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National Park Mysteries #1
A Murder in Zion
Beautiful views, deadly encounters
Grief-stricken over her mother' s death and bruised by her failure on her most recent case, Emmeline Helliwell returns to her Utah hometown to heal, regroup, and reconnect with her estranged sister. A special agent with the National Park Service, Emme is determined to turn in her badge and take over her mother' s bakery for a much quieter life . . . until the body of a childhood friend turns up in the Narrows of Zion National Park.
Emme is called in to investigate the death, and the case is too personal for her to turn down. Once the death is ruled a murder, the seemingly simple investigation turns treacherous as clues leading to a dangerous religious cult grow too glaring to ignore.
The pressure intensifies when bodies start to pile up. Emme has to track down the killer before they take more lives, all while juggling a rocky relationship with her sister as they sort through their late mother' s estate.
The beauty of Zion National Park is breathtaking, but it may hide sordid secrets in its depths.
Perfect for fans of C. J. Box and Lisa Gardner
Grief-stricken over her mother' s death and bruised by her failure on her most recent case, Emmeline Helliwell returns to her Utah hometown to heal, regroup, and reconnect with her estranged sister. A special agent with the National Park Service, Emme is determined to turn in her badge and take over her mother' s bakery for a much quieter life . . . until the body of a childhood friend turns up in the Narrows of Zion National Park.
Emme is called in to investigate the death, and the case is too personal for her to turn down. Once the death is ruled a murder, the seemingly simple investigation turns treacherous as clues leading to a dangerous religious cult grow too glaring to ignore.
The pressure intensifies when bodies start to pile up. Emme has to track down the killer before they take more lives, all while juggling a rocky relationship with her sister as they sort through their late mother' s estate.
The beauty of Zion National Park is breathtaking, but it may hide sordid secrets in its depths.
Perfect for fans of C. J. Box and Lisa Gardner
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 4, 2025
About the author
Nicole Maggi
8 books281 followersNicole was born in the suburban farm country of upstate New York, and began writing at a very early age. Of course, her early works consisted mainly of poems about rainbows and unicorns, although one of them was good enough to win honorable mention in a national poetry contest! (Perhaps one of the judges was a ten-year-old girl.) Throughout high school, her creative writing was always nurtured and encouraged.
Nicole attended Emerson College as an acting major, and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Post-college, she worked as an actress in New York City for over a decade, focusing mainly on Shakespeare and the classics.
Now living in Los Angeles, Nicole balances writing full-time with motherhood. WINTER FALLS, the first in her TWIN WILLOWS TRILOGY (Medallion Press, 2014) is her debut novel. She has a stand-alone novel, HEARTLINES, coming out in February 2015 with SourceBooks Fire, as well as the second and third novels in the TWIN WILLOWS TRILOGY in 2015 and 2016.
Nicole attended Emerson College as an acting major, and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Post-college, she worked as an actress in New York City for over a decade, focusing mainly on Shakespeare and the classics.
Now living in Los Angeles, Nicole balances writing full-time with motherhood. WINTER FALLS, the first in her TWIN WILLOWS TRILOGY (Medallion Press, 2014) is her debut novel. She has a stand-alone novel, HEARTLINES, coming out in February 2015 with SourceBooks Fire, as well as the second and third novels in the TWIN WILLOWS TRILOGY in 2015 and 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
February 17, 2025
4 stars for a well written murder mystery set in Zion National Park, Utah, US. My wife and I read and enjoyed all of the Anna Pigeon books by Nevada Barr, set in various US NP. I am partial to mysteries set in NP. This book did not disappoint. The book opens with a tourist discovering a body in Zion NP, while hiking with a group. The guide calls the rangers on a satellite phone.
The blurb: "Grief-stricken over her mother’ s death and bruised by her failure on her most recent case, Special Agent Emmeline Helliwell with the National Park Service returns to her Utah hometown to heal and regroup. She’ s determined to turn in her badge and take over her mother’ s bakery for a much quieter life . . . until the body of a childhood friend turns up in The Narrows of Zion National Park."
The book alternates between Emme's personal life and her efforts to solve how her friend died. Both issues have a satisfactory conclusion. If you like mysteries set in NP, then you will like this book.
The scenery descriptions are excellent and brought back memories of our visit to Zion NP 25 years ago. One quote: "The hard-packed rust-colored dirt crunched a bit beneath their feet, tall scrub brush and ponderosa pines reaching up toward the blue sky on either side of the trail. The red-rock cliffs rose alongside them, towering over the land below like a queen on a throne high above her subjects."
Thank You Oceanview Publishing for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss.
Pub. Date March 4, 2025
Update Feb 16, 2025: My wife read this book and agrees with me--4 stars.
The blurb: "Grief-stricken over her mother’ s death and bruised by her failure on her most recent case, Special Agent Emmeline Helliwell with the National Park Service returns to her Utah hometown to heal and regroup. She’ s determined to turn in her badge and take over her mother’ s bakery for a much quieter life . . . until the body of a childhood friend turns up in The Narrows of Zion National Park."
The book alternates between Emme's personal life and her efforts to solve how her friend died. Both issues have a satisfactory conclusion. If you like mysteries set in NP, then you will like this book.
The scenery descriptions are excellent and brought back memories of our visit to Zion NP 25 years ago. One quote: "The hard-packed rust-colored dirt crunched a bit beneath their feet, tall scrub brush and ponderosa pines reaching up toward the blue sky on either side of the trail. The red-rock cliffs rose alongside them, towering over the land below like a queen on a throne high above her subjects."
Thank You Oceanview Publishing for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss.
Pub. Date March 4, 2025
Update Feb 16, 2025: My wife read this book and agrees with me--4 stars.
February 21, 2025
Ok, I have to mention the title was the first thing that caught my attention, but then I’m not the only that has been captured by an interesting title. NEVER underestimate a good title. If you’ve ever been hiking in Zion Canyon, UT and have been captivated by its beauty (and love crime thrillers), then you too may be one of those people like me who would pause when coming across a story in Zion Canyon. Or maybe not, but I was.
Anyway, the book summary introduces the primary storyline as well as the start of the book. What the book summary kind of glosses over is the wacked-out, polygamist, fundamentalist, religious group that is at the center of the story. I REALLY dislike cult stories, which is what I consider stories about wacked-out, polygamist, fundamentalist, religious groups. I almost DNFed the book as soon as “The Warriors for Armageddon” were introduced. Oh please!!! Really???
“Redwater. Home of the Warriors for Armageddon, religious fanatics with multiple wives and too many guns.”
Great!!! That’s what every wacked-out, polygamist, fundamentalist, religious group needs – too many guns!!! The only reason I didn’t DNF the book was because by the time I got to this point in the book, I liked Agent Emmeline Helliwell (aka Emme) of the Investigative Services Branch (ISB) of the National Park Service. Basically, the law enforcement branch of the National Park Service; kind of like the FBI of the US national parks. Anyway, Emme hated these wackos as much as I did and she had been out to get them for a while. Suffice it to say, Emme and the wackos have some “history”.
There is also a secondary story of Emme returning home to Utah, not only to investigate the death of friend in Zion Canyon, but to also sort out her mother’s estate, who had recently died. Emme is trying to find her sister, Addie, who she needs to come home to Utah to help her with their mother’s estate. When Addie finally does make it home to Utah, from her archeological dig in Tasmania, all is not well. Addie doesn’t look good and she is avoiding telephone calls.
Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the death of Emme’s childhood friend, Max, who was last seen with the daughter, Sarai, of the wacko group’s leader, Abraham. One of the sister wives passes Emme the name and number of a former sister wife/member, Lara, who managed to escape. Emme tracks Lara down, which wasn’t easy since Lara is constantly on the move. Shortly thereafter, Lara goes missing and it is suspected that it was the wackos who finally captured Lara. It’s deep into the second half that the storyline explodes into some scary and intense scenes for Emme with the wackos.
The character development for Emme and a couple of other characters was good. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline was interesting, even though it was a story with a wacked-out cult. The writing was good too. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.1 that I will round down to a 4star review. This is the first book I have ever read by Nicole Maggi, but, hopefully, it won’t be the last and Maggi is already working on the next installment to the National Park Mystery series. She has another series that looks interesting too that I may check out in the meantime. I want to thank Edelweiss and Oceanview Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#Edelweiss #OceanviewPublishing #AMurderinZion
Anyway, the book summary introduces the primary storyline as well as the start of the book. What the book summary kind of glosses over is the wacked-out, polygamist, fundamentalist, religious group that is at the center of the story. I REALLY dislike cult stories, which is what I consider stories about wacked-out, polygamist, fundamentalist, religious groups. I almost DNFed the book as soon as “The Warriors for Armageddon” were introduced. Oh please!!! Really???
“Redwater. Home of the Warriors for Armageddon, religious fanatics with multiple wives and too many guns.”
Great!!! That’s what every wacked-out, polygamist, fundamentalist, religious group needs – too many guns!!! The only reason I didn’t DNF the book was because by the time I got to this point in the book, I liked Agent Emmeline Helliwell (aka Emme) of the Investigative Services Branch (ISB) of the National Park Service. Basically, the law enforcement branch of the National Park Service; kind of like the FBI of the US national parks. Anyway, Emme hated these wackos as much as I did and she had been out to get them for a while. Suffice it to say, Emme and the wackos have some “history”.
There is also a secondary story of Emme returning home to Utah, not only to investigate the death of friend in Zion Canyon, but to also sort out her mother’s estate, who had recently died. Emme is trying to find her sister, Addie, who she needs to come home to Utah to help her with their mother’s estate. When Addie finally does make it home to Utah, from her archeological dig in Tasmania, all is not well. Addie doesn’t look good and she is avoiding telephone calls.
Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the death of Emme’s childhood friend, Max, who was last seen with the daughter, Sarai, of the wacko group’s leader, Abraham. One of the sister wives passes Emme the name and number of a former sister wife/member, Lara, who managed to escape. Emme tracks Lara down, which wasn’t easy since Lara is constantly on the move. Shortly thereafter, Lara goes missing and it is suspected that it was the wackos who finally captured Lara. It’s deep into the second half that the storyline explodes into some scary and intense scenes for Emme with the wackos.
The character development for Emme and a couple of other characters was good. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline was interesting, even though it was a story with a wacked-out cult. The writing was good too. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.1 that I will round down to a 4star review. This is the first book I have ever read by Nicole Maggi, but, hopefully, it won’t be the last and Maggi is already working on the next installment to the National Park Mystery series. She has another series that looks interesting too that I may check out in the meantime. I want to thank Edelweiss and Oceanview Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#Edelweiss #OceanviewPublishing #AMurderinZion
February 9, 2025
I would like to thank Oceanview Publishing and Nicole Maggi for granting me a digital copy of this book.
3⭐ - when a body is found in Zion national park, it's up to Emme to find out what happened to her childhood friend. Was it an accidental death, a suicide or a murder?
I loved how this story had multiple layers, on one hand you're following Emme's investigation regarding her dead childhood friend and on a personal note, you're following Emme's rollercoaster personal life after her mother died and she's trying to fix her relationship with her estranged sister.
3⭐ - when a body is found in Zion national park, it's up to Emme to find out what happened to her childhood friend. Was it an accidental death, a suicide or a murder?
I loved how this story had multiple layers, on one hand you're following Emme's investigation regarding her dead childhood friend and on a personal note, you're following Emme's rollercoaster personal life after her mother died and she's trying to fix her relationship with her estranged sister.
March 28, 2026
4.5 Stars ⭐️
I really enjoyed this book! Zion holds a special place in my heart. It was actually the first national park I ever visited, and I’ve now been twice. On my most recent trip, I did the top-down Narrows and completely fell in love with it. So reading a mystery set in a place I know and love made the whole book feel immersive.
The author did a great job capturing the beauty and intensity of Zion—the towering canyon walls, the river, the sense of isolation, the sounds of the creek, etc. It made the story feel vivid and real, and I could picture so many of the settings as I read.
The mystery itself kept me engaged, and I appreciated the pacing. My only reason for not giving a full 5 stars is that I found parts of the resolution a little predictable, but overall it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the book.
I really enjoyed this book! Zion holds a special place in my heart. It was actually the first national park I ever visited, and I’ve now been twice. On my most recent trip, I did the top-down Narrows and completely fell in love with it. So reading a mystery set in a place I know and love made the whole book feel immersive.
The author did a great job capturing the beauty and intensity of Zion—the towering canyon walls, the river, the sense of isolation, the sounds of the creek, etc. It made the story feel vivid and real, and I could picture so many of the settings as I read.
The mystery itself kept me engaged, and I appreciated the pacing. My only reason for not giving a full 5 stars is that I found parts of the resolution a little predictable, but overall it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the book.
March 4, 2025
An absolutely stunning debut! You will fall in love with these characters and exit the book dying to read the next book in its series!
December 7, 2025
This was a fun read, especially the parts in the national park. I liked the weaving of the national park and the cult ties as well. The story was complex and had a satisfying ending. Only thing I didn’t love was that some of the dialogue was a little cringy at times.
February 22, 2025
A National Park Mystery Book #1
This mystery centers on Emmeline Helliwell, a special agent with the National Parks Service.
After the death of her mother Emme isn’t herself, her sister is on a dig a world away and she fells alone and lost, especially after her last case resulted in a woman’s death. She had given her boss a two week’s notice and planned to move on…But when investigators found a body in Zion National Park and her boss asked Emme to look into it…It was soon discovered that the victim was one of her high school friend…..She then decided to delay her retirement to take part in the investigation….and the mystery begins.
The author’s prose is effortless and very dynamic. Ms. Maggi knows how to unspool an intricate whodunit mystery with a wonderful cast to entertain us. She placed her drama in the most dramatic settings of all to keep us on our toes till the very end. The imagery is so vivid, no doubt the description will stay fixed in your mind a long time, it has for me.
“A Murder in Zion” is a gripping tale and a real page -turner that brings the breathtaking beauty and the dangers of the wilderness close to home and is also a nuanced tale of how family and career can tear people apart and how religious fanatic and abusive cult leaders can use their power to manipulate and control others.
This story is well-said and well-done
Many thanks to Oceanview Publishing for this ARC
This mystery centers on Emmeline Helliwell, a special agent with the National Parks Service.
After the death of her mother Emme isn’t herself, her sister is on a dig a world away and she fells alone and lost, especially after her last case resulted in a woman’s death. She had given her boss a two week’s notice and planned to move on…But when investigators found a body in Zion National Park and her boss asked Emme to look into it…It was soon discovered that the victim was one of her high school friend…..She then decided to delay her retirement to take part in the investigation….and the mystery begins.
The author’s prose is effortless and very dynamic. Ms. Maggi knows how to unspool an intricate whodunit mystery with a wonderful cast to entertain us. She placed her drama in the most dramatic settings of all to keep us on our toes till the very end. The imagery is so vivid, no doubt the description will stay fixed in your mind a long time, it has for me.
“A Murder in Zion” is a gripping tale and a real page -turner that brings the breathtaking beauty and the dangers of the wilderness close to home and is also a nuanced tale of how family and career can tear people apart and how religious fanatic and abusive cult leaders can use their power to manipulate and control others.
This story is well-said and well-done
Many thanks to Oceanview Publishing for this ARC
April 4, 2026
I stumbled on this mystery randomly and grabbed ahold of it quickly. As a National Park fan I am a sucker for stories that take place in America’s most beautiful spaces. Emme, an Investigative Service officer in the National Park Service, is back home in Springdale UT (home of Zion NP) following the death of her mother. While clearing out her family home and business, she is called to investigate a body found in the park. The story moves along briskly, has plenty of solid supporting characters and the descriptive nature made me feel like I was right back at Zion. The protagonist is strong even though she is temporarily knocked down due to her grief and the story does not shy away from religious fundamentalism being at the core of the murder mystery. Since there are really cults of extremists in this area of the country it made perfect sense as a narrative and I give the author props for weaving all of this together. I just found the whole thing enjoyable and can’t wait for book two (Yellowstone - another fav park!)
July 16, 2025
If any readers does not get a chance to hike the Zion National Park, UT and witness the BEAUTY- this book and prose will place you there! Our heroine, Emmiline Helliwell, Special agent for the Natural Parks, is back home due to her mother’s death to heal and put in order her mother’s affairs. Murders, acquaintances, fundamentalists group, “a fall?”, reporter, more deaths and a few twists with her sister’s arrival. Excellent page turner. Enjoy
May 1, 2026
I hope this series continues! I have read a few books that are set in National parks, and this is my favorite so far.
April 16, 2025
well rounded read
I was interested in the book since I just was at Zion and I love crime/mystery books but this was so much more. Not only is it that but there’s also romance and drama thrown in. I loved that not only did the book focus on the crime, but also the beauty of Zion and friendships and family. I hope this becomes a series as I would definitely read more from this author as well as the protagonist Emme.
I was interested in the book since I just was at Zion and I love crime/mystery books but this was so much more. Not only is it that but there’s also romance and drama thrown in. I loved that not only did the book focus on the crime, but also the beauty of Zion and friendships and family. I hope this becomes a series as I would definitely read more from this author as well as the protagonist Emme.
April 2, 2026
This storyline could have been sooo much better with the religious cult, but it just fell flat for me. For anyone reading who’s been to Zion, the imagery of it was really accurate and fun to read about! That’s really all that kept me engaged.
September 28, 2025
The detail, sense of place, & beauty of Zion are lovely, & the premise of the series is spot on. But I wanted to like the book more than I did, due to--admittedly niggly--questions that kept distracting me, like:
How to pronounce the main character's name, Emme? Em (logical), Emma (short for Emmeline, also logical), Emmy (nonphonetic but trendy), or something that should have an accent mark on the e? Bothered me for 3 chapters.
Why do characters "tilted her head back" so often? Maybe they could just "look up" sometimes?
Can ISP agents really give someone immunity for murder verbally without consulting anyone else?
Why didn't Addie text, "the lawyer's here" instead of repeating the vague "Are you coming home?
What's the final resolution on Lara?
Why does Emme go places without backup so often?
I was confused about the characters (two? park service & cultist) both expecting helicopters.
It was well into the story before I discovered Addie was working in Africa & just stopped answering her phone. I'd had the impression she took off, wandering who-knows-where doing who-knows-what.
Most of that could be addressed with a more in-depth & objective content edit.
That said, I think this will be a good series, & I hope readers engage with it. The Parks are worth it.
How to pronounce the main character's name, Emme? Em (logical), Emma (short for Emmeline, also logical), Emmy (nonphonetic but trendy), or something that should have an accent mark on the e? Bothered me for 3 chapters.
Why do characters "tilted her head back" so often? Maybe they could just "look up" sometimes?
Can ISP agents really give someone immunity for murder verbally without consulting anyone else?
Why didn't Addie text, "the lawyer's here" instead of repeating the vague "Are you coming home?
What's the final resolution on Lara?
Why does Emme go places without backup so often?
I was confused about the characters (two? park service & cultist) both expecting helicopters.
It was well into the story before I discovered Addie was working in Africa & just stopped answering her phone. I'd had the impression she took off, wandering who-knows-where doing who-knows-what.
Most of that could be addressed with a more in-depth & objective content edit.
That said, I think this will be a good series, & I hope readers engage with it. The Parks are worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2025
For me this was just way too corny. The prose is overdone and repetitive; if I had to read about one more “undulating” wall or floor, I might have screamed.
This book didn’t really read like it was about a murder. The mystery takes a backseat to a dying mom, an insecure main character and dysfunctional sister dynamics. There was real potential for an exciting storyline involving the cult— similar to the cult from the most recent season of Fargo—but that part is barely explored. That angle could’ve made for a much more interesting read.
The main character is wishy-washy, professing love and worry for her sister, only to turn around and act controlling, rude, and repeatedly ditch her—even after their house is broken into. And then she’s somehow shocked when her sister gets kidnapped after being left alone… again. Come on.
Just not what I was looking for when I picked this up. Hard pass.
This book didn’t really read like it was about a murder. The mystery takes a backseat to a dying mom, an insecure main character and dysfunctional sister dynamics. There was real potential for an exciting storyline involving the cult— similar to the cult from the most recent season of Fargo—but that part is barely explored. That angle could’ve made for a much more interesting read.
The main character is wishy-washy, professing love and worry for her sister, only to turn around and act controlling, rude, and repeatedly ditch her—even after their house is broken into. And then she’s somehow shocked when her sister gets kidnapped after being left alone… again. Come on.
Just not what I was looking for when I picked this up. Hard pass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2024
Nicole Maggi beautifully juxtaposes the beauty of Zion National Park with the potential for human ugliness and evil in her adult debut novel, A MURDER IN ZION. When Emme Helliwell, a grieving and broken national parks investigator is assigned to a new case, she never imagined she would find the dead body of her childhood friend. When the investigation links to a previous case that continues to haunt her, Emme not only has to tackle her self-doubt, but also one of the most powerful and abusive religious cults in the country. A MURDER IN ZION is a thrilling tale of redemption and justice against those who abuse their power.
June 16, 2025
This was OK. I love Zion Park, one of my favorites. The story was overall ok, although I was not happy with the ending. What I really was not happy with was all the family drama surrounding the main protagonist's sister. That character could have been completely left out and the story would not have suffered in any way. Also, there were characters introduced in the prologue that never showed up again. I keep waiting for their story to be continued. The author needed a good editor. I'm not sure I will read another.
November 2, 2025
This book read like it was written by the Park service to promote Zion national Park, which admittedly is a beautiful place. But the story seemed a little forced. The characters, one dimensional. The conflicts overdramatized.
I wanted to cheer for the scrappy heroine, but she just seemed to be making one poor decision after another. Eg: “ I’ve got to make this dangerous hike at night all by myself…” no you don’t.
But I doggedly persisted to the very end.
I wanted to cheer for the scrappy heroine, but she just seemed to be making one poor decision after another. Eg: “ I’ve got to make this dangerous hike at night all by myself…” no you don’t.
But I doggedly persisted to the very end.
July 14, 2025
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.5 of 5
Emmeline "Emme" Helliwell is a special agent with the National Park Service. She has returned to her Utah hometown to grieve and recover after the death of her mother and regain her composure and confidence after a failure from a recent mission.
When a body turns up in the Narrows of Zion National Park, Emme is called in to investigate. Her investigation is personal as the body is of a childhood friend, someone who knew the Park very well. Emme is convinced that he didn't die as a result of an accident and begins an earnest investigation.
As she digs deeper into the case, it becomes apparent that a dangerous religious cult may be involved - the same cult Emme had been investigating before coming to Utah, which ended in failure.
Just as the case heats up and gets more intense, Emme's relationship with her sister, Addie, gets more strained. They've been estranged and Emme still resents that she had to take care of all their mother's belongings and then the funeral without Addie's help. But when Addie's life is in danger, Emme will stop at nothing to get her to safety.
For many, many years, the only mystery books I read were the book by Nevada Barr with the National Parks Ranger Anna Pigeon solving mysteries. I'm a tremendous fan of our National Parks and Monuments (I actually celebrated when I was finally old enough to get my lifetime pass!) so any book with a NP focus or setting will get my attention.
Author Nicole Maggi delivers a wonderfully exciting mystery and finds the perfect balance between character and story. There's a lot of Emme's family drama playing out with her sister, but it never seems to take over the story and we never feel that Emme is avoiding her investigations because of her sister. Both aspects of Emme's life held my interest and I was anxious to see how they'd both resolve. I did expect that her relationship with Addie would be an on-going storyline.
Something I especially appreciated was how Emme's past work came into play. Once during my read I stopped to see if this was a book two in a series. I really felt we were getting a lot of information about what had happened in the previous book. But finding nothing, I actually appreciated it more. Showing us a character who has a complicated past spices up that character. Bringing that past into play in the first book adds interest. And when done right, as Maggi does, it makes the reader pay a little closer attention as we unravel what has gone on before we got involved.
While I don't see anything that says, outright, that this is to be the first in a series, I surely hope it is just a beginning.
Looking for a good book? A Murder in Zion by Nicole Maggi takes on the mantle of exciting National Parks mystery.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
Emmeline "Emme" Helliwell is a special agent with the National Park Service. She has returned to her Utah hometown to grieve and recover after the death of her mother and regain her composure and confidence after a failure from a recent mission.
When a body turns up in the Narrows of Zion National Park, Emme is called in to investigate. Her investigation is personal as the body is of a childhood friend, someone who knew the Park very well. Emme is convinced that he didn't die as a result of an accident and begins an earnest investigation.
As she digs deeper into the case, it becomes apparent that a dangerous religious cult may be involved - the same cult Emme had been investigating before coming to Utah, which ended in failure.
Just as the case heats up and gets more intense, Emme's relationship with her sister, Addie, gets more strained. They've been estranged and Emme still resents that she had to take care of all their mother's belongings and then the funeral without Addie's help. But when Addie's life is in danger, Emme will stop at nothing to get her to safety.
For many, many years, the only mystery books I read were the book by Nevada Barr with the National Parks Ranger Anna Pigeon solving mysteries. I'm a tremendous fan of our National Parks and Monuments (I actually celebrated when I was finally old enough to get my lifetime pass!) so any book with a NP focus or setting will get my attention.
Author Nicole Maggi delivers a wonderfully exciting mystery and finds the perfect balance between character and story. There's a lot of Emme's family drama playing out with her sister, but it never seems to take over the story and we never feel that Emme is avoiding her investigations because of her sister. Both aspects of Emme's life held my interest and I was anxious to see how they'd both resolve. I did expect that her relationship with Addie would be an on-going storyline.
Something I especially appreciated was how Emme's past work came into play. Once during my read I stopped to see if this was a book two in a series. I really felt we were getting a lot of information about what had happened in the previous book. But finding nothing, I actually appreciated it more. Showing us a character who has a complicated past spices up that character. Bringing that past into play in the first book adds interest. And when done right, as Maggi does, it makes the reader pay a little closer attention as we unravel what has gone on before we got involved.
While I don't see anything that says, outright, that this is to be the first in a series, I surely hope it is just a beginning.
Looking for a good book? A Murder in Zion by Nicole Maggi takes on the mantle of exciting National Parks mystery.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2025
Somewhat in the vein of Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon novels, Nicole Maggi stages her series launch, A MURDER IN ZION, in Zion National Park, which appropriately features Mystery Canyon.
Emmeline “Emme” Helliwell mourns the death of her mother, and her younger sister is AWOL on an archaeological dig in Tanzania. Addie has been incommunicado, and their mother’s estate can’t be settled without her.
Emme also rues her failure to prevent the murder of Hannah DeLeo in the Grand Canyon, “but Zion was her backyard.” Having many personal stress issues, Emme is a National Park Investigative Services Branch (ISB) federal agent who submitted a resignation letter. A call from her director, Stace Pompey, puts the letter on hold. “There’s a body in The Narrows.”
The body is Max Kerchek, Emme’s school chum. Days later, another body is discovered in the park, a member of a nearby Armageddon cult. The ISB agent links the two deaths to Hannah, also a member of the sect. Bible-thumping thugs toting AK-47s add tension to this tale.
Shortly before his death, Max had contacted journalist Finn Brackenbury with suspicions about the cult. Given the second homicide and violent cult members, FBI agent Claire Hughes joins the investigation.
Rich descriptions of Zion’s “towering crimson cliffs” enhance the majesty of this mystery. Enjoy a trek through this enchanting national park, while Emme and Claire bring justice to the victims.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
Emmeline “Emme” Helliwell mourns the death of her mother, and her younger sister is AWOL on an archaeological dig in Tanzania. Addie has been incommunicado, and their mother’s estate can’t be settled without her.
Emme also rues her failure to prevent the murder of Hannah DeLeo in the Grand Canyon, “but Zion was her backyard.” Having many personal stress issues, Emme is a National Park Investigative Services Branch (ISB) federal agent who submitted a resignation letter. A call from her director, Stace Pompey, puts the letter on hold. “There’s a body in The Narrows.”
The body is Max Kerchek, Emme’s school chum. Days later, another body is discovered in the park, a member of a nearby Armageddon cult. The ISB agent links the two deaths to Hannah, also a member of the sect. Bible-thumping thugs toting AK-47s add tension to this tale.
Shortly before his death, Max had contacted journalist Finn Brackenbury with suspicions about the cult. Given the second homicide and violent cult members, FBI agent Claire Hughes joins the investigation.
Rich descriptions of Zion’s “towering crimson cliffs” enhance the majesty of this mystery. Enjoy a trek through this enchanting national park, while Emme and Claire bring justice to the victims.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
March 2, 2025
Two aspects of this novel came to the forefront for me. First was the setting. I have not been to Zion so I really appreciated the good descriptive passages. I could almost feel my own feet being wet as the characters hiked The Narrows. The descriptions of the walls and other parts of the park, all of it was very good.
The other aspect was the lead character, Emme. She is a complex person with a great deal going on. She is under much emotional pressure, some stemming from a previous deadly event involving her job. Much of the novel centers around Emme and her inner struggles. I had a hard time liking her, especially when it came to how she treated her sister. I was glad to see there was finally character growth on her part.
One aspect of the novel I did not get excited about was the end times militant religious cult. I think that particular villain plot point has been way overworked in the last many years. I did like how the FBI agent and Emme worked well together.
This is an entertaining murder mystery set in a wonderful location and centering on the heroine's inner struggles.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The other aspect was the lead character, Emme. She is a complex person with a great deal going on. She is under much emotional pressure, some stemming from a previous deadly event involving her job. Much of the novel centers around Emme and her inner struggles. I had a hard time liking her, especially when it came to how she treated her sister. I was glad to see there was finally character growth on her part.
One aspect of the novel I did not get excited about was the end times militant religious cult. I think that particular villain plot point has been way overworked in the last many years. I did like how the FBI agent and Emme worked well together.
This is an entertaining murder mystery set in a wonderful location and centering on the heroine's inner struggles.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
September 20, 2025
I really enjoyed this story.
I have only driven through Zion National Park - so I printed off a map of the area to follow the progress of the investigation and learn more about the park.
I liked getting to know about the job of an ISB agent. Emmeline Helliwell has a lot on her plate right now. She has handed in her letter of resignation, she is clearing out her mother's house after her recent death, she is trying to contact her sister who is not answering and with two weeks left in her job she is called to investigate two incidents.
One of the requests she can beg off since it is out of state, but the second one is where she is currently in Zion and she can't refuse. She discovers the victim is a personal friend who was found in the river at The Narrows and her investigation brings in her past associates, friends, relatives, a blogger and the FBI.
I really liked the characters and the suspects were all too realistic.
I borrowed a copy from the public library and can't wait for a sequel to be announced. This is the kind of series I enjoy enough to pre-order the next book.
I have only driven through Zion National Park - so I printed off a map of the area to follow the progress of the investigation and learn more about the park.
I liked getting to know about the job of an ISB agent. Emmeline Helliwell has a lot on her plate right now. She has handed in her letter of resignation, she is clearing out her mother's house after her recent death, she is trying to contact her sister who is not answering and with two weeks left in her job she is called to investigate two incidents.
One of the requests she can beg off since it is out of state, but the second one is where she is currently in Zion and she can't refuse. She discovers the victim is a personal friend who was found in the river at The Narrows and her investigation brings in her past associates, friends, relatives, a blogger and the FBI.
I really liked the characters and the suspects were all too realistic.
I borrowed a copy from the public library and can't wait for a sequel to be announced. This is the kind of series I enjoy enough to pre-order the next book.
March 8, 2025
Emme is a criminal investigator with the National Park Service. Grieving her mother's recent death and haunted by a prior case, she submits her resignation. But a new case in Zion National Park keeps her tethered to her job and home. A body is found in a river popular with hikers. Emme is shocked when she sees it is her long-time friend. She reluctantly (at first) teams up with a journalist and with an FBI agent to solve the murder and finds herself the target of a fanatical religious group.
Emme is a smart and sympathetic character, but makes some glaring errors in judgement which put her sister's life in jeopardy. The author writes descriptively about the park and the pace is steady to fast, so readers will stay interested. There is a satisfying conclusion but there are hints at future storylines. This book will appeal to readers of Nevada Barr’s Anna Pidgeon books.
Thank you to Oceanview Publishing and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review the egalley.
Emme is a smart and sympathetic character, but makes some glaring errors in judgement which put her sister's life in jeopardy. The author writes descriptively about the park and the pace is steady to fast, so readers will stay interested. There is a satisfying conclusion but there are hints at future storylines. This book will appeal to readers of Nevada Barr’s Anna Pidgeon books.
Thank you to Oceanview Publishing and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review the egalley.
October 7, 2025
I bought this book while visiting Utah and going to all the national parks there. I thought it would be a fun read. The imagery of Zion was well written and descriptive but the storyline, plot, and overall “murder mystery” was severely lacking. It was predictable and not a mystery at all. The cult was not developed enough to care about. And the domestic abuse plot line and character development of both Emme and Addie was painfully shallow. It felt like the abuse was a surface level plot and not the deep serious issue it is. To me it also felt exploitative of domestic abuse survivors. I barely made it through this book but was hoping there would be a twist at the end to make it worth it, there was not. I would not recommend this book to people that read regularly, but if you read maybe one book every few years this one is an easy read without much depth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2025
Emme is a special agent with the National Park Service who is coming off a difficult assignment. She is now in her home town adjacent to Zion NP. Her only thoughts are healing and coping with her deceased Mother’s popular bakery and possibly reconnecting with her estranged sister. But when an old high school friend’s body is discovered in the Park, Emme is compelled to find out what happened to Max.
Best part of the book was the mystery of Max, her family relationships, and the descriptions of Zion. The resolution of the mystery was a bit off for me, but the book did remind me of the earlier Nevada Barr/ Anna Pigeon mysteries – a definite plus! Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this title.
Best part of the book was the mystery of Max, her family relationships, and the descriptions of Zion. The resolution of the mystery was a bit off for me, but the book did remind me of the earlier Nevada Barr/ Anna Pigeon mysteries – a definite plus! Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this title.
June 5, 2025
This was such a fun read! Nicole Maggi writes so beautifully and accurately of Zion National Park as the setting of this mystery. The park has such a strong presence in the novel that it seems to become a main character in the mystery. The author gives stunning details and descriptions to the point that Zion becomes alive to the reader.
The main character, a special agent in the NPS is written realistically, and intelligently. The mystery is solid and tight, and supporting characters enhance the 'real world feel' of the novel.
I strongly hope that Maggi continues the adventures of Agent Helliwell in future National Park Mysteries. This has great potential for becoming a wonderful new mystery series.
The main character, a special agent in the NPS is written realistically, and intelligently. The mystery is solid and tight, and supporting characters enhance the 'real world feel' of the novel.
I strongly hope that Maggi continues the adventures of Agent Helliwell in future National Park Mysteries. This has great potential for becoming a wonderful new mystery series.
July 12, 2025
Entertaining whodunnit with a national park as the spectacular setting for the crime scene. The story twists and turns as more heinous events unfold and a federal agent from the Investigative Services Branch (ISB) of the US National Parks chases down leads to catch the bad guys. She does this as she’s grieving the recent death of her mother and facing down demons from her past. She’s guilt-ridden, angry, and fierce but also relatable. She is forced to partner with an FBI agent as the case expands, one of many relationships that are developed quite well in the book.
The descriptions of Zion are fantastic, not only as a natural backdrop to the story but in capturing the wonder and majesty of our national parks.
The descriptions of Zion are fantastic, not only as a natural backdrop to the story but in capturing the wonder and majesty of our national parks.
May 3, 2026
Emme just doesn't have the personality to carry the book on her own.
Books like this work better with a partner. The dialogue between the two keep the story moving. The witty banter, breaking down the case, chatting about their personal lives.
Emme with her teenage angst didn't work. Poor decision making. Why confront the Doomsday Armageddon cult on your own with just a 9mm glock? Twice.
Set in a small town without the charm or eccentric characters.
"Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet, or even a whole system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force." -Darth Vader
"Behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him." -Revelation 6
Books like this work better with a partner. The dialogue between the two keep the story moving. The witty banter, breaking down the case, chatting about their personal lives.
Emme with her teenage angst didn't work. Poor decision making. Why confront the Doomsday Armageddon cult on your own with just a 9mm glock? Twice.
Set in a small town without the charm or eccentric characters.
"Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet, or even a whole system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force." -Darth Vader
"Behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him." -Revelation 6
July 17, 2025
This book seriously had me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath at times, which is exactly what I want out of a thrilling murder mystery. I’ve always loved a murder mystery that complex and layered and this one was intriguing and easy to follow along. I love how nature and wilderness was a constant backdrop through this story, and I think that’s the reason why I gravitated to this book. I wish there was more of a concrete closing with the Warriors because I wanted justice to be served so bad! But another part of me is also glad that this is just the first book in what is looking like an awesome series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2026
An ok mystery, I guess. We are fed tiny pieces until, "oh, look! It's these people that are close by and have murdered before and are on the FBI watch list!"
As a past Zion visitor, I was really distracted by the water. The entire plot centers on the water. (Yeah, there was a murder, get over it.) Rivers, floods, downpours. . .
There is a riverbed. There is a dried up swimming hole. There are guides that lament their children ever seeing rain.
No, I haven't seen the entire park. This story didn't match any of my lived experiences and in such a way it was hard to suspend my disbelief.
As a past Zion visitor, I was really distracted by the water. The entire plot centers on the water. (Yeah, there was a murder, get over it.) Rivers, floods, downpours. . .
There is a riverbed. There is a dried up swimming hole. There are guides that lament their children ever seeing rain.
No, I haven't seen the entire park. This story didn't match any of my lived experiences and in such a way it was hard to suspend my disbelief.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2025
I was fascinated by the cover, which made me want to read this. A little slow moving, but the author skillfully wove the beauty of the park into the story. It was a slow-burn for me, but still quite enjoyable. I was envisioning the Netflix mini-series which this could spawn.
The use of the gun-crazy religious cult is a little overused these days, but that's about the only criticism I can give.
Hopefully this is the start of a new series.
Thanks to Oceanview Publishing for the review copy.
The use of the gun-crazy religious cult is a little overused these days, but that's about the only criticism I can give.
Hopefully this is the start of a new series.
Thanks to Oceanview Publishing for the review copy.
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