Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any recipe review and/or food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.
Tunnel Vision
A Stone's Throw Mystery
Eloise Corvo
It is both Halloween and homecoming week in Stone's Throw, Michigan and there are both tricks and treats in store for park ranger Maudy Lorso. This is the second book in the Stone's Throw Mystery series and if you haven't read the first book that is okay, the second book can stand on its own, but you are really going to want to go back get caught up before book three comes out.
Some people can't see the forest for the trees but Maudy, a state park ranger can see the beauty of the trees and all that the forest has to offer. She has been fighting the good fight against a shrinking budget that has become a line item that is about to be redlined. It seems that only state senator Paige Ramos, stands between the financial chopping block and job security. Senator Ramos is a high school friend of local chef, Eli Nett. Eli, who, until he revealed his feelings for Maudy, was her ride or die guy friend. Now things are just awkward, but not so awkward that Maudy would ever believe that Eli was capable of murdering Paige. That's right, the Senator is the victim. While everyone else seems to have tunnel vision, Maudy does what she can to get to the bottom of the crime.
Was the killing politically motivated, perhaps the mob has resurfaced in the area after all these years. With the renovation of the marina we get to learn about some very interesting Capone gang history and a secret hideaway that doubled as a maternity ward with a few extra secrets. Yes, I looked it up and yes, it existed. Another possibility is that the murder was a case of mistaken identity, and not politically related.
Speaking of politics, Maudy is running for the open position on the city council. I think that it is great that we get a main character with some anxiety issues who is still willing to face off against well backed adversaries who seem to be obsessed with making Maudy look bad. It is easy to relate to Maudy and her ever increasing stress levels. She is working so hard to make the park financially self-sufficient, trying to repair her friendship with Eli while also giving time and attention to her out of town realtor boyfriend Jeremy.
There is definitely something more going on than meets the eye and once again there is a good bit of thriller aspects as the reveal is rolled out. I could not put the book down. I kept guessing and second guessing and was very happy with where the overall plot is at this point. Now I will try to wait patiently for book three because there are still questions that still need to be answered.
Keep reading if you would like to see what I thought of the series starter.
Off the Beaten Path
A Stone's Throw Mystery
Eloise Corvo
This series starter begins as a cozy mystery and finishes like a thriller. Maudy Lorso, park ranger, has an amateur sleuth occupation that is new for me. After reading about the various things Maudy does for her job, I have determined that it is not a job for me. In addition to everything else taking place in Maudy’s life, she knows that the campgrounds in the park need to be rented out completely or the park could be closed and sold. No park means no need for a park ranger or her staff. When a missing man’s body is found in the park just a week before the camping season starts, the park becomes a crime scene, and Maudy may have to look for a new job. When gal pal, officer Kelly Sherwood, brings Maudy on as a consultant, it gives Maudy the perfect excuse to ask questions and hunt down clues.
Maudy suspects just about everyone she knows and some people she doesn’t know. Some of the suspects are locals of the town of Stone’s Throw, which is a “stone’s throw” from the town of Traverse City. I can only imagine how warm Maudy would need to dress to work outdoors in the woods, based on what I know about the cold of Michigan (brrrrr). Speaking of the woods, Ms. Corvo does a great job describing its trails, flora, fauna, and even the creepy crawlies. I was able to see the beauty that must surely have lured Maudy to take the job.
Why she takes the job is part of Maudy’s backstory, which includes a cheating ex-boyfriend and some anxiety issues. I tend to enjoy a book more when a character has some personal challenges. The way Maudy deals with anxiety sounds like it would be helpful in other situations of unease as well. She has an interesting technique for coping with stress. She taps her finger and counts, sometimes discreetly on her leg, other times a little more obviously if you know what to look for. There is something in her back story about anxiety and her ex-boyfriend that is touched on but not completely explained. The bits of relationship history show why Maudy isn’t dating anyone, and why she second guesses the possible interest shown by one or more men. I think that many of us might relate to that little bit of self-doubt. There is a great opportunity for a slow-burn romance.
I was able to follow the breadcrumb trail of clues and figured out the who and the why but not the whole story. There is action and peril, not to mention drama and conflict. The solution has an interesting twist, and the story ends with a cliffhanger. My heart broke just a little for one of the characters, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
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