A Body at Boot Camp

Meg Reed Investigates #4

by Ellie Alexander

When Meg Reed signs up for a brutal fitness boot camp, she expects pain—she doesn’t expect to stumble across a murder.

Outdoor magazine reporter Meg Reed is determined to prove herself by tackling Mind Over Mudder, an intense military-style training program preparing contestants for Portland’s first mud marathon. But between the sadistic drill sergeant instructor and her fellow teammates' questionable supplement habits, Meg quickly realizes she’s in over her head.

When the tyrannical trainer is found dead in the steam room, someone has turned the historic Vancouver Barracks into a crime scene. As Meg sets out to investigate her suspicious teammates, she discovers that the most dangerous obstacle in this race might not be the ten-foot walls or grueling workouts—it could be the person running right beside her.

This thrilling mystery combines Pacific Northwest charm with heart-pounding suspense, and proves that Meg's sleuthing skills are getting stronger—even if her athletic abilities still need work. A perfect cozy read for fans of Tonya Kappes, Laurie Gilmore and Lauren Elliott.

A Body at Boot Camp was previously published as First Degree Mudder.

Readers love reporter Meg

“Love! I can never get enough of these books. Can’t wait for the next one already.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A first-rate mystery! If you’re anything like me, you’re going to be breathless by the end.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Love this series! Another great book in this series… combines suspense, adventure and whimsy along with strong characters. A fun read.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A fast-paced novel with a touch of humor and a huge dose of mystery. A great series.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Fantastic… Ellie Alexander’s at the top of her game with this series and each new book leaves you wondering what’s going to happen next.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A fun and fast-paced mystery that made me want to visit Portland… Highly recommended.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“An amazing adventure-themed West Coast cozy… Mystery and suspense await you… there is so much to love about this cozy series.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Run to get this book! Readers that enjoy charming cozies, with witty characters and laugh out loud moments should quickly go download or order this book!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Fiction

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2025

About the author

Ellie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.

She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.

Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
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https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The basic storyline was good, but I felt like there was so many half finished plots. The word, pints and beers was used continuously throughout the whole book along with the word coffee. This was the first in the series I have read. I don’t know that I would read another one.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this purely because it’s set in the city I live in. I enjoyed reading something where I knew all the locations and could picture it in my head. But the story itself was very lackluster, the writing was very cringey, and random plots were brought up that had nothing to do with the story itself. Loved the setting, not the plot.

[Amelia Chapman]

ok i know i flew through this but this was my least favorite installment in the series. everything felt so half baked. no focus at all on the main mystery and not much to show for the long term plot lines. where’s the atmosphere? the curiosity? the fun?

hoping the author brings it for the last book

[Michellel | The Red Fox Mama Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this one!

[dnsyl57 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Body At Boot Camp is book #4 in the "Meg Reed Investigates" series by Ellie Alexander. The book was previously released in 2016 as "First Degree Mudder" in the "Pacific Northwest Mystery" series under the author name of Kate Dyer-Seeley.

As a reporter for Northwest Extreme magazine, Meg Reed signs up for a brutal boot camp training course in preparation to do the "Mind Over Mudder" event. The training is even tougher than she expects and the trainer "Tank" is a hard task master. When he turns up dead part way through the course, Meg winds up in yet another murder mystery.

As a non-athlete, I can't imagine anyone willingly submitting themselves to go through such torture - but to each their own!

Not a lot of suspects to choose from but some of them were a bit more suspicious than others. I had it down to one of two people fairly early on and wasn't surprised at who it was or why. The investigation did expose some interesting information and the reveal/take down was well done.

For me, the more interesting parts of this series are the ongoing subplots. Life changes are in store for several of the core characters and Meg is going to be struggling a bit to adjust. The biggest subplot though, is the ongoing story of what really happened to Meg's "Pops" (aka Charlie Reed). His "Meth Madness" story no doubt led to his murder but who did it and why? As Meg and Matt find more information they also struggle to know just who they can trust.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boot camps are tough

Meg joins a boot camp so that she can get in shape for a mud run. Boot camp is tough, but it gets tougher when she finds a body. So now Meg isn't just training for the race but investigating a murder. She's also experiencing life changes plus she's still investigating her father's murder. So much going on in this book! Enjoyed every minute of it and can't wait for the next one.

[Nana Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!!!

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite in this series, with one more book to go. I am especially enjoying the multiple, intertwining plots.

[Lady Galaxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the penultimate book of the series where everything starts to change.

[Kori Arkfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was fun! I love the realistic way Meg described how her body felt working out. It cracked me up. This one was a little more predictable but still a good cozy mystery.