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Back Dirt: A Murder on Skis Mystery
A cold case killing brings Colorado police to Upstate New York. An archaeologist has been murdered in the Adirondacks. What is the price of doing business at the Battle Ax Ski Resort?
Television reporter JC Snow follows the bloody trail. He can't catch a break in his love life, perhaps he can catch a criminal. Someone at the winter hot spot is a cold blooded killer.
Television reporter JC Snow follows the bloody trail. He can't catch a break in his love life, perhaps he can catch a criminal. Someone at the winter hot spot is a cold blooded killer.
- GenresFiction
312 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2021
2 people are currently reading
2191 people want to read
About the author
Phil Bayly
8 books34 followers Phil Bayly is an American author. CARPE SKI 'em, released in November of 2025, is his seventh novel in the Murder on Skis Mystery series. Bayly has been named a finalist for three American Fiction Awards and was awarded a silver medal at the CIPA Colorado Book Awards.
CARPE SKI 'em begins with a woman's fatal plummet from a chair lift at a ski resort in Colorado. Her husband's disappearance is poorly timed. But there are plenty of colorful characters in ski country who could attract suspicion.
Bayly's other MOS mysteries:
A SMALL MOUNTAIN MURDER (2024) begins with the disappearance of a ski industry executive while visiting a small ski hill in Wisconsin. The investigation crosses paths with a crusading newspaper journalist and someone who thinks the stakes are worth killing for.
THE MAN WHO HAD 9 LIVES (2023) is Bayly's fifth novel in the Murder on Skis Mystery series and has been named a finalist for two American Fiction Awards. The story begins with an avalanche and tumbles toward murder and mystery at a Colorado Ski Resort.
WITCH WINDOW (2022) takes off as two bicycle riders, on a hot summer day, find the body of a man dressed to go skiing. The investigation travels from New York to Vermont.
BACK DIRT (2021) was also named a finalist for the American Fiction Awards. The tale unfolds in the adirondacks of Upstate New York. A murder suspect from Colorado has surfaced there. And an archaeological dig for old bones at the Battle Ax Ski Resort finds fresh blood.
LOVING LUCY (2020) was shortlisted for the Murder and Mayhem Award. The story takes JC Snow from Albany, New York to the Snow Hat Ski Resort in Colorado. JC follows the manhunt for a New York state senator accused of murder, and a petty thief who may be more than police bargained for.
MURDER on SKIS (2019) tells the tale of Victims caught in the claws of the Grizzly Mountain Ski Resort in Montana. The discovery of a frozen body buried beneath a ski run leads to the re-examination of other deaths previously ruled 'accidental.' JC Snow and police explore whether there is a cold blooded killer in the red hot resort community.
A veteran of television and radio news in New York, Colorado, Wyoming and Pennsylvania, Bayly was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois. He now resides in Saratoga County, New York.
For more, go to murderonskis.com.
CARPE SKI 'em begins with a woman's fatal plummet from a chair lift at a ski resort in Colorado. Her husband's disappearance is poorly timed. But there are plenty of colorful characters in ski country who could attract suspicion.
Bayly's other MOS mysteries:
A SMALL MOUNTAIN MURDER (2024) begins with the disappearance of a ski industry executive while visiting a small ski hill in Wisconsin. The investigation crosses paths with a crusading newspaper journalist and someone who thinks the stakes are worth killing for.
THE MAN WHO HAD 9 LIVES (2023) is Bayly's fifth novel in the Murder on Skis Mystery series and has been named a finalist for two American Fiction Awards. The story begins with an avalanche and tumbles toward murder and mystery at a Colorado Ski Resort.
WITCH WINDOW (2022) takes off as two bicycle riders, on a hot summer day, find the body of a man dressed to go skiing. The investigation travels from New York to Vermont.
BACK DIRT (2021) was also named a finalist for the American Fiction Awards. The tale unfolds in the adirondacks of Upstate New York. A murder suspect from Colorado has surfaced there. And an archaeological dig for old bones at the Battle Ax Ski Resort finds fresh blood.
LOVING LUCY (2020) was shortlisted for the Murder and Mayhem Award. The story takes JC Snow from Albany, New York to the Snow Hat Ski Resort in Colorado. JC follows the manhunt for a New York state senator accused of murder, and a petty thief who may be more than police bargained for.
MURDER on SKIS (2019) tells the tale of Victims caught in the claws of the Grizzly Mountain Ski Resort in Montana. The discovery of a frozen body buried beneath a ski run leads to the re-examination of other deaths previously ruled 'accidental.' JC Snow and police explore whether there is a cold blooded killer in the red hot resort community.
A veteran of television and radio news in New York, Colorado, Wyoming and Pennsylvania, Bayly was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois. He now resides in Saratoga County, New York.
For more, go to murderonskis.com.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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November 5, 2021History, Archeology, Romance, Skiing , oh yeah.. MURDER!
Phil Bayly’s new project adds to his first two works and steps up the interconnections to make this an excellent choice for a winter read.
Phil continues with the work of Denver reporter JC Snow investigating a potential connection to a murder on Colorado with NY State.
The setting is in the Adirondacks in a fictitious county called Joseph County. Phil does not miss an opportunity to connect this county to potential real-life possibilities.
JC and his news crew venture out to the Adirondacks to find out there is more than expected . The two murders might be connected. He weaves an excellent story using the Adirondacks, Archeology, and a new romance for JC. It is also the struggle of Big businesses vs towns trying to provide economic opportunities in depressed mountain areas.
The plot surrounds the building of a grand ski resort and what may have happened during the building of the resort. It is a great place to ski as JC and his Colorado buddies find out for themselves and is the home base for the story.
If you have ever been to a western or eastern ski resort, Phil’s description will bring you back to any of the resorts you have visited.
I usually like to write longer reviews but any more will spoil the engagement you will enter when you read the book.
As with the first two works, you need to read to the last pages because looks are deceiving, and the plot takes an unexpected turn.
Don’ miss this one. Make sure you add this to your winter reading. You will not be disappointed!
Phil Bayly’s new project adds to his first two works and steps up the interconnections to make this an excellent choice for a winter read.
Phil continues with the work of Denver reporter JC Snow investigating a potential connection to a murder on Colorado with NY State.
The setting is in the Adirondacks in a fictitious county called Joseph County. Phil does not miss an opportunity to connect this county to potential real-life possibilities.
JC and his news crew venture out to the Adirondacks to find out there is more than expected . The two murders might be connected. He weaves an excellent story using the Adirondacks, Archeology, and a new romance for JC. It is also the struggle of Big businesses vs towns trying to provide economic opportunities in depressed mountain areas.
The plot surrounds the building of a grand ski resort and what may have happened during the building of the resort. It is a great place to ski as JC and his Colorado buddies find out for themselves and is the home base for the story.
If you have ever been to a western or eastern ski resort, Phil’s description will bring you back to any of the resorts you have visited.
I usually like to write longer reviews but any more will spoil the engagement you will enter when you read the book.
As with the first two works, you need to read to the last pages because looks are deceiving, and the plot takes an unexpected turn.
Don’ miss this one. Make sure you add this to your winter reading. You will not be disappointed!
December 13, 2021
Phil Bayly does not disappoint In this his third novel of the Murder on Skis series, Back Dirt. J.C. Snow, television journalist, heads to the Adirondack mountain’s in NYS, searching for the truth about a murder connected to his own state of Colorado. Intriguing story, and as usual colorful characters. I wonder if J.C. Snow is the mirror image of The author Phil Bayly. A journalist himself who admittedly liked to write his own script for his news broadcasts. Plus he is also an avid skier, racer, lover of everything snow, including the Adirondack mountains.
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel, loved learning some of the history buried in the vast surroundings of what is known as some of the most beautiful land in the lower 48. Well done Phil Bayly.
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel, loved learning some of the history buried in the vast surroundings of what is known as some of the most beautiful land in the lower 48. Well done Phil Bayly.
November 24, 2023
Back Dirt is the third entry in this ski themed murder mystery series. It again follows reporter JC show. He's drawn back to New York from Denver to the Adirondack Mountains when a a cold case and a current crime intersect. This book has plenty for everyone like the previous two. There is plenty of action, suspense, mystery, and intrigue mixed together in the story. The characters are also likeable and relatable.
August 28, 2023
This book will delight those who enjoy ski history, ski areas, the Adirondacks and more. It also has strong ties to Colorado and insight into balanced news coverage. The author does a nice job of intertwining all of the above into a light murder mystery, historic misdeeds, archaeology, and skiing. This is a fun read!
December 8, 2025
I very much enjoyed this mystery, there was a touch of romance, and a lot of heart in many of the characters.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews