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The Road to Golden Days
October brings beautiful weather to Eagle River, but there’s a dark side to Kate’s next season.
Autumn finds Kate Duncan settling in at her farmhouse, even though its dated interior has her dreaming of updates that’ll have to wait. Because between her shifts at the post office, helping her family with harvest, and adopting a rescue dog, her hands are as full as her heart.
But country life takes an unnerving turn when a neighbor’s barn goes up in flames. Word spreads quickly that the fire was likely arson, and suspicious whispers begin to fly over back fences, across front porches and around the tables at the local diner.
Kate is shocked to see how fast fear and paranoia take root in her hometown. As she tries to enjoy all that fall in Eagle River has to offer, she starts to wonder who can, and can't, be trusted. Can Kate and her friends crack the case before the arsonist strikes again? Don't miss the second book in this series!
Autumn finds Kate Duncan settling in at her farmhouse, even though its dated interior has her dreaming of updates that’ll have to wait. Because between her shifts at the post office, helping her family with harvest, and adopting a rescue dog, her hands are as full as her heart.
But country life takes an unnerving turn when a neighbor’s barn goes up in flames. Word spreads quickly that the fire was likely arson, and suspicious whispers begin to fly over back fences, across front porches and around the tables at the local diner.
Kate is shocked to see how fast fear and paranoia take root in her hometown. As she tries to enjoy all that fall in Eagle River has to offer, she starts to wonder who can, and can't, be trusted. Can Kate and her friends crack the case before the arsonist strikes again? Don't miss the second book in this series!
- GenresMystery
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2023
560 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Lageschulte
29 books295 followersMelanie Lageschulte writes heartwarming rural fiction, including the "Mailbox Mysteries" and "Growing Season" series. After growing up on an acreage in Iowa with a menagerie of four-footed friends, she had spent much of her professional life telling the stories of the state and its residents. She enjoys baking, sewing, and supporting local animal shelters.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 6, 2023
When I was looking for a lighter read, I came upon the first in this series and soon moved on this second novel.
Back home in Eagle River, Kate has finally moved out of her rented flat and into her own property - a small farm. She dreams of updating the decor and especially some of the fittings but with her job at the post office, helping her parents with their harvest and adopting a rescue dog, where will she find the time? Then comes the news that a neighbour's barn has gone up in flames and it was likely deliberate. As always in small communities, people stick together but Kate is shocked at how quickly fear and paranoia spread so she feels she must do whatever she can to catch the guilty party so she can relax in bed at night again.
As with the first book, this is quite a gentle mystery focussing very much on the people of Eagle River and the community spirit. There is no lack of action; always something going on to keep the reader's attention and I really enjoyed it. I shall be looking out for the next in this series - it hits the right spot when I don't want to be frightened out of my wits! Recommended and easily earning 4.5*.
Back home in Eagle River, Kate has finally moved out of her rented flat and into her own property - a small farm. She dreams of updating the decor and especially some of the fittings but with her job at the post office, helping her parents with their harvest and adopting a rescue dog, where will she find the time? Then comes the news that a neighbour's barn has gone up in flames and it was likely deliberate. As always in small communities, people stick together but Kate is shocked at how quickly fear and paranoia spread so she feels she must do whatever she can to catch the guilty party so she can relax in bed at night again.
As with the first book, this is quite a gentle mystery focussing very much on the people of Eagle River and the community spirit. There is no lack of action; always something going on to keep the reader's attention and I really enjoyed it. I shall be looking out for the next in this series - it hits the right spot when I don't want to be frightened out of my wits! Recommended and easily earning 4.5*.
April 15, 2023
Good mystery
I love a good mystery that you can’t figure out til the end, and with great people in the story. It proves you can have a good mystery to solve without there being a dead body. Thank you Miss Melanie! Please keep them coming.
I love a good mystery that you can’t figure out til the end, and with great people in the story. It proves you can have a good mystery to solve without there being a dead body. Thank you Miss Melanie! Please keep them coming.
