On Flashback Fridays I will share with you
the books I was not able to review
when they were first released that have been screaming at me
from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.
Hot Springs Murder, Jackson Hole Moose’s Bakery Not So Cozy Mystery
Not So Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Wyoming
Publisher : Independently Published – Dimick Lane Press
Publication date : January 25, 2022
Print length : 244 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8410439145
Kindle ASIN : B09M96WMWW
Things are heating up…
Sadie Moose is enjoying a romantic evening in a snowy moonlit hot spring with her new boyfriend when a dead body floating in the pool interrupts their steamy interlude.
Yes. Another dead body. But she is absolutely not getting involved this time. She has enough to do with a business expansion underway, her new renters, and her new relationship.
Except the chief suspect is the troubled grandson of one of the regulars at her bakery in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She promises she’ll ask some questions to keep him out of jail. And then her new barista is a neighbor of the deceased, and she’s having a hard time sleeping thinking someone in her tight-knit neighborhood is a murderer. So Sadie asks a few more questions.
Soon, she’s embroiled in the investigation, with danger lurking around every snowy corner. With help from her sexy boyfriend, rowdy bakery crew, a maybe-mob-princess, and her trusty canine companion, Tyrone, Sadie must clear the mist surrounding this mystery, before the killer boils her, too.
Hot Springs Murder is a steamy, snowy, not-so-cozy mystery, with an open door scene and explicit language. This is the second book in the Jackson Hole Moose’s Bakery Not So Cozy Mystery Series. The books stand alone, but are better when read in order. While there are romantic elements, there isn’t an HEA in this book…though there will be eventually over the course of the series.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Back in Wyoming, where Sadie Moose’s bakery business is expanding and her romance with wildland firefighter Jake Moreno is starting to heat up. Sadie has expanded her bakery by opening up a kiosk in Hobart Junction, and Jake has invited her to accompany him on his winter job of grooming snowmobile and cross-country ski trails with the promise of a dip in the Pritchard Hot Springs afterward. She happily accepts.
It was a beautiful night. “The moon hung large and full, casting the snow-covered trees in a bluish glow.” The air was cold, and they couldn’t wait to immerse themselves in the warm springs water. Just before Sadie put one foot in, she froze; there was something in the water. Jake hopped in and discovered a fully clothed dead body. He quickly got Sadie to a warm, safe place and rushed to get help.
Soon, Sadie learns the newly deceased is a coworker of Jake’s, and the grandson of one of her bakery regulars is the prime suspect in his murder. Sadie had no intention of becoming Jackson Hole’s Jessica Fletcher since the last investigation almost got her killed more than once. But her table of regulars “had voted” and guilted her with the line, “We don’t ask a lot.” So she agreed to ask “some questions”. Then someone else asked her to help ease her mind about a murderer in their midst. Before she knows it, she is all wrapped up in the investigation, putting herself in danger again.
She gets many offers to help, including Jake and her bakery employees. Tyrone, her chocolate lab, is always happy to serve and protect his person, and Sadie loves having him by her side, too. Hopefully, together they can solve the case without any more dead bodies, especially Sadie’s.
Sadie Moose is such a good person with a huge heart. She can’t say no to anyone, whether they are looking for an affordable place to live or to clear a loved one’s name and find the real killer. Jake is a great guy who works for the United States Forrest Service that provides housing for him and his coworkers in a unique community at the base of the trail that leads to the Pritchard Hot Springs. Sadie and Jake dated before for about six months. The relationship ended when he lost his housing and had to leave the valley. Accepting a promotion with secure housing for 3 years brought him back. Sadie and Jake are surrounded by a diverse cast of supporting characters made up of friends, employees, and coworkers. Sadie’s pup, Tyrone, is a real treasure.
What I find really interesting about this series is the author’s honest portrayal of real life in Jackson Hole. Billionaires have caused a real affordable housing shortage for the people who grew up there or live there to work in the tourist industry. It also causes a shortage of resources like clean water, which was a big issue in this story. Her descriptive storytelling paints a clear picture of the area and its plight.
The murder victim was a real piece of work and easy to root against. Several people could have been pushed to their edge and killed the man. While not wanting to get involved in another murder investigation, Sadie is a determined sleuth. She asks the hard questions and delves into the necessary research to get to the truth. She doesn’t give up even when her own life could be on the line. Thankfully, the woman can think on her feet and knows when she needs help. The lingering question is whether that help will arrive in time.
I know I am a little late to the party on this series, but I am so happy I found it. Hot Springs Murder is another compelling mystery from author Sue Pepper. Her characters are engaging, smart, and fun. I hope to dive into book three, Boss Babe Murder, soon.
*This book does contain some explicit language and an adult scene, hence the “Not So Cozy Mystery” genre.
*This book is from my private collection. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About the Author
Sue Pepper writes not-so-cozy mysteries for millennials in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her two kids, elderly dachshund, and real-life action hero husband. A former resident of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, pushed out by the billionaire-caused housing crisis, she enjoys writing revenge and redemption for the fictional residents of her Jackson Hole Moose’s Bakery Not So Cozy Mystery series, starting with her debut, Mountain Town Murder.
For all her books, including free novellas featuring her Moose’s Bakery characters, visit https://suepepperauthor.com/
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.
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