Bitter End

Bitter Root Mysteries #3

by C.J. Carmichael

Murder in a small town is always personal.

When a young mother is murdered in the isolated ranching town of Lost Trail, Montana, the father of her child is the first suspect. In this case, there are two: the biological father who hasn’t seen his daughter in over a year and the adoptive father whose life hangs in the balance as he struggles with cancer.

Zak Waller is Lost Trail’s newest deputy. He’s also locked in a power struggle with the town’s old-school Sheriff. If Zak solves this case maybe he’ll finally get the respect he deserves. But is he willing to tear a family apart in the process?

Perfect for fans of the British television film Broadchurch.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 2, 2018

About the author

USA Today bestselling author C. J. Carmichael has written over 50 novels, including two mystery series, as well as romance and women’s fiction. Three of her novels have been nominated for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, including A Bramble House Christmas. A film version of A Bramble House Christmas premiered as a Hallmark Mystery movie in 2017.

Married, with two grown daughters and some adorable grandchildren, C. J. and her husband and their Welsh Springer Jazz divide their time between their home in Calgary, Alberta and the family cottage on Flathead Lake, Montana. C.J. enjoys giving workshops to aspiring authors--her talk on writing a Christmas story is a favorite.

Visit C.J.'s website at http://CJCarmichael.com

For information on C. J.’s new releases and giveaways please sign up for her newsletter.
https://cjcarmichael.com/contact/#sub...

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bitter End by C. J. Carmichael is the third book of the Bitter Root Mysteries series. Each book in the series is centered around a new mystery so they could be understood if reading as a standalone however there is character development carried over from book to book.

Each book changes the point of view during the read but with the big focus on Zak Waller who has been working as a dispatcher for the Sheriff’s Office of Lost Trail, Montana. After solving two huge cases in the previous two books Zak has now earned a badge along with his dispatcher duties.

Bitter End brings the return of Willow McTavish to Lost Trail when she finds that Justin has been diagnosed with cancer. Willow had married Justin to give her young daughter a father but shortly after the adoption papers were signed Willow had run off again with the girls father. Now she thinks she’s going to sweep in and take her daughter back but before that happens her body is found and Zak now needs to find her murderer with both men in Willow’s life being strong suspects.

Again I found myself amazed at what C.J. Carmichael can accomplish with a story in such a short time. These books aren’t incredibly long but so much gets packed into each story and never once do I feel like the details are forgotten or the mystery is too rushed. Everything in the book is woven together wonderfully to keep a reader guessing through each turn of the page and the characters have more depth to them than some 500+ page reads. Such a great mystery series with a wonderful small town setting.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Maranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carmichael's Bitter Root Mysteries are Sneaky, Foreboding, Romantic, and Tearful at times. This is not really a stand alone as the characters are repeated in her Bitter Roots and Bitter Truth Books. Upon entering Lost Trail Montana one can see a small close knit group of townsfolk who knows everyone's business or at least who to ask. All has been calm and peaceful until recent murders take place. Zak Waller is a Dispatcher for the police department who has just become a deputy thanks to his investigative skills used to put away the lethal bad guys. This is a story that screams "The Past will Catch up to you!" Thought I knew who the murderer was and then I didn't and then I did again. I loved it. Strings of intimate matches also make the story move a along with this being a crime drama. Really Pick this series up and join the residents of Lost Trail as they travel through the pages. "A copy of this book was provided by Tule Publishing via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost Trail. Montana -- small town full of unique characters. Zak Waller has been the police dispatcher for awhile. With a penchant toward solving crimes, he has been given a badge .. now he's also a Deputy.. but still has to to the dispatch work. The Sheriff is not too happy, but public opinion insisted.

Willow is a woman .. not too well liked in Lost Trail, even though she grew up there. She and Justin were high school sweethearts before she left to see the world. Last year she married Justin then turned around and left him and her daughter and disappeared.

Justin has taken care of Geneva, the 4-year-old darling that he adopted. He loves her as much as he would love his own child if he had one.

Months have gone by, life goes on, and then there she is ... Willow back in Lost Trail. She's decided that she would like 'her' daughter back and she's planning on grabbing Geneva and just leaving.

Willow is found murdered, her body left in the cemetery where her parents are buried.

Zak is known for his patience, common sense, and his ability to see connections other people often miss. As he starts investigating, he finds many suspects .. but who wanted Willow dead?

Did her ex-husband kill her to keep her from taking his daughter? Her present lover who has rented a place to keep an eye on Willow? Another woman who wants her to leave Justin alone? Any of the other residents who harbor hate?

Although 3rd in the series, this does well as a stand alone. However, I do recommend starting at the beginning. Zak is a unique character, very likeable, and solid. Justin makes a good character as well, although he is dealing with a recurrence of cancer. The lady who runs the day care center maybe has a 'thing' for Justin. Another Deputy ..female.. really likes Zak, but neither of them have made a move yet.

This is a well written mystery, a page turner, with twists and turns and relationships that seem to be topsy turvy. Looking forward to the next Bitter Root Mystery.

Many thanks to the author / Tule Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this mystery. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Gail C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bitter End by CJ Carmichael is the third in the Bitter Root Mystery Series featuring the residents of Lost Trail, Montana and my first read of the series. The protagonist here, and apparently in earlier books is Zak Waller, a sheriff’s deputy. From the way this book reads, Zak was a dispatcher in earlier books who solved two different murders, although he let the sheriff take the credit. Through the insistence of some of Zak’s friends, a wealthy, powerful family, the sheriff has been compelled to promote Zak to deputy, although he still has his dispatch duties to fulfill..

The book has several secondary storylines. Including a planned bone marrow transplant for Justin, one of the local citizens who is also learning to accept the fact he was swapped at birth and now how a different biological family. In another, Zak is attracted to Nadine, one of the sheriff’s deputies and there is some light development of their ongoing relationship. Additional storylines include Zak and Nadine investigating where the third deputy, Butterfield, spends his days and Tiff, the new-found sister of Justin becoming more involved in running her family’s Christmas tree farm. The book is told from multiple points of view, moving back and forth from one person to the next. These are easy to keep separate and it adds to the pacing of the book, helping to keep it moving forward.

In this book, Willow, a former resident of Lost Trail, has returned to town to reclaim her child and take her to Colorado. Willow is introduced as a calculating, somewhat heartless woman and has been followed by Paul, who seems to have a strong hold over her and wants her to return to their jet-setting lifestyle. There are multiple references to abuse of some sort, particularly toward the child, however these are not specified.

Plotting for this mystery is well-done with clues and red-herrings sprinkled liberally throughout the novel. There are a couple of twists at the end of the book which could have the reader thinking, “I should have seen that” if they didn’t and feeling gratified at their ability to solve the mystery if they did. None of the clues or red-herrings are so blatant as to telegraph the end of the story.

Although this is a self-contained mystery, the reader is at a distinct disadvantage if it is the first book they are reading in the series. Likewise, the end of the book blatantly foreshadows the next book in the series which, if the foreshadowing holds true, sets up the storyline that will lead to the next book.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this series earlier this year and meant to go right into this one after the stunning events revealed at the end of book two. But, alas... However, here we are and I was ready to go back to Bitter Root for more of Zak, Tiff, and Justin's stories as they all face new troubles, romance, and yet another murder in their small Montana town that is darker than they ever imagined.

Bitter End is book three in the Bitter Roots mysteries series. It follows the lives of three friends and each one builds on the last with strong connections even if there is a new mystery introduced in each.

I don't want to give away the big reveals that came at the end of the last book so I'm going to be vague on some poignant details and focus on others like Tiff fearing that Kenny plans to leave her and the Christmas Tree Farm behind to get back to his adventurous life, that Zak has made deputy with a new relationship with his fellow deputy Nadine while looking at the growing desire to run for sheriff to replace lazy Sheriff Ford, and that Justin is facing the possibility of not surviving this latest round of cancer and worries about his little girl and now has the added worry that her mother is back in town threatening to take her from Justin.

Then Willow is murdered. Her boyfriend Paul is the sheriff's pick for the crime, but Zak can't help seeing that Justin has the stronger motive since Willow was planning to take Geneva away. And, what of Willow's past? Is there someone else who might have a hidden motive? Zak knows he's treading on dangerous ground with Tiff and most of the town by investigating Justin, but he needs to follow where the fact trail takes him.

This one was a situation I was dreading from book one when Willow left Geneva with Justin and went back to Paul. I just knew we hadn't seen the last of her especially after Geneva really settled into having Justin as a dad, a grandpa, and she and Justin getting close to her child care worker, warm-hearted Debbie-Ann. They were so happy becoming a family and Justin finding a woman who was willing to stick by him through his illness and didn't run off when he gently did the 'let's be friends since I might be dying of cancer' speech. I'm glad it didn't get too angsty and mostly because the murder came early in the book. Willow was one of those victims where, no, I didn't think she deserved to die, but I couldn't help joining everyone else in being relieved that she was gone.

I've come a long way when it came to Tif. I didn't like her much in the first book, but she grew on me and I was totally cheering for her in this one as she worried over Kenny's hot-cold behavior and the secret she knew he was keeping (incidentally, I wanted to kick Kenny in the britches for how he handled all that), but then she set that aside to be there for Justin and Geneva and grow her relationship with her mom.

I really respected Zak for finally stepping up and not letting his past define him- for not being content to work from the background because he was willing to be average and outside people's notice. He confronts the sheriff and a senior deputy about the problems in the department and gives the sheriff a chance to clean it up before running against him. He finally approached Nadene about his feelings for her to see if she might want something more than a casual flirtation, too. But the biggie? He did the hard thing and investigated the case impartially even if it meant suspecting a close friend and alienating his other friends.

Like the earlier books, the author dug into the secrets of this small community and revealed some more whopping bits. Some led to the murder solution which I worked out once all the clues were laid out. I'd fingered this one early on with just a few surprises that were filled in. I didn't want to be right just like in the second book.

That's the thing about this series, it manages to do what most cozy or 'light' mysteries rarely do with me which is draw me into a personal connection with the characters. Not to say it runs super deep, but more so than usually is the case for me. I've enjoyed having the three friend's perspectives and getting to know several people in the community even the less than stellar ones. This book wrapped up quite a few loose ends, but it also left things in a place where the series could continue on. In truth, I'm hoping it does continue because a couple of the threads left dangling are curiosity pieces for me.

All in all, I loved this one and have loved the whole series. It's an engaging small town cozy mystery series that focuses on the characters as much as the mystery. I can definitely recommend this one to other cozy or 'light' mystery fans.

COYER Summer Hunt Clue- tree on the cover 2pts

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Tule Publishing for a review copy of Bitter End, the third novel to feature Deputy Zak Waller of Lost Trail Montana.

When Willow McTavish is murdered in the small town of Lost Trail Sheriff Ford soon fastens on to a suspect but newest deputy Zak Waller isn't so sure and mounts his own investigation.

Bitter End is an enjoyable read with its mixture of small town characters and whodunnit plot. It's a bit cosy for my taste but is very well done for the genre. It is mostly told from Zac's point of view but also focuses on a couple of other characters and their domestic issues. It is the first novel in the series I have read so I got a little lost in the references to past events but as they are mentioned frequently I soon caught up. The downside is that there is now no point in reading the previous novels.

I thought the solution to the shooting was well thought out and the lead up to the denouement well paced with Zak working through his evidence and the past to reach his conclusions. I just found all the extraneous detail of the various characters' lives and loves fairly tedious although I'm sure that genre aficionados will love it.

Bitter End is not really my thing so I'm lukewarm towards it but I can appreciate its strengths and am sure it will appeal to anyone who likes a good cosy.

[Seon Ji (Dawn) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but predictable.

Safe.

(my reviews are getting shorter and shorter LOL)

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing and addictive. I can’t get enough of the residents and town of Lost Trail, Montana.

I really enjoy this series and it was fun to catch up with the characters again. In this book, Zak Waller has received a shiny new Deputy badge, but he is still stuck behind the dispatch desk most of the time. But he has a bigger goal in mind. Zak plans to run for Sheriff during the next election. While things are starting to heat up between Zak and Nadine Black, the other deputy, Zak is also hard at work on the murder case of Willow McTavish. There are a lot of suspects, but the clues just aren’t adding up. But with Zak on the case, he is sure to find the killer.

This story had me hooked from the start. Along with the mystery of who killed, Willow, I enjoyed catching up with the other characters. I was anxious to see how Justin and his daughter Geneva were doing and learn more about Justin’s battle with cancer. I liked seeing how Tiff and Kenny’s relationship was coming along too. But the main story is the murder. About half way through the book, I was certain I knew who the killer was when the story took a different turn. But even then, my guess was wrong. Let’s just say, this town has a lot of secrets and just when you think you know someone, you don’t really know them at all. There are a lot of secrets in Lost Trail. This is a really good story. Be prepared to be surprised when you read this book.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter End by CJ Carmichael was one of those books that you just devour. It´s part of a series, Bitter Root Mysteries, and it´s book 3.
I love reading mysteries, because I just need to know "who did it" . Who murdered our victim. And I simply can´t put the book down until I have figured it out or read the part where it tells me who did it.
As whit all great books, this one keeps you on your toes until the bitter end. And then, you just want more. I for one hopes that CJ Carmichael keeps writing great books like this one.
It´s very well written, have a great setting with good, well rounded characters, and a story line that keeps you guessing all the way to the end.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young mother is murdered and the father of her child and the biological father are both suspects. Zak is the newest deputy, locked in a power struggle with the old-school sheriff. The sheriff thinks he has the case solved but Zak isn’t so sure. This is the 3rd book in the series and references are made to past books but not enough to really refresh your memory so it is hard to remember all the details that led to the stories end.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah. I was not expecting any of this. A fascinating story filled with twists and turns, I liked it a lot!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter End by C. J. Carmichael
Murder in a small town is always personal.
When a young mother is murdered in the isolated ranching town of Lost Trail, Montana, the father of her child is the first suspect. In this case, there are two: the biological father who hasn’t seen his daughter in over a year and the adoptive father whose life hangs in the balance as he struggles with cancer.
Zak Waller is Lost Trail’s newest deputy. He’s also locked in a power struggle with the town’s old-school Sheriff. If Zak solves this case maybe he’ll finally get the respect he deserves. But is he willing to tear a family apart in the process?
This is Nadine Black and Zak Waller's story.
Willow married Justin to give her young daughter a father.
This story is about the murder case of Willow McTavish.
Zak Waller leaned against the corral fence, watching as Deputy Nadine Black ran her new horse, Making Magic, through her paces. He knew little about horses or rodeo, but it seemed to him Nadine’s new horse was living up to her name.
“Looking good!” he called out as they circled by him.
Zak is also hard at work on the murder case of Willow McTavish. There are a lot of suspects, but the clues just aren’t adding up.
Nadine smiled, but kept her focus on the track. She’d set up a barrel-racing course in the corral next to the barn and was taking her time getting her new quarter horse used to the pattern.
“I have a confession,” she said.The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. “Yeah?”
“I filed papers with the county to have my name go on the ballot for Sheriff.”
He froze. Slowly turned to stare at her. “You didn’t.”
I highly recommend reading.
Bitter End by C. J. Carmichael is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by C. J. Carmichael.
C. J.'s Books with Tule:
Promise Me, Cowboy
Carrigans of the Circle C
The 75th Copper Mountain Rodeo
Good Together
Carrigans of the Circle C
Close to Her Heart
Carrigans of the Circle C
Snowbound in Montana
Carrigans of the Circle C
A Cowgirl’s Christmas
Carrigans of the Circle C
Writing the Bestseller: Romantic and Commercial Fiction
Non-Fiction
Writing the Bestseller II: Romantic and Commercial Fiction
Non-Fiction
A Bramble House Christmas
Carrigans of the Circle C
Melt My Heart, Cowboy
Love at the Chocolate Shop
Bitter Roots
Bitter Root Mysteries
Sweet Dreams, Baby
Love at the Chocolate Shop
Bitter Truth
Bitter Root Mysteries
Bitter End

[Kate Ashton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Willow McTavish is murdered in the small town of Lost Trail. She is not a well liked woman, having grown up in Lost Trail but then left, got involved with one man, acquired a child, returned to Lost Trail to marry here childhood sweetheart more for convenience than love's sake, and then left him again, leaving him with the child, whom he comes to love as his own. Then, another year or two later, she returns once more, this time to take the child away for good. There are people a-plenty who would want her dead. Sheriff Ford quickly jumps to convenient conclusions regarding the likely killer but newly-made deputy Zak Waller isn't convinced and the book follows the ensuing investigation mostly from Zak's point of view.

I had not read the first two books in this ''Bitter Root' series and I found the constant references to people and events that I could only half-guess at unclear and cumbersome. So many people were introduced in the first half of the book, and so many veiled references made to past events, that it was very difficult to work out who the main characters were and who or what was important. I found this pretty disconcerting. More helpful would have been some kind of clear discussion of past events or alternatively the author could have just ignored all those that were not pertinent to the current story.

The are a couple of good characters and the plot is quite pacy once you get past the half-hinted-at echoes of the past history, but I couldn't take to the style; I found the characters lacking in depth and their interaction and conversations somewhat twee. Perhaps this was deliberate as the author tried to conjure up the 'small town' feel, but I found it stifling.

Even though I am not encouraged personally to read other books in the series, preferring more subtlety and depth of character, the pace does pick up, the story is well thought out and I enjoyed the second half more once it got going.. I have no doubt that followers of the author and/or style will thoroughly enjoy a good and well-paced story.

Just a warning ... I see that in the blurb for the book, the advertiser has said, "Perfect for fans of the British television film Broadchurch". No, it is not! This book is a far cry from the brilliant character studies and the profound exploration of the effects of murder on a small town that we were treated to in Broadchurch. No comparison, in my clearly less-than-humble view!

[Denise Zendel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in this well-written series opens with Zak Waller being named a deputy in the isolated ranching town of Lost Trail, Montana. The sheriff only promoted him due to pressure from some of the town’s leading citizens (Zak solved a particularly complicated murder in the previous book) and still expects him to handle the department’s dispatching duties. A young woman dies under suspicious circumstances and two men are immediately suspects – her current husband, the town lawyer, and a friend of Zak’s; and her ex-husband, an outsider rich guy. The sheriff, who’s prone to lazy law enforcement of course goes for the out-of-towner, but Zak is bound to follow the clues wherever they might lead, and to whomever might be at the end of the search, whether it’s his friend or an “other.”
I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Zak is starting to come out of his shell and have faith in his own deductive skills. He’s even considering running for sheriff … some day. That choice is somewhat complicated because unbeknownst to him, his girlfriend, a fellow deputy, is considering the same thing. His bff, Tiff, is having her own romantic complications, because her boyfriend, who works for her family business, is feeling a little like the hired help, and he doesn’t like it.
This is still one of the few series I haven’t been sorry I’ve binge read. The characters keep growing and changing, sometimes in surprising ways, and the plots still hold my interest. I could see one of the plot points coming, which is rare for me, and this book did slide a little too close to romance dressed up in mystery clothes (which makes sense as the author writes romances too). The characters are so compelling, though, and the stories hold my interest all the way through, and I am satisfied when the book is done, so I’ll forgive a couple of bumps.

These can be read out of order, as the author does a good job of filling in the backstories, but I am really enjoying reading them in order. It’s like catching up with old friends. I bought book four in the series immediately upon finishing this one and devoured it too. I hope there are many more books to come in this series.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! I was blown away, intrigued and held in suspense while reading Biter End by CJ Carmichael, the third book in her Bitter Roots Mysteries series. Zak Waller is Lost Trail’s newest deputy, but the promotion doesn’t diminish his power struggle with the town’s old-school Sheriff. Zak investigates the murder of a young mother who just recently returned to town after a year absence. Problematic for Zak is the list of suspects, especially the father of her child. In this case, there are two: the biological father who hasn’t seen his daughter in over a year and the adoptive father whose life is in limbo as he struggles with cancer. Zak is aware enough to know that these two are not the only two suspects as he looks for additional clues to determine who else might be involved. Hopefully, Zak’s open mind toward the case will help him in solving the case, even if it does cause additional drama with the closed minded Sheriff. Solving the case might just be the impetus Zak needs to run against the Sheriff in the next election.

Ms. Carmichael wrote a wonderfully moving story that is not to be missed. It kept me on my toes, guessing and wondering what would happen next throughout this story. This story is filled with sexual attraction, fun dialogue, and endearing characters. I highly recommend this book to other readers and look forward to the next book in the series

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the third book in a trilogy but it mostly worked as a stand-alone. There were quite a few details missing that felt like they finally trickled in to explain the actions in the first two books but it was not enough to detract from the story. I liked this story but I didn't love it. It was a good mystery but the action was a little slow. I didn't really like the characters that much, they were not very deep and their friendships were pretty shallow. I may have felt that way because I was reading the last of a trilogy without having read the other books. Willow and Justin were college sweethearts but broke up when she ran off with Paul. She and Paul have a child and Willow returns to Justin, marries him, turns over custody of her daughter to him then runs off with Paul again. Justin loves his daughter with all his might but has found out that he has cancer. Willow discovers Justin's cancer and returns to take her daughter away. In the meantime, Willow is murdered and Justin and Paul are the chief suspects. Newly appointed deputy, Zak, must dig into the town's past and discover the killer before an innocent person is accused. This book was just OK. They writing was fair but I didn't really care much about the characters so will probably not be reading the previous two books. Thanks go to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Sandi Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I have not only read the entire series but i actually gifted the series to my sister who is a librarian for her Christmas gift this year. This is the third book in the series and while you could read it as a stand alone book and enjoy it as a good mystery, IF you read the first two books in the series you will really enjoy this book oh so much more.
Bitter End is located in Lost Trail, Montana (yes real cowboy country) and Deputy Zak Waller has his hand full finding a murder and keeping the peace while taking care of his dispatchers duties. Is it any wonder some folks think he would make the perfect Sheriff? But he is knee deep in a murder that takes us readers all around the bend and I mean that in a very good way before we discover Who Done It. Don't worry this book is not just a murder mystery set in cowboy country our author CJ Carmichael would not do that to her readers, oh no... there are other characters and yes Zak has a lady friend too.
Come find out why I love this series so much.

[Miekenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed the Bitter Root Mystery series and I hope this isn't really the Bitter End of it.

This book, as with the other earlier books, has a solid mystery and a well written cast of characters who may be killers. I enjoyed the mystery in the book and the light romances that take a back seat to murder but are still explored. What I love about this series is Zak Waller, our reluctant main character.

I think Carmichael has done an amazing job of introducing a basically beta character who is thrust into an alpha role through no fault of his own. He doesn't want to be in charge as much as he wants justice to be served and he wants his hometown safe and sound. I wish the world had more people like Zak. He is quietly competent and less worried about feeding his ego than making sure the right thing is done at all cost. Justice is served, and I cannot ask for more from an entertaining mystery.

I received an ARC in exchange of my honest review.

[Laura Salas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read in the Bitter Root series, and I enjoyed most of it. It was filled with vivid characters and plenty of conflict, plus people I was rooting for. The writing was great on a scene-by-scene basis, and the author fills in enough of the complicated backstory that I didn't fill lost. However, two of the biggest questions of the entire book (the outcome of Justin's cancer treatment and the outcome of the election) are both revealed in summary chapters that skip ahead in time and deny me the payoff I wanted after being emotionally invested in the storylines. That part feels like a cheat. I wanted to be there IN the resolution of those issues, not just told about them afterward. Other than that, I would have given this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I'll definitely try the next in the series...hoping the author includes the reader in the resolution in that one!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kerry Croucier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost Trail, Montana, is a small town full of secrets. Zak Waller has lived here all his life and perfected the art of fading into the background, but he is finally ready to step into a new phase of life. After solving a couple high profile murders, he has earned his deputy’s badge to go along with his dispatcher duties. The newest murder brings home the need for more change in the top spot of law enforcement in Lost Trail.
The murder mystery drew me in and the secondary stories kept me turning the pages. I really enjoy the way the author paced the story and developed the characters, and there are twists to make things even more interesting.
This is the third book in the Bitter Root series, and while I have enjoyed every one, the author supplies enough background information that it can stand alone. If you enjoy murder mysteries, especially those set in small towns, with well-written characters
#BiitterEnd #BitterRootMysteries #CJCarmichael #ReadTulez

[Shelagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting end to CJ Carmichael’sBitter Root mystery series, Bitter End brings readers back to Lost Trail Montana, a quiet little town where generally nothing much ever happens. At least that’s how things look on the surface, but with murders happening for very little apparent reason it’s clear that something is afoot.
Enter Zac Walker, dispatcher in the sheriff’s office and amateur sleuth par excellence. Zac has a knack for digging deep for the truth and in the first two books in this series he has successfully solved two murders. Of course Bitter
End brings with it another murder for Zac to solve.
I loved the plot twists in this novel and the fact that there were so many possible suspects. I was intrigued by the side stories that took place as the novel progressed, and I loved how it all came to a nice conclusion at the end. This book had me on the edge of my seat throughout.

[Lisa Millett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thriller

What strange things go on in Butter Roots, Montana. This book is filled with old time grudges, lies and familial secrets. Zak Walker now a deli fresh from solving two murders in town has another murder on his hands. A young woman has been murdered in the cemetery in from of her parent's grave and there are many suspects. The Sheriff thinks the woman's boyfriend a rich man is guilty and he won't look at anyone else. Zak on the other hand is looking into old melodies and possible hidden agendas to solve the murder. Just when Zak thinks he might know who the true murderer is, he discovers something explosive that might blow the case out of the water. The book has an exciting and surprising conclusion that will keep you reading until the end. Kudos for this series by one of my favorite authors C.J. Carmichael.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

C. J. Carmichael is three for three in her Bitter Roots mystery series and I am ready for book four! This book kept me reading and turning the pages until I finished it in one sitting! In the first two books, Zak Waller was the dispatcher in the sheriff's department. Now he has been promoted to deputy and he is trying to solve another murder. He and Nancy seem to be the only hard working deputies in Bitterroot County. Looks like Sheriff Ford won't cruise to reelection! Justin Pittman battles cancer, Willow makes an appearance, and Kenny and Tiff are trying to figure out their relationship. These characters are so much fun to revisit! If you liked the first two mysteries in this series, you've bound to like this one too!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter End is book three of Zak Waller’s rise from dispatcher to deputy story. You see a better future for his town if he was to become sheriff. He is the man you would want to investigate the crime in your town.

CJ Carmichael knows small-town, writing with wit, honesty and a realism that places you right dab smack in the middle of a murder investigation. Right when I think I knew who the guilty party was, something else came to light. This is cozy mystery western style. Great reading.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Loretta Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mmmm mmmm mmmm. Loved the book until the very bitter end. Pinning it on the doc just seemed so needless. It just left the book open ended. I was very disappointed at this unexpected turn of events. It was like the author was trying too hard. The story, to me, was already wound down and then she added another element to the third book of a series titled Bitter END! Why?!?! Irritating. I bought all three books and read them in succession. If there’s a sequel to examine this new “feeling” the new Sheriff has, I think I shall pass.

[Barbara Hermann Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding Bitter Root Mystery!

Just as the first 2 books in the series were, Bitter End is full of twists and turns, clear up until the very end. Just when you think everything has been figured out, there are more surprises that pop up. So good that I have already pre-ordered the 4th book in the series, with hopes that there will be more to follow after that! And I highly suggest that you read this series in order because each story builds on the previous one, even as the current mystery is solved.

[Lynda Lock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author for me to read, C.J. Carmichael with the Bitter Root Mysteries! So far I have enjoyed the first three novels: Bitter Roots, Bitter Truth, and Bitter End. The main character is a lowly police dispatcher in a town of about two thousand residents. He manages to solve the crimes before the ineffective sheriff, and the lazy deputy. It's an entertaining series with at least one or sometimes two murders, betrayals, greed, and a little romantic shenanigans. Cheers Lynda L. Lock (Isla Mujeres Mystery series)

[M.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bitter End is the third book in the Bitter Roots series. The main character is an unassuming police dispatcher who actually solves all the crimes in this small Montana ranching town. At least by book three, Zak is finally a deputy, but gets no respect from his superiors. A mysterious death has the sheriff pinning the murder on the only outsider, which is basically his normal routine. Afterall, the town folks of Bitterroot couldn’t be guilty of such a heinous crime.

Dark secrets and darker motivations are revealed in book three. It’s an entertaining read that kept me up past my bedtime.

[Donnajo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read a advanced reader's copy of this book for a honest opinion.

Bitter End by CJ Carmichael. A amazing mystery. I didn't expect the ending. I enjoyed the characters and dialogue. The author's writing pulled me in from the first page and I didn't want to put the book down. Since this book is part of the Bitter Root series I would recommend you read them in order to know some of the back story.

[Myreadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would particularly like to thank Tules Publishing and the Netgalley website for this partnership.

It all starts when a young mother is murdered, her husband is immediately suspected. But there are two men: the biological father and the adoptive father who is fighting cancer.

A book read in one go so much I hooked on the story so gripping, captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns. I found the characters endearing. Looking forward to reading the full series.