“Hunter’s Heart Ridge” by Sarah Stewart Taylor is the sequel to “Agony Hill”. It can be read as a stand-alone novel, but if you haven’t read “Agony Hill,” I suggest reading it first because it adds more info about the main characters. (Also, “Agony Hill” was an excellent first introduction to the town of Bethany, Vermont and Detective Frank Warren.) The story takes place in 1965 and the chapters are short. I read this mystery quickly – easy reading and it kept my interest.
Frank Warren is a Vermont State Police detective who is called to a private hunting and fishing club after one of the guests is found dead from a gunshot. His assistant, Walter, (a.k.a. ‘Pinky’) investigate and become suspicious of several of the other guests. To make the job more difficult, an early snowstorm blankets the area, cutting power and phone lines and stranding the group at the hunting lodge. Alice Bellows, a former spy, and Sylvie Weber, a pregnant widow also play prominent roles in the story. There are many references to Vietnam, as that subject creates conflict between some of the guests at the hunting club. There is not a ton of action, but the pacing felt right for this novel. I enjoyed guessing which character might be a murderer . . .
I have been waiting for this sequel to be published and several WPL patrons have asked when it was coming out too – so I’m guessing “Hunter’s Heart Ridge” will be fairly popular. I am already looking forward to book #3 in the series!
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