In the Dead of Winter

by Lyn Farrell

Victoria Treadwell, dispatcher for the sheriff's office, is driving to work in a snowstorm when she sees a car fishtailing behind her. Horrified, she watches as the car swerves off the road. When she heads back to help, she finds the driver bent over the steering wheel and barely breathing. In the back seat is a tiny child in a pink snowsuit. Victoria calls for an ambulance and then dials her boss, Pete Manstead, Undersheriff of Charlevoix County. The ambulance arrives, and the paramedic tries to shock the woman's heart back into rhythm, but the driver, who they learn is named Carly Yellowwood, is dead. From the autopsy, Pete finds Carly died of a drug overdose, although she didn't use drugs. The coroner lists the cause of death as murder. Pete sends his deputies to visit Carly's neighbors and learns she has been seeing two men. One is her ex-husband, Joe Yellowwood, a Native American living on the nearby reservation. No one knows the second man. Since Carly Yellowwood was divorced and has a new boyfriend. Pete believes it's a crime of passion. Victoria, who hopes to adopt Carly's motherless child, thinks the motive is far darker.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2026

Reviews

[Christy]

In the Dead of Winter by Lyn Farrell is the first book in her new series, The Blue Water Mysteries. The setting is what first drew me to this book. I like reading winter mysteries where there is a lot of snow as long as I’m not in it!

Though the snow storm doesn’t affect the mystery too much, it is the impetus of the crime being detected. Apparently those Michiganders aren’t put off by two feet of snow overnight since Victoria, the police dispatcher, heads out to work with no qualms. She does have some trouble taking her regular route, so she takes an alternate. While she’s driving, the car behind her begins swerving erratically and eventually rolls to a stop without actually hitting anything. Victoria pulls over to check on the driver who has no apparent injuries, but she is barely breathing. After calling in an ambulance and Undersheriff Pete Manstead, Victoria realizes a child is in the car.

The murder has a number of plausible suspects, and though Pete is initially annoyed by Victoria inserting herself into the investigation (since she isn’t an officer of the law), he eventually welcomes her input and the fact that she can search for background information since their PD is so small. In spite of the fact that Victoria comes off as pushy and bossy, it stands to reason since she has become invested in what is going to happen to the motherless little girl. The suspects are eventually narrowed down, and arrests are made. Who was the murderer, what was their motive, and what will become of the little girl? These are all answered by the end of the book, but the ending sets up a new case which will most likely be the plot of the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who could possibly want the young mother of a three-year-old dead?

In the Dead of Winter is the first novel in author Lyn Farrell’s new Michigan-set series, the Blue Water Mysteries, and pairs the investigative talents of a sharp-witted civilian sheriff’s dispatcher with the untested but earnest undersheriff, investigating his first homicide. Victoria Treadwell was making her way to work over treacherous snow-covered rural roads when she saw a car come up behind her, fishtail, and slide off the road and stop headfirst against a tree. When she turned back to see if the driver needed help, she discovered a young woman, barely breathing and crumpled over the steering wheel, as her toddler daughter witnessed everything from her car seat in the back. As the young woman succumbs, it becomes apparent that her death was not the result of the accident but of the premeditated actions of a murderer.

Victoria, the married mother of two, is a talented amateur sleuth, hampered by her status as an untrained civilian. She’s quick to see connections in the clues, and her online research skills really help further the investigation. She takes a personal interest in the case and hopes she and her part First Nations husband can adopt the dead woman’s tiny daughter, a First Nations child, out from under the girl’s own father and grandmother, neither of whom may be in the best situation to care for the toddler.

Undersheriff Pete Manstead, while a dedicated officer, is the tortoise to Victoria’s hare in their race to bring in the killer before the sheriff, who is out of town at a conference, returns to take over the investigation. A self-acknowledged plodder, Pete thinks and rethinks his every move. Still, he tends to leap to some pretty tenuous conclusions as he works to identify the killer. Together, the result is quite a unique police procedural with several potential suspects, all of whom look good for the murder until their alibis prove they’re not the one. Slowly but surely, the two tease out the truth of Carly Yellowstone’s sad death.

I recommend IN THE DEAD OF WINTER to readers of mysteries, especially those who enjoy a story set in blizzard-like conditions or Michigan’s rural north.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

[Alice Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a member of our book club, I found In the Dead of Winter to be a really gripping and emotional read. The opening scene immediately pulled me in, and the snowy setting made everything feel even more tense and eerie. I especially connected with Victoria, her compassion and determination added so much heart to the story.

What I liked most was how the mystery slowly unfolded. Just when I thought I had it figured out, new details made me question everything again. It’s not just a crime story, it also explores loss, intuition, and the need to protect the vulnerable.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a thoughtful mystery with strong emotional depth.

[Cora Plummer]

I loved how the cold, stormy setting almost felt like its own character. Short, gripping, and quietly intense, this one pulled me in fast.

[Fisher Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stood out to me most was Victoria. Her compassion made the story feel real, not just suspenseful. A quick but meaningful read.

[Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader, I enjoyed how it kept me questioning everything. Simple on the surface, but there’s more underneath than you expect.