Bitter Brew at Highland Ridge
(2026)(The fourth book in the Paws and Powder Mystery series)
A novel by Hailey Hartley
When café owner Chloe Richardson delivers her daily pastry order to Highland Ridge Resort, she expects another routine morning of friendly banter with the kitchen staff. Instead, she discovers that Lance Bennett, the controversial developer behind the resort's massive expansion plan, has been found dead at the base of Horizon Trail after an apparent skiing accident. The whole town of Snowridge had been divided over Lance's plans to bulldoze local businesses and double the resort's size, and Chloe's food-motivated Bernese Mountain Dog, Biscuit, immediately alerts to something suspicious near the scene that the police overlook. With half the town wanting Lance gone and secrets lurking behind every cheerful smile, Chloe realizes this was no accident.
As Chloe digs deeper into Lance's final days, she uncovers a tangled web of financial crimes, desperate people pushed to their breaking points, and carefully buried secrets that someone will kill to protect. From the business partner caught embezzling millions to the environmental activist facing a crushing lawsuit, from the resort manager threatened with career destruction to the security guard hiding years of theft, suspects emerge from every corner of the close-knit mountain community. With Biscuit's remarkable nose leading them to hidden evidence and Chloe's insider knowledge of the town's gossip network, the unlikely duo begins piecing together a murder carefully staged to look like a tragic skiing accident. But when threatening notes and dangerous incidents make it clear the killer knows Chloe is asking questions, she realizes she's not just solving a mystery—she's fighting to protect her community and herself from someone who's already killed once and won't hesitate to kill again.
Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with clever protagonists and four-legged sleuths, Bitter Brew at Highland Ridge delivers small-town charm, witty banter, and a puzzle that will keep you guessing until the final page. Join Chloe and Biscuit as they navigate treacherous slopes both literal and figurative, proving that sometimes the best detective work requires equal parts human determination and canine intuition. This delightful fourth installment in The Paws and Powder Mysteries will warm your heart while keeping you on the edge of your seat as justice races down the mountain.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
As Chloe digs deeper into Lance's final days, she uncovers a tangled web of financial crimes, desperate people pushed to their breaking points, and carefully buried secrets that someone will kill to protect. From the business partner caught embezzling millions to the environmental activist facing a crushing lawsuit, from the resort manager threatened with career destruction to the security guard hiding years of theft, suspects emerge from every corner of the close-knit mountain community. With Biscuit's remarkable nose leading them to hidden evidence and Chloe's insider knowledge of the town's gossip network, the unlikely duo begins piecing together a murder carefully staged to look like a tragic skiing accident. But when threatening notes and dangerous incidents make it clear the killer knows Chloe is asking questions, she realizes she's not just solving a mystery—she's fighting to protect her community and herself from someone who's already killed once and won't hesitate to kill again.
Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with clever protagonists and four-legged sleuths, Bitter Brew at Highland Ridge delivers small-town charm, witty banter, and a puzzle that will keep you guessing until the final page. Join Chloe and Biscuit as they navigate treacherous slopes both literal and figurative, proving that sometimes the best detective work requires equal parts human determination and canine intuition. This delightful fourth installment in The Paws and Powder Mysteries will warm your heart while keeping you on the edge of your seat as justice races down the mountain.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Hailey Hartley's Bitter Brew at Highland Ridge