Trailbreaker (Prairie Nightingale)
by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare
About Trailbreaker
Trailbreaker (Prairie Nightingale)
Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Wisconsin
Publisher : Thomas & Mercer
Publication date : January 27, 2026
Print length : 299 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 : 1662535996
ISBN-13 : 978-1662535994
Digital
ISBN-13 : 978-1662529801
ASIN : B0F5RKCRFK
Suspicions that a serial killer is terrorizing a pristine tourist spot draw a single mom and budding private investigator into a twisting and deepening mystery of secrets and murder.
Single mom and newly minted private investigator Prairie Nightingale has opened the doors of her Green Bay, Wisconsin, agency and is ready for work. She and her crew aren’t quite prepared for their first client, though: Bernie Dubicki, a notorious online journalist and not-altogether-reliable provocateur, who claims the idyllic vacation destination of nearby Door County is home to a serial killer.
She’s pinpointed four seemingly unrelated deaths that haven’t raised suspicions for anyone else. But when a college student vanishes, Bernie’s sizable retainer convinces Prairie to help connect the dots. And trusted, flirty FBI agent Foster Rosemare thinks Bernie might be onto something. Prairie never expected her first investigation to be so big—like Dateline big—but she does have an inquiring mind and a knack for seeing things no one else can.
In this case she’ll have to look deep—not only into the secrets of strangers, but into Door County’s woods—to solve a mystery decades in the making.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Prairie Hawk Investigation has opened its doors. New Private Investigator, Prairie Nightingale, is joined by Joyce, her ex-mother-in-law; a new forensic genealogist, Emma; a nineteen-year-old up-and-coming crime podcaster; and Marian, Prairie’s capable executive assistant. Her ex-husband, Greg, coparents their daughters, MaeLynn and Anabel, but with the new business, he may have to step up a little more.
Online Journalist Bernie Dubicki has a theory. She believes four Door County deaths that have been seen as unrelated are the work of a serial killer, and she wants the Prairie Hawk team to help her prove it. Prairie’s new “friend,” FBI agent Foster Rosemare, is interested in Bernie’s theory as well.
Realizing this case could be huge, Prairie hits the road for Door County to see if she can reveal the truth.
All the core characters Ms. Knox and Ms. Mare have created feel genuine and true to life. The women who make up Prairie Hawk Investigations are smart and capable. Each brings their own strength to the business. Greg and Prairie are still working their way through raising their daughters separately and together. MaeLynn is gifted and autistic, which takes some creative planning. Anabel is trying to obtain her driver’s license and gets some assistance from an interesting source. I really enjoy all these characters and their interactions. All the characters grew within these pages.
I appreciated the direction this book took, spinning off the Homemaker 724 Maple Project into the Prairie Hawk Investigation group. It plays to Prairie’s assets and skills. Skills that shone in Homemaker. Joyce, Emma, and Marian’s unique skills are beneficial in new ways, too. I liked that they want to set their company apart and not take run-of-the-mill investigations, like cheating spouses. By holding out, they landed a really big case.
That case unfolds at a comfortable pace until clues start to come together, then the pages fly. There were a lot of moving parts, but the authors plotted them out perfectly. Everyone communicated effectively and listened to each other’s ideas. Connections were made, and secrets were revealed that may have been missed by others. Even Prairie’s daughters got involved. I liked that they worked with the FBI and put emphasis on figuring out the story, not catching the killer. They let the FBI handle the heavy lifting.
This story takes place in another high tourist destination in Wisconsin. Door County is home to vibrant towns, villages, and communities. It’s a place our family loves to visit, and it was fun to travel there with Prairie.
Trailbreaker is a well-written story twisting together a complicated mystery with characters whose lives continue to evolve in meaningful ways. The relationship between Prairie and Foster is progressing glacially, but she has a lot on her plate, so it is understandable. I am very excited for this series to continue.
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 authors, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare
Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare write critically acclaimed, bestselling mystery and romance, usually (but not always) together. They are the authors of the Prairie Nightingale mysteries and the TV Detectives mystery series. If you want more of their stories, check out their queer romances co-written as Mae Marvel, as well as solo work by Ruthie Knox (het romance), Annie Mare (grounded queer paranormal romance), and Robin York (Ruthie’s pen name for New Adult romance). Ruthie and Annie are married and live with two teenagers, two dogs, multiple fish, two glorious cats, four hermit crabs, and a bazillion plants in a very old house with a garden.
Author Links:
Webpage Facebook Ruthie and Facebook Annie
Purchase Links –
Amazon – Bookshop.org – Barnes & Noble –
Find all of Ruthie’s Books HERE.
Find all of Annie’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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