The Steepest Shock

Eerie Estes Mysteries #4

by B.I. Skinner

Christmas in Estes Park should be merry and bright, but when the town’s annual tree lighting ceremony ends with a fatal shock, the celebration turns deadly. Ellie Read, bookshop owner and some time sleuth, can’t ignore the suspicious timing of the accident. Was it sabotage, or a carefully planned murder hiding in plain sight?

And while Ellie digs into tangled rivalries and hidden grudges, the windows of her bookshop begin frosting over with mysterious messages from a restless spirit. The ghost’s desperate attempts to reach the living may hold the key to more than just a tragedy from the past.

Cozy mystery, a dash of the paranormal, and a mountain town decked in holiday lights will keep you guessing right through the final twist.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 27, 2025

Reviews

[Sandra Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

So here’s the thing in one sense I do like the series I enjoy the characters. But Ellie is starting to get on my nerves probably the way the whole town feels. I just feel like there can be a better way to explain her curiosity I get she used to be in a investigative reporter so it’s kind of hard to stop the curiosity, but the fact that she cuts all caution to the wind is starting to get a bit annoying. At least put her back in a newspaper as a part-time crime writer or make her be some type of part-time cop I don’t know. I just feel like in each book she just continues to be careless and someone potentially gets hurt or She gets close to dying. It’s like with each book. She doesn’t learn and puts her further and further in situations and I feel like at the same time. It is harming relationships. So I think if they were able to change it up maybe get her to be like a part-time investigative reporter or something to where it explains or helps her with her curiosity rather than just a bookstore owner. Especially since in this book, she states multiple times she just needs to know the answer and doesn’t want to wait for the police.
Overall, this time in the book, the city decides to hire a budget consultant who basically slashed most of the Christmas budget so everybody is mad. And to no surprise this person ends up dead and guess who finds her.
As always, Ellie wants to figure out who did it but she continues to ignore any sense. As always, I will probably continue to read the series because there is other characters. I have grown to like and overall I do like Ellie.

[Katy Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the Christmas atmosphere in this! It was cozy and cute and everything I want! It's, also, so reassuring to see how busy people are during the holidays, shopping and store wise. In cozies, you usually get the shopping perspective, but not the shop owners. Granted with how slammed it was, I'd be ticked if my boss ran off to solve crimes or go on a crusade to get a song sung at the holiday concert.

I love how she is given so much credit for solving crimes, where it seems she only solves one part of the crime. The who is usually a mistake. The why or how is her forte. She's always in danger for poking her head into everyone's business, but answers usually come to her. Example: the mystery of the ghost in this one. Someone else did all the work on who and how they died and she just lead to the resolution to get the ghost to move on.

Don't get me wrong. I loved this book! It was a hoot and a half. I adore the characters and Ozzie got to be so prevalent in this one. I did guess the killer early on, but I had so much fun reading that I didn't care.

The next book she HAS to tell Lucy about seeing ghosts! Her Gift!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had plans to read this when it came out in December as I flew through the first 3 in this series, and ended up just reading it yesterday for a book game in one of my neverending book groups. I still love the series and will continue to read it! Next one is supposed to be out this month (January 2026) and I already have it on the calendar to snag it when it gets released. It feels good to have a series up to date and just waiting on the next one.

In this installment, or FMC is still living in Estes Park, Colorado, running the tea and book shop her grandmother left her. As it is a cozy mystery, another body turns up, this time a person unliked by most of town as it is the holidays and she has been brought in to cut costs for the city. It is the holidays in the town and the cost cutting is hurting the local businesses. There are several murder suspects and she and the attractive Sheriff don't always get along. Add in her personal mystery in her own shop with her ability to see ghosts, and this is non-stop action throughout the book.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this story and love the relationships between Ellie, Lucy, Valerie and Sofia. In this story Ellie finally opens up to Lucy about her ability so see and talk with ghosts. Melissa Weber has been accused of the theft of $50,000 from the Insurance company she works for but died from the stress of trying to prove herself not guilty. Ellie has some real digging to do to help Melissa while she is also trying to solve the murder of a famous ice sculptor. And her relationship with the handsome detective Noah Morrison seems to be growing. I'm looking forward to the next adventure for Ellie!

[AnnaRose Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas

Christmas is one holiday that should not be messed with. What Brenda tried to do to this little mountain town. Scandalous! Traditions are ment to be observed and can be improved, not taken away. Ellie needs to chill on finding dead bodies. And where was the mayor thru this whole thing, we heard from the deputy mayor and the secretary, but NO mayor. Well on to the next adventure!💙💚😉🎄

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The protagonist is absolutely insufferable in this book. She was always barely likeable, but this was enough. She's also too stupid to live, which I hate. I DNFed, but then months later forgot why I stopped and finished the book because I needed something to read and didn't want to look for anything better.

[CL · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the 4th book in this series and it really is a quick cozy read. Between murder mysteries and helping the lost souls find peace Ellie is always in the middle of any trouble that comes to Eerie Estes.

[Linda Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE STEEPEST SHOCK: A CHRISTMAS DIAMOND

Another must read in the series. Ellie pulls it iff again. So sweet! Murder mystery involving 2 towns. And... A singing ghost honoring a lost love. ❤️

[Sally Marcheterre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book in the series was as good as the earlier ones. A few editing issues, and those seem so ridiculous. Can't figure out why there are ever any at all. I have enjoyed these books and cannot believe how well the characters are drawn. Can't wait to start the next book!

[Melissa Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas

A ghost wants to return Silent Night to the Christmas concert so she can sing it, even though only Ellie will be able to hear her. And Ellie solves another murder.

[Sherrie Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

good little Christmas mystery!

Enjoyed reading this book in the series. This series is entertaining and great to end my day relaxing. Don’t miss out on these books.

[Kaylee White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty predictable again, decent

[Sanderella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series!! On to the next!! 😻

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ellie was particularly irritating. I got through 42% before I had to give up.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Loved this book
It kept me guessing.
So very entertaining.
I feel like I am right there with the people of the town.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Christmas story, both the spirit one and the human one. Exciting and eventful. Recommend reading.

[Stephen Levesque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!

[Jackie Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

good series

I’m enjoying this series and look forward to the next book. Check it out if you like cozy mysteries .