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Eerie Estes Mysteries #2
A Steep Price to Pay
Murder’s brewing in Estes Park, where the tea is hot, the dead don’t rest, and curiosity might just get you in a whole steep of trouble.
Just when Ellie thought she was getting the hang of her supernatural gift and running Spines & Steeps, construction workers discover a skeleton in the wall of the Opera House across the street, and her supposedly quiet bookstore life explodes into chaos once again. The remains belong to Mary Oliver, a young woman who vanished in 1925, and her spirit has one burning who killed her?
As Ellie digs into the dangerous world of 1920s Prohibition-era Estes Park complete with speakeasies, corrupt politicians, fire-and-brimstone preachers, and organized crime, she uncovers a web of secrets that powerful families have kept buried for a century. And someone in present-day Estes Park is determined to keep those secrets in the ground.
Between dodging threats, solving the utterly ridiculous mystery of who's stealing the town's garden gnomes (seriously, who does that?), and navigating the growing tension with a certain handsome detective who keeps telling her to stay out of danger, Ellie must use her ability to communicate with spirits to solve a murder before the killer silences her permanently.
With a dapper Victorian ghost offering commentary from the sidelines, an eye-rolling cat, and a determined murder victim seeking justice, Ellie discovers that some prices are worth paying. Even if they're steep.
Just when Ellie thought she was getting the hang of her supernatural gift and running Spines & Steeps, construction workers discover a skeleton in the wall of the Opera House across the street, and her supposedly quiet bookstore life explodes into chaos once again. The remains belong to Mary Oliver, a young woman who vanished in 1925, and her spirit has one burning who killed her?
As Ellie digs into the dangerous world of 1920s Prohibition-era Estes Park complete with speakeasies, corrupt politicians, fire-and-brimstone preachers, and organized crime, she uncovers a web of secrets that powerful families have kept buried for a century. And someone in present-day Estes Park is determined to keep those secrets in the ground.
Between dodging threats, solving the utterly ridiculous mystery of who's stealing the town's garden gnomes (seriously, who does that?), and navigating the growing tension with a certain handsome detective who keeps telling her to stay out of danger, Ellie must use her ability to communicate with spirits to solve a murder before the killer silences her permanently.
With a dapper Victorian ghost offering commentary from the sidelines, an eye-rolling cat, and a determined murder victim seeking justice, Ellie discovers that some prices are worth paying. Even if they're steep.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 26, 2026
RECENZIJA
# 2 A steep price to pay - B.l.Skinner
4⭐️
Avanture cozy mysterija u maloj knjižari se nastavljaju dok naša junakinja započinje borbu s otkrivanjem 100 godisnje starog ubojstva. Kao da to nije dosta zadužena je za otkrivanje krivca i kradljivca vrtnih patuljaka.
Još jedan divan nastavak predivnog cozy romana za ljubitelje Anđelke Kliment.
# 2 A steep price to pay - B.l.Skinner
4⭐️
Avanture cozy mysterija u maloj knjižari se nastavljaju dok naša junakinja započinje borbu s otkrivanjem 100 godisnje starog ubojstva. Kao da to nije dosta zadužena je za otkrivanje krivca i kradljivca vrtnih patuljaka.
Još jedan divan nastavak predivnog cozy romana za ljubitelje Anđelke Kliment.
September 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I can’t wait for the next book in the series
February 13, 2026
I rarely give one star.
I had hoped book two would get better but I was disappointed.
This one drug on and was a chore to finish.
None of the characters from the first book were fleshed out.
The mystery was terrible and seemed like the author was more interested in making it work than making it good.
I think sometimes books like these are written too fast to get an audience instead of written to be interesting.
I will not continue the series and I'm disppointed it didn't get better.
I had hoped book two would get better but I was disappointed.
This one drug on and was a chore to finish.
None of the characters from the first book were fleshed out.
The mystery was terrible and seemed like the author was more interested in making it work than making it good.
I think sometimes books like these are written too fast to get an audience instead of written to be interesting.
I will not continue the series and I'm disppointed it didn't get better.
March 15, 2026
So I’ve noticed lately that I’m having a difficulty finishing books that I’m reading off my Kindle. I can’t say why, but this took way longer than it should’ve not the author‘s fault. The writing was actually pretty decent and the story was fun although Ellie was starting to get on my nerves. I understand having a journalistic background and getting hyper focused on something, but she took all caution to the wind, but I guess in order for the story to procrastinate or for her to figure out she had to have some sort of stubbornness I kind of figured it out in the beginning she would put herself in some type of situation, in this story a that girl is found in the Opera House across the street. This girl was killed 100 years ago and of course Ellie can talk to the ghost and is now curious to solve the murder. Along with this, someone is kidnapping gnomes and the community is asking her to help out but to be fair she’s more concerned on Mary who is the hundred year-old ghost. Eventually, she does solve this mystery. Overall, I finally finished this book and it was pretty decent.
February 13, 2026
Love these mystery books. So easy to read and follow. I love these cute stories. Ellie was a former investigative reporter and the coffee shop she is running for her Aunt Beatrice. Her family has a special trait where they can see and speak to spirits and ghosts. The coffee shop has a spirit named Baxter and a strange acting cat named Hobbes. Ellie seems to get volunteered to solve some of the small town silly mysteries like in this book she is trying to solve who is taking everyone’s garden gnomes, but she is more interested in solving who killed Mary the skeleton they found in the old Opry house. When Mary appears to Ellie asking for help, Ellie took the assignment against the better judgement of the towns detective. He tries to keep her in her lane and not meddling in investigations but she is hard headed.
November 11, 2025
Very Engrossing Story!
This was a fun romp of a mystery! The characters were well developed and it was without gore, which I appreciated. There were a few spelling or editing errors, but not enough to be distracting. This story intrigued my curiosity from the moment I picked it up. The story centers around history, specifically about the Prohibition era. I highly recommend this mystery!
This was a fun romp of a mystery! The characters were well developed and it was without gore, which I appreciated. There were a few spelling or editing errors, but not enough to be distracting. This story intrigued my curiosity from the moment I picked it up. The story centers around history, specifically about the Prohibition era. I highly recommend this mystery!
August 11, 2025
Awesome Book !
I am loving the series so much. Can’t wait to read the next one. I read these two back to back only had to wait one day for the second one to come out. BI Skinner has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Check out this series and all of his other books. You will not be disappointed !
I am loving the series so much. Can’t wait to read the next one. I read these two back to back only had to wait one day for the second one to come out. BI Skinner has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Check out this series and all of his other books. You will not be disappointed !
August 14, 2025
Curiosity can get you killed
In this book, Ellie watches as a construction crew working at the opera house makes a grisly discovery. Amazingly, that results in Ellie meeting a new ghost. Then, her curiosity takes her research into the past—the era of prohibition. Threats and dangers happen has Ellie tries to find the truth.
In this book, Ellie watches as a construction crew working at the opera house makes a grisly discovery. Amazingly, that results in Ellie meeting a new ghost. Then, her curiosity takes her research into the past—the era of prohibition. Threats and dangers happen has Ellie tries to find the truth.
February 3, 2026
A Steep Price to Pay Long Ago Ripples Through Here and Now
A skeleton in an old wall stirs up small town Estes Park, threatening to reveal family secrets and putting the locals on edge. Where there’s a skeleton, a ghost follows, and the investigation is off and running. Unexpected twists and turns, and the mystery takes shape. A pleasant read!
A skeleton in an old wall stirs up small town Estes Park, threatening to reveal family secrets and putting the locals on edge. Where there’s a skeleton, a ghost follows, and the investigation is off and running. Unexpected twists and turns, and the mystery takes shape. A pleasant read!
August 10, 2025
Very good book
Very interesting cold case murder mystery from the roaring twenties. Ellie investigates when the skeleton on a young woman is found inside a wall. And someone is stealing garden gnomes!
Very interesting cold case murder mystery from the roaring twenties. Ellie investigates when the skeleton on a young woman is found inside a wall. And someone is stealing garden gnomes!
September 18, 2025
Another really good read! I'm very curious to see what develops between Ellie and the detective. I will say I was a bit disappointed that Mary didn't go into the light after Ellie told her what happened.
January 9, 2026
This a cozy mystery read with a supernatural slant and Book# 2 was as good as Book# 1. This time Ellie tries to solve a 100 year old murder after a skeleton is discovered in the old Opera House across the street from her bookshop/teashop Spines & Steeps.
March 5, 2026
I didn't like this one as much as the first. It didn't keep my attention as well and I didn't like the ending of the mystery. I do really like the ghost aspect, the start of the mystery was so interesting and engaging, I am really disappointed in the solution of it.
March 31, 2026
I enjoyed this book as much as the first one. Great story, funny at times (finding the thief that stole the gnomes) and trying to solve a murder that took place a hundred years ago. Well written. Recommend reading.
April 5, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how the author wove the past with the present. The story of Mary, who's skeleton was found sealed in a wall of the Opera House, was fascinating. Taking the reader back to Prohibition days. I enjoyed every clue and every page!
October 22, 2025
These are different the what I normally read, but they suck you in. Good fall read
February 17, 2026
I am enjoying this series immensely. One of those you immediately buy the next book because they are that good!
February 19, 2026
The mystery in the second book was much better! Lots of suspects and little twists. I enjoyed it!
March 2, 2026
fun read
Chose the first book in series for my book club to read and wanted to see how the story continued with book 2. Would love to walk around their little town and shops.
Chose the first book in series for my book club to read and wanted to see how the story continued with book 2. Would love to walk around their little town and shops.
March 30, 2026
I absolutely love a good mystery. Especially when there's a ghost involved. Ready to start the second book.
January 12, 2026
I enjoyed this cozy paranormal mystery. It was fun. I love Estes Park, so that added a bit of fun to the book for me. I look forward to reading more of this series.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews