Write Way to Die: Dead in Durango 1

by Nikki Haverstock

Aspiring author Jess is in Durango, Colorado, helping her great aunt recover after surgery. While Jess is considering what she wants to do with her life, she meets Mark, a handsome local reporter, and Jess decides to volunteer at the Durango Writing Groups writing conference with him. When Cassie Fox, a local author whose blockbuster book is being turned into a movie, returns to Durango as the feature speaker, she brings an entire entourage and a trunkful of drama to the event. As the driver for the star author, Jess gets a first-hand view behind the scenes of the conference. She’s also the one to find Cassie dead at the opening ceremony. Working with Mark to write and publish her first article is an exciting distraction, but when she stumbles over a compromising situation, Jess realizes her responsibility doesn’t end with discovering a dead body. If she isn’t careful, she might end up the next target of the killer.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 6, 2026

About the author

Nikki Haverstock is a writer who lives on a cattle ranch high in the Rocky Mountains. She has studied comedy writing at Second City and has published 6 cozy mysteries that are heavy on the humor.

Before fleeing the city, she hosted a competitive archery reality show, traveled the world to study volcanoes, taught archery and computer science at a university and now works on her family’s ranch herding cattle. Nikki has more college degrees than she has sense and hopefully one day she will put one to work.

Nikki likes to write comedy pieces that focus on the everyday humor of one-uppers, annoying family members and strange behavior of the ultra-rich. She tried stand up but the cattle weren’t impressed.

Reviews

[Karen Brooks - TheTxLitChic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Write Way to Die – Dead in Durango - Book One
~ Nikki Haverstock

Write Way to Die – Dead in Durango is a cozy mountain escape… with a murder tossed in for good measure. This is the first book in a brand-new series by Nikki Haverstock, and I’m already eager to see where she takes it next.

After college, Jess lands a win with a startup that sells, leaving her financially comfortable and free to help her Great-Aunt Ruth recover from surgery in Durango. As an aspiring author, Jess is not-so-easily convinced to step out of the house when Ruth introduces her to a local writer’s group that meets at Martha’s Bookstore, a familiar and nostalgic spot from Jess’s childhood visits.

During her first meeting, talk turns to an upcoming book convention and the need for volunteers. Before Jess knows it, she’s talked into helping out especially since famous hometown author Cassie Fox will be attending and speaking. But when Jess finds Cassie dead on the very first day of the convention, things take a sharp turn. With motives everywhere and everyone a potential suspect, the truth may be closer than anyone expects.

This was my first read from Nikki Haverstock, and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ll happily be weaving her cozies in between my thrillers and writing time. She builds a cast of characters that feel real, layered, and emotionally grounded. Backstories unfold naturally alongside the present-day mystery, giving you a full picture of the main characters while keeping the supporting cast engaging and purposeful. Nothing feels forced or unnecessary.

The pacing is steady and engaging, pulling you in right from the start. Haverstock’s writing style is comfortable, inviting, and conversational, making this the kind of book you want to curl up with. Her descriptive details create an atmosphere that feels calm and cozy while still maintaining a sense of suspense and mystery.

If you haven’t read anything by Nikki Haverstock yet, I highly recommend starting with Write Way to Die – Dead in Durango Book One (and then, like me, diving straight into the rest of her cozies) when it releases on January 6, 2026.

Thank you to Nikki Haverstock for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC for Write Way to Die – Dead in Durango Book One. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.

 

[J Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

It kept me guessing.

Jess is considering becoming an author. Meanwhile, she is staying with her great aunt in Durango, Colorado. She volunteers to help at the Durango Writing Groups writing conference. Jess is paired with Mark, a handsome local reporter, to attend to Cassie Fox, a local author who has achieved acclaim with her blockbuster series, who will be speaking at the conference. Cassie and her entourage bring drama and tension from the moment Jess picks them up at the airport. When Jess finds Cassie dead at the opening ceremony, it quickly becomes apparent that few people will mourn her passing. With a killer possibly hiding among the conference attendees, Jess and Mark follow the clues into danger.

This is a good opener for a new series. I like the setting and the cast of characters set the stage for many possibilities. I received an advance copy, but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good, fast paced first book in a potential new series! Jess has sold her business and came to Durango, Colorado to help her great aunt recover from a hip operation while trying her hand as an author. Will that be the new life she's looking for? She teams up with local reporter, Mark to volunteer to help at the Durango Writing Groups writing conference. A special guest speaker, Cass Fox, a local author who's blockbuster book is being turned into a movie. Jess was assigned to pick her and her entourage up at the airport and discovered Cass was a diva first class. She talked down to people and was very mean. So when she is found murdered, Jess and Mark decide to investigate. With so many twists and turns, we are taken guessing all the way to the great end. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to see what Jess gets into next! I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Lilpep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Write Way to Die is an impressive introduction to the Dead in Durango series. Our new heroine, aspiring author Jess,  joins the Durango Writing Group, where she meets an intriguing cast of characters. Of course,  murder  quickly ensues involving the group, and our girl finds herself in the middle of the investigation. 

The story is well paced, easily keeps the reader engaged, and there's a plethora of clues and suspects to thicken the plot. Dialogue is crisp and meaningful. Ms. Haverstock gives us just enough insight into potentially recurring characters to make us want more…. Especially Jess’s Aunt Ruth and charming could-be-more-than-friends single dad/journalist, Mark. I thoroughly enjoyed the ARC I received and am delighted to offer my opinion.  I'm looking forward to the next Durango delight!

[Javon50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess is in Durango to help her great aunt recover after surgery. Jess, an aspiring writer, attends a writer’s meeting in town and is asked to volunteer for Durango’s Writing Group Conference for the weekend. In the meeting only Jess and reporter Mark agree to volunteer. On the day of conference, Jess is asked to pick up the guest speaker along with her boyfriend and assistant. The famous author is rude, unfriendly, bossy and pushy and not a very likable person. Jess cannot get to the hotel fast enough to drop off her riders. After a short time with the author, she now understands why only one person at the writer’s meeting likes this woman. Later at the conference when Jess finds the body of said author, she and Mark know that with so many who disliked the woman, finding the killer may be difficult. This is my honest and voluntary review of an advanced copy of this book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful start to a new series! I really liked Jess and found her to be a very relatable character. I thought the fact that she was dealing with rather serious anxiety and yet still managed to get out and live a bit (with a little nudge from Aunt Ruth) is quite commendable. As someone with the same condition it’s written very well and treated with respect. I enjoyed the writers group and the mini convention. I’ve never been to one in person but it seems like the craziness is all good fun well except for the murder of course. The mystery was tricksy with some good red herrings. I was pretty sure I knew the why but was very surprised at the who. Always fun to be surprised in a good mystery! A quick and enjoyable read! I am hoping for many more stories in this series!! I received an ARC from the author and voluntarily leave this honest review.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘I report the news-I’m not the news.’

Jess hasn’t been hiding out in her great-aunt Ruth;s guest house, exactly. She’s in Durango helping Ruth recover from hip surgery and trying to figure out what to do now that she’s no longer the COO of a company she helped build straight out of college. Only the longer she’s unemployed, the more introverted she’s becoming. When Ruth suggests she join a local writers group or else...Jess reluctantly does and immediately finds herself thrown head first into a writing conference happening that weekend, and murder. Unable to contain her natural curiosity she finds herself tuning in to the gossip and taking an active part in her own life again. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for Jess and her new friends.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The town of Durango is a great small-town setting. The writers’ group has a little bit of every genre, I can’t wait to see if this plays in more for future books, and plenty of gossip (I mean discussing the town happenings.) Jess unfortunately volunteers for an upcoming writer’s conference in town, hosted by her new writers’ group, and accidentally stumbles upon the murder of the best-selling local author Cassie Fox (the gossip train says that Cassie was not the nicest person after her stardom rose.) Jess stumbles her way into learning bits and pieces of the mystery to inadvertently ‘assist’ in figuring out who-done-it, all while gaining interest in the good-looking newspaper writer, Mark. Such a fun start to a new cozy mystery series! Highly recommended!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first book of this series, Jess moves to Durango to help her great aunt recover from surgery. She decides to join a local writers group that is hosting a writing conference, featuring popular author Cassie Fox. When Fox ends up murdered, Jess and local reporter Mark, investigate the crime.

This is a promising start to a new cozy mystery series. Haverstock has developed likable characters and an interesting storyline that engages the reader. This mystery has several potential suspects and many twists and turns. I am looking forward to the next book and encourage cozy mystery readers to give this series a try.

*I was gifted a copy of this book and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Sandy T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining cozy murder mystery. Jess was a likeable main character, an aspiring author with some anxiety issues. She ventures out of her comfort zone, joins a writer's group and volunteers for their big convention. She discovers the dead body of a unpopular but successful local author. The murder mystery had several viable suspects for the reader to consider. Jess's new friend, Mark, and her sweet aunt, round out the other main characters, whom most likely will continue to star in future books in this new series.

The book was a fun quick read. I received a free advance copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Margery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting a new chapter in her life, author Jess has arrived in Durango to help her aunt out.She joins the Durango Writing Group and has volunteered to help at a conference set in Durango. A local author had a book of hers made into a movie. Cassie Fox is a woman who is a diva and needless to say, her attitude has made her unbearable at times. Jess finds her body and pairs up with a new reporter Mark. Durango and its citizens are a delight, in one form or another. Small towns have many secrets and Jess and Mark are kept on their toes uncovering the murderer. Kudos to Nikki Haverstock on a new page turning mystery.

[Susan Stokell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series by Nikki Haverstock that I received to review.
The main character Jess has arrived in a small town to help her aunt recover from a broken hip.
Jess has recently sold her company and is at loose ends.
Her aunt convinces her to go to a writers group. while there she is asked to volunteer at a weekend writers retreat.
What could possibly go wrong???
Murder ensues and Jess finds the body.
The characters are enjoyable,the story flows well and the plot is not too predictable.
It is a quick read that I enjoyed and did not guess the correct villain.
Highly recommended

[Joanne H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess had just sold her business and decided to help a great aunt that just had surgery. Not knowing what to do with herself and bored, Jess joined a writers group. she found out a popular writer Cassie Fox,was coming in town for a book signing and already was asked to help.
The author acted like everyone else was beneath her and treated them as such.
The day started out well, but as the day continued Jess was looking for the bathroom and entered a room and found Cassie on the floor with blood. Who would do that and why? The mystery is on. Fun reading.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be an interesting murder mystery. It's different from other books that I've read by this author. She draws you in with the settings and the very likeable characters in the story. I liked her in depth background on Jess, the main character in this story. Mark could end up to be a romantic interest if this becomes a series. Her aunt Ruth is an intriguing older lady. She also ends up with a stray cat at the end of the book.

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new series! Engaging storyline and a well plotted mystery kept me turning pages well past when I should have gone to bed. The characters are definitely interesting and most seem to be peripheral to the protagonist, her aunt, and a reporter. It will be interesting to see if any of them become regulars. Already looking forward to the next book.

I received an arc of the book and voluntarily provided a review.

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, that was a fun mystery to read! Jess is a great main character. She is smart, a bit shy, very nice, and talented. I had fun reading about the chaos that ensued when Cassie, Liam, and Bethenny arrived in town. It wasn’t much of a surprise at the fate of Cassie, it was a surprise as to who the murderer was. Also, the inner story about Pumpkin was precious. I enjoyed this first in a series and look forward to reading more!

[Pamela T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided this book as an advanced reader copy. It was a great cozy mystery. I felt like most of the characters had good growth. There was some good foreshadowing in both this story and to layout opportunities for future books in the series.

Overall it fit the bill perfectly and was a fun easy to read story that left me ready for the next.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Loved the mystery and suspense in this book. It kept me guessing as to who could have been the murderer throughout the book. As soon as I thought I knew who it was, I'd learn something new and change my mind again! The mishaps and blunders asking the way made it funny and entertaining as well. Great book in a new series for Nikki Haverstock!

[Sherri Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved meeting Jess, Aunt Ruth, Mark and some of the other writing club members. This was a lovely series starter and I’m interested in reading more about these lovely characters! I liked that the characters had personal challenges they were working on. The fun mystery kept me challenged and turning pages! These are my thoughts after enjoying an early copy of the book.

[Bev Stegmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki Haverstock has a hit with this book. Characters and storyline are very compelling. Twisted read. If you enjoy a good “who done it” read this is the book for you. I was given an advanced reader copy of this book by the author and I am freely sharing my review. #nikkihaverstock #ranchdogentertain ent @nikkihaverstock @ranchdogentertainment

[Taylor Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the characters in the book and I kept wanting to read more! I did guess right on who the killer was, but the story was so well written that overall I was like when’s book 2 coming out!? I want more of Jess, Mark and Ruth.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A local author gets a chance at to become a movie blockbuster. But disaster will soon follow when the author s found dead. A reporter with a female friend who still is trying to figure her path will team up together to find a killer in this new exciting cozy read.

[Elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prima Donna, Prima Dead!

Author Nikki Haverstock has launched what promises to be a fun and fast paced series with a cozy whodunnit featuring a surprise twist at the end. Of course, you are expecting a twist, but THIS twist? Enjoy! (I certainly did!)