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Ellie Dwyer's Startling Discovery: Book 4 of the Ellie Dwyer Series
Some trails lead to the unexpected.
For adventure-loving seniors Ellie and Ruth, it was supposed to be the perfect "Mother-Daughter Reunion" trip -- best friends, their daughters and sons-in-law, and a week of camping, hiking, and merriment in Colorado. But when Ellie and Ruth come across a lost camera and search for its owner, they make a shocking discovery -- one with disturbing parallels to a crisis that strikes their own trip.
Perhaps it's only when the unimaginable occurs that the true connection between a mother and a daughter is revealed. And when emotions are stretched to their limits, the bonds of friendship may be challenged as never before.
For adventure-loving seniors Ellie and Ruth, it was supposed to be the perfect "Mother-Daughter Reunion" trip -- best friends, their daughters and sons-in-law, and a week of camping, hiking, and merriment in Colorado. But when Ellie and Ruth come across a lost camera and search for its owner, they make a shocking discovery -- one with disturbing parallels to a crisis that strikes their own trip.
Perhaps it's only when the unimaginable occurs that the true connection between a mother and a daughter is revealed. And when emotions are stretched to their limits, the bonds of friendship may be challenged as never before.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2022
354 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Diane Winger
30 books91 followers I describe myself as a “retired software geek” who loves hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, camping, and cross-country skiing when I'm not reading, writing, or watching cat videos.
I'm a passionate volunteer with several organizations which focus on literacy projects in my community.
My husband, Charlie, and I are co-authors of several guidebooks on outdoor recreation. I was born and raised in Denver and we currently reside in western Colorado. I write fiction featuring strong, adventurous female protagonists.
Please follow me on BookBub to receive notices of new titles, books on sale, and for book recommendations by other authors. http://tinyurl.com/FollowDiane
I'm a passionate volunteer with several organizations which focus on literacy projects in my community.
My husband, Charlie, and I are co-authors of several guidebooks on outdoor recreation. I was born and raised in Denver and we currently reside in western Colorado. I write fiction featuring strong, adventurous female protagonists.
Please follow me on BookBub to receive notices of new titles, books on sale, and for book recommendations by other authors. http://tinyurl.com/FollowDiane
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 23, 2023
Getting older is no reason to stop being active and enjoy life
Ruth and Ellie are inspiring and remind us to live life to the fullest. Wrapped up in a humorous and warm hearted story.
I hope we will see more books in this series....I'm excited for the next one!
Ruth and Ellie are inspiring and remind us to live life to the fullest. Wrapped up in a humorous and warm hearted story.
I hope we will see more books in this series....I'm excited for the next one!
February 23, 2022
I'm excited to present book 4 of my Ellie Dwyer series and hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
February 26, 2022
Have enjoyed all 4 books in this series. Diane Winger is a talented author.
Ladies who travel and camp in trailers (or might like to) will find Ellie and her friend Ruth to be quite fun and inspiring!
Bonuses for me are Ellie’s owning an aframe camper like mine (that’s why i started reading this series!) and being inspired by or at least enjoying their hiking escapades. Im not a hiker, but they remind me to walk around my campgrounds more, interact with fellow campers, make new friends and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
I am 70 and find it quite invigorating to join in on Ellie and Ruth’s retirement adventures!
This book adds intriguing elements of mystery that will whet that appetite!
Fix a cocktail, sit in a comfy chair by a campfire, roast some marshmallows and enjoy all her books!
On a bad weather day, prop yourself up all comfy with your dog(s)or cat(s) in your camper, enjoy the 360 degree view if you have an aframe, and go on an adventure with these gals.
Happy trails!
Ladies who travel and camp in trailers (or might like to) will find Ellie and her friend Ruth to be quite fun and inspiring!
Bonuses for me are Ellie’s owning an aframe camper like mine (that’s why i started reading this series!) and being inspired by or at least enjoying their hiking escapades. Im not a hiker, but they remind me to walk around my campgrounds more, interact with fellow campers, make new friends and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
I am 70 and find it quite invigorating to join in on Ellie and Ruth’s retirement adventures!
This book adds intriguing elements of mystery that will whet that appetite!
Fix a cocktail, sit in a comfy chair by a campfire, roast some marshmallows and enjoy all her books!
On a bad weather day, prop yourself up all comfy with your dog(s)or cat(s) in your camper, enjoy the 360 degree view if you have an aframe, and go on an adventure with these gals.
Happy trails!
March 23, 2022
For years, a tradition of Spring Break has been searching out the best new Beach Reads for my summer reading list. How exciting to find a Campfire Read to add to my list! I couldn’t make myself wait until summer to read Ellie Dwyer’s Startling Discovery by Diane Winger, and I’m so glad I didn’t. What a great book! While I was initially drawn to the book because Ellie Dwyer camps in an Aliner, like I do, I was quickly drawn in by the well-developed, relatable characters and their adventures. How often am I able to read about mature women who love the outdoors? I’ve always been told good writers write about what they know; Diane Winger undoubtedly knows camping, hiking, and the exhilaration of exploring the outdoors. I feel like I am right there beside Ellie and her friends. Add a fast moving, believable plot, and you have the makings for a wonderful Campfire Read. My only negative is that the book ended too soon and left me wanting more, which I guess is not truly a negative. Since this is the 4th Ellie Dwyer book, I’m off to read the other three, and I hope Diane Winger has a 5th book in the works.
March 9, 2022
I am a big fan of the Ellie Dwyer camping books and this was another 5 star for me. There were 3 main storylines in this book with plenty of exciting and interesting reasons to keep reading. It was so good to see Ellie and Ruth back on the road together and visiting new campgrounds. I really enjoy Diane Winger's descriptions of the sites on their hikes and adventures. I don't do spoilers so the only story line I will mention is about Ellie's discovery. She and Ruth find an old camera with a memory card full of pictures on a hike. Who does it belong to? Can they find them and return it? You will have to read it to see what happens! Really fun books to read especially if you enjoy books about camping, hiking and exploring the United States. I love that Ellie and Ruth are retired strong, women and the books about their adventures are always good reads.
March 26, 2022
I was drawn to the first Ellie Dwyer book when I saw the A-frame camper on the cover. I’ve grown to love Ruth and Ellie through the series. Ellie Dwyer’s Startling Discovery did not disappoint. I so enjoy the characters and also the little bits of humor in the storytelling. It’s a great read for those who camp or not, who just enjoy good writing about two older women who become fast friends and continue to grow their friendship during all the twists and turns in their lives. We’ll-written, great character development and interesting storyline. And there’s a cat, the icing on the cake for this A-line camper and cat lover.
March 1, 2022
I loved the first three books in this series and book four does not disappoint. Ellie and Ruth's positivity and energy are inspirational to any age. Their camping and hiking adventures are appealing to folks who enjoy those activities but their adventures also include family and relationship experiences which appeal to all. I loved the characters, the story line and the writing style. I am looking forward to book five to learn more about their children and grandchildren. I hope this series will continue for a long, long time.
October 26, 2023
There's just something about these books that fills my heart with satisfaction and my head with enthusiasm. Ellie Dwyer is just so--so me! She's almost exactly what I want to be when I grow up. Except...I already am. I think I'm actually a little older than her.
So she's a middle aged woman with all the insecurities and worries that go along with being alone in life. But she's not sitting back and knitting--not her! She's out there doing stuff, like living alone in a tiny pop-up RV and moving from campsite to campsite. She made a best friend out there and now they're doing stuff together a lot of the time, which takes Ellie out of her comfort zone in many amusing ways.
But she's not superwoman either. Some of her flaws are not mine and some of them are so annoying that I want to give her a good shake. But never, never stop reading her. She's my bestie and I wish I lived next door to her. In a campground in Arizona somewhere. Or Colorado. Or....
This book is similar to the others in that two or three interesting subplots wind around the main plot and keep it lively. The only minor thing I don't like--and it's minor indeed--is the author's tendency to overindulge in simple day-to-day activity descriptions. I tolerate those descriptions, and am sometimes amused by them, but from time to time I find myself wishing she'd "spice things up" a little. Like instead of describing a mundane hike on a trail with lovely scenery or muddy roads, why not have a Cactus Wren attack her, or a rattlesnake come slithering by and give her a fright? After all, the author is writing a middle-aged campers' best fantasy, why not add some nature stuff?
No matter, I still love them all. Please keep writing, Ms. Winger.
So she's a middle aged woman with all the insecurities and worries that go along with being alone in life. But she's not sitting back and knitting--not her! She's out there doing stuff, like living alone in a tiny pop-up RV and moving from campsite to campsite. She made a best friend out there and now they're doing stuff together a lot of the time, which takes Ellie out of her comfort zone in many amusing ways.
But she's not superwoman either. Some of her flaws are not mine and some of them are so annoying that I want to give her a good shake. But never, never stop reading her. She's my bestie and I wish I lived next door to her. In a campground in Arizona somewhere. Or Colorado. Or....
This book is similar to the others in that two or three interesting subplots wind around the main plot and keep it lively. The only minor thing I don't like--and it's minor indeed--is the author's tendency to overindulge in simple day-to-day activity descriptions. I tolerate those descriptions, and am sometimes amused by them, but from time to time I find myself wishing she'd "spice things up" a little. Like instead of describing a mundane hike on a trail with lovely scenery or muddy roads, why not have a Cactus Wren attack her, or a rattlesnake come slithering by and give her a fright? After all, the author is writing a middle-aged campers' best fantasy, why not add some nature stuff?
No matter, I still love them all. Please keep writing, Ms. Winger.
March 7, 2022
I just finished reading Diane Winger's book 4 of the Ellie Dwyer Series - Ellie Dwyer's Startling Discovery. I enjoyed it very much. I have an Aliner camper and have camped in the areas mentioned in the book. In addition, I live in Sarasota County, Florida, where Brian Laundrie lived along with his girl friend/fiancé Gappy Petito at his parents house. Those who have read the book will get the connection. Even more, I am retired and enjoy hiking with my wife. All this helps me relate to the book. It is highly readable and entertaining. My only complaint is that Ellie spends a little too much time dealing with self doubts and insecurities. Other than that it was a great read.
December 17, 2022
Best of the Series
Ellie notices a glint of light higher above the trail they're hiking. It's a camera, and its discovery leads to an unsolved missing persons case. Meanwhile, Ruth's daughter and son in law join the two women on a camping and hiking trip, and soon the foursome experienced their own missing persons case.
Ms. Winger's novels about Ellie and Ruth continue delving deeper into the personalities of these two characters. They've become more like real friends at this point, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Ellie notices a glint of light higher above the trail they're hiking. It's a camera, and its discovery leads to an unsolved missing persons case. Meanwhile, Ruth's daughter and son in law join the two women on a camping and hiking trip, and soon the foursome experienced their own missing persons case.
Ms. Winger's novels about Ellie and Ruth continue delving deeper into the personalities of these two characters. They've become more like real friends at this point, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
April 3, 2023
Can't finish...unusual
I absolutely love the women characters in this series, so I'm very surprised that I just can't get into this book! I guess it happens. I do not care if they find the owner of the camera...*BIG YAWN*
I've tried to read on in this book at least 3 times.
I'm going to move on to the next book in the series. It may be I'm just not into this one story, or I may have outgrown the characters. We shall see!
I do hope I get into the next book. Its been nice reading about the adventures of people who.continue to live and grow as they naturally get older.
I absolutely love the women characters in this series, so I'm very surprised that I just can't get into this book! I guess it happens. I do not care if they find the owner of the camera...*BIG YAWN*
I've tried to read on in this book at least 3 times.
I'm going to move on to the next book in the series. It may be I'm just not into this one story, or I may have outgrown the characters. We shall see!
I do hope I get into the next book. Its been nice reading about the adventures of people who.continue to live and grow as they naturally get older.
March 1, 2022
Ellie Dwyer's Startling Discovery, is the 4th and in my opinion the best book in the series. Ellie and her friend Ruth enjoy camping, hiking, and spending time with their families. Ellie finds a used camera and the story takes off from there. There is stress and sadness in story, but light moments to break it up. The camping situations are very realistic. The hiking safety information was accurate. I recommend this book for anyone.
March 1, 2022
I just finished reading Book 4 in the Ellie Dwyer series and it was just as great as the first 3! Being a camper myself, I love the characters, the descriptions, the events and all the fun being had by the characters. There is also just enough suspense to keep one hooked! Diane Winger is a fantastic story-teller and I look forward to more books from her! I absolutely will recommend to all my friends!
April 2, 2022
A fun read! Ellie and Ruth’s adventures begin immediately. Enjoy their friendship and meeting their family and new friends along the way. Their activity motivates me to get out and enjoy camping and hiking. I may need to get a backpack like Charli’s. Especially enjoyed reading that Ellie has an a-frame and Nissan X-Terra as I have the same for my camping! Can’t wait until Debra’s next book is released!
May 13, 2022
Exceptional Series
I have enjoyed this 4 book series of Ellie and Ruth’s friendship and adventures. I recommend this series to anyone who is looking for lite reading yet a page turner too. I chuckled and cried throughout reading this series. Which actually only took me less than a week to read.
I have ordered the books from Amazon to gift to my BFF Candy to read while she and her husband travel in their RV this summer.
I have enjoyed this 4 book series of Ellie and Ruth’s friendship and adventures. I recommend this series to anyone who is looking for lite reading yet a page turner too. I chuckled and cried throughout reading this series. Which actually only took me less than a week to read.
I have ordered the books from Amazon to gift to my BFF Candy to read while she and her husband travel in their RV this summer.
March 14, 2022
Ellie and Ruth get embroiled in a cold case when they find a camera on a hike but at the same time both face crises in their own families. As usually Diane Winger has interesting characters, great settings and believable plots. It is especially refreshing to see older characters who are still vibrant, active, and companionable.
July 1, 2022
Felt like I was hiking with them!!
Easy to read and get captured by the activity of the two main characters in the book. If you love to hike and camp you will be right along side these two remarkable women who are not so rare in the outdoors world. I can't wait to read another book in this series.
Easy to read and get captured by the activity of the two main characters in the book. If you love to hike and camp you will be right along side these two remarkable women who are not so rare in the outdoors world. I can't wait to read another book in this series.
August 4, 2022
Surprise Twists and Turns
Ms Winger’s Ellie Dwyer series is just phenomenal! I have loved every one of them, but I have to say. The mystery in this one kept me turning the pages late into the night. Way to go Ms Winger for keeping your characters interesting and your plots exciting and timely!
Ms Winger’s Ellie Dwyer series is just phenomenal! I have loved every one of them, but I have to say. The mystery in this one kept me turning the pages late into the night. Way to go Ms Winger for keeping your characters interesting and your plots exciting and timely!
December 31, 2022
Ah, I'm sad I've finished all the books in this series! I so enjoyed getting to know Ellie, Ruth, Charli and the various family members and friends along the way. I love that each book sort of falls into a different genre - one has romance, one mystery, etc. These books felt like memoir, though they are definitely fiction, but the characters feel so real. So glad I stumbled across this author and gave the series a try.
April 24, 2022
Fun read
I have so enjoyed all four books in this series. Don't know if there will be more, but I sure hope so. Being an RV er myself for many years it's been slot of fun reading as have been to all these places too.
I have so enjoyed all four books in this series. Don't know if there will be more, but I sure hope so. Being an RV er myself for many years it's been slot of fun reading as have been to all these places too.
May 11, 2022
Love this series
I love this series and following Ellies adventures. Diane Winger writes in a fashion that leaves me engrossed in the story line. So much so it feels real. As if a friend is retelling me her fastest adventure.
I love this series and following Ellies adventures. Diane Winger writes in a fashion that leaves me engrossed in the story line. So much so it feels real. As if a friend is retelling me her fastest adventure.
August 17, 2022
True to title about a startling discovery.
I have enjoyed this series about 2 friends camping and hiking many locations. I liked how they started with a find that leads to another story involving a missing woman and all of the parts of the story that lead to solving a crime.
I have enjoyed this series about 2 friends camping and hiking many locations. I liked how they started with a find that leads to another story involving a missing woman and all of the parts of the story that lead to solving a crime.
June 2, 2023
A fan
This book had a lot going on a mystery of a missing woman, Ruth's daughter get lots hiking and Ellie's daughter gets cancer. This story had me on my toes keeping up with Ruth and Ellie. Very emotional, engaging and inspiring wholesome contemporary mystery. Highly recommend
This book had a lot going on a mystery of a missing woman, Ruth's daughter get lots hiking and Ellie's daughter gets cancer. This story had me on my toes keeping up with Ruth and Ellie. Very emotional, engaging and inspiring wholesome contemporary mystery. Highly recommend
June 9, 2023
Wow this one was incredibly good!
There's so many stories in one in this one! I was hoping for a new Walt to enter her life but there was so much happening it was awesome! Beautiful ending!
There's so many stories in one in this one! I was hoping for a new Walt to enter her life but there was so much happening it was awesome! Beautiful ending!
September 25, 2023
I really like the characters, enjoy the premise of full-time RVing, and love the setting for this series. However I think the author is too heavy-handed with dishing out life crises in this series--it diminishes the pleasure of the reading.
December 28, 2023
Love the adventures of Ellie
Ellie Dwyer, how can you not like her?! Single woman of adventure, and a kind heart. If you own an Aliner, it is more fun. If you don't, that's fun too because she travels everywhere and makes do with what she's got.
Ellie Dwyer, how can you not like her?! Single woman of adventure, and a kind heart. If you own an Aliner, it is more fun. If you don't, that's fun too because she travels everywhere and makes do with what she's got.
April 12, 2024
Cagney and Lacy???
Ellie and Ruth find a digital camera on a hike and endeavor with help to recover the photographs and identify the parties with the intent of connecting with the parties. Long story short they help solve a missing persons case.
Ellie and Ruth find a digital camera on a hike and endeavor with help to recover the photographs and identify the parties with the intent of connecting with the parties. Long story short they help solve a missing persons case.
December 29, 2024
Lots of intrigue in this one.
As Ruth and Ellie continue their travels and hikes, a stumble upon something shiny adds a deep layer of mystery to their journey. Still enjoying their adventures.
As Ruth and Ellie continue their travels and hikes, a stumble upon something shiny adds a deep layer of mystery to their journey. Still enjoying their adventures.
March 27, 2022
Great series!
Hopefully more books to come in the adventures of Ellie and Ruth...full-timers. Fun stories that keep the reader fully engaged and wanting more.
Hopefully more books to come in the adventures of Ellie and Ruth...full-timers. Fun stories that keep the reader fully engaged and wanting more.
March 29, 2022
Love this series with Ellie
Hope there is a 5th book! Ellie’s adventures, her friends, & her family are so real. Feel like I know her!
Hope there is a 5th book! Ellie’s adventures, her friends, & her family are so real. Feel like I know her!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews