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Bogged Down: A Vashon Island Mystery
Coyotes on the prowl. Woods parkour. An ancient bog.Mayberry-meets-Burning Man in this story of an island community in conflict over the wilding of their island. Which is more important—a safe haven for pets and farm animals or preserving habitat and wildlife?
Lavender (Lew) Lewis grew up on a commune in Alaska, joined the army at 17, does woods parkour for exercise and HR investigations to earn a living. When she leads a tour group into an ancient bog, she not only discovers a body but finds herself the target of anti-wilding threats.
A car chase on country roads. An illegal marijuana farm. A drug addicted prodigal son. A dog kidnapping. On the trail of one, possibly two murderers, Lew and her friends find themselves confronting dangerous situations that shatter the Mayberry image of their island home.
Lavender (Lew) Lewis grew up on a commune in Alaska, joined the army at 17, does woods parkour for exercise and HR investigations to earn a living. When she leads a tour group into an ancient bog, she not only discovers a body but finds herself the target of anti-wilding threats.
A car chase on country roads. An illegal marijuana farm. A drug addicted prodigal son. A dog kidnapping. On the trail of one, possibly two murderers, Lew and her friends find themselves confronting dangerous situations that shatter the Mayberry image of their island home.
- GenresMystery
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2025
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Stuart
19 books367 followersCharlotte Stuart PhD is an award-winning mystery writer who got her start in academia, left a tenured faculty position to go commercial fishing in Alaska, spent a frustrating year as a political speech writer, and enjoyed time as a management consultant and as a VP of HR and Training.
Her current passion is for writing character driven mysteries with twisty plots. She has published twelve mysteries since 2019, including a legal thriller co-authored with writer husband Don Stuart.
Her discount Detective Mysteries received a 1st Place Series Award in the Chanticleer International Mystery & Mayhem competition. Other awards include a Global Ebook Gold, a Reader Views Silver, a Global Book Award Bronze, and making finals in Foreword Indies, Killer Nashville's Silver Falchion and the Eric Hoffer Awards.
She lives and writes on Vashon Island, is the past president of the Puget Sound Sisters in Crime and a member of the Mystery Writers of America.
Her current passion is for writing character driven mysteries with twisty plots. She has published twelve mysteries since 2019, including a legal thriller co-authored with writer husband Don Stuart.
Her discount Detective Mysteries received a 1st Place Series Award in the Chanticleer International Mystery & Mayhem competition. Other awards include a Global Ebook Gold, a Reader Views Silver, a Global Book Award Bronze, and making finals in Foreword Indies, Killer Nashville's Silver Falchion and the Eric Hoffer Awards.
She lives and writes on Vashon Island, is the past president of the Puget Sound Sisters in Crime and a member of the Mystery Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 15, 2020
Lew Lewis is filling in as a tour guide for a group of tourists visiting Vashon Island. The bog walking tour is pretty popular but rather unexciting. That is, until someone points out a human hand floating above the water. Lew isn’t sure if it’s just a hand or attached to a body. She asks one of the tourists to call the authorities. With the help of Deputy Grimes, they discover it is indeed a body and one they know well. Is it politically motivated or just an accident? Working closely with the authorities, Lew starts investigating. As the suspect list grows, so does the threats against Lew. Will Lew capture the culprit before it’s too late?
Bogged Down takes the reader to a lush, beautiful island for a mystery unlike any I have read before. I guess I never thought how difficult it is to bury a body in a bog. Charlotte Stuart’s descriptive narration plunges the reader into the story so that it feels like you are actually on Vashon Island and interacting with the quirky residents. Lew is a fantastic character and I liked her immensely. The plot moves at a good pace with plenty of clues and even a few misleading clues to keep the reader invested. The mystery itself is tricky to solve with such a large list of suspects which I found so pleasurable. Brilliantly written with quirky characters makes this a must-read for all mystery readers. Another gem from Charlotte Stuart and one I highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Bogged Down takes the reader to a lush, beautiful island for a mystery unlike any I have read before. I guess I never thought how difficult it is to bury a body in a bog. Charlotte Stuart’s descriptive narration plunges the reader into the story so that it feels like you are actually on Vashon Island and interacting with the quirky residents. Lew is a fantastic character and I liked her immensely. The plot moves at a good pace with plenty of clues and even a few misleading clues to keep the reader invested. The mystery itself is tricky to solve with such a large list of suspects which I found so pleasurable. Brilliantly written with quirky characters makes this a must-read for all mystery readers. Another gem from Charlotte Stuart and one I highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
November 16, 2020
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
A solid start to a new series. We meet Lavender "Lew" an investigator for HR cases. She lives on an island with a nice mix of characters. We start with her attempting to give a tour of a bog that has importance to their ecosystem. Before the tour gets half way through though the group goes to cross A log only to find A hand sticking out of the water next to it. They call the local police to loom into it who discovers it is attached to the body of man they know. The locals are not really equipped to deal with a homicide so cops from the mainland come in but they do not know the locals which makes for an investigation. Lew decides to help since she has some awesome questioning skills which only makes her a target along with two others. When A suspect emerges it sounds likely until he is found dead as well. With multiple things going on the truth gets murky but thanks to her persistence Lew figures it all out in the end. Makes for an intriguing mystery spring more with interesting characters set in an active island environment. Showcases small town life and things that they deal with both good and bad. A great read for cozy fans. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
A solid start to a new series. We meet Lavender "Lew" an investigator for HR cases. She lives on an island with a nice mix of characters. We start with her attempting to give a tour of a bog that has importance to their ecosystem. Before the tour gets half way through though the group goes to cross A log only to find A hand sticking out of the water next to it. They call the local police to loom into it who discovers it is attached to the body of man they know. The locals are not really equipped to deal with a homicide so cops from the mainland come in but they do not know the locals which makes for an investigation. Lew decides to help since she has some awesome questioning skills which only makes her a target along with two others. When A suspect emerges it sounds likely until he is found dead as well. With multiple things going on the truth gets murky but thanks to her persistence Lew figures it all out in the end. Makes for an intriguing mystery spring more with interesting characters set in an active island environment. Showcases small town life and things that they deal with both good and bad. A great read for cozy fans. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
March 8, 2021
I think I used to work with an incarnation of Lavender (Lew) Lewis who was raised in a commune, is an Afghanistan vet, HR investigator, Parkour enthusiast and very logical/resourceful. Which is by way of saying that the choice of Harley Jane Kozak to be narrator is spot on!
The mystery is and expanded locked room because it takes place on an island which is a glorified small town and requires ferry, boat, or air transport to access. Internal politics makes the suspect pool somewhat manageable and there are no in-between cops (only dumb, self-important, or competent but unimaginative). Great characters and a really good whodunit.
I won this audiobook in a giveaway. Yay me!
The mystery is and expanded locked room because it takes place on an island which is a glorified small town and requires ferry, boat, or air transport to access. Internal politics makes the suspect pool somewhat manageable and there are no in-between cops (only dumb, self-important, or competent but unimaginative). Great characters and a really good whodunit.
I won this audiobook in a giveaway. Yay me!
May 6, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only. Told through the point of view of its protagonist Lew (don’t call me Lavender) a hug averse, commune grown, army veteran; Bogged Down is paced in such a way that it’s only in retrospect you realize how much has actually happened and how many interesting people you’ve gotten to know. This is a good thing! Interesting characters, great plot twists, I look forward to again being immersed in the small world that is Vashon Island. Heck I want to live there!
April 29, 2021
A great offering from VRO. This book is about a group of islanders trying to save a bog and the wildlife in it. The islanders face a variety of obstacles, greedy developers, nasty characters, a grow op, murders and the local police force who are not forthcoming about the murders. Local speculation and surmise almost compromises the case; it is finally solved with the help of the courageous heroine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2022
A fun, believable mystery.
November 6, 2020
I really enjoy Charlotte Stuart's cozy mystery books. The first book of hers that I read was Survival Can Be Deadly which I thought was hilarious. Though Bogged Down didn't have as many laugh out loud moments, I enjoyed the subtle humor and lighthearted feeling of this mystery.
I've always been captivated by the idea of living on an island, so I love reading books that are set on islands. There seems to be such a camaraderie among the residents who live on islands. Sure that feeling of togetherness might not apply to everyone, but it seems like everyone has a place to fit in. Many of the residents have lived on Vashon Island their entire lives. Others, like Lew, are newcomers...she's been there for 10 years!! She's still a newbie.
The residents are passionate about their island and keeping it preserved. However, not everyone agrees on how to do that. There are those who want to keep the island wild and allow the wild animals like coyotes to roam free. Then there are those who do not want coyotes on the island at all and want to trap them or shoot them to protect the domesticated animals. That's definitely a dilemma. I'm always sad to see new developments arise in areas where the wild animals still live because then those wild animals start to become a nuisance.
So, when a dead body is found in the bog, the residents automatically think that it has something to do with the wilding controversy. But does it?
I really enjoyed the characters in Bogged Down. They are very well developed, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Bogged Down is a fast-paced page-turning book, and I read it very quickly. The plot is exciting, and the the mystery will keep you guessing. I definitely think this is one you will enjoy, and I highly recommend it.
I've always been captivated by the idea of living on an island, so I love reading books that are set on islands. There seems to be such a camaraderie among the residents who live on islands. Sure that feeling of togetherness might not apply to everyone, but it seems like everyone has a place to fit in. Many of the residents have lived on Vashon Island their entire lives. Others, like Lew, are newcomers...she's been there for 10 years!! She's still a newbie.
The residents are passionate about their island and keeping it preserved. However, not everyone agrees on how to do that. There are those who want to keep the island wild and allow the wild animals like coyotes to roam free. Then there are those who do not want coyotes on the island at all and want to trap them or shoot them to protect the domesticated animals. That's definitely a dilemma. I'm always sad to see new developments arise in areas where the wild animals still live because then those wild animals start to become a nuisance.
So, when a dead body is found in the bog, the residents automatically think that it has something to do with the wilding controversy. But does it?
I really enjoyed the characters in Bogged Down. They are very well developed, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Bogged Down is a fast-paced page-turning book, and I read it very quickly. The plot is exciting, and the the mystery will keep you guessing. I definitely think this is one you will enjoy, and I highly recommend it.
April 23, 2021
I enjoyed the book but the story was spoilt by the disjointed paragraphs and numbers appearing all through the text - maybe forgotten to take out a word count or something but very distracting.
A tour guide, Lew Lewis, is conducting 12 tourists around a rare bog on Vashon Island near West Seattle and they find a hand sticking out of the bog and assume somebody fell in. they notify the local deputy and they call in the major crimes unit and together with the local deputy established it was a murder and start a murder enquiry and identify the body.
The victim is one of the "Island Stewards" with 11 Board members and a core of 25 people, the island have a mixed reaction to the coyotes on the island with some people getting very fired up but would they go as far as murder? Andy Barnett, Lew and Norm are due to go o a coyote count on the Island but a number of events occur, missing pets, break in, threats and it appears that the Stewards are being targeted and leads to the three to start their own investigation and get shot at. Who will solve the murder first, the three or the Police, will anybody else get murdered and was it actually murder?
The thing that was never explained properly, only hinted at was who did the shooting and was the Police Officer get shot or was it self inflicted?
A tour guide, Lew Lewis, is conducting 12 tourists around a rare bog on Vashon Island near West Seattle and they find a hand sticking out of the bog and assume somebody fell in. they notify the local deputy and they call in the major crimes unit and together with the local deputy established it was a murder and start a murder enquiry and identify the body.
The victim is one of the "Island Stewards" with 11 Board members and a core of 25 people, the island have a mixed reaction to the coyotes on the island with some people getting very fired up but would they go as far as murder? Andy Barnett, Lew and Norm are due to go o a coyote count on the Island but a number of events occur, missing pets, break in, threats and it appears that the Stewards are being targeted and leads to the three to start their own investigation and get shot at. Who will solve the murder first, the three or the Police, will anybody else get murdered and was it actually murder?
The thing that was never explained properly, only hinted at was who did the shooting and was the Police Officer get shot or was it self inflicted?
September 28, 2025
Delightful glimpse into island life
Lavender (Lew) Lewis is a heck of an armchair detective. Fearless, she gets herself involved in situations that raised my hackles and even caused me to break a sweat once or twice. "Don't do it, Lew!" I kept thinking--but she didn't stop. A corporate HR consultant by day and an intrepid defender of the environment at night and on the weekends, Lew has an interesting background that gives her some 'detective chops' other middle-aged amateur detectives don't have. She does 'woods parkour' instead of walks in the forest, and grew up in an Alaskan commune, which seems to have given her an aversion to physical closeness. But that doesn't mean she doesn't care! And oh, she's good with guns. When a friend dies in the local bog--a protected part of Vashon Island--she is determined to find out who the culprit is and has to wade through a lot of local 'muck' to do it. Stuart fills the pages with details that intrigue and delight and Harley Jane Kozak, the narrator, has a friendly and welcoming voice that made it easy to return to the story. This would be a great book for a car trip!
Lavender (Lew) Lewis is a heck of an armchair detective. Fearless, she gets herself involved in situations that raised my hackles and even caused me to break a sweat once or twice. "Don't do it, Lew!" I kept thinking--but she didn't stop. A corporate HR consultant by day and an intrepid defender of the environment at night and on the weekends, Lew has an interesting background that gives her some 'detective chops' other middle-aged amateur detectives don't have. She does 'woods parkour' instead of walks in the forest, and grew up in an Alaskan commune, which seems to have given her an aversion to physical closeness. But that doesn't mean she doesn't care! And oh, she's good with guns. When a friend dies in the local bog--a protected part of Vashon Island--she is determined to find out who the culprit is and has to wade through a lot of local 'muck' to do it. Stuart fills the pages with details that intrigue and delight and Harley Jane Kozak, the narrator, has a friendly and welcoming voice that made it easy to return to the story. This would be a great book for a car trip!
January 13, 2021
This was a pretty good book. The plot wandered a bit but the story was well written.
Bogged Down is a mystery set on Vashon Island, a place that has been described as Mayberry-meets-Burning Man. Lavender (Lew) Lewis moved there because it is only a twenty-minute ferry ride from Seattle, yet light years away in tempo and character. She grew up on a commune in Alaska, joined the army at 17, does woods parkour for exercise and HR investigations to earn a living. Life in her waterfront cabin with her two food-obsessed cats is predictable and relatively stress free. Until she leads a tour group into an ancient bog on the island and discovers a body.
The victim is one of the island’s most passionate pro-wilding advocates. While the official investigation focuses on those opposed to preserving wildlife on the island, Lew is convinced that the location of the murder in the fragile ecosystem of the bog is key to solving the crime.
Bogged Down is a mystery set on Vashon Island, a place that has been described as Mayberry-meets-Burning Man. Lavender (Lew) Lewis moved there because it is only a twenty-minute ferry ride from Seattle, yet light years away in tempo and character. She grew up on a commune in Alaska, joined the army at 17, does woods parkour for exercise and HR investigations to earn a living. Life in her waterfront cabin with her two food-obsessed cats is predictable and relatively stress free. Until she leads a tour group into an ancient bog on the island and discovers a body.
The victim is one of the island’s most passionate pro-wilding advocates. While the official investigation focuses on those opposed to preserving wildlife on the island, Lew is convinced that the location of the murder in the fragile ecosystem of the bog is key to solving the crime.
September 1, 2020
Interesting characters and plot set on an island off of Seattle. When a body turns up in the island bog, the main character Lavender "Lew" Lewis finds herself in the middle of an environmental stand-off between those promoting the protection of the local coyotes and one cougar and those protecting livestock and pets. I bought this thinking it was a sequel to another book by this author but it was still enjoyable.
May 16, 2021
What fun mystery. Especially coming from the PNW, and having visited Vashon Island. Great descriptions of the island and the quirkiness of the inhabitant, not to mention their concerns. When you pick up this book you should be mystified by this “whodunnit!” I sure didn’t see the many twists and turns happening, nor did I get the identity of the culprit correct. Thanks to Voracious Readers Only, I was able to read this one for free!
April 21, 2021
I received a free copy with no obligation to review. I enjoyed the book and would have considered four stars if it felt a little tighter. Too many stories and characters and it felt a bit rushed in the resolution. However, I really liked Lew and would read another book if it were part of a series.
April 22, 2021
I received a free copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
A great easy read, with characters that you want to get to know better. Lew, the strong, independent female with good friends; Grimes, the detective that has been introduced - will they, won't they??
Would love this to be the first of a series!
A great easy read, with characters that you want to get to know better. Lew, the strong, independent female with good friends; Grimes, the detective that has been introduced - will they, won't they??
Would love this to be the first of a series!
April 26, 2021
Got my copy from voraciousreadersonly.com! Than you.
This is a great mystery. Not easy to figure out who the villain was. Had a great time reading a book set in a location I’ve been to. Thank you Ms. Charlotte for setting a true scene of what life on Vashion Island is like. Character formation was laid out well; the flow of the story was smooth with many turns.
This is a great mystery. Not easy to figure out who the villain was. Had a great time reading a book set in a location I’ve been to. Thank you Ms. Charlotte for setting a true scene of what life on Vashion Island is like. Character formation was laid out well; the flow of the story was smooth with many turns.
April 26, 2021
This is an interesting and twisting murder mystery with a strong female protagonist. I liked all the characters and how they were portrayed. It was easy to get pulled into this story and even found myself holding my breath during some tense moments ... gotta love a book that can do that to you! Definitely recommend.
I received a free ebook via Voracious Readers Only for my honest review.
I received a free ebook via Voracious Readers Only for my honest review.
April 30, 2021
This is a delightful murder mystery!
Charlotte’s focus on the issues of environmental protections and people’s attitudes and priorities is fascinating.
Many thanks to Charlotte Stuart for the Complimentary Copy of “Bogged Down” via Voracious Reader’s Only.
The characters are entertaining and I love Lew’s personality!
Charlotte’s focus on the issues of environmental protections and people’s attitudes and priorities is fascinating.
Many thanks to Charlotte Stuart for the Complimentary Copy of “Bogged Down” via Voracious Reader’s Only.
The characters are entertaining and I love Lew’s personality!
June 5, 2021
I received this book from Voracious Readers Only and the author. It is a great story about Lew finding a body in the bog and then trying to find out what happened. She keeps finding trouble the more she searches for answers. I love her drive and her strong personality. I hope to read more of her adventures and look forward to reading more books by Charlotte Stuart.
June 21, 2021
This was a really good book.During a tour if the bog on Vashon Island,a hand is seen,sticking out of the loam. Lavendar,the tour guide,gets involved with helping the police from the start.I really enjoyed it!Harley Jane Kozak was a terrific narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
June 21, 2021
This book was fantastic!I could barely put it down! Due to a curse, Edgar has a day to live.As he travels to the not so nice part of town looking for a cure,he finds his thoughts and life changing.Alon,R Gron was a wonderful narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
June 30, 2024
I bought and read the book the same day! I immediately liked our heroine, Lew Lewis, a competent woman who is a child of an Alaskan cult, Afghanistan vet, volunteers for a land conservation group and lives on Vashon Island. You probably know islanders are a little different from mainlanders which is a setup for the story. I liked Lew’s friends. There’s a solid sense of humor and values underlying the plot lines of this mystery story. I would read another book with these characters.
April 23, 2021
I found the formatting errors very distracting. page numbers had been inserted manually which totally messed with the flow and there were a number of typos as well. the story and characters were interesting enough. received as a complimentary review copy from VRO
June 6, 2022
Format: audiobook
Narrator: Harley Jane Kozak
The setting for the story was different which I found refreshing and really enjoyable, it had interesting and relatable characters and the good narration just added to my enjoyment of the whole story.
Narrator: Harley Jane Kozak
The setting for the story was different which I found refreshing and really enjoyable, it had interesting and relatable characters and the good narration just added to my enjoyment of the whole story.
May 20, 2024
A good mystery with a female lead and no constant sex thrown in to make it titillating. Lew Lewis is veteran and a woman who can hold her own. When a man is found dead, and then his stepson is murdered, Lew steps up to solve the two deaths. I was gifted this from the author.
May 4, 2021
A free book from Voracious Readers thank you
A well written murder mystery with a couple of nice twists.
An entertaining and enjoyable read
A well written murder mystery with a couple of nice twists.
An entertaining and enjoyable read
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews