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Franklin Warren and Alice Bellows Mystery #2
Hunter's Heart Ridge
In this sequel to Taylor’s lyrical series debut, Agony Hill, Detective Frank Warren and his formerly CIA-connected neighbor Alice Bellows return to investigate the death of a diplomat.
It's November of 1965 and the second weekend of Vermont's regular deer season. Vermont State Police detective Franklin Warren is hunting in the woods when he gets a call to return to Bethany. There's been an accident at The Ridge Club, an exclusive men's hunting and fishing club for congressmen, diplomats, judges, and titans of a former ambassador has been shot while out hunting. With the war in Vietnam picking up speed on the other side of the world, Warren quickly realizes that many of the club’s members are powerful men who may have ulterior motives and connections in high places.
While Warren's suspicions about the club members build, his neighbor Alice Bellows is throwing a dinner party, preparing for Thanksgiving, and worrying about her pregnant friend and fellow widow, Sylvie Weber, whose due date is coming up. When Alice's old handler and friend, Arthur Crannock, unexpectedly shows up in Bethany, Alice begins to wonder whether his presence has anything to do with the death at the hunting club.
As an early season snowstorm bears down on Bethany, knocking out power and phone lines and blocking the roads, Warren and his assistant, Trooper Pinky Goodrich, are trapped at the Ridge Club, likely along with a killer, and Alice, increasingly fearful that her past in the intelligence world is no longer in the past, will have to act fast to save Sylvie and her baby.
Sarah Stewart Taylor’s historical series combines the intricacy of a satisfying mystery with keen observation of a time and place during great transformation and upheaval.
It's November of 1965 and the second weekend of Vermont's regular deer season. Vermont State Police detective Franklin Warren is hunting in the woods when he gets a call to return to Bethany. There's been an accident at The Ridge Club, an exclusive men's hunting and fishing club for congressmen, diplomats, judges, and titans of a former ambassador has been shot while out hunting. With the war in Vietnam picking up speed on the other side of the world, Warren quickly realizes that many of the club’s members are powerful men who may have ulterior motives and connections in high places.
While Warren's suspicions about the club members build, his neighbor Alice Bellows is throwing a dinner party, preparing for Thanksgiving, and worrying about her pregnant friend and fellow widow, Sylvie Weber, whose due date is coming up. When Alice's old handler and friend, Arthur Crannock, unexpectedly shows up in Bethany, Alice begins to wonder whether his presence has anything to do with the death at the hunting club.
As an early season snowstorm bears down on Bethany, knocking out power and phone lines and blocking the roads, Warren and his assistant, Trooper Pinky Goodrich, are trapped at the Ridge Club, likely along with a killer, and Alice, increasingly fearful that her past in the intelligence world is no longer in the past, will have to act fast to save Sylvie and her baby.
Sarah Stewart Taylor’s historical series combines the intricacy of a satisfying mystery with keen observation of a time and place during great transformation and upheaval.
307 pages, Hardcover
First published August 5, 2025
45 people are currently reading
6273 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Stewart Taylor
19 books754 followersSarah Stewart Taylor lives with her husband and three children on a farm in Vermont where they raise sheep and grow blueberries.
Sarah is the author of the Sweeney St. George series and the Maggie D'arcy series. The first Maggie D'arcy mystery, THE MOUNTAINS WILD, was nominated for the Dashiell Hammett Prize and was on numerous Best of 2020 lists. The new Maggie D'arcy novel, A STOLEN CHILD, is out now. AGONY HILL, the first installment in her new series set in Vermont in 1965, will be out in 2024.
Sarah is the author of the Sweeney St. George series and the Maggie D'arcy series. The first Maggie D'arcy mystery, THE MOUNTAINS WILD, was nominated for the Dashiell Hammett Prize and was on numerous Best of 2020 lists. The new Maggie D'arcy novel, A STOLEN CHILD, is out now. AGONY HILL, the first installment in her new series set in Vermont in 1965, will be out in 2024.
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July 25, 2025
A death at an exclusive men’s hunting and fishing club and an early winter storm come together in this “locked-room” historical mystery.
Hunter’s Heart Ridge
by Sarah Stewart Taylor is the second book in the Franklin Warren and Alice Bellows Mystery series. Set in November 1965 in Bethany, Vermont and the surrounding rural area, Warren has been with the Vermont State Police as a detective for three months and has responsibility for the southern part of the state.
He gets a call that an accident has happened at The Ridge Club where diplomats, congressmen, judges, and titans of industry go to hunt and fish. A former ambassador, William Moulton, has been shot while hunting deer. As Warren and his assistant Trooper Walter Goodrich investigate, their suspicions about the club members build. On top of this, they get snowed in at the club, possibly with a killer.
Meanwhile, Warren’s neighbor and new friend, Alice Bellows, is throwing a dinner party. She’s worried about her pregnant friend and fellow widow, Sylvie Weber. Her old CIA handler and friend, Arthur Crannock, shows up and comes to dinner. Alice wonders if his appearance has anything to do with the hunting club accident. Additionally, he’s asking what progress she’s made on the last covert task he’s given her. This is a continuing subplot from book one and I wonder how long until it becomes the main plot of a future novel in the series and that is my main quibble with the series. While the main mystery is resolved in each novel, the connection with Alice’s intelligence activities is missing and seemingly minor so far.
Warren, formerly from Boston, must adjust to life in a rural community where he doesn’t know anyone. He’s a sincere and empathetic as well as being a talented investigator. It also turns out that he’s good at mentoring. Alice is somewhat enigmatic. She comes across as a kind and thoughtful person with hidden depths and abilities who loves to garden. Trooper Goodrich is eager to be Warren’s assistant investigator. The other characters have an appropriate depth for their roles.
Once again, the author does a great job of world-building. The early snowstorm is almost another character and plays a significant role in the story. This was also a time of change and conflict and the war in Vietnam is discussed throughout the book.
This is more of a historical police procedural that is heavy on characterization and world-building, but has a well-developed and intricate plot as well as some occasional action and a couple of sub-plots. While somewhat slower paced than many police procedurals set in modern times, the pace felt appropriate to the setting and time of the novel. Secrets play a large role in this novel and are woven throughout the storyline.
Overall, this is an excellent historical crime novel set during a time of change with two fascinating main characters. Readers should be aware that more details on why Warren moved from Boston to Vermont are included in book one. They’re briefly touched on in this novel. The great and vivid storytelling and fantastic characterization have made this novel a winner for me. If you enjoy old-fashioned detective work prior to cell phones, the internet, and DNA testing, then this is a series to consider. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Warren, Alice, and the other residents of Bethany.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Sarah Stewart Taylor provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for August 05, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.05 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
He gets a call that an accident has happened at The Ridge Club where diplomats, congressmen, judges, and titans of industry go to hunt and fish. A former ambassador, William Moulton, has been shot while hunting deer. As Warren and his assistant Trooper Walter Goodrich investigate, their suspicions about the club members build. On top of this, they get snowed in at the club, possibly with a killer.
Meanwhile, Warren’s neighbor and new friend, Alice Bellows, is throwing a dinner party. She’s worried about her pregnant friend and fellow widow, Sylvie Weber. Her old CIA handler and friend, Arthur Crannock, shows up and comes to dinner. Alice wonders if his appearance has anything to do with the hunting club accident. Additionally, he’s asking what progress she’s made on the last covert task he’s given her. This is a continuing subplot from book one and I wonder how long until it becomes the main plot of a future novel in the series and that is my main quibble with the series. While the main mystery is resolved in each novel, the connection with Alice’s intelligence activities is missing and seemingly minor so far.
Warren, formerly from Boston, must adjust to life in a rural community where he doesn’t know anyone. He’s a sincere and empathetic as well as being a talented investigator. It also turns out that he’s good at mentoring. Alice is somewhat enigmatic. She comes across as a kind and thoughtful person with hidden depths and abilities who loves to garden. Trooper Goodrich is eager to be Warren’s assistant investigator. The other characters have an appropriate depth for their roles.
Once again, the author does a great job of world-building. The early snowstorm is almost another character and plays a significant role in the story. This was also a time of change and conflict and the war in Vietnam is discussed throughout the book.
This is more of a historical police procedural that is heavy on characterization and world-building, but has a well-developed and intricate plot as well as some occasional action and a couple of sub-plots. While somewhat slower paced than many police procedurals set in modern times, the pace felt appropriate to the setting and time of the novel. Secrets play a large role in this novel and are woven throughout the storyline.
Overall, this is an excellent historical crime novel set during a time of change with two fascinating main characters. Readers should be aware that more details on why Warren moved from Boston to Vermont are included in book one. They’re briefly touched on in this novel. The great and vivid storytelling and fantastic characterization have made this novel a winner for me. If you enjoy old-fashioned detective work prior to cell phones, the internet, and DNA testing, then this is a series to consider. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Warren, Alice, and the other residents of Bethany.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Sarah Stewart Taylor provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for August 05, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.05 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
June 14, 2025
Hunter’s Heart Ridge is the second in the Warren and Bellows series and it’s an interesting sequel. It takes place approximately three months after the first book in November, 1965. There’s been a death at an exclusive hunting club; an ex-ambassador has been shot. But whether by accident or not is the question. With a snow storm arriving, the book takes a closed room turn.
I wrote in my review of the first book (Agony Hill) that I’d be curious where Taylor took Alice Bellows. She has a much bigger role in this book and we learn more about her life. But it was Jenny who truly captured my interest (and heart). A young woman looking for love and drama in her life, she finds a little more personal drama than she would have wished for.
This isn’t a fast paced book but I never felt like it dragged. It kept me guessing as to who was behind the murders. Taylor does a good job of giving the reader an excellent sense of time and place - the arguments over the Vietnam War, especially between the generations, the lack of many modern conveniences in rural Vermont. I’m also a huge fan of authors who can create a true sense of suspense without relying on OTT action. Taylor does that. “He could hear them all breathing, could feel the fear in the air. This kind of fear was dangerous. Each of them was like a cornered animal. They would do anything they had to do to survive.”
I was totally in the dark and had no clue who was responsible. And what a fabulous, well thought out ending. I can’t wait to see if there will be a third book in the series. For those that are curious if you need to read them in order, I do think this could work as a stand-alone but the first book is equally strong.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
I wrote in my review of the first book (Agony Hill) that I’d be curious where Taylor took Alice Bellows. She has a much bigger role in this book and we learn more about her life. But it was Jenny who truly captured my interest (and heart). A young woman looking for love and drama in her life, she finds a little more personal drama than she would have wished for.
This isn’t a fast paced book but I never felt like it dragged. It kept me guessing as to who was behind the murders. Taylor does a good job of giving the reader an excellent sense of time and place - the arguments over the Vietnam War, especially between the generations, the lack of many modern conveniences in rural Vermont. I’m also a huge fan of authors who can create a true sense of suspense without relying on OTT action. Taylor does that. “He could hear them all breathing, could feel the fear in the air. This kind of fear was dangerous. Each of them was like a cornered animal. They would do anything they had to do to survive.”
I was totally in the dark and had no clue who was responsible. And what a fabulous, well thought out ending. I can’t wait to see if there will be a third book in the series. For those that are curious if you need to read them in order, I do think this could work as a stand-alone but the first book is equally strong.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
August 2, 2025
It was nice catching up with VT Statie Frank Warren and the rest of the folks in Bethany, a small town in rural mountains of VT in 1965. The series started out as the Frank Warren series, but now it’s being billed as the Frank Warren and Alice Bellows series. Between the two, I was more interested in Frank Warren and actually found Alice Bellows kind of annoying in the previous installments. Not sure if this is Stewart Taylor’s intention, but there you have it. Over the course of the two full installments and a prequel, there have been numerous references to Alice’s CIA connections. It took two and a half books before Stewart Taylor reveals a quick look into Alice’s past.
Warren on the other hand, seems so much more interesting. A former Boston cop, who left the big city for a small rural State Police position. Widowed and two years later still grieving his wife’s death, Warren starts to become smitten with the very pregnant and widowed Sylvie (from the first installment). Not real convenient since he’s also just started investigating a shooting incident at the local hunting lodge. Warren suspects that the shooting was murder and not accidental like the lodge members claim. However, Warren must proceed carefully with this bunch of influential and DC connected blowhards, or they will have their lawyers lining up to eviscerate him and the VT State PD.
There is also a storyline of Sylvie, who is concerned about her and her baby’s health when she starts to feel like she may not be able to carry to term. Fortunately, Alice has come by to visit and ends up becoming a savior of sorts. Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the death at the lodge with Warren interviewing (several times) the various members of the lodge that were there when the incident happened. After a while, he starts to see holes and inconsistencies in their stories. Then the storm hits fast and hard, throwing the story into a whirlwind of scary and intense activity with some shocks and twists I didn’t see coming.
The character development for most of the primary characters was well done. The pacing was steady for the most part and picking up a bit during the storm and the finale. The storyline is interesting and the writing on par for the series, although this one I enjoyed the most, so far. I’m definitely interested in seeing what Stewart-Taylor does with the next installment. I’m looking at an overall rating of a solid 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #HuntersHeartRidge
Warren on the other hand, seems so much more interesting. A former Boston cop, who left the big city for a small rural State Police position. Widowed and two years later still grieving his wife’s death, Warren starts to become smitten with the very pregnant and widowed Sylvie (from the first installment). Not real convenient since he’s also just started investigating a shooting incident at the local hunting lodge. Warren suspects that the shooting was murder and not accidental like the lodge members claim. However, Warren must proceed carefully with this bunch of influential and DC connected blowhards, or they will have their lawyers lining up to eviscerate him and the VT State PD.
There is also a storyline of Sylvie, who is concerned about her and her baby’s health when she starts to feel like she may not be able to carry to term. Fortunately, Alice has come by to visit and ends up becoming a savior of sorts. Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the death at the lodge with Warren interviewing (several times) the various members of the lodge that were there when the incident happened. After a while, he starts to see holes and inconsistencies in their stories. Then the storm hits fast and hard, throwing the story into a whirlwind of scary and intense activity with some shocks and twists I didn’t see coming.
The character development for most of the primary characters was well done. The pacing was steady for the most part and picking up a bit during the storm and the finale. The storyline is interesting and the writing on par for the series, although this one I enjoyed the most, so far. I’m definitely interested in seeing what Stewart-Taylor does with the next installment. I’m looking at an overall rating of a solid 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #HuntersHeartRidge
June 19, 2025
Have you heard about author Sarah Stewart Taylor? If not she has this series set in the sixties in a small rural Vermont town with a new detective who has recently moved there. It is a phenomenallly good series and I am so glad that I found it. First of all it is so refreshing reading about a time not envolving a lot of technology. I have always had a soft spot for small town rural mysteries and this one is among the best ones out there. It has a little of everything and it should appeal to a lot of readers. Hunter's Heart Ridge is the second book and there is a short story also available. This one will not be available in stores until early august. I am deeply thankful to Edelweiss and Minotaur Books for letting me read this advance copy.
August 7, 2025
**Happy Publication Day!**
I am really enjoying this historical mystery series set in Bethany, Vermont. The second book in the series takes place in November, 1965, during deer hunting season. Detective Franklin Warren of the Vermont State Police and his assistant, Trooper Walter Goodrich, are called to the scene of an apparent hunting accident at the Ridge Club--the victim, a recently recalled ambassador, dead from a gunshot wound. During the course of the investigation, an early snowstorm hits the area, trapping all at the lodge and, after another shooting occurs, they realize the murderer is one of them.
I enjoy the setting and characters in this series. The plot was complicated enough to keep me guessing till all was revealed. There is an element of spycraft involved here too. This can be read as a stand alone but book one, Agony Hill, was so good that I can recommend starting with that one to get the full character development. Loved the way this story ended--Walter is so cute! Can't wait to see what happens with him and Jenny.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
I am really enjoying this historical mystery series set in Bethany, Vermont. The second book in the series takes place in November, 1965, during deer hunting season. Detective Franklin Warren of the Vermont State Police and his assistant, Trooper Walter Goodrich, are called to the scene of an apparent hunting accident at the Ridge Club--the victim, a recently recalled ambassador, dead from a gunshot wound. During the course of the investigation, an early snowstorm hits the area, trapping all at the lodge and, after another shooting occurs, they realize the murderer is one of them.
I enjoy the setting and characters in this series. The plot was complicated enough to keep me guessing till all was revealed. There is an element of spycraft involved here too. This can be read as a stand alone but book one, Agony Hill, was so good that I can recommend starting with that one to get the full character development. Loved the way this story ended--Walter is so cute! Can't wait to see what happens with him and Jenny.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
July 17, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 5, 2025
Sarah Stewart Taylor’s “Hunter's Heart Ridge” is the follow up to Taylor’s “Agony Hill” series of novels. In this sequel, Detective Frank Warren is called to investigate after a diplomat is shot during a hunting retreat, while his neighbour, former CIA wife Alice Bellows, continues to uncover more unsettling information about her close friend Arthur Crannock.
The novel takes place in 1965 Vermont, during a transitional time where veterans are clashing with young people over the necessity of war and both sexual and racial tensions are still high. At a hunting lodge in Vermont, a diplomat and his (white, male and rich) friends come to reconnect over drinks and guns but by the end of the trip both the diplomat and another man are dead. Stewart Taylor connects readers with the time and place through her well-developed characters, especially Frank Warren, who is a relatable detective and a veritable outsider among the Vermont elite that make up the suspect pool.
“Ridge” features both Warren and Alice as the main characters, with chapters rotating between their points of view. There are a few other characters that we hear from, such as the young hotel maid, Jenny, and widowed mother Sylvie Weber, who made an appearance in the last novel as well. Although both “Agony Hill” and “Hunter's Heart Ridge” are in the same series, there is enough to differentiate them that it is possible to read either as a stand-alone but, as always, I don’t recommend it. The intricate relationship and background details that make this series so great may be missed if the books aren’t read in succession.
The suspense in “Ridge” is top notch, as the suspect pool is confined to the lodge during a snowstorm, turning the characters against each other in pure locked-room-mystery fashion. As Warren investigates, another body drops, and he is up against the clock, which tightens the noose and creates next-level tension. The ending itself was unexpected, as I didn’t guess the suspect until Taylor revealed it and it worked so, so well! I had complete sympathy for the suspects, which only grew as their story was told, and the ending was satisfying while also being bittersweet.
The connection between Alice and Warren is still flimsy, as they are neighbours who share a base level friendship at best, and this novel didn’t really do much to bring them any closer. Warren and Alice are both great characters, but their storylines continue to exist separately, making it seem like each should have a dedicated novel, instead of a combined story with thinly connected storylines. I love both characters, though, and I have a feeling Taylor will continue to draw them closer and closer together as the series goes on (and I look forward to it).
Expected publication date: Aug. 5, 2025
Sarah Stewart Taylor’s “Hunter's Heart Ridge” is the follow up to Taylor’s “Agony Hill” series of novels. In this sequel, Detective Frank Warren is called to investigate after a diplomat is shot during a hunting retreat, while his neighbour, former CIA wife Alice Bellows, continues to uncover more unsettling information about her close friend Arthur Crannock.
The novel takes place in 1965 Vermont, during a transitional time where veterans are clashing with young people over the necessity of war and both sexual and racial tensions are still high. At a hunting lodge in Vermont, a diplomat and his (white, male and rich) friends come to reconnect over drinks and guns but by the end of the trip both the diplomat and another man are dead. Stewart Taylor connects readers with the time and place through her well-developed characters, especially Frank Warren, who is a relatable detective and a veritable outsider among the Vermont elite that make up the suspect pool.
“Ridge” features both Warren and Alice as the main characters, with chapters rotating between their points of view. There are a few other characters that we hear from, such as the young hotel maid, Jenny, and widowed mother Sylvie Weber, who made an appearance in the last novel as well. Although both “Agony Hill” and “Hunter's Heart Ridge” are in the same series, there is enough to differentiate them that it is possible to read either as a stand-alone but, as always, I don’t recommend it. The intricate relationship and background details that make this series so great may be missed if the books aren’t read in succession.
The suspense in “Ridge” is top notch, as the suspect pool is confined to the lodge during a snowstorm, turning the characters against each other in pure locked-room-mystery fashion. As Warren investigates, another body drops, and he is up against the clock, which tightens the noose and creates next-level tension. The ending itself was unexpected, as I didn’t guess the suspect until Taylor revealed it and it worked so, so well! I had complete sympathy for the suspects, which only grew as their story was told, and the ending was satisfying while also being bittersweet.
The connection between Alice and Warren is still flimsy, as they are neighbours who share a base level friendship at best, and this novel didn’t really do much to bring them any closer. Warren and Alice are both great characters, but their storylines continue to exist separately, making it seem like each should have a dedicated novel, instead of a combined story with thinly connected storylines. I love both characters, though, and I have a feeling Taylor will continue to draw them closer and closer together as the series goes on (and I look forward to it).
August 16, 2025
"Hunter's Heart Ridge" is an atmospheric mystery that goes far beyond a simple whodunit. A deadly hunting accident at an elite men's club during a snowbound Vermont weekend becomes the catalyst for unraveling a dangerous web of political secrets.
Returning to this series feels like reconnecting with old friends. Detective Franklin Warren and Trooper Pinky Goodrich anchor the narrative, their complex partnership bringing depth to the investigation. The hunting lodge setting becomes a character itself, trapping secrets and suspects in a claustrophobic winter landscape.
What sets this mystery apart are its masterful misdirections. Taylor crafts a narrative that constantly keeps you guessing, weaving together past revelations, political intrigue, and personal drama. Each twist feels organic, emerging from carefully developed characters rather than cheap plot tricks.
The book excels in its nuanced exploration of moral gray areas. Warren's internal struggle between professional duty and personal ethics adds a layer of complexity that elevates the story beyond a standard police procedural. His connection to the community and the weight of his choices create a tension that's as compelling as the murder mystery itself.
For readers who crave mysteries that dig deep into human nature, "Hunter's Heart Ridge" is an absolute must-read.
Special thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my advance copies. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.
Returning to this series feels like reconnecting with old friends. Detective Franklin Warren and Trooper Pinky Goodrich anchor the narrative, their complex partnership bringing depth to the investigation. The hunting lodge setting becomes a character itself, trapping secrets and suspects in a claustrophobic winter landscape.
What sets this mystery apart are its masterful misdirections. Taylor crafts a narrative that constantly keeps you guessing, weaving together past revelations, political intrigue, and personal drama. Each twist feels organic, emerging from carefully developed characters rather than cheap plot tricks.
The book excels in its nuanced exploration of moral gray areas. Warren's internal struggle between professional duty and personal ethics adds a layer of complexity that elevates the story beyond a standard police procedural. His connection to the community and the weight of his choices create a tension that's as compelling as the murder mystery itself.
For readers who crave mysteries that dig deep into human nature, "Hunter's Heart Ridge" is an absolute must-read.
Special thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my advance copies. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.
August 5, 2025
Gritty, raw, and compelling!
In this second instalment in the Franklin Warren series, Hunter’s Heart Ridge, we head back to 1965 Vermont, where state police detective Franklin Warren and his sidekick Trooper Pinky Goodrich now find themselves immersed in a tricky investigation involving a private hunting club, a suspicious hunting accident, and an unexpected snow storm that will leave all the suspects stranded under one roof.
The writing is meticulous and tight. The characters are intuitive, relentless, and committed. And the plot is a sinister tale full of mischief, mayhem, deception, dangerous situations, suspicious motivations, red herrings, deduction, vengeance, violence, and murder.
Overall, Hunter’s Heart Ridge is another atmospheric, gripping, mysterious tale by Taylor that is a fabulous addition to a series which, with its unique historical setting, intriguing storyline, and complex characters, is quickly becoming one of my favourites.
In this second instalment in the Franklin Warren series, Hunter’s Heart Ridge, we head back to 1965 Vermont, where state police detective Franklin Warren and his sidekick Trooper Pinky Goodrich now find themselves immersed in a tricky investigation involving a private hunting club, a suspicious hunting accident, and an unexpected snow storm that will leave all the suspects stranded under one roof.
The writing is meticulous and tight. The characters are intuitive, relentless, and committed. And the plot is a sinister tale full of mischief, mayhem, deception, dangerous situations, suspicious motivations, red herrings, deduction, vengeance, violence, and murder.
Overall, Hunter’s Heart Ridge is another atmospheric, gripping, mysterious tale by Taylor that is a fabulous addition to a series which, with its unique historical setting, intriguing storyline, and complex characters, is quickly becoming one of my favourites.
December 10, 2025
I loved this book! I wasn't born until 1969 but I feel like I was from this time period. I enjoyed the characters and the relationships they have forged. Pinky, Warren and Sylvie are my favorite characters.
May 12, 2025
The Ridge Club, an exclusive men's hunting and fishing club. A place for diplomats, judges and men of importance.
A former ambassador is shot while out hunting. It's winter 1965 There is a possible snowstorm on its way.
They are all trapped with a killer among them.
Who could it be?
I want to thank Minotaur Books for sending this ARC book.
A former ambassador is shot while out hunting. It's winter 1965 There is a possible snowstorm on its way.
They are all trapped with a killer among them.
Who could it be?
I want to thank Minotaur Books for sending this ARC book.
May 29, 2025
Thank You St. Martin's Press/Minotaur books, and Netgalley for giving me a Reader's Advanced Copy of this book. I truly do appreciate it so much.
DNF
It's November 1965 and it's the second weekend in Vermont's deer hunting season. Vermont State Police Detective Franklin Warren is hunting in the woods when he gets a call that he needs to return to Bethany. There has been an accident at The Ridge Club. This is a exclusive hunting and fishing club for congressmen, diplomats, judges and titans of former ambassador has been shot while out hunting. The Vietnam war is picking up speed on the other side of the world. Warren quickly realizes how powerful these men are.
Warren's suspensions are on the congressmen. During this season a snowstorm bears down on this town. Knocking out the power lines, the phone lines, and blocking the road. Warren and his assistant Trooper Pinky Goodrich are trapped in the Ridge Club together, along with the killer...
When I got to the 20% mark of this book I honestly did not care who the killer in this book was. There was nothing in this story that was really gripping me and making me want to read it. There needs to be a hook or something to grip into wanting to read the story and for me there just wasn't. Franklin didn't seem like he wanted to do this job or solve the mystery. I also felt like we should have been more focused on the mystery storyline, rather than Alice's storyline, it felt like it had nothing to do with the story and was just there as a extra cushion.
I will say that the cover of this book is stunning and beautiful. I love the colours and the mountains in the background. This book wasn't for me, but it might be for you so give it a try and see if you like it. Release Date is August 5th, 2025.
Happy Reading!!!!
DNF
It's November 1965 and it's the second weekend in Vermont's deer hunting season. Vermont State Police Detective Franklin Warren is hunting in the woods when he gets a call that he needs to return to Bethany. There has been an accident at The Ridge Club. This is a exclusive hunting and fishing club for congressmen, diplomats, judges and titans of former ambassador has been shot while out hunting. The Vietnam war is picking up speed on the other side of the world. Warren quickly realizes how powerful these men are.
Warren's suspensions are on the congressmen. During this season a snowstorm bears down on this town. Knocking out the power lines, the phone lines, and blocking the road. Warren and his assistant Trooper Pinky Goodrich are trapped in the Ridge Club together, along with the killer...
When I got to the 20% mark of this book I honestly did not care who the killer in this book was. There was nothing in this story that was really gripping me and making me want to read it. There needs to be a hook or something to grip into wanting to read the story and for me there just wasn't. Franklin didn't seem like he wanted to do this job or solve the mystery. I also felt like we should have been more focused on the mystery storyline, rather than Alice's storyline, it felt like it had nothing to do with the story and was just there as a extra cushion.
I will say that the cover of this book is stunning and beautiful. I love the colours and the mountains in the background. This book wasn't for me, but it might be for you so give it a try and see if you like it. Release Date is August 5th, 2025.
Happy Reading!!!!
August 21, 2025
It’s 1965 and the start of deer season in Bethany, Vermont with a snowstorm fast approaching. Detective Franklin Warren is called up to The Ridge Club, a hunting lodge, when a former diplomat, Bill Moulton, is found dead in an apparent hunting accident. As Warren and his assistant, Pinky, interview the guests they’re stranded by this intense storm with downed phone and power lines.
Alice Bellows is unsettled by the reappearance of an old intelligence agent, Arthur Crannock. He and his wife have bought a home nearby and are in the process of remodeling. It’s been years since Alice’s diplomat/spy husband died. Years since Alice has assisted with missions, but she’s suspicious of Arthur’s motives. Alice needs to figure out if she’s in danger.
Sylvie Weber, now heavily pregnant, tags along with Alice to a poetry reading. Alice gets caught out at Sylvie’s farm when the snowstorm arrives in full force.
This was a locked door sort of mystery with the guests of the Ridge Club stranded with Detective Warren and Pinky. There are several with a motive to kill Moulton and so they’re all in danger. Especially when the guests are reluctant to divulge information. It’s a mystery that kept me guessing!
Hunter’s Heart Ridge is the second book in a series best read in order, even though this is a new mystery. The history and relationships from the last book carry over, deepening and progressing here. We get more of Alice’s history, parts of it surprising and personally painful for her. I worry about Arthur’s presence. I continue to root for Sylvie and Warren even if it’s difficult. As with the first book, the time period was an interesting feature, and the setting of a wintery Vermont was richly portrayed! I’m eager for the next installment!
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Alice Bellows is unsettled by the reappearance of an old intelligence agent, Arthur Crannock. He and his wife have bought a home nearby and are in the process of remodeling. It’s been years since Alice’s diplomat/spy husband died. Years since Alice has assisted with missions, but she’s suspicious of Arthur’s motives. Alice needs to figure out if she’s in danger.