April 14, 2023
Mailbox Mystery
It was nice catching up with the residents of Eagle River and Prosper. I look forward to book three in this series
It was nice catching up with the residents of Eagle River and Prosper. I look forward to book three in this series
April 5, 2023
Great mystery
I just love this contemporary mailbox mystery and all the characters and rural Iowa life. I actually live about three hours away and have traveled by this town so cool and I live in a small rural town. The characters are very likable and supportive roles. Highly recommend.
I just love this contemporary mailbox mystery and all the characters and rural Iowa life. I actually live about three hours away and have traveled by this town so cool and I live in a small rural town. The characters are very likable and supportive roles. Highly recommend.
March 28, 2023
Such an enjoyable read!
This author is just a great writer. She takes you into small country Iowa with true conviction. Her scenes are vivid and detailed. You feel as if you’re living in them for a brief period in time. Her characters are created so expertly that they come alive on the page. I enjoyed this book immensely. The problem is waiting for the next one in the series to arrive!
This author is just a great writer. She takes you into small country Iowa with true conviction. Her scenes are vivid and detailed. You feel as if you’re living in them for a brief period in time. Her characters are created so expertly that they come alive on the page. I enjoyed this book immensely. The problem is waiting for the next one in the series to arrive!
March 29, 2023
great mystery and drama with great story
I love the mystery and drama included in a great story of a young woman going back to her country roots. I love this author. I always look forward to the next book !!!
I love the mystery and drama included in a great story of a young woman going back to her country roots. I love this author. I always look forward to the next book !!!
April 21, 2024
The Road to Golden Days
Another season, another mystery for Kate! Now she has a sidekick, Hazel, the dog she met in Book #1, The Route That Takes You Home. Her biggest worry is whether Hazel will get along with Charlie her beloved cat & the 3 former barn cats out back! That is until... abandoned houses begin to burn! No spoilers! This Mystery was as difficult to solve for the authorities as the first one was! It's an enjoyable read & since I read The Lane That Leads To Christmas for Christmas, I'm ready for another of the author's series! I'm hoping this one continues, but there's only the 3 in the Kindle store. I have really enjoyed these!
Another season, another mystery for Kate! Now she has a sidekick, Hazel, the dog she met in Book #1, The Route That Takes You Home. Her biggest worry is whether Hazel will get along with Charlie her beloved cat & the 3 former barn cats out back! That is until... abandoned houses begin to burn! No spoilers! This Mystery was as difficult to solve for the authorities as the first one was! It's an enjoyable read & since I read The Lane That Leads To Christmas for Christmas, I'm ready for another of the author's series! I'm hoping this one continues, but there's only the 3 in the Kindle store. I have really enjoyed these!
April 10, 2023
our Mail carrier sleuth is back for another rural adventure. This time an arsonist is burning derelict structures but scaring everybody out of their minds. As Kate settles into the community the possibility of not being single anymore also raises its head. What's up with Alex Kate? As our adventures continue with recurring characters in this corner of rural Oklahoma you get a sense of warmth and belonging that often includes a plethora of animals, in Kate's case it's 4 cats and a new adoptee that is a reject from a companion training program. It seems Hazel doesn't always heed commands.
December 24, 2025
Thus book disappointed me a bit as I was expecting the surprise I received at the end of her first book in this series. I also found it a bit on the repetitive side. It is worthy of a read and I've recommended the book to others. her stories are clean and just fun to read. I will continue with the next book in the series and hope that one gets back to a nice surprise ending as the first book in thus series.
April 19, 2023
Enjoyable, low key story.
I really enjoyed the description of the animals in the main character, Kate 's, life. Depiction of mid America people and farming community made me nostalgic. I tend to read late after long days, so the authors low key plots are a relief compared to modern media's violence.
I really enjoyed the description of the animals in the main character, Kate 's, life. Depiction of mid America people and farming community made me nostalgic. I tend to read late after long days, so the authors low key plots are a relief compared to modern media's violence.
April 23, 2023
Another Good Read
Nothing like a little mystery and suspense in a small rural community. This book has that. The author integrates all of the characters from her other series in to this series and book. From the local gossip, to the locals and then some. Come and meet the folks of Eagle Creek. Can’t wait for the next book!
Nothing like a little mystery and suspense in a small rural community. This book has that. The author integrates all of the characters from her other series in to this series and book. From the local gossip, to the locals and then some. Come and meet the folks of Eagle Creek. Can’t wait for the next book!
October 20, 2023
Good Story Till…..
I liked reading this second of the Mailbox Mysteries till I got to the last chapter. I did not like the ending because there were no loose ends tied up! I prefer all questions to be answered, and that didn’t happen here.
Will there be an ending with answers in the next book in this series? Of course, I will have to wait much too long to find out.
I liked reading this second of the Mailbox Mysteries till I got to the last chapter. I did not like the ending because there were no loose ends tied up! I prefer all questions to be answered, and that didn’t happen here.
Will there be an ending with answers in the next book in this series? Of course, I will have to wait much too long to find out.
January 17, 2024
I would have given it a 4 star but I like to review for my friends and this book is a gentle view of a mystery in rural Iowa. It moves slowly like most people's daily lives. The mystery is still engaging and the impact on the community. The solutions in the series remind me of Donna Leon's series but no dead bodies.
July 11, 2023
Could not put it down!
I did not intend to spend all day reading, but once I started this book, I could not put it down. If you haven’t read the other books set in Prosper, find them and read them in order. And then, like me, you’ll be waiting for the next one.
I did not intend to spend all day reading, but once I started this book, I could not put it down. If you haven’t read the other books set in Prosper, find them and read them in order. And then, like me, you’ll be waiting for the next one.
October 3, 2023
Where there's Smoke
Road to Good n Days mailbox Mystery book 2 Was a great book..Kate and her fellow postal employees are the eyes and ears if the community.. This time finding an arsonist!!
Road to Good n Days mailbox Mystery book 2 Was a great book..Kate and her fellow postal employees are the eyes and ears if the community.. This time finding an arsonist!!
October 8, 2024
4 and a half stars. A very good story, but a bit darker than is usual for this author. I took off half a star for proofreading errors - even though one made me giggle, as it mentioned "peasant hunting" instead of "pheasant hunting"!
February 17, 2025
Good
And it definitely kept me guessing.
I enjoyed getting to know tge characters a bit more... But - spoiler alert: Despite the little celebration, I didn't feel like it was completely solved.
And it definitely kept me guessing.
I enjoyed getting to know tge characters a bit more... But - spoiler alert: Despite the little celebration, I didn't feel like it was completely solved.
May 27, 2025
Set in the same area as her Season's series, I get to check in with old friends and make new ones. Someone is burning empty decrepit buildings in the area and, though no one has been hurt yet, firefighters (volunteers) and farmland is being put in danger. It is only a matter of time.
March 30, 2023
Love this series as much as the first. I like that Melanie Lageschulte has put some of the main characters from her first series into this one.
April 16, 2023
A sweet series that connect to Melanie’s other series. Good wholesome reads about small town life through the eyes of a woman.
April 18, 2023
I didn’t finish the book .. I was just extremely bored. I enjoyed this author’s first series but this one is a no go for me.
May 5, 2023
Ugh! No satisfactory conclusion? So disappointing!
May 21, 2023
Second book in the series and even better than the first!
May 22, 2023
I love this series maybe because I wish I lived in a small country town.
April 30, 2024
Another good mystery and great read. Enjoying this series!
March 23, 2025
lovely
Enjoy this sweet community. Great read. Little bit of drama and suspenseful. Family ties and new friends.
A great read.
Enjoy this sweet community. Great read. Little bit of drama and suspenseful. Family ties and new friends.
A great read.
Read
June 6, 2025Lynn recommended
Good read- interesting characters; suspense and ID of arsonist well done.
Good read- interesting characters; suspense and ID of arsonist well done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2025
Good read for fall
April 2, 2023
love everything she has published
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews