the Murder and Mayhem Book and Chocolate Shop. Who knows what Hanna and Alex will get into next? I do know there will be “killer” chocolates involved.
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