Sylvie Weber, now heavily pregnant, tags along with Alice to a poetry reading. Alice gets caught out at Sylvie’s farm when the snowstorm arrives in full force.
This was a locked door sort of mystery with the guests of the Ridge Club stranded with Detective Warren and Pinky. There are several with a motive to kill Moulton and so they’re all in danger. Especially when the guests are reluctant to divulge information. It’s a mystery that kept me guessing!
Hunter’s Heart Ridge is the second book in a series best read in order, even though this is a new mystery. The history and relationships from the last book carry over, deepening and progressing here. We get more of Alice’s history, parts of it surprising and personally painful for her. I worry about Arthur’s presence. I continue to root for Sylvie and Warren even if it’s difficult. As with the first book, the time period was an interesting feature, and the setting of a wintery Vermont was richly portrayed! I’m eager for the next installment!
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
July 15, 2025
It is November 1965 and early in the deer hunting season when Franklin Warren is called to the Ridge Club for what looks like an accidental shooting. The Ridge Club is populated by movers and shakers including some in the government. When Franklin arrives, he discovers the body of former ambassador William Moulton. Franklin and his assistant Pinky begin to investigate, and it soon becomes clear to Franklin that the death was a murder.
As Franklin is interviewing the various characters who were at the club when the shooting occurs, Alice Bellows is planning a dinner party and worrying about very pregnant neighbor Sylvie Warner. She is also dealing with the reappearance of her old friend Arthur Crannock who is still in the CIA agent. Alice has trouble believing that he is in the area only to supervise the remodeling of a nearby home he and his wife bought.
Then an early season snowstorm begins trapping Franklin in the club with all the suspects and Alice at Sylvie's isolated farm with a woman in labor with the baby in a difficult position.
I enjoyed the setting of rural Vermont and the 1960s time period. It reminded me of the conflicts at home about our role in Vietnam as demonstrated by the two generations of men at the hunting club and of the Cold War sensibilities of worry about Russian influences and spies.
Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this story. Being the second book in a series, we learn more about both Franklin and especially Alice in this episode.
As Franklin is interviewing the various characters who were at the club when the shooting occurs, Alice Bellows is planning a dinner party and worrying about very pregnant neighbor Sylvie Warner. She is also dealing with the reappearance of her old friend Arthur Crannock who is still in the CIA agent. Alice has trouble believing that he is in the area only to supervise the remodeling of a nearby home he and his wife bought.
Then an early season snowstorm begins trapping Franklin in the club with all the suspects and Alice at Sylvie's isolated farm with a woman in labor with the baby in a difficult position.
I enjoyed the setting of rural Vermont and the 1960s time period. It reminded me of the conflicts at home about our role in Vietnam as demonstrated by the two generations of men at the hunting club and of the Cold War sensibilities of worry about Russian influences and spies.
Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this story. Being the second book in a series, we learn more about both Franklin and especially Alice in this episode.
July 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for the advanced reader copy of this novel, all opinions are my own.
This was a fantastic sequel to AGONY HILL. The characters in this series are so relatable with their flaws and personal tragedies. I love the time period she sets the stories in as well as the historical detail. Frank and Pinky, the two staties on the case in this locked-door style mystery work so well together..their partnership is a perfect complimentary. Here they are called to a remote and prestigious hunter's lodge when the body of one of the members is discovered dead..initially told it was an accident, they discover he was murdered. As they investigate, a snowstorm moves in and traps them with their group of suspects. As in the first book, there is a secondary storyline going on, in which we learn a lot more about Alice Bellows private history. I am really loving this series and think Ms. Stewart Taylor is one of my favorite authors for 2025!♡
This was a fantastic sequel to AGONY HILL. The characters in this series are so relatable with their flaws and personal tragedies. I love the time period she sets the stories in as well as the historical detail. Frank and Pinky, the two staties on the case in this locked-door style mystery work so well together..their partnership is a perfect complimentary. Here they are called to a remote and prestigious hunter's lodge when the body of one of the members is discovered dead..initially told it was an accident, they discover he was murdered. As they investigate, a snowstorm moves in and traps them with their group of suspects. As in the first book, there is a secondary storyline going on, in which we learn a lot more about Alice Bellows private history. I am really loving this series and think Ms. Stewart Taylor is one of my favorite authors for 2025!♡
September 2, 2025
Hunter's Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor, for me I found this a hard book to get into. I know may loved this book, I just did not connect with it. Having said that I would still recommend to others, because I know not everyone enjpys the same books.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press the publisher, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press the publisher, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
December 24, 2025
This is the second in a series of police procedural/thrillers centered on Detective Franklin Warren. It feels a little like a classic murder mystery a la Agatha Christie. The setting in Vermont in winter in the 60s gives a very strong sense of time and place to the story. Perfect trapped by a snowstorm vibes!
July 27, 2025
I received this as a goodreads ARC (thank you!) so it had its usually ARC errors with print and grammer/spelling etc. But leaving that aside it was a mystery set in the 1960s which was before my time. It always sparks my interest how they solve these (and how the investigation happens) without the same tools we have available today. Even the side story with the baby could have been less dramatic with a cell phone. Either way a good mystery with some history and a little bit of romance!
December 29, 2025
I enjoyed this. This series isn’t as good as her Irish series, but it’s not bad. There is always this weird late-in-the-book side plot about national security which always feels underdeveloped (and usually more interesting than the real mystery).
May 13, 2025
Hunter’s Heart Ridge is the second book in the Franklin Warren and Alice Bellows mystery series. The story is set in 1965 rural Vermont. The Vietnam War is dividing the country and casting suspicion on government officials. Detective Warren catches his next big case; the murder of a former ambassador at a local hunting club.
A colossal snowstorm strands a group of guests and workers at the lodge just after the murder. Everyone is keeping secrets and no one is above suspicion. Meanwhile, Alice reveals more of her mysterious past and connections to high-ranking people staying at the lodge while helping a local woman named Sylvie.
While Detective Warren is determined to prove his worth on this case, I found him to be slow to come to conclusions and solve the case on his own. Always reacting and never ahead of the game, he frustrated me. The true hero of the case was an amusing 18 year old girl named Jenny who has a big crush on Trooper Pinky Goodrich. I wished Jenny had been spotlighted at the end.
I was surprised at the conclusion of the mystery. I loved the small town setting and historical details in this satisfying mystery.
I was a Goodreads giveaway winner.
A colossal snowstorm strands a group of guests and workers at the lodge just after the murder. Everyone is keeping secrets and no one is above suspicion. Meanwhile, Alice reveals more of her mysterious past and connections to high-ranking people staying at the lodge while helping a local woman named Sylvie.
While Detective Warren is determined to prove his worth on this case, I found him to be slow to come to conclusions and solve the case on his own. Always reacting and never ahead of the game, he frustrated me. The true hero of the case was an amusing 18 year old girl named Jenny who has a big crush on Trooper Pinky Goodrich. I wished Jenny had been spotlighted at the end.
I was surprised at the conclusion of the mystery. I loved the small town setting and historical details in this satisfying mystery.
I was a Goodreads giveaway winner.
August 6, 2025
Sarah Stewart Taylor is back with a captivating installment in her beloved Franklin Warren and Alice Bellows Mystery series, titled HUNTER'S HEART RIDGE, (#2) in the Bethany, Vermont Mysteries following Agony Hill ( #1) and the prequel, Mud Season: A Bethany, Vermont Story(0.5).
In this novel, Detective Frank Warren and his assistant Trooper Walter Goodrich, and his former CIA-connected neighbor, Alice Bellows, investigate the suspicious death of a diplomat. Their suspicions about the club members build. On top of this, they get snowed in at the club, possibly with a killer.
Set against the rich historical backdrop of rural Vermont in 1965—a time of significant change marked by the Vietnam War and widespread protests—the story delves into dark secrets hidden beneath this snowy, picturesque setting, creating a locked-in suspense.
With a well-developed and engaging cast of characters, readers will find themselves eagerly anticipating the next installment in this intriguing series.
About...
It's November 1965, Vermont, and deer season is underway. Vermont State Police Detective Franklin Warren is out in the woods hunting when he receives a call to return to Bethany. An accident has occurred at The Ridge Club, an exclusive private hunting and fishing club for congressmen, diplomats, and judges. A former ambassador has been shot while hunting then another murder (later).
Amid the turmoil of the Vietnam War, Warren is acutely aware that many members of the club are powerful men with connections and possible ulterior motives. Warren is joined in the investigation by Trooper Walter "Pinky" Goodrich, his assistant.
Alice Farnham Bellows, a widow and amateur detective with her secrets (having led a fascinating life and being connected to the intelligence community through her late husband), is busy preparing for a Thanksgiving dinner. She is also concerned about her pregnant friend and fellow widow, Sylvie Weber, whose due date is approaching.
When Alice's former handler and friend, Arthur Crannock, unexpectedly arrives in Bethany, she begins to suspect that his presence may be linked to the death at the hunting club.
Who wanted Moulton dead?
As a snowstorm sweeps through Bethany, it knocks out power and phone lines while blocking roads. Warren and Trooper Goodrich find themselves trapped at The Ridge Club, potentially alongside a killer. Meanwhile, Alice, increasingly worried that her past in the intelligence world is catching up with her, must act quickly to protect Sylvie and her baby.
My thoughts...
HUNTER'S HEART RIDGE is a compelling small-town murder mystery with a well-developed, fun cast of characters, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in this intriguing series.
As I mentioned in my previous review of Agony Hill, this is an excellent historical crime series, an intriguing mystery with a literary flair—and the author is off to a fine start with this exciting series, with a large cast of colorful characters amidst the vivid 60s rural backdrop.
Both Warren and Alice emerge as fascinating protagonists and an intriguing supporting cast. The slow-burning mystery comes to life with its vivid backdrop, well-developed plot, and engaging characters.
I loved Alice's stunning garden, the food, the neighbors, her stories, and the town. Alice is one sharp, resourceful, interesting cookie! I also enjoyed the mysterious Sylvie, a mother, her poem writing, and her love of books. I can't wait to catch up with all these characters in the next edition.
The series has a noir vibe since it is set in the 1960s without all the modern cop procedurals, cell phones, etc. Vivid storytelling! The author does a great job with the small rural town setting and its politics, gossip, secrets, greed, power, money, and more. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Warren, Alice, and the residents of Bethany.
I particularly enjoy books set in the '60s since I grew up in the era before all the modern conveniences of the world took over.
Recs...
Hunter's Heart Ridge is an essential read for fans of the series and the author, as well as those who enjoy Tess Gerritsen's Martini Club series. Readers who appreciate the works of Matthew Becker, Tim Johnston, Allen Eskens, T. Greenwood (Tammy), Ron Rash, Linda Castillo, Heather Gudenkauf, and Nicole Baart will likely find this book a compelling addition to their libraries.
The Series...
*THE NOVELLA: .05 Prequel Mud Season: A Bethany, Vermont Story Bethany, Vermont—in this suspenseful short story featuring characters from Agony Hill. A must-read short story. If you are curious about Alice. It includes an illustrative map of Bethany, Vermont, and all the places you will find in Agony Hill. Alice is a hoot, with a case she gets involved in, and the introduction of Detective Warren.
Agony Hill: Sarah Stewart Taylor's new fascinating historical mystery series, set in 1960s Vermont, featuring Detective Frank Warren #1, is a unique blend of small-town crime and small-town secrets. In Agony Hill, you learn more about Detective Warren around the 70% mark, so be patient. It's a tragic story and will make you appreciate him even more.
A highly recommended cop procedural/detective mystery series.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy for my honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDColins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 5, 2025
Aug 2025 Must-Read Books
Aug Newsletter
In this novel, Detective Frank Warren and his assistant Trooper Walter Goodrich, and his former CIA-connected neighbor, Alice Bellows, investigate the suspicious death of a diplomat. Their suspicions about the club members build. On top of this, they get snowed in at the club, possibly with a killer.
Set against the rich historical backdrop of rural Vermont in 1965—a time of significant change marked by the Vietnam War and widespread protests—the story delves into dark secrets hidden beneath this snowy, picturesque setting, creating a locked-in suspense.
With a well-developed and engaging cast of characters, readers will find themselves eagerly anticipating the next installment in this intriguing series.
About...
It's November 1965, Vermont, and deer season is underway. Vermont State Police Detective Franklin Warren is out in the woods hunting when he receives a call to return to Bethany. An accident has occurred at The Ridge Club, an exclusive private hunting and fishing club for congressmen, diplomats, and judges. A former ambassador has been shot while hunting then another murder (later).
Amid the turmoil of the Vietnam War, Warren is acutely aware that many members of the club are powerful men with connections and possible ulterior motives. Warren is joined in the investigation by Trooper Walter "Pinky" Goodrich, his assistant.
Alice Farnham Bellows, a widow and amateur detective with her secrets (having led a fascinating life and being connected to the intelligence community through her late husband), is busy preparing for a Thanksgiving dinner. She is also concerned about her pregnant friend and fellow widow, Sylvie Weber, whose due date is approaching.
When Alice's former handler and friend, Arthur Crannock, unexpectedly arrives in Bethany, she begins to suspect that his presence may be linked to the death at the hunting club.
Who wanted Moulton dead?
As a snowstorm sweeps through Bethany, it knocks out power and phone lines while blocking roads. Warren and Trooper Goodrich find themselves trapped at The Ridge Club, potentially alongside a killer. Meanwhile, Alice, increasingly worried that her past in the intelligence world is catching up with her, must act quickly to protect Sylvie and her baby.
My thoughts...
HUNTER'S HEART RIDGE is a compelling small-town murder mystery with a well-developed, fun cast of characters, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in this intriguing series.
As I mentioned in my previous review of Agony Hill, this is an excellent historical crime series, an intriguing mystery with a literary flair—and the author is off to a fine start with this exciting series, with a large cast of colorful characters amidst the vivid 60s rural backdrop.
Both Warren and Alice emerge as fascinating protagonists and an intriguing supporting cast. The slow-burning mystery comes to life with its vivid backdrop, well-developed plot, and engaging characters.
I loved Alice's stunning garden, the food, the neighbors, her stories, and the town. Alice is one sharp, resourceful, interesting cookie! I also enjoyed the mysterious Sylvie, a mother, her poem writing, and her love of books. I can't wait to catch up with all these characters in the next edition.
The series has a noir vibe since it is set in the 1960s without all the modern cop procedurals, cell phones, etc. Vivid storytelling! The author does a great job with the small rural town setting and its politics, gossip, secrets, greed, power, money, and more. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Warren, Alice, and the residents of Bethany.
I particularly enjoy books set in the '60s since I grew up in the era before all the modern conveniences of the world took over.
Recs...
Hunter's Heart Ridge is an essential read for fans of the series and the author, as well as those who enjoy Tess Gerritsen's Martini Club series. Readers who appreciate the works of Matthew Becker, Tim Johnston, Allen Eskens, T. Greenwood (Tammy), Ron Rash, Linda Castillo, Heather Gudenkauf, and Nicole Baart will likely find this book a compelling addition to their libraries.
The Series...
*THE NOVELLA: .05 Prequel Mud Season: A Bethany, Vermont Story Bethany, Vermont—in this suspenseful short story featuring characters from Agony Hill. A must-read short story. If you are curious about Alice. It includes an illustrative map of Bethany, Vermont, and all the places you will find in Agony Hill. Alice is a hoot, with a case she gets involved in, and the introduction of Detective Warren.
Agony Hill: Sarah Stewart Taylor's new fascinating historical mystery series, set in 1960s Vermont, featuring Detective Frank Warren #1, is a unique blend of small-town crime and small-town secrets. In Agony Hill, you learn more about Detective Warren around the 70% mark, so be patient. It's a tragic story and will make you appreciate him even more.
A highly recommended cop procedural/detective mystery series.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy for my honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDColins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 5, 2025
Aug 2025 Must-Read Books
Aug Newsletter
August 13, 2025
Hunter’s Heart Ridge works perfectly as a standalone, and I now want to read the first book, Agony Hill, to find out more about the charming town and the backstory of the the characters. I especially liked the main character, detective Warren, and I want to know more about his tragic history. The book has a layered plot, with some great twists, complex characters, and a backdrop of espionage, war, and old secrets. I didn’t guess the killer until the reveal, and the intrigue and unresolved threads have me looking forward to the (hopefully) next installment. Gorgeous cover art, too. Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for the advanced reader’s copy.
July 5, 2025
I admired and enjoyed the first book in this series, Agony Hill, but I full on love this novel which is more focused, better paced, and just as beautifully written as the first. These books are set in 1960’s Vermont as the Vietnam war is raging (an event, I now realize, that’s part of history, though I still remember seeing scenes of that war on TV every night). While the war doesn’t have too long of a reach into tiny Bethany, Vermont, it’s still a part of general consciousness and worry as boyfriends, sons and husbands are drafted.
The main series character is Franklin Warren, a Detective from Boston who is re-starting his life in rural Vermont after a personal tragedy. The other central character, Alice, an avid gardener who was married to an intelligence agent, now does a bit of intelligence work on the side. There’s a Russian in town she’s keeping an eye on.
As the book opens, Warren is called to a reported death at a fancy hunting lodge outside of town. The victim was a man who was a recently recalled ambassador, who was apparently not familiar with hunting. He’d been found shot in the woods, but as the body has been moved and brought back to the lodge, there’s no crime scene to examine. It’s not clear whether it was some kind of hunting accident or something more sinister, but ultimately the autopsy proves it was murder.
The guests at the lodge are none too helpful, many of them high ups in business or government, and they are close mouthed about the man’s death, so headway, as far as Detective Warren is concerned, is proving difficult. Stewart Taylor, who has a gift for employing classic tropes that she then reimagines for her own purposes, in this book utilizes one of my all-time favorites: the isolated house stuck in a debilitating snowstorm.
When Warren is stuck at the lodge thanks to the snowstorm, he’s forced to stay over and there’s a second death that ramps up the tension. This book is made atmospheric by the snow, cold, and ultimately the dark: the power goes out. In another part of town, Alice is having her own adventure: she’s stopped by the home of Sylvie, who lost her husband in the last book, to take her to a poetry reading. When the two women return, the heavily pregnant Sylvie is obviously suffering from labor pains and when the snowstorm hits and the phone line goes out, Alice is pressed into service.
There’s an element of memory at play for both Warren and Alice, relating to different traumas from their own pasts that connect to the situations they are trying to resolve. This book, for me, was incredibly moving, especially the plotline concerning Alice and Sylvie. Warren’s plotline is more straight up suspenseful detective work, and despite a small suspect pool, Stewart Taylor manages to create both suspense and a heartbreaking turn at the conclusion of her novel.
I love the way she writes – I love her characters, the way she loves the place she’s writing about, and in this series (this is her third) I enjoy the unexpected context of the Vietnam war and all that went with that war in the 1960’s. Like all the best mysteries, this one was deeply felt, well set up, and ultimately surprising.
The main series character is Franklin Warren, a Detective from Boston who is re-starting his life in rural Vermont after a personal tragedy. The other central character, Alice, an avid gardener who was married to an intelligence agent, now does a bit of intelligence work on the side. There’s a Russian in town she’s keeping an eye on.
As the book opens, Warren is called to a reported death at a fancy hunting lodge outside of town. The victim was a man who was a recently recalled ambassador, who was apparently not familiar with hunting. He’d been found shot in the woods, but as the body has been moved and brought back to the lodge, there’s no crime scene to examine. It’s not clear whether it was some kind of hunting accident or something more sinister, but ultimately the autopsy proves it was murder.
The guests at the lodge are none too helpful, many of them high ups in business or government, and they are close mouthed about the man’s death, so headway, as far as Detective Warren is concerned, is proving difficult. Stewart Taylor, who has a gift for employing classic tropes that she then reimagines for her own purposes, in this book utilizes one of my all-time favorites: the isolated house stuck in a debilitating snowstorm.
