Eight stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and P.J. Peterson for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Always happy to embark on one of P.J. Peterson's adventures, I gladly accepted this ARC for the latest Julia Fairchild mystery. Peterson has perfected the cozy mystery and keeps the reader highly entertained while learning a little more about a case that always appears to fall at the feet of Dr. Julia Fairchild. While on a brief reprieve with her sister, Julia comes upon a military dog tag in the desert. Soon, she and Carly discover a body in the oddest place and present the news to the authorities, What begins as a missing hiker soon turns into some thing sinister and yet another murder turns Fairchild's vacation into a full-impact week. Peterson weaves a great story that is easily digested in short order. Another great book in the series.
Enjoying some time away from her practice, Dr. Julia Fairchild and her sister, Carly, choose an adventurous week in the California desert. While out on a hike, they come upon an oddly hanging military dog tag, blowing in the wind on a Joshua tree. While they can identify to whom it belongs, they take it to the authorities in hopes of getting some answers and having it returned. This is soon followed by a hot-air balloon ride, where Julia and Carly see what appears to be a body lying in the open desert. Never one to want to get involved, Carly suggests they alert the authorities and leave it at that. Julia, on the other hand, wants to get all the details and presents the news to the sheriff, in hopes of being pulled into the investigation.
During an evening meal, Julia shares her news with some of the other travellers, discovering that a hiker of some repute has gone missing. Could the body they found in the desert be that same man? Trevor Lundgren's financial dealings have made him many enemies and some speculate that he fled the country to keep many at bay. Julia's brain begins to turn and she soon feels that she ought to be in the middle of things, even as Carly pleads that she lets the authorities do their work. All the while, Julia and Carly try to track down the owner of the dog tag, who ends up being a homeless veteran whose life has taken a turn for the worse.
Trying to stay on the periphery and yet get all the intel she can, Julia ends up painting a target on her back with all the questions she asks. Carly tries all she can to keep her elder sister safe, but something has her cautious as well. When the plot thickens and Lundgren's actions come to the surface, someone adds these two adventurous sisters to the list of those who ought to be silenced. Another great piece by P.J. Peterson that has me eager to see where things are headed in the next books.
While I usually reach for grittier novels in the mystery genre, I have always enjoyed P.J. Peterson's cozy stories to balance things out. Peterson knows how to tell a story and adds a less jagged aspect to keep things flowing without all the gore and blood. The narrative base provides a sturdy foundation on which the rest of the story can rest, providing great momentum while seemingly keeping things innocent. Things build with ease and soon the reader is neck-deep in the mystery, alongside Julia.
Character development provides a useful tool in this piece. While there is little time for backstory as it relates to the protagonists, the development of the secondary characters, particularly the victim and missing hiker, lends credence to the fact that Peterson knows how to craft those who pepper the pages of her mysteries, There is enough meat to their stories to provide something well worth the reader's time, which also complements the larger narrative and movement of the story
Plot twists are essential to the story's advancement and Peterson has them throughout. She crafts an innocent means by which Dr. Fairchild can discover clues or investigative themes, though she makes it clear that danger is only just out of the amateur sleuth's grasp. While some might call this the new Jessica Fletcher series, I can see how Peterson is using her protagonist to add adventure to a simple getaway. The serious discussion of veteran homelessness is not lost on the attentive reader, as Peterson addresses it throughout the novel. This series keeps getting better and I am eager to see where this are headed, as well as how those around Dr. Julia Fairchild will present themselves in upcoming pieces.
Kudos, Madam Peterson, for a great cozy mystery!
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