Buried Mountain Justice

by Jodie Bailey

These mountains hide many secrets...and uncovering them could be deadly.


Returning to her hometown has perilous consequences when private investigator Kelsie McIlheney stumbles upon a murderer in the midst of burying their latest victim. To investigate the burial site, she’s forced to team up with her former love, special agent Noah Cross, who’s rattled to see Kelsie again after she left without a word nearly two decades ago. When more bodies are uncovered and attacks begin to escalate, it becomes clear that Noah is the killer’s next target. As the past comes back to haunt them and a long-standing vendetta is revealed, Noah and Kelsie must risk everything to ensure justice is served.



Mills & Boon Love Inspired Suspense — Courage. Danger. Faith.

Genres: Suspense

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 30, 2025

About the author

Jodie Bailey is the author of Quilted by Christmas, as well as two suspense novels, Freefall and Crossfire and a novella in Holiday Defenders. Her devotions have appeared in Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home and Sweet Freedom with a Slice of Peach Cobbler. She is also a contributor to PWOC International’s e100 Bible study for military wives. Her memberships include American Christian Fiction Writers.

When not at the keyboard, Jodie is a former middle school literature teacher and yearbook adviser who is convinced a camping trip to the beach with her family, a good cup of coffee, and a great book can cure all ills. Jodie lives in North Carolina with her husband, her daughter, and two dogs.

Reviews

[Sheila]

This was a heavy read.

[Sara MG]

This book was pretty heavy for your typical LI Suspense book. I’ll put a trigger warning below in case you want to know.

Kelsie returns to her hometown to investigate a cold case but ends up encountering a murderer in the middle of burying their latest victim! She teams up with her old high school boyfriend, Noah, to solve the case. The murderer is after Noah for some reason and it will require the help of a whole team to keep him safe. But is everyone on the team actually on Noah’s side? Can Noah and Kelsie renew their connection? She left so abruptly after their graduation party and never spoke to Noah again. The bodies start piling up and time is running out for them to catch this killer!

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Trigger: There is a character with a very traumatic past. The book features several stories of being drugged with rohypnol and being SA’d. Of course the SA itself is only referred to as SA and is not described in detail, but the drugging itself and after effects of being drugged is recounted in detail.

[Teresa Pollock]

Never a dull moment and suspense and danger around every corner

This book 3 in this series was to me more intense with so many twists and turns, dark history that rears its ugly head more than once. Brought back memories rather forgotten but forged thru with God's grace and mercy. The murders done as dark justice from a sick mind and the reward of the bad guys getting caught and going to jail. God, good reigned and light and love brought healing and proper justice in this cold case/new case book. Get it. Read it. You learn about healing of past experiences thru God's grace and mercy. Jodie Bailey this was a great read even though it caused me to remember but not be crushed. Healing has taken place. God bless you.

[Lynnie Richards]

I'll be honest: I didn't know it was a Christian romance when I started it, and if I had known I probably wouldn't have taken it out of the library. Somehow this book came up as a suggestion for me, and since I was just in the mood for a Harlequin romance, I borrowed it. Having said that, other than the religious aspect it had more depth than other Harlequins. I feel no need to read the others in the series, and will be more careful when I see words like "love inspired suspense" on a book cover. If you're into Christian romance, you'll like this book. And if you're not, but still want to try it, I can say that it's not overly "preachy", so that's good.

[Janet]

Action-packed and unputdownable! This book takes off right away and doesn't let up till the last page. Private investigator Kelsie McIlheney is back home confronting her past and comes across a dead body. She is teamed up with Special Agent Noah Cross to try and uncover long dead secrets that may be better off left alone.

[Amber]

1

[Sheri Jesse]

Good story about a horrific subjest.

[Beverly Duell-Moore]

Good book!

[Pianosue]

An exciting read with action and intrigue. A surprise ending.

I recommend this book

[Sherry]

Good light read and as I read the series, I find I like the characters as they develop.