When Warren is stuck at the lodge thanks to the snowstorm, he’s forced to stay over and there’s a second death that ramps up the tension. This book is made atmospheric by the snow, cold, and ultimately the dark: the power goes out. In another part of town, Alice is having her own adventure: she’s stopped by the home of Sylvie, who lost her husband in the last book, to take her to a poetry reading. When the two women return, the heavily pregnant Sylvie is obviously suffering from labor pains and when the snowstorm hits and the phone line goes out, Alice is pressed into service.
There’s an element of memory at play for both Warren and Alice, relating to different traumas from their own pasts that connect to the situations they are trying to resolve. This book, for me, was incredibly moving, especially the plotline concerning Alice and Sylvie. Warren’s plotline is more straight up suspenseful detective work, and despite a small suspect pool, Stewart Taylor manages to create both suspense and a heartbreaking turn at the conclusion of her novel.
I love the way she writes – I love her characters, the way she loves the place she’s writing about, and in this series (this is her third) I enjoy the unexpected context of the Vietnam war and all that went with that war in the 1960’s. Like all the best mysteries, this one was deeply felt, well set up, and ultimately surprising.
October 7, 2025
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Hunter’s Heart Ridge, by Sarah Stewart Taylor, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
I have no idea why I waited until now to read this book, having received it in April of this year. But I’m glad I did, because it is finally (thank heavens!) starting to feel just a little bit like fall where I live, so Vermont in November was more imaginable/enjoyable than it might’ve been in, say, July.
I do know, however, why I read it today, and that’s because the publisher is going to archive it in six days. So I had to get on the stick. (Even though I got the latest Elizabeth George from the library today and am champing at the bit about it!!)
As I read I remembered why I liked the first book in this new Sara Stewart Taylor series so much, and that I felt when I finished it like I felt upon finishing this book today: NOOOOO!!! Don’t be over, yet, please! More, more, more!
DESCRIPTION
In this sequel to Taylor’s lyrical series debut, Agony Hill, Detective Frank Warren and his formerly CIA-connected neighbor Alice Bellows return to investigate the death of a diplomat.
It's November of 1965 and the second weekend of Vermont's regular deer season when Vermont State Police detective Franklin Warren is called out to what looks like an accidental shooting at The Ridge Club, an exclusive men's hunting and fishing club for congressmen, diplomats, judges, and titans of industry: a former ambassador has been shot while out hunting. With the war in Vietnam picking up speed on the other side of the world, Warren quickly realizes that many of the club’s members are powerful men who may have ulterior motives and connections in high places.
While Warren's suspicions about the club members build, his neighbor Alice Bellows is throwing a dinner party, preparing for Thanksgiving, and worrying about her pregnant friend and fellow widow, Sylvie Weber, whose due date is coming up. When Alice's old handler and friend, Arthur Crannock, unexpectedly shows up in Bethany, Alice begins to wonder whether his presence has anything to do with the death at the hunting club.
As an early season snowstorm bears down on Bethany, knocking out power and phone lines and blocking the roads, Warren and his assistant, Trooper Pinky Goodrich, are trapped at the Ridge Club, likely along with a killer, and Alice, increasingly fearful that her past in the intelligence world is no longer in the past, will have to act fast to save Sylvie and her baby.
Sarah Stewart Taylor’s historical series combines the intricacy of a satisfying mystery with keen observation of a time and place during great transformation and upheaval.
Received a complimentary copy of Hunter’s Heart Ridge, by Sarah Stewart Taylor, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
I have no idea why I waited until now to read this book, having received it in April of this year. But I’m glad I did, because it is finally (thank heavens!) starting to feel just a little bit like fall where I live, so Vermont in November was more imaginable/enjoyable than it might’ve been in, say, July.
I do know, however, why I read it today, and that’s because the publisher is going to archive it in six days. So I had to get on the stick. (Even though I got the latest Elizabeth George from the library today and am champing at the bit about it!!)
As I read I remembered why I liked the first book in this new Sara Stewart Taylor series so much, and that I felt when I finished it like I felt upon finishing this book today: NOOOOO!!! Don’t be over, yet, please! More, more, more!
DESCRIPTION
In this sequel to Taylor’s lyrical series debut, Agony Hill, Detective Frank Warren and his formerly CIA-connected neighbor Alice Bellows return to investigate the death of a diplomat.
It's November of 1965 and the second weekend of Vermont's regular deer season when Vermont State Police detective Franklin Warren is called out to what looks like an accidental shooting at The Ridge Club, an exclusive men's hunting and fishing club for congressmen, diplomats, judges, and titans of industry: a former ambassador has been shot while out hunting. With the war in Vietnam picking up speed on the other side of the world, Warren quickly realizes that many of the club’s members are powerful men who may have ulterior motives and connections in high places.
While Warren's suspicions about the club members build, his neighbor Alice Bellows is throwing a dinner party, preparing for Thanksgiving, and worrying about her pregnant friend and fellow widow, Sylvie Weber, whose due date is coming up. When Alice's old handler and friend, Arthur Crannock, unexpectedly shows up in Bethany, Alice begins to wonder whether his presence has anything to do with the death at the hunting club.
As an early season snowstorm bears down on Bethany, knocking out power and phone lines and blocking the roads, Warren and his assistant, Trooper Pinky Goodrich, are trapped at the Ridge Club, likely along with a killer, and Alice, increasingly fearful that her past in the intelligence world is no longer in the past, will have to act fast to save Sylvie and her baby.
Sarah Stewart Taylor’s historical series combines the intricacy of a satisfying mystery with keen observation of a time and place during great transformation and upheaval.
October 27, 2025
Thanks to the Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this eARC in online and print format.
🏞️ Series: Franklin Warren and Alice Bellows Mystery #2
Sarah Stewart Taylor’s Hunter’s Heart Ridge is a haunting, slow-burning mystery that blends atmospheric tension with political intrigue, set against the stark beauty of 1960s Vermont. As a sequel to Agony Hill, it deepens the emotional and thematic terrain of the series, offering a story that’s as much about memory and power as it is about murder.
🧩 It’s November 1965, the second weekend of Vermont’s deer season, and Detective Franklin Warren is pulled from his hunting trip to investigate a death at The Ridge Club—an exclusive retreat for congressmen, diplomats, and industrial titans. A former ambassador has been shot, and while it’s staged as a hunting accident, the scene reeks of manipulation.
Warren teams up once again with Alice Bellows, his enigmatic neighbor and former CIA operative, whose quiet intelligence and emotional restraint add depth to the investigation. As they dig into the ambassador’s past and the club’s elite guest list, they uncover a web of Cold War secrets, personal vendettas, and political cover-ups.
🧠 Taylor’s novel is rich with thematic complexity:
- The erosion of trust in institutions
- The psychological toll of secrecy and surveillance
- The tension between personal loyalty and public duty
- The quiet violence of privilege and power
Set against the backdrop of pre-Vietnam escalation, the novel captures a nation on the cusp of transformation—and a detective caught between duty and disillusionment.
✍️ Taylor’s prose is lyrical and deliberate, steeped in regional detail and emotional nuance. The Vermont setting—snow-dusted woods, creaky lodges, and foggy mornings—adds a gothic undertone that amplifies the mystery. The pacing is meditative, allowing readers to absorb the moral ambiguity and character depth.
Franklin Warren is a compelling protagonist: introspective, principled, and quietly haunted. His dynamic with Alice Bellows is the novel’s emotional anchor—marked by mutual respect, unspoken history, and intellectual chemistry. Alice’s CIA background adds intrigue, but it’s her emotional intelligence that truly elevates the narrative.
Supporting characters, including Trooper “Pinky” Goodrich and the Ridge Club’s elite members, offer texture and tension, each hiding secrets that ripple through the investigation.
⭐ Hunter’s Heart Ridge is a sophisticated, emotionally resonant mystery that rewards patient readers with layered storytelling and ethical complexity. Sarah Stewart Taylor proves once again that the most compelling mysteries aren’t just about solving crimes—they’re about understanding the people who commit them, and the systems that protect them.
For fans of Louise Penny, Tana French, or historical mysteries with political bite, this is a must-read.
🏞️ Series: Franklin Warren and Alice Bellows Mystery #2
Sarah Stewart Taylor’s Hunter’s Heart Ridge is a haunting, slow-burning mystery that blends atmospheric tension with political intrigue, set against the stark beauty of 1960s Vermont. As a sequel to Agony Hill, it deepens the emotional and thematic terrain of the series, offering a story that’s as much about memory and power as it is about murder.
🧩 It’s November 1965, the second weekend of Vermont’s deer season, and Detective Franklin Warren is pulled from his hunting trip to investigate a death at The Ridge Club—an exclusive retreat for congressmen, diplomats, and industrial titans. A former ambassador has been shot, and while it’s staged as a hunting accident, the scene reeks of manipulation.
Warren teams up once again with Alice Bellows, his enigmatic neighbor and former CIA operative, whose quiet intelligence and emotional restraint add depth to the investigation. As they dig into the ambassador’s past and the club’s elite guest list, they uncover a web of Cold War secrets, personal vendettas, and political cover-ups.
🧠 Taylor’s novel is rich with thematic complexity:
- The erosion of trust in institutions
- The psychological toll of secrecy and surveillance
- The tension between personal loyalty and public duty
- The quiet violence of privilege and power
Set against the backdrop of pre-Vietnam escalation, the novel captures a nation on the cusp of transformation—and a detective caught between duty and disillusionment.
✍️ Taylor’s prose is lyrical and deliberate, steeped in regional detail and emotional nuance. The Vermont setting—snow-dusted woods, creaky lodges, and foggy mornings—adds a gothic undertone that amplifies the mystery. The pacing is meditative, allowing readers to absorb the moral ambiguity and character depth.
Franklin Warren is a compelling protagonist: introspective, principled, and quietly haunted. His dynamic with Alice Bellows is the novel’s emotional anchor—marked by mutual respect, unspoken history, and intellectual chemistry. Alice’s CIA background adds intrigue, but it’s her emotional intelligence that truly elevates the narrative.
Supporting characters, including Trooper “Pinky” Goodrich and the Ridge Club’s elite members, offer texture and tension, each hiding secrets that ripple through the investigation.
⭐ Hunter’s Heart Ridge is a sophisticated, emotionally resonant mystery that rewards patient readers with layered storytelling and ethical complexity. Sarah Stewart Taylor proves once again that the most compelling mysteries aren’t just about solving crimes—they’re about understanding the people who commit them, and the systems that protect them.
For fans of Louise Penny, Tana French, or historical mysteries with political bite, this is a must-read.
August 4, 2025
Some will do anything to survive
In the small Vermont town of Bethany in the year 1965 there are many things that are changing, but the opening of deer season is not one of them. Franklin Warren, the relatively new transplant from Boston who is a detective with the Vermont State Police gets called out to what presents as an accidental shooting at The Ridge Club, a rustic but exclusive place where wealthy and influential men descend each year to get away from their cities and careers,. The victim is a former ambassador, which given world events like the escalating conflict in Vietnam may turn out to have something to do what happened if it proves to be something other than an accident. As the investigation commences and a serious snowstorm closes in on the town, Franklin's neighbor Alice is focused on an upcoming dinner and Thanksgiving preparations as she worries about her recently widowed young friend Sylvie. Alice is not a typical small town widow herself (she has a background in intelligence), and when her former handler just happens to arrive for a visit her antennae are raised. Does his presence have anything to do with what happened at The Ridge Club? Franklin and his young partner get trapped at the club by the storm, very possibly with a killer, and Alice finds herself needing to take action on her front to protect Sylvie. Accident or murder, and if the latter...by whom?
In this compelling sequel to Agony Hill, the first in author Sarah Stewart Taylor's Bethany VT series, the reader is treated to a vividly drawn portrayal of a small New England town on the cusp of major social upheaval...Vietnam, women's burgeoning rights...and complex characters with intriguing backstories all finding their own way through the evolving world. The snowstorm creates a twist on the locked room mystery, with detectives and suspects all trapped at the scene of the possible crime, while Alice wrestles with the legacy of her past and a desire to protect her new friend from danger.. The plot is tightly constructed and the atmosphere tense, and Franklin is a compassionate investigator dealing with his own past traumas. Its not flashy nor gory; it is a well-crafted mystery likely to appeal to readers of Louise Penny, Julia Spencer-Fleming and Bruce Robert Coffin. I was very impressed with the first book in the series, and found that this installment lived up to its predecessor brilliantly...I eagerly await a third entry. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to this satisfying read in exchange for my honest review.
In the small Vermont town of Bethany in the year 1965 there are many things that are changing, but the opening of deer season is not one of them. Franklin Warren, the relatively new transplant from Boston who is a detective with the Vermont State Police gets called out to what presents as an accidental shooting at The Ridge Club, a rustic but exclusive place where wealthy and influential men descend each year to get away from their cities and careers,. The victim is a former ambassador, which given world events like the escalating conflict in Vietnam may turn out to have something to do what happened if it proves to be something other than an accident. As the investigation commences and a serious snowstorm closes in on the town, Franklin's neighbor Alice is focused on an upcoming dinner and Thanksgiving preparations as she worries about her recently widowed young friend Sylvie. Alice is not a typical small town widow herself (she has a background in intelligence), and when her former handler just happens to arrive for a visit her antennae are raised. Does his presence have anything to do with what happened at The Ridge Club? Franklin and his young partner get trapped at the club by the storm, very possibly with a killer, and Alice finds herself needing to take action on her front to protect Sylvie. Accident or murder, and if the latter...by whom?
In this compelling sequel to Agony Hill, the first in author Sarah Stewart Taylor's Bethany VT series, the reader is treated to a vividly drawn portrayal of a small New England town on the cusp of major social upheaval...Vietnam, women's burgeoning rights...and complex characters with intriguing backstories all finding their own way through the evolving world. The snowstorm creates a twist on the locked room mystery, with detectives and suspects all trapped at the scene of the possible crime, while Alice wrestles with the legacy of her past and a desire to protect her new friend from danger.. The plot is tightly constructed and the atmosphere tense, and Franklin is a compassionate investigator dealing with his own past traumas. Its not flashy nor gory; it is a well-crafted mystery likely to appeal to readers of Louise Penny, Julia Spencer-Fleming and Bruce Robert Coffin. I was very impressed with the first book in the series, and found that this installment lived up to its predecessor brilliantly...I eagerly await a third entry. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to this satisfying read in exchange for my honest review.
July 15, 2025
I read a free advance digital review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
It’s November 1965, and Vermont Detective Franklin Warren receives a call to head out to The Ridge Club, a longstanding rustic retreat for Washington movers and shakers. One of them, former diplomat Bill Moulton, has been found dead in the woods in what looks like a hunting accident. Warren quickly finds that it was, instead, murder, and the likely culprit will be one of the handful of men at the camp and those tending to them. This will require Warren to try to pry information from the notoriously close-mouthed group.
At the end of a day of investigating, Warren attends a dinner at his neighbor Alice Bellows’s house. She has a background in the intelligence world, including some knowledge of the men at The Ridge Club, and provides insightful information. Warren’s deputy, Walter “Pinky” Goodrich, is also an invaluable source of local history. The next day, back at the club, Warren discovers more about the victim and the others at the club; information that goes back 20 years. When a sudden blizzard snows them all in as night falls, and the phone and power also go out, Warren is faced with the threat of more deaths, as it seems the perpetrator will go to any lengths to hide the motivation for the murder.
While Warren and Pinky are in their own snowbound danger, Alice has her own fraught situation. Her friend, Sylvia, a widow with four boys, has gone into labor, with complications, and Alice must do whatever she can to save Sylvie and her new baby while waiting for dawn to break and roads to be cleared.
There is a great sense of time and place in this novel. I have experienced many a New England November, and author Taylor’s descriptions take me right there. This is not just a regional murder mystery, though. The time is also important. It’s 1965, and there is great debate about what role the US should take in Vietnam. It’s a subject that divides the men at the club. Does it also factor into the killing of Moulton, or does the motive for his murder lie closer to home?
Taylor devises a suspenseful plot that kept me guessing until the very end, along with strong characters and atmosphere—and even a little bit of romance. I’m hoping she plans another installment in this series.
It’s November 1965, and Vermont Detective Franklin Warren receives a call to head out to The Ridge Club, a longstanding rustic retreat for Washington movers and shakers. One of them, former diplomat Bill Moulton, has been found dead in the woods in what looks like a hunting accident. Warren quickly finds that it was, instead, murder, and the likely culprit will be one of the handful of men at the camp and those tending to them. This will require Warren to try to pry information from the notoriously close-mouthed group.
At the end of a day of investigating, Warren attends a dinner at his neighbor Alice Bellows’s house. She has a background in the intelligence world, including some knowledge of the men at The Ridge Club, and provides insightful information. Warren’s deputy, Walter “Pinky” Goodrich, is also an invaluable source of local history. The next day, back at the club, Warren discovers more about the victim and the others at the club; information that goes back 20 years. When a sudden blizzard snows them all in as night falls, and the phone and power also go out, Warren is faced with the threat of more deaths, as it seems the perpetrator will go to any lengths to hide the motivation for the murder.
While Warren and Pinky are in their own snowbound danger, Alice has her own fraught situation. Her friend, Sylvia, a widow with four boys, has gone into labor, with complications, and Alice must do whatever she can to save Sylvie and her new baby while waiting for dawn to break and roads to be cleared.
There is a great sense of time and place in this novel. I have experienced many a New England November, and author Taylor’s descriptions take me right there. This is not just a regional murder mystery, though. The time is also important. It’s 1965, and there is great debate about what role the US should take in Vietnam. It’s a subject that divides the men at the club. Does it also factor into the killing of Moulton, or does the motive for his murder lie closer to home?
Taylor devises a suspenseful plot that kept me guessing until the very end, along with strong characters and atmosphere—and even a little bit of romance. I’m hoping she plans another installment in this series.
May 31, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the ARC of Hunter’s Heart Ridge and the chance to read it early.
I should begin by admitting that I was unaware that this book was the second in a series when I was provided the ARC, and I usually will only read a book once I’ve read the preceding books. However, I realized I wouldn’t have time to acquire the first book and read it before the ARC expired…so I forged ahead anyway.
The book had a number of errors that were a little frustrating, so I hope and assume it will be edited more before publishing. I am aware that ARCs typically may contain a few errors, but this one had the most I’ve encountered in an ARC.
First, I love the setting!! I’m a New Englander through and through, so I was drawn to the synopsis right away when I saw Vermont. I love Vermont! And I am no stranger to a crippling snowstorm. This book tells the story of a murder mystery at a hunting club that takes place before and during an early season snowstorm. There is also a parallel plot with some characters that are not directly involved with the main plot but were clearly prominent in the first book. Some parts of the parallel story seemed a bit superfluous but maybe that’s only because I really only wanted to follow the main story.
Next, I was eventually drawn into the story but it took a bit of time before I decided I was invested. There were some parts that dragged on a little for me. Also, I could tell there was some event that occurred in the first book that I obviously missed that affected our main character- and I do plan on reading the first book to get that back story.
I found it a little difficult to keep all of the characters straight. For the most part I was able to follow, but the writing was a little confusing at times. You definitely need to pay attention to who is who and who is saying/doing things.
I wasn’t overly convinced of Warren’s police work…but then again once he was thrown into the club unexpectedly I guess formal police work tends to become muddied at best…I don’t know.
Overall, I enjoyed the main plot and certainly wanted to find out the who/what/why of the mystery. I look forward to reading the first book, albeit out of order, to further solidify the character of Warren.
I should begin by admitting that I was unaware that this book was the second in a series when I was provided the ARC, and I usually will only read a book once I’ve read the preceding books. However, I realized I wouldn’t have time to acquire the first book and read it before the ARC expired…so I forged ahead anyway.
The book had a number of errors that were a little frustrating, so I hope and assume it will be edited more before publishing. I am aware that ARCs typically may contain a few errors, but this one had the most I’ve encountered in an ARC.
First, I love the setting!! I’m a New Englander through and through, so I was drawn to the synopsis right away when I saw Vermont. I love Vermont! And I am no stranger to a crippling snowstorm. This book tells the story of a murder mystery at a hunting club that takes place before and during an early season snowstorm. There is also a parallel plot with some characters that are not directly involved with the main plot but were clearly prominent in the first book. Some parts of the parallel story seemed a bit superfluous but maybe that’s only because I really only wanted to follow the main story.
Next, I was eventually drawn into the story but it took a bit of time before I decided I was invested. There were some parts that dragged on a little for me. Also, I could tell there was some event that occurred in the first book that I obviously missed that affected our main character- and I do plan on reading the first book to get that back story.
I found it a little difficult to keep all of the characters straight. For the most part I was able to follow, but the writing was a little confusing at times. You definitely need to pay attention to who is who and who is saying/doing things.
I wasn’t overly convinced of Warren’s police work…but then again once he was thrown into the club unexpectedly I guess formal police work tends to become muddied at best…I don’t know.
Overall, I enjoyed the main plot and certainly wanted to find out the who/what/why of the mystery. I look forward to reading the first book, albeit out of order, to further solidify the character of Warren.
August 21, 2025
In Sarah Stewart Taylor’s follow up to Agony Hill she takes you back to Bethany, Vermont in 1965 where deer hunting season has begun and the body of a former ambassador is discovered. State investigator Franklin Warren must tread carefully when he is called to the scene. The Ridge Club has been host to celebrities, industrialists and presidents. The ambassador had been hunting with three friends who had last met up in 1946, when an argument between the men led to physical violence. The men claim that all was forgiven and there was no animosity but at dinner the night before his death it turned into a shouting match. Jenny, a local girl who works at the lodge, has read a number of mysteries. She has a crush on Trooper Pinky Goodrich, Warren’s deputy. No one pays attention to her as she works. If she can discover what happened and solve the murder, Pinky will finally notice her. A storm soon moves in, trapping Warren along with his suspects with no phone or power. Holding interviews with the guests and staff reveals that the ambassador was a known womanizer who had been involved with the women at the lodge in the past. At first the death had been attributed to an accidental shooting while hunting. When Warren receives the coroner’s report it was clearly a murder committed by someone close to him. The storm is raging and tempers are fraying as Jenny finally makes a discovery that also puts her in danger.
Warren moved to Bethany from Boston after losing his wife and child. He is still adjusting to small town life where everyone knows each other. His neighbor Alice, a retired widow with connections to the CIA, is still being pulled into intelligence work by her former handler, making her question whether he was involved in the death. While Taylor’s story deals with a death, it also deals with new life. Sylvie Weber, a pregnant widow introduced in Agony Hill, is trapped on her farm with Alice, who had been visiting. When she goes into labor, Alice is forced to assist in a complicated delivery. With a murder to solve and a birth to celebrate, Taylor’s story will have you looking forward to a return to Bethany. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book.
Warren moved to Bethany from Boston after losing his wife and child. He is still adjusting to small town life where everyone knows each other. His neighbor Alice, a retired widow with connections to the CIA, is still being pulled into intelligence work by her former handler, making her question whether he was involved in the death. While Taylor’s story deals with a death, it also deals with new life. Sylvie Weber, a pregnant widow introduced in Agony Hill, is trapped on her farm with Alice, who had been visiting. When she goes into labor, Alice is forced to assist in a complicated delivery. With a murder to solve and a birth to celebrate, Taylor’s story will have you looking forward to a return to Bethany. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book.
December 23, 2025
4.5
I received an advanced copy of Hunter’s Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor from the publisher Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What It’s About: It’s November of 1965, and hunting season has just started. Franklin Warren is hunting in the woods when he gets a call that there’s been an accident at The Ridge Club, an exclusive men’s hunting and fishing club whose membership has included congressmen, diplomats, judges, and more. A former ambassador has been shot while out hunting and with the war in Vietnam picking up speed, Warren realizes that the powerful men of this club may have ulterior motives and this accident might have a more sinister source. With an early snow storm knocking out the power, Warren and his deputy Pinky end up snowed in with a potential killer. Meanwhile during the snowstorm Alice Bellows, Warren’s neighbor must help widow Sylvie deliver her baby in an incredibly dangerous situation.
My Thoughts: I love this series. It is so atmospheric and I can escape to Vermont, this area of Vermont is where I lived for several years and I can completely visualize this community and the landscape. The author nails setting and that makes this novel even more. I could imagine the cold winter rural lodge where they were snowed in and the isolation that might be called. The characters are so well written and I couldn’t put this book down and needed to know how this mystery would be resolved. If you love historical mysteries, you need to read this series. The other story is less intriguing to me but I still loved it because I read the first in the series and so I wanted to see what happened with Sylvie. Alice Bellows is an interesting character, but I am not so interested in her former intelligence life cause it feels less important to the small town atmosphere. However, the writing is still good and this is a nearly 4.5 star read and I truly enjoyed this, I cannot wait for my next trip to 60’s Vermont. This is an underrated gem, pick it up.
Who Should Read It: Fans who love that sweet spot of historical fiction and mystery.
Summary: An atmospheric historical mystery that will captivate.
I received an advanced copy of Hunter’s Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor from the publisher Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What It’s About: It’s November of 1965, and hunting season has just started. Franklin Warren is hunting in the woods when he gets a call that there’s been an accident at The Ridge Club, an exclusive men’s hunting and fishing club whose membership has included congressmen, diplomats, judges, and more. A former ambassador has been shot while out hunting and with the war in Vietnam picking up speed, Warren realizes that the powerful men of this club may have ulterior motives and this accident might have a more sinister source. With an early snow storm knocking out the power, Warren and his deputy Pinky end up snowed in with a potential killer. Meanwhile during the snowstorm Alice Bellows, Warren’s neighbor must help widow Sylvie deliver her baby in an incredibly dangerous situation.
My Thoughts: I love this series. It is so atmospheric and I can escape to Vermont, this area of Vermont is where I lived for several years and I can completely visualize this community and the landscape. The author nails setting and that makes this novel even more. I could imagine the cold winter rural lodge where they were snowed in and the isolation that might be called. The characters are so well written and I couldn’t put this book down and needed to know how this mystery would be resolved. If you love historical mysteries, you need to read this series. The other story is less intriguing to me but I still loved it because I read the first in the series and so I wanted to see what happened with Sylvie. Alice Bellows is an interesting character, but I am not so interested in her former intelligence life cause it feels less important to the small town atmosphere. However, the writing is still good and this is a nearly 4.5 star read and I truly enjoyed this, I cannot wait for my next trip to 60’s Vermont. This is an underrated gem, pick it up.
Who Should Read It: Fans who love that sweet spot of historical fiction and mystery.
Summary: An atmospheric historical mystery that will captivate.
December 11, 2025
Hunter’s Heart Ridge is a richly atmospheric and expertly layered historical mystery that blends tension, character depth, and period detail into a remarkably immersive reading experience. Sarah Stewart Taylor brings 1965 Vermont to life with vivid precision, capturing the cold beauty of the landscape, the shifting social undercurrents of the era, and the danger simmering beneath the surface of a community tied to power and secrecy.
Detective Franklin Warren returns with quiet determination and moral clarity, finding himself pulled from a hunting weekend into the suspicious death of a former ambassador at the elite Ridge Club a place populated by congressmen, diplomats, judges, and the well-connected men of Washington. As Warren begins to untangle motives and alliances, it becomes clear that the club’s influence extends far beyond its secluded forest borders, and the truth may be buried beneath layers of privilege, politics, and wartime tension.
Meanwhile, Alice Bellows Warren’s enigmatic, intelligence-trained neighbor navigates domestic life, a looming Thanksgiving, and her concern for her pregnant friend Sylvie. When her former CIA handler unexpectedly arrives in town, Alice is forced to confront the possibility that her past may be entangled with the case at hand. As a fierce early snowstorm traps Warren and Trooper Pinky Goodrich inside the Ridge Club with a potential killer, the narrative tightens into a gripping, claustrophobic puzzle, while Alice races against time to protect Sylvie and her unborn child.
Combining the elegance of classic mystery with the emotional resonance of historical fiction, Hunter’s Heart Ridge is a compelling sequel that deepens the world introduced in Agony Hill. Its intricate plotting, evocative setting, and finely drawn characters make it a standout addition to the genre perfect for readers who love atmospheric mysteries with intelligence, heart, and a strong sense of place.
Detective Franklin Warren returns with quiet determination and moral clarity, finding himself pulled from a hunting weekend into the suspicious death of a former ambassador at the elite Ridge Club a place populated by congressmen, diplomats, judges, and the well-connected men of Washington. As Warren begins to untangle motives and alliances, it becomes clear that the club’s influence extends far beyond its secluded forest borders, and the truth may be buried beneath layers of privilege, politics, and wartime tension.
Meanwhile, Alice Bellows Warren’s enigmatic, intelligence-trained neighbor navigates domestic life, a looming Thanksgiving, and her concern for her pregnant friend Sylvie. When her former CIA handler unexpectedly arrives in town, Alice is forced to confront the possibility that her past may be entangled with the case at hand. As a fierce early snowstorm traps Warren and Trooper Pinky Goodrich inside the Ridge Club with a potential killer, the narrative tightens into a gripping, claustrophobic puzzle, while Alice races against time to protect Sylvie and her unborn child.
Combining the elegance of classic mystery with the emotional resonance of historical fiction, Hunter’s Heart Ridge is a compelling sequel that deepens the world introduced in Agony Hill. Its intricate plotting, evocative setting, and finely drawn characters make it a standout addition to the genre perfect for readers who love atmospheric mysteries with intelligence, heart, and a strong sense of place.
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