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Meg Reed Investigates #1
Scene of the Climb
Portland, Oregon, is the perfect fit for someone like Meg Reed. It's a city with a small town feel, where she can crash on the couch of her best friend Jill, now that she's graduated from journalism school. . .
But a girl needs a job, so Meg bluffs her way into writing for Northwest Extreme magazine, passing herself off to editor-in-chief Greg Dixon as an outdoor adventure enthusiast. Never mind that Meg's idea of sport is climbing onto the couch without spilling her latte. So when she finds herself clawing to the top of Angel's Rest--a two-thousand-foot peak--to cover the latest challenge in a reality TV adventure show, she can't imagine feeling more terrified. Until she witnesses a body plummet off the side of the cliff. Now Meg has a murder to investigate. And if the climbing doesn't kill her, a murderer just might. . .
Includes Adventure Guides!
But a girl needs a job, so Meg bluffs her way into writing for Northwest Extreme magazine, passing herself off to editor-in-chief Greg Dixon as an outdoor adventure enthusiast. Never mind that Meg's idea of sport is climbing onto the couch without spilling her latte. So when she finds herself clawing to the top of Angel's Rest--a two-thousand-foot peak--to cover the latest challenge in a reality TV adventure show, she can't imagine feeling more terrified. Until she witnesses a body plummet off the side of the cliff. Now Meg has a murder to investigate. And if the climbing doesn't kill her, a murderer just might. . .
Includes Adventure Guides!
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 3, 2014
463 people are currently reading
1299 people want to read
About the author
Kate E. Dyer-Seeley
8 books388 followersKate Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing, featuring the rugged landscapes of the PNW and a young journalist who bills herself as an intrepid adventurer in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme.
Kate also writes the Bakeshop Mysteries (St. Martin's Press) under the pen name Ellie Alexander.
The first three books in the series, SCENE OF THE CLIMB, SLAYED ON THE SLOPES, SILENCED IN THE SURF, and FIRST DEGREE MUDDER are available now. IN CAVE DANGER coming November 2017.
“Dyer-Seeley's debut fits squarely in the newer subniche that can be called ‘extreme cozy,’ meaning it's a good mix for younger readers who like traditional mysteries but want a little more action or edginess. The author provides a splendid overview of the greater Portland and Columbia River Gorge region, perfect for travel buffs. Her freshly graduated bumbling protagonist shows promise with her determined attitude and moxie.” – Library Journal
Kate lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.
Web: http://www.katedyerseeley.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katedyerseeley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katedyerseel...
Instagram:
https://instagram.com/katedyerseeley
Kate also writes the Bakeshop Mysteries (St. Martin's Press) under the pen name Ellie Alexander.
The first three books in the series, SCENE OF THE CLIMB, SLAYED ON THE SLOPES, SILENCED IN THE SURF, and FIRST DEGREE MUDDER are available now. IN CAVE DANGER coming November 2017.
“Dyer-Seeley's debut fits squarely in the newer subniche that can be called ‘extreme cozy,’ meaning it's a good mix for younger readers who like traditional mysteries but want a little more action or edginess. The author provides a splendid overview of the greater Portland and Columbia River Gorge region, perfect for travel buffs. Her freshly graduated bumbling protagonist shows promise with her determined attitude and moxie.” – Library Journal
Kate lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.
Web: http://www.katedyerseeley.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katedyerseeley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katedyerseel...
Instagram:
https://instagram.com/katedyerseeley
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
June 4, 2017
This was not my bag.
There were a few scenes about the Oregon hiking trails and wildlife I enjoyed, but that was about it.
The mystery was forgettable and the main character was too silly to even be credible.
I had to laugh when at 81% into the book she thinks she's being pursued by a murderer and briefly considers to call the police.
The book had a strong start, but then quickly lost it when instead of an investigation, our MC, a wannabe investigative reporter, spends more time musing about lattes and food and crushing on both her boss and her old college friend than actually, erm, investigating.
So, in the end we get a solution that came out of nowhere. At least, it meant there was an end to the book.
There were a few scenes about the Oregon hiking trails and wildlife I enjoyed, but that was about it.
The mystery was forgettable and the main character was too silly to even be credible.
I had to laugh when at 81% into the book she thinks she's being pursued by a murderer and briefly considers to call the police.
The book had a strong start, but then quickly lost it when instead of an investigation, our MC, a wannabe investigative reporter, spends more time musing about lattes and food and crushing on both her boss and her old college friend than actually, erm, investigating.
So, in the end we get a solution that came out of nowhere. At least, it meant there was an end to the book.
July 21, 2025
BELOW IS MY 2018 REVIEW of Scene of the Climb, the previous title of this book
Even though I'm about as far from being the outdoors type as you can get, once I got into this book, I really enjoyed it. I liked that it wasn't overwhelmed with outdoor facts, just enough to describe the area in Oregon where this was taking place.
Meg Reed, daughter of famed journalist Charlie Reed has finally landed a journalism job, one her dad would have been proud of at Northwest Extreme magazine. One tiny little thing though, Meg is a total novice when it comes to outdoor adventures, only having hiked with her dad when she was younger. When her handsome boss Greg assigns her a primo assignment to cover Race the States, a first time adventure race which is ending in Oregon, Meg hopes she can live up to his expectations.
When Meg is on the trail and one of the contestants' bodies comes sailing over the cliff, she's sure it has to be murder and despite Greg, Sheriff Davis's and even her good friend Matt's warnings to not investigate, she just can't help it. She's her father's child after all!
Her dad had died in a bike accident which had seemed odd at the time since he was always so careful. There is reason to believe it may not have been an accident, so I an going to enjoy seeing this little mystery spread out over the books, as I read in someone's blog recently.
The regular characters were all well-developed and likable, um maybe not so much Jill's boyfriend but he's tolerable just kind of snooty. I think my favorites were Matt and Gam (Meg's grandma). Matt is loyal to a fault and clearly adores Meg but she can't bring herself to think of him in that way. Gam practices Reiki healing and is always wanting to help Meg.
I had slightly suspected the killer but the twist and reasoning came as a total surprise to me. It was definitely an exciting journey to the finish of this book! I'm reading the next one right away since we're discussing it in a Facebook book club later this month.
This book may not have turned me into an outdoor adventures fan any more than I already was, but it did tell a great story!
Even though I'm about as far from being the outdoors type as you can get, once I got into this book, I really enjoyed it. I liked that it wasn't overwhelmed with outdoor facts, just enough to describe the area in Oregon where this was taking place.
Meg Reed, daughter of famed journalist Charlie Reed has finally landed a journalism job, one her dad would have been proud of at Northwest Extreme magazine. One tiny little thing though, Meg is a total novice when it comes to outdoor adventures, only having hiked with her dad when she was younger. When her handsome boss Greg assigns her a primo assignment to cover Race the States, a first time adventure race which is ending in Oregon, Meg hopes she can live up to his expectations.
When Meg is on the trail and one of the contestants' bodies comes sailing over the cliff, she's sure it has to be murder and despite Greg, Sheriff Davis's and even her good friend Matt's warnings to not investigate, she just can't help it. She's her father's child after all!
Her dad had died in a bike accident which had seemed odd at the time since he was always so careful. There is reason to believe it may not have been an accident, so I an going to enjoy seeing this little mystery spread out over the books, as I read in someone's blog recently.
The regular characters were all well-developed and likable, um maybe not so much Jill's boyfriend but he's tolerable just kind of snooty. I think my favorites were Matt and Gam (Meg's grandma). Matt is loyal to a fault and clearly adores Meg but she can't bring herself to think of him in that way. Gam practices Reiki healing and is always wanting to help Meg.
I had slightly suspected the killer but the twist and reasoning came as a total surprise to me. It was definitely an exciting journey to the finish of this book! I'm reading the next one right away since we're discussing it in a Facebook book club later this month.
This book may not have turned me into an outdoor adventures fan any more than I already was, but it did tell a great story!
January 3, 2020
3 Stars
I was going to give this book 4 stars then this happened
Lastly in just too big a coincidence
I did like Meg, she's a great character and not having much experience out of doors is actually quite smart, as Meg learns so does the reader. The other characters in the series are less formed, although it seems obvious that
Cozies Reading Challenge
I was going to give this book 4 stars then this happened
Lastly in just too big a coincidence
I did like Meg, she's a great character and not having much experience out of doors is actually quite smart, as Meg learns so does the reader. The other characters in the series are less formed, although it seems obvious that
Cozies Reading Challenge
November 14, 2023
The victim plummets to his death on the first page.
Was it an accident, or did this contestant on a reality show competition have some help in meeting his fate?
This is one of the many mysteries nascent journalist Meg Reed tackles in this gripping first entry in the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series.
Writing for a scrappy adventure journal in Portland, Oregon, Meg is on the final leg of her maiden assignment when she bears sole witness to the unfortunate fall. From there her investigation takes her, and readers, on a romp along the Cascade Mountains full of swoops, climbs, and majestic scenery sure to delight any reader looking for an outdoor thrill ride.
The novel also presents a varied cast of characters - some contestants in the race, others journalists in print and broadcast media, and friends of Meg’s privy to her travels. All are intriguing, but many present more than a hint of suspicion.
I really enjoyed this opening salvo in this mystery series, and will surely follow Meg’s future on the trail. Nice to find the rare cozy with a hefty adrenaline charge and the promise of many thrills to come.
Was it an accident, or did this contestant on a reality show competition have some help in meeting his fate?
This is one of the many mysteries nascent journalist Meg Reed tackles in this gripping first entry in the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series.
Writing for a scrappy adventure journal in Portland, Oregon, Meg is on the final leg of her maiden assignment when she bears sole witness to the unfortunate fall. From there her investigation takes her, and readers, on a romp along the Cascade Mountains full of swoops, climbs, and majestic scenery sure to delight any reader looking for an outdoor thrill ride.
The novel also presents a varied cast of characters - some contestants in the race, others journalists in print and broadcast media, and friends of Meg’s privy to her travels. All are intriguing, but many present more than a hint of suspicion.
I really enjoyed this opening salvo in this mystery series, and will surely follow Meg’s future on the trail. Nice to find the rare cozy with a hefty adrenaline charge and the promise of many thrills to come.
November 6, 2020
As I’m a new cozy mystery reader I’m reading through different authors. This author is my favorite so far. The way she described scenery in this adventure packed book I saw myself on the hike by Meg.
This book is about a young broke journalist who just graduated college and is crashing on her friends couch trying to make ends meet. She is in need a her big break sooner then later when she lands a job in an action magazine. She lied her way through the interview and landed the job.
On her first hike that blistered her all up she witnessed a murder. The way he fell just didnt look like a slip and fall.
I had such a great time reading this story and I will definitely continue on with the series.
This book is about a young broke journalist who just graduated college and is crashing on her friends couch trying to make ends meet. She is in need a her big break sooner then later when she lands a job in an action magazine. She lied her way through the interview and landed the job.
On her first hike that blistered her all up she witnessed a murder. The way he fell just didnt look like a slip and fall.
I had such a great time reading this story and I will definitely continue on with the series.
April 5, 2015
Scene of the Climb is the first book in the Pacific Northwest Mystery series. Meg Reed recently graduated for college and is looking for a job as a writer. She applies to the Northwest Extreme magazine where is passes herself off as having an interest and experience in outdoor adventures. She is hired and soon has her first assignment of following race members up a difficult rocky climb. She has a fear of heights and fakes a fall pretty far along in the climb to get out of completing the climb. When she does this, she see a body falling from above her into a gorge.
I liked the location of Portland and the Pacific Northwest very much.I thought Meg's new job was interesting and could add to other mysteries in the series. I liked Meg's friends Jill and Matt. It was the main protagonist of Meg that took away for me future interest in this series. She needs a job and is sleeping on her friends sofa. She is usually late in arriving at work in her brand new job or just in time with others waiting for her. She does not meet deadline even though her boss keeps asking for her draft. Even though she is warned to be careful, she goes full steam ahead putting herself in dangerous situations. She suspects everyone and lets them know she is suspecting them. Also, I feel the character of the unlikable mother is often over done in some cozies. I don't think it added to the story at all. It was a fast read.
I liked the location of Portland and the Pacific Northwest very much.I thought Meg's new job was interesting and could add to other mysteries in the series. I liked Meg's friends Jill and Matt. It was the main protagonist of Meg that took away for me future interest in this series. She needs a job and is sleeping on her friends sofa. She is usually late in arriving at work in her brand new job or just in time with others waiting for her. She does not meet deadline even though her boss keeps asking for her draft. Even though she is warned to be careful, she goes full steam ahead putting herself in dangerous situations. She suspects everyone and lets them know she is suspecting them. Also, I feel the character of the unlikable mother is often over done in some cozies. I don't think it added to the story at all. It was a fast read.
July 22, 2025
"A Murder on the Mountain (Meg Reed Investigates #1)" by Ellie Alexander is the first book about Meg Reed and her slightly unqualified for job as an extreme sports journalist. Her boss at the magazine expects his staff to participate in the sports they write about. This particular article he's asked Meg to write is on a tv show about contestants doing some of the most difficult climbing hikes across the United States of America. Kicker is that Meg has a fear of heights.
She does the hike but has a bit of a stumble near the top. While hanging on for herself another person goes flying off the trail. They aren't as lucky as she is. Things seem like more than an accident. Meg ends up trying to dig up what she can to solve the case.
Meg has some eccentricities that make her a smidge annoying. Her thing about umbrellas for one. She hates umbrellas but has a plethora of coats. These coats are all over the entry way of her best friend's one bedroom apartment because Meg would rather crash on her bff's couch than live in her dead dad's place or her grandmother's place. It's okay to cramp her best friend's style but not her grandmother's. She also refuses to deal with her grief over her father rather than have a more suitable place for herself to live. Oh, and her excuse not to be interested in her male bff is that his hair color is the same as her's. I can be picky about some things too but how she narrates these things in her head is like she doesn't realize these are just her preference. Rather they the way things should be for everyone. Overall, an interesting story and there does seem to be some growing that Meg will do in future books.
She does the hike but has a bit of a stumble near the top. While hanging on for herself another person goes flying off the trail. They aren't as lucky as she is. Things seem like more than an accident. Meg ends up trying to dig up what she can to solve the case.
Meg has some eccentricities that make her a smidge annoying. Her thing about umbrellas for one. She hates umbrellas but has a plethora of coats. These coats are all over the entry way of her best friend's one bedroom apartment because Meg would rather crash on her bff's couch than live in her dead dad's place or her grandmother's place. It's okay to cramp her best friend's style but not her grandmother's. She also refuses to deal with her grief over her father rather than have a more suitable place for herself to live. Oh, and her excuse not to be interested in her male bff is that his hair color is the same as her's. I can be picky about some things too but how she narrates these things in her head is like she doesn't realize these are just her preference. Rather they the way things should be for everyone. Overall, an interesting story and there does seem to be some growing that Meg will do in future books.
July 13, 2025
For the first few chapters I wasn't sure why this book sounded so familiar and then I realized I had read it before. This is a reissue of an early series. Ellie Alexander writes delightful cozy mysteries. The Bakeshop series and Secret Bookcase series are among my favorites. Unfortunately, I didn't relate to Meg Reed, Maybe she is a little too young ( a recent UO grad ) or a little too naive. I live in the PNW but I'm not taken with the great outdoors and extreme sports. Still, the mystery was engaging and although I might not continue with this series I look forward to what ever the author writes next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a chance to read an advance copy.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a chance to read an advance copy.
August 23, 2025
Murder on the Mountain features Meg Reed. She just been hired as a writer for an outdoor magazine, faking the extent of her outdoor experience. She’s given the chance to cover the final leg of Race of the States but on the first day out filming one contestant dies falling off a cliff or was he pushed?
What I enjoyed:
⛰️The setting in Portland & surrounding areas
🏔️Focus on following gut feelings
🏔️Using Megs experience as an investigative reporter to solve a murder.
🏔️Strong sense of place
Final thoughts: I really enjoyed this refresh of Scene of the Climb and can’t wait to continue with this series as I previously had only read book 1. The sense of place makes me feel like I’m in Portland or hiking out on the trails. (Pretty sure I e hiked with a few Megs. 😂) I liked that this book focused heavily on the investigation but look forward to getting more from the secondary characters like Matt and Meg’s grandma. After reading most of the authors series it was fun to go back to the beginning.
What I enjoyed:
⛰️The setting in Portland & surrounding areas
🏔️Focus on following gut feelings
🏔️Using Megs experience as an investigative reporter to solve a murder.
🏔️Strong sense of place
Final thoughts: I really enjoyed this refresh of Scene of the Climb and can’t wait to continue with this series as I previously had only read book 1. The sense of place makes me feel like I’m in Portland or hiking out on the trails. (Pretty sure I e hiked with a few Megs. 😂) I liked that this book focused heavily on the investigation but look forward to getting more from the secondary characters like Matt and Meg’s grandma. After reading most of the authors series it was fun to go back to the beginning.
August 26, 2016
The characters are well developed the setting, theme and mysteries are so good and so well researched that you can tell that this story is written by someone who truly loves and grasps the feel and energy of this state. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the great outdoors, and to anyone who loves the great outdoors from the comfort of their reading chair like I do! I really enjoyed main character Meg and her friends, I can relate to her less then athletic abilities and her clumsiness. I believe that this is a series I will happily read and enjoy for many books to come.
August 31, 2016
Meg is afraid of heights and many outdoorsy things, but she is like a dog with a bone and sifts through the list of suspects that kept me guessing and kept the mystery alive in this fun cozy.
September 1, 2025
Ellie Alexander’s A Murder on the Mountain (previously published as Scene of the Climb) is a lively series debut that blends humor, breathtaking scenery, and a puzzling murder into a cozy mystery full of charm.
Meg Reed, fresh out of journalism school, is desperate to land her first big break. Instead, she fibs her way into a job at Northwest Extreme, a magazine devoted to outdoor adventure—an ironic twist given her fear of heights and general lack of athletic ability. Her first assignment: covering an adventure reality race in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge. Decked out in pink hiking gear and weighed down with an overstuffed backpack, Meg is hilariously unprepared for the trek. But her awkward climb takes a shocking turn when she witnesses a contestant’s fatal fall—and becomes the only one who suspects it wasn’t an accident.
Alexander captures the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest in vivid detail, making the setting as memorable as the mystery. The cast of characters—Meg’s best friend Jill, loyal (and possibly swoon-worthy) Matt, and her eccentric Reiki-practicing grandmother, Gam—bring warmth and comic relief, balancing the darker edges of the plot. The whodunit itself is layered with suspects and red herrings, keeping readers guessing until the surprising reveal. At the same time, Meg’s late father’s mysterious hit-and-run death introduces a promising long-term thread that adds depth to the series.
Part cozy caper, part character-driven mystery, A Murder on the Mountain is an entertaining first outing for an endearingly flawed heroine. Fans of Alexander’s Bakeshop Mysteries—or anyone who loves their murder with a mix of laughter, friendship, and scenic escapism—will be eager to follow Meg on her next adventure.
Meg Reed, fresh out of journalism school, is desperate to land her first big break. Instead, she fibs her way into a job at Northwest Extreme, a magazine devoted to outdoor adventure—an ironic twist given her fear of heights and general lack of athletic ability. Her first assignment: covering an adventure reality race in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge. Decked out in pink hiking gear and weighed down with an overstuffed backpack, Meg is hilariously unprepared for the trek. But her awkward climb takes a shocking turn when she witnesses a contestant’s fatal fall—and becomes the only one who suspects it wasn’t an accident.
Alexander captures the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest in vivid detail, making the setting as memorable as the mystery. The cast of characters—Meg’s best friend Jill, loyal (and possibly swoon-worthy) Matt, and her eccentric Reiki-practicing grandmother, Gam—bring warmth and comic relief, balancing the darker edges of the plot. The whodunit itself is layered with suspects and red herrings, keeping readers guessing until the surprising reveal. At the same time, Meg’s late father’s mysterious hit-and-run death introduces a promising long-term thread that adds depth to the series.
Part cozy caper, part character-driven mystery, A Murder on the Mountain is an entertaining first outing for an endearingly flawed heroine. Fans of Alexander’s Bakeshop Mysteries—or anyone who loves their murder with a mix of laughter, friendship, and scenic escapism—will be eager to follow Meg on her next adventure.
July 9, 2022
http://openbooksociety.com/article/sc...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer JoAnne
Meg Reed lives with her friend Jill and sleeps on the couch. She lives in Portland, Oregon and needs a job so she can get a place of her own. One day, while out for coffee, Meg trips on the rain-slicked floor and a hunky man helps her up. He starts talking to her, learns she’s the daughter of a well-known newspaperman and tells her he is the editor of an outdoor magazine. When he hears that she herself is a writer, he offers her a job on the spot…of course, she kind of fudges a little bit to get the job – she tells him she loves the outdoors and sports.
So when Meg finds out that she has an assignment covering Race the States, a reality show filming the finale in Oregon, she thinks, Great!…until she finds out she has to go along with the racers up a mountainside and get pictures and story background. Did I mention Meg is afraid of heights? Terrified actually?
But she decides to fake it as much as she can. When she hikes as high as she can without passing out, she decides to “fake a fall,” and slide down the mountainside a little. Upon doing this, she sees a body pass by. Someone fell, or was pushed, as Meg is sure happened. When her new boss, Greg, hears what happened, he tells her to keep quiet and not say anything to anyone. Meg knows what she saw; she’s sure Greg is suspicious too.
I was first interested because I’ve done quite a bit of hiking myself (not in Oregon, but other western states), so I know something about the equipment and safety measures you need to take. The author has done a wonderful job with explaining and visualizing the terrain and vistas of the area in the mountains near Portland. By the end of the book, I’ve decided that it’s definitely on my list of places to visit.
The story is certainly one that keeps you reading. The action moves fast, and there is a lot going on: people who aren’t the nicest and seem to have something to hide; friends who are willing to help her out while still trying to protect her; a grandmother (Gam) who has spiritual powers; and a nice blend of plot twists all the way through. When the ending came, I was surprised; there were enough red herrings that you weren’t sure who the killer was, and everything was tied together nicely.
I definitely plan on reading the next in this series and highly recommend this for anyone who likes mysteries, hiking, or just reading a good book.
Review #2
https://openbooksociety.com/article/s...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Scene of the Climb is the first book in the Pacific Northwest Mystery series by Kate Dyer-Seeley. I have really enjoyed this author’s writings (notably the series – Sloan Krause Mysteries) under the name of Ellie Alexander. So here I am starting this new to me series and I must say – I am very pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this first book in the series and in fact, I was not able to figure out whodunit until the very end…just the way I like my cozy mystery reads!
Meg Reed is a recent grad in journalism and has secured a job at Northwest Extreme Magazine. A real coo BUT what the editor-in-chief Greg Dixon does not know is that Meg really isn’t an extreme sports enthusiast (at least not in any participating sort of way that is). So when Meg is asked to take over a colleague’s assignment to cover the final leg of Race the States, a reality show filming the finale in Oregon, Meg is both extremely excited and a lot trepidation. As the race activities continue – there is one climb that Meg is expected to participate in. Yikes – what is a girl to do when they are not personally equipped with proper hiking gear and very fearful of heights. Go shopping and get very pink hiking gear ☺. Fast forward to one of the hikes with the three remaining participants. Meg is to follow the three race participants on the hike to aid in her writing of the article. But tragedy strikes and Lenny falls to his death (with Meg seeing the fall down the mountain) …and then there were two to participate in the race.
I found the path to the eventual discovery of the killer twisted with many red herrings. Equally pleasing was the background story we got a glimpse of regarding her father’s death. There is certainly a mystery there to solve. I suspect that will be a slow burn throughout the series? There were many potential suspects for Meg to sift through, which kept me engaged throughout.
Lets not forget some of the other lovable and unique characters – least of which is her Gam – a new age woman running a very funky bookstore -> Light and Love Bookstore. The name just says it all. What reader wouldn’t want to spend some time there? And her best male friend, who everyone sees that he is crushing on her – but Meg is clueless. Another aspect that kept my attention was the detail in describing the countryside where the story took place. I really felt like I was in the area.
There was a nod to my home country and a typical comment on the slang of the country that had me chuckling – “Eh”.
“Gathering himself, he introduced his cameraman, Andrew, a shaggy, overweight sweaty guy in his thirties, who stood to shake our hands. His grasp was clammy. ‘Sorry about that,’ he said as he wiped his hands on his cargo shorts. ‘It’s roasting in here – eh?’…I pegged him as Canadian with his signature, ‘Eh’.”
I did not suspect the killer and the twist and reasoning came as a total surprise to me. If you want to read a good cozy mystery set in a wonderfully depicted location, with engaging and quirky characters – then I suggest Scene of the Climb. I know I cannot wait to learn more about Meg and her next extreme adventure article. As well, might there be a romance in the making for Meg? And will she finally get her own place and leave Jill’s couch? Time will tell.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer JoAnne
Meg Reed lives with her friend Jill and sleeps on the couch. She lives in Portland, Oregon and needs a job so she can get a place of her own. One day, while out for coffee, Meg trips on the rain-slicked floor and a hunky man helps her up. He starts talking to her, learns she’s the daughter of a well-known newspaperman and tells her he is the editor of an outdoor magazine. When he hears that she herself is a writer, he offers her a job on the spot…of course, she kind of fudges a little bit to get the job – she tells him she loves the outdoors and sports.
So when Meg finds out that she has an assignment covering Race the States, a reality show filming the finale in Oregon, she thinks, Great!…until she finds out she has to go along with the racers up a mountainside and get pictures and story background. Did I mention Meg is afraid of heights? Terrified actually?
But she decides to fake it as much as she can. When she hikes as high as she can without passing out, she decides to “fake a fall,” and slide down the mountainside a little. Upon doing this, she sees a body pass by. Someone fell, or was pushed, as Meg is sure happened. When her new boss, Greg, hears what happened, he tells her to keep quiet and not say anything to anyone. Meg knows what she saw; she’s sure Greg is suspicious too.
I was first interested because I’ve done quite a bit of hiking myself (not in Oregon, but other western states), so I know something about the equipment and safety measures you need to take. The author has done a wonderful job with explaining and visualizing the terrain and vistas of the area in the mountains near Portland. By the end of the book, I’ve decided that it’s definitely on my list of places to visit.
The story is certainly one that keeps you reading. The action moves fast, and there is a lot going on: people who aren’t the nicest and seem to have something to hide; friends who are willing to help her out while still trying to protect her; a grandmother (Gam) who has spiritual powers; and a nice blend of plot twists all the way through. When the ending came, I was surprised; there were enough red herrings that you weren’t sure who the killer was, and everything was tied together nicely.
I definitely plan on reading the next in this series and highly recommend this for anyone who likes mysteries, hiking, or just reading a good book.
Review #2
https://openbooksociety.com/article/s...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Scene of the Climb is the first book in the Pacific Northwest Mystery series by Kate Dyer-Seeley. I have really enjoyed this author’s writings (notably the series – Sloan Krause Mysteries) under the name of Ellie Alexander. So here I am starting this new to me series and I must say – I am very pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this first book in the series and in fact, I was not able to figure out whodunit until the very end…just the way I like my cozy mystery reads!
Meg Reed is a recent grad in journalism and has secured a job at Northwest Extreme Magazine. A real coo BUT what the editor-in-chief Greg Dixon does not know is that Meg really isn’t an extreme sports enthusiast (at least not in any participating sort of way that is). So when Meg is asked to take over a colleague’s assignment to cover the final leg of Race the States, a reality show filming the finale in Oregon, Meg is both extremely excited and a lot trepidation. As the race activities continue – there is one climb that Meg is expected to participate in. Yikes – what is a girl to do when they are not personally equipped with proper hiking gear and very fearful of heights. Go shopping and get very pink hiking gear ☺. Fast forward to one of the hikes with the three remaining participants. Meg is to follow the three race participants on the hike to aid in her writing of the article. But tragedy strikes and Lenny falls to his death (with Meg seeing the fall down the mountain) …and then there were two to participate in the race.
I found the path to the eventual discovery of the killer twisted with many red herrings. Equally pleasing was the background story we got a glimpse of regarding her father’s death. There is certainly a mystery there to solve. I suspect that will be a slow burn throughout the series? There were many potential suspects for Meg to sift through, which kept me engaged throughout.
Lets not forget some of the other lovable and unique characters – least of which is her Gam – a new age woman running a very funky bookstore -> Light and Love Bookstore. The name just says it all. What reader wouldn’t want to spend some time there? And her best male friend, who everyone sees that he is crushing on her – but Meg is clueless. Another aspect that kept my attention was the detail in describing the countryside where the story took place. I really felt like I was in the area.
There was a nod to my home country and a typical comment on the slang of the country that had me chuckling – “Eh”.
“Gathering himself, he introduced his cameraman, Andrew, a shaggy, overweight sweaty guy in his thirties, who stood to shake our hands. His grasp was clammy. ‘Sorry about that,’ he said as he wiped his hands on his cargo shorts. ‘It’s roasting in here – eh?’…I pegged him as Canadian with his signature, ‘Eh’.”
I did not suspect the killer and the twist and reasoning came as a total surprise to me. If you want to read a good cozy mystery set in a wonderfully depicted location, with engaging and quirky characters – then I suggest Scene of the Climb. I know I cannot wait to learn more about Meg and her next extreme adventure article. As well, might there be a romance in the making for Meg? And will she finally get her own place and leave Jill’s couch? Time will tell.
July 14, 2025
This is the first book in the Meg Reed Investigates series. Originally this was published a decade ago but it is being re-released with a new cover and some polishes to the original story.
I enjoyed following Meg, she is a likeable character. She gets a job at an adventure magazine and her first assignment is covering an adventure race located on the picturesque Oregon mountains. While she is on the scene she witnesses a contestant plummet to his death. As the only witness, Meg investigates the crime to discover was this an accident or murder?
This is going to be a fun series and I look forward to checking out more of the books in the series.
Thank you to Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed following Meg, she is a likeable character. She gets a job at an adventure magazine and her first assignment is covering an adventure race located on the picturesque Oregon mountains. While she is on the scene she witnesses a contestant plummet to his death. As the only witness, Meg investigates the crime to discover was this an accident or murder?
This is going to be a fun series and I look forward to checking out more of the books in the series.
Thank you to Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2018
I really wanted to like this book more. I've been to most of the places described, so it was easy to envision what was happening. I didn't really identify with any of the characters that much. The main character was shallow and that put me off. Overall I was entertained, but it could have been better if the main character was more likeable.
August 18, 2021
A perfect introduction into the Pacific Northwest series. I really enjoyed this book and found the characters interesting. I am also intrigued by the deeper mystery within the book and will continue the series.
January 20, 2015
Meg Reed has finally landed her first post college job. Unfortunately, it’s at an outdoor magazine, and Meg is not an outdoor kind of person. Still, she bravely faces her fear of heights to cover the final leg in a cross country reality TV show competition. But when she witnesses one of the contestants plunge to his death, Meg realizes she might be in over her head.
Meg is a great main character, and I loved spending time with her. The rest of the cast is equally as strong. The pacing was off in the plot a bit, but everything does come together for a nice climax. I will definitely be back for more.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Meg is a great main character, and I loved spending time with her. The rest of the cast is equally as strong. The pacing was off in the plot a bit, but everything does come together for a nice climax. I will definitely be back for more.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 24, 2018
Since I enjoyed Ellie Alexander's baking mystery series and I have been to the Pacific Northwest a few times, I wanted to try this series written under her other name. As Book #1, Scene of the Crime does a good job of setting the main characters in place and a very good job of presenting the setting. I am hoping that the next book continues certain storylines, because I am ready to travel vicariously to the Pacific Northwest with Meg and her Adventure Tips.
October 10, 2014
This is a solid 3.5 star read, so since I'm in a good mood today I'm giving it the full 4 here. I liked the locale and the main character. Even though I'm not really the outdoorsy type this caught my interest and kept it. Good enough mystery, too. I'll read the next one. Recommend!
March 18, 2021
I love books set in the Pacific Northwest, it’s so fun to actually know the places the characters are visiting. A great mystery without the gore of major suspense of a “thriller”. I will definitely read more in the series
August 17, 2022
IN THE WORDS OF HARRY POTTER'S OLLIVANDER: "NOPE. NOPE. DEFINITELY NOT!"
I'm going to warn you before I begin to discuss my opinion of this book that this review is completely subjective. I had major issues with this book. But I know that there are people out there who absolutely loved it and can only hope that you can infer from what I'm saying as to whether or not this is going to be the right book for you. It just was not for me.
In this book, we follow Meg, who ends up becoming a columnist for an extreme sports media. Meg has no experience in extreme sports but lied to get the job because she needs work and has experience in writing. For her first assignment, Meg is sent off to do some extreme rock climbing. While she is there, someone dies. So, Meg decides to become an amateur sleuth and solve the murder.
I have so many cons for this book I do not know where to begin.
Once again, please heed my warning: This is a subjective review and you might not like it, but I need to be completely honest about how this book was for me.
The best thing about this book was the beginning. I really loved getting to know Meg and enjoyed seeing her make her way towards getting this job to write this column. However, once Meg ends up going to this rock-climbing mountain climbing thing, everything fell apart for me. In all honesty, this was a book that I had set up as a buddy read and had that not been the case I would have DNF’d.
The first massive issue that I had with this book was the Australian representation. As an Australian myself, I was a little bit horrified as to how this Australian character was being portrayed. No, I'll be more specific. I was horrified by the way that Australians and Australia was portrayed because there were things that this author wrote that were completely inaccurate. To give one example: a word that is thrown out is “ocker”. In this book, this term is described As a person who is a “man eater”. I don't know where the author got this information, but it could not be any less true. An “Ocker” is an uncivilised way of referring to someone who has a broad Australian accent and is a “commoner”/”undignified”. So to say that this term represents a man eater. Couldn't be any further from the truth, and I don't understand how the author felt that it will be OK to take a word and create a whole different meaning for it, saying that we do this in this country when we don't.
My next complaint is with regards to the audiobook. I listened to this book. With respect to the narrator, who may not have a lot of experience when it comes to the Australian accent, the way it was portrayed was not Australian. I could almost forgive if the narrator used a broad Australian accent, AKA Steve Irwin. But she didn't. She used what is better described as a New Zealand accent. Honestly, this threw me off each and every single time that the Australian character opened his mouth to speak.
In my opinion, as an Australian, I think the better decision would have been to have the Australian character speak in an American accent. At least that way it would make the book feel a lot more cohesive. But to inaccurately portray the accent and to also get information about Australia Wrong? I really struggled with that as an Australian.
Honestly, I feel like I have every right to have an issue with this, because if I wrote a book about an American character and I got American things wrong, I know that there would be American readers that would be up in arms coming to me saying, why are you getting your information wrong?
As I said earlier, the beginning of the book was great and I really did enjoy following Meg up until the moment that we meet this Australian guy. From that point on, I couldn't help but feel irked, as I said every time he opened his mouth. The problem here is that every time I finally got over the Australian guy and we moved on to something else, by the time I was good, the Australian guy came back again and the irksomeness started all over again.
Not to mention that the second half of the book was such a letdown.
It is one thing for me to have a problem with one character for whatever reason that I have a problem with them. It is quite another to have a pretty decent or even good first half and then really just tank the second half and that's what I felt happened.
Honestly, for me, I got to a point somewhere where all I could think was 'I just wanna be done with this book'.
I don't remember the last time I cared less about a reveal. So I'm not even gonna comment on that.
The annoying thing is that this book actually ended really well. In fact, the very last line of this book had me intrigued to pick up book 2. But I tell you what, it's not gonna happen.
Now I am somebody who has come to learn that if you don't like book one in a cosy mystery series, give book two a go. Because after all, this was only book 1. But for only the second time in my cosy reading experience, I am not going to pick up book 2 it is not worth it.
The only reason I am giving this book two stars is because the first section of the book prior to meeting the Australian guy, was actually decent and made the book deserve more than one star.
Usually my reviews are incredibly constructive and logical and well thought out, and I'm usually not this emotional, at least not in the negative sense.
I actually debated whether or not to leave a review for this book because I feel that sometimes negative reviews can be extremely harsh. Especially when it comes to a reader's personal opinion, sometimes it's not fair on the author to leave a scathing review. But what got me to this point of actually writing the review was that I felt that everyone deserved to know how I felt about the book and hopefully at the very least you can infer from what I've said whether or not the book is for you.
And I mean this in the best possible way.
Maybe you don't care if there is incorrect information when it comes to Australia. Maybe you don't care if you're listening to the audiobook and someone uses an incorrect accent. And if that's the case, and extreme sports and climbing a mountain appeals to you, then by all means, please do pick up this book. I hope that you do.
But if you do care about those things, then I say don't even try. Just stay away from this book.
At the end of the day as well-read readers, we are able to make up our own mind and that is the biggest reason why I am sitting here writing this review.
What I am giving you is my opinion. But if you want to read the book or if you have and you loved it, then I think that is fantastic. Because honestly, there is nothing better than sitting down and reading a book that you end up loving.
But at the end of the day, this book just was not at all the book for me, and I will not be continuing on with this particular series.
Sorry for the harshness.
2 Stars!
Xoxo.
I'm going to warn you before I begin to discuss my opinion of this book that this review is completely subjective. I had major issues with this book. But I know that there are people out there who absolutely loved it and can only hope that you can infer from what I'm saying as to whether or not this is going to be the right book for you. It just was not for me.
In this book, we follow Meg, who ends up becoming a columnist for an extreme sports media. Meg has no experience in extreme sports but lied to get the job because she needs work and has experience in writing. For her first assignment, Meg is sent off to do some extreme rock climbing. While she is there, someone dies. So, Meg decides to become an amateur sleuth and solve the murder.
I have so many cons for this book I do not know where to begin.
Once again, please heed my warning: This is a subjective review and you might not like it, but I need to be completely honest about how this book was for me.
The best thing about this book was the beginning. I really loved getting to know Meg and enjoyed seeing her make her way towards getting this job to write this column. However, once Meg ends up going to this rock-climbing mountain climbing thing, everything fell apart for me. In all honesty, this was a book that I had set up as a buddy read and had that not been the case I would have DNF’d.
The first massive issue that I had with this book was the Australian representation. As an Australian myself, I was a little bit horrified as to how this Australian character was being portrayed. No, I'll be more specific. I was horrified by the way that Australians and Australia was portrayed because there were things that this author wrote that were completely inaccurate. To give one example: a word that is thrown out is “ocker”. In this book, this term is described As a person who is a “man eater”. I don't know where the author got this information, but it could not be any less true. An “Ocker” is an uncivilised way of referring to someone who has a broad Australian accent and is a “commoner”/”undignified”. So to say that this term represents a man eater. Couldn't be any further from the truth, and I don't understand how the author felt that it will be OK to take a word and create a whole different meaning for it, saying that we do this in this country when we don't.
My next complaint is with regards to the audiobook. I listened to this book. With respect to the narrator, who may not have a lot of experience when it comes to the Australian accent, the way it was portrayed was not Australian. I could almost forgive if the narrator used a broad Australian accent, AKA Steve Irwin. But she didn't. She used what is better described as a New Zealand accent. Honestly, this threw me off each and every single time that the Australian character opened his mouth to speak.
In my opinion, as an Australian, I think the better decision would have been to have the Australian character speak in an American accent. At least that way it would make the book feel a lot more cohesive. But to inaccurately portray the accent and to also get information about Australia Wrong? I really struggled with that as an Australian.
Honestly, I feel like I have every right to have an issue with this, because if I wrote a book about an American character and I got American things wrong, I know that there would be American readers that would be up in arms coming to me saying, why are you getting your information wrong?
As I said earlier, the beginning of the book was great and I really did enjoy following Meg up until the moment that we meet this Australian guy. From that point on, I couldn't help but feel irked, as I said every time he opened his mouth. The problem here is that every time I finally got over the Australian guy and we moved on to something else, by the time I was good, the Australian guy came back again and the irksomeness started all over again.
Not to mention that the second half of the book was such a letdown.
It is one thing for me to have a problem with one character for whatever reason that I have a problem with them. It is quite another to have a pretty decent or even good first half and then really just tank the second half and that's what I felt happened.
Honestly, for me, I got to a point somewhere where all I could think was 'I just wanna be done with this book'.
I don't remember the last time I cared less about a reveal. So I'm not even gonna comment on that.
The annoying thing is that this book actually ended really well. In fact, the very last line of this book had me intrigued to pick up book 2. But I tell you what, it's not gonna happen.
Now I am somebody who has come to learn that if you don't like book one in a cosy mystery series, give book two a go. Because after all, this was only book 1. But for only the second time in my cosy reading experience, I am not going to pick up book 2 it is not worth it.
The only reason I am giving this book two stars is because the first section of the book prior to meeting the Australian guy, was actually decent and made the book deserve more than one star.
Usually my reviews are incredibly constructive and logical and well thought out, and I'm usually not this emotional, at least not in the negative sense.
I actually debated whether or not to leave a review for this book because I feel that sometimes negative reviews can be extremely harsh. Especially when it comes to a reader's personal opinion, sometimes it's not fair on the author to leave a scathing review. But what got me to this point of actually writing the review was that I felt that everyone deserved to know how I felt about the book and hopefully at the very least you can infer from what I've said whether or not the book is for you.
And I mean this in the best possible way.
Maybe you don't care if there is incorrect information when it comes to Australia. Maybe you don't care if you're listening to the audiobook and someone uses an incorrect accent. And if that's the case, and extreme sports and climbing a mountain appeals to you, then by all means, please do pick up this book. I hope that you do.
But if you do care about those things, then I say don't even try. Just stay away from this book.
At the end of the day as well-read readers, we are able to make up our own mind and that is the biggest reason why I am sitting here writing this review.
What I am giving you is my opinion. But if you want to read the book or if you have and you loved it, then I think that is fantastic. Because honestly, there is nothing better than sitting down and reading a book that you end up loving.
But at the end of the day, this book just was not at all the book for me, and I will not be continuing on with this particular series.
Sorry for the harshness.
2 Stars!
Xoxo.
October 5, 2025
Mary Margaret Reed (Meg) has been crashing on the couch in her best friend, Jill Pettygrove's, apartment for five months. Who would have guessed that an unexpected interaction at her favorite coffee shop would result in a job offer from Greg Dixon, Editor in Chief of the periodical, Northwest Extreme? There's just one little secret: Meg has a fear of heights! Will she write about the first-ever adventure race filmed in Oregon, with her boss as an exclusive sponsor, or the more sinister details of a murder investigation?
What a fantastic start to a new series! I was hooked from the first line. I have to admit, I didn't keep track of how many times I changed my mind about the culprit's identity—my final guess was totally off base! The plot is filled with surprising twists, and each character adds depth to the story. I have several favorites, and I look forward to meeting them again in Portland. While the book can be read as a stand-alone, an intriguing piece of information was revealed that serves as a cliffhanger, leaving me eager to read Book 2.
I enjoyed reading the Acknowledgments, and discovering that this was the author's first mystery novel. It adds a special behind-the-scenes insight!
At the end of the novel, you'll find special features of "Meg's Adventure Tips" and "Meg's A Murder On The Mountain Scenic Loop," highlighting 6 must-see stops just outside the city limits of Portland for those who enjoy challenging adventures.
Thank you to Ellie Alexander, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.
Reviewer's Note: "A Murder On The Mountain" was previously published as "Scene Of The Climb."
What a fantastic start to a new series! I was hooked from the first line. I have to admit, I didn't keep track of how many times I changed my mind about the culprit's identity—my final guess was totally off base! The plot is filled with surprising twists, and each character adds depth to the story. I have several favorites, and I look forward to meeting them again in Portland. While the book can be read as a stand-alone, an intriguing piece of information was revealed that serves as a cliffhanger, leaving me eager to read Book 2.
I enjoyed reading the Acknowledgments, and discovering that this was the author's first mystery novel. It adds a special behind-the-scenes insight!
At the end of the novel, you'll find special features of "Meg's Adventure Tips" and "Meg's A Murder On The Mountain Scenic Loop," highlighting 6 must-see stops just outside the city limits of Portland for those who enjoy challenging adventures.
Thank you to Ellie Alexander, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.
Reviewer's Note: "A Murder On The Mountain" was previously published as "Scene Of The Climb."
June 3, 2020
AUTHOR Dyer-Seeley, Kate
TITLE Scene of the Climb
DATE READ 06/02/20
RATING 4/B
FIRST SENTENCE My fingernails dug into the soggy dirt as my body lurched closer to the sheer cliff face.
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Mystery/2014/hoopla-ebook/305 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE #1 Pacific NW Mystery
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2020 Reading Goal 111/120;
GROUP READ WIM
TIME/PLACE 2014/OR
CHARACTERS Meg Reed/journalist
COMMENTS First in a series. I do really like the setting and theme of outdoors and active. Meg…I am a bit neutral on. Meg is a recent college grad and had hopes to work at the newspaper like her Dad but no openings there. She does get a job with a bit of an extreme sports/outdoor magazine. She can write but is in over her head in trying to keep up with the athletes she is writing about. In this outing they are following the filming of the final segment of a show where they are climbing and hiking in Oregon. When one of the final 3 is eliminated due to his death … Meg is sure the fall was not accidental.
TITLE Scene of the Climb
DATE READ 06/02/20
RATING 4/B
FIRST SENTENCE My fingernails dug into the soggy dirt as my body lurched closer to the sheer cliff face.
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Mystery/2014/hoopla-ebook/305 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE #1 Pacific NW Mystery
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2020 Reading Goal 111/120;
GROUP READ WIM
TIME/PLACE 2014/OR
CHARACTERS Meg Reed/journalist
COMMENTS First in a series. I do really like the setting and theme of outdoors and active. Meg…I am a bit neutral on. Meg is a recent college grad and had hopes to work at the newspaper like her Dad but no openings there. She does get a job with a bit of an extreme sports/outdoor magazine. She can write but is in over her head in trying to keep up with the athletes she is writing about. In this outing they are following the filming of the final segment of a show where they are climbing and hiking in Oregon. When one of the final 3 is eliminated due to his death … Meg is sure the fall was not accidental.
June 9, 2019
Scene of the Climb was an impulse purchase, a cozy mystery with an extreme sports theme. No one would ever accuse me of having an interest in extreme sports. It is set in the Pacific Northwest though and that did interest me. Meg is a recent Journalism major graduate, at a time when most papers are closing down and cutting back and certainly not hiring. So when a job at an extreme sports magazine becomes available, she may have exaggerated her athletic skills, just a tad. Now she finds herself covering an extreme race and one of the front runners just went over a cliff face. Determined to prove herself a real reporter in the likeness of her father, a well known figure in the field, Meg starts to investigate. Although the theme was not really for me, this was very well written, the characters were interesting people with believable actions, the reality TV felt very current, and the story had very good pacing. I really enjoyed this.
July 11, 2025
⭐️ARC-review⭐️
3.5⭐️
If you're looking for a cozy mystery book with a plot I didn't see coming, this book is for you!
Meet Meg, a journalist who is beginning her new job at a adventurers magazine. She is covering the story of Race the States. When doing that, someone committed a murder on the mountain and Meg witnessed the fall. She is on to this story, and takes you with her on the road to the killer. You will think of multiple people as possible killers, but who is it?
Really enjoyed reading this story, but maybe I liked a little more tension? The vibe is really cozy, maybe that was distracting for me. Because of that, I wasn't asking constantly who the killer might be.
Well-written, good story, cozy feelings. Loved it!
3.5⭐️
If you're looking for a cozy mystery book with a plot I didn't see coming, this book is for you!
Meet Meg, a journalist who is beginning her new job at a adventurers magazine. She is covering the story of Race the States. When doing that, someone committed a murder on the mountain and Meg witnessed the fall. She is on to this story, and takes you with her on the road to the killer. You will think of multiple people as possible killers, but who is it?
Really enjoyed reading this story, but maybe I liked a little more tension? The vibe is really cozy, maybe that was distracting for me. Because of that, I wasn't asking constantly who the killer might be.
Well-written, good story, cozy feelings. Loved it!
July 9, 2025
A wonderful mystery. Meg, with her new journalism degree, bluffs her way onto the staff of an extreme sports magazine. On her first assignment, she witnesses a competitor fall off a cliff during the Race the States competition. Not one to back down and convinced something seems off about the fall, she investgates, getting herself into all sorts of scrapes along the way. Meg's a great character and it'll be fun seeing how she gets on in future stories.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Ellie Alexander for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Ellie Alexander for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 11, 2025
I have read this author before and liked her. The main character in this series was the type I just find so annoying. She lies to get a job and then after witnessing a murder just won’t quit investigating, even after multiple people warn her and beg her not to. She has lots of problems in her personal relationships and is always late. Yecch! The story was ok but the ending didn’t really make much sense, I see now this is a reissue of an earlier book. I probably won’t be reading the rest of this series.
March 22, 2018
I didn’t care for the main character, but I plan to start the author’s other series ASAP.
January 24, 2019
Fun read. Always love a good PNW book. Main character makes some bad choices and finds herself in dangerous situations, but she's so likeable that you just can't get mad at her. I plan to read the next book in the series.
June 22, 2019
This would have been better with a different main character. I didn't like her. I did like that the story took place in Oregon and involved the mountains. Also, there was hiking and mountain climbing, which was interesting. The mystery was okay, but I would have been more interested if main character had been likeable. I was surprised by the culprit, though.
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