Shadows in the Shed
(2026)(The second book in the Last Range Mystery series)
A novel by Hailey Hartley
When large animal veterinarian Dr. Amanda Sullivan discovers ranch foreman Wade Parker's body near the calving shed at Brennan Ranch, the sheriff quickly rules it a tragic accident. But Mandy knows ranching, and something about the scene doesn't add up. Wade was too experienced to make careless mistakes around heavy equipment, and her Australian Cattle Dog Rusty won't stop alerting at the scene, his instincts screaming that something is wrong. As Mandy digs deeper with help from her best friend Tessa and interference from Rusty's stubborn determination to investigate every corner of that shed, she uncovers a web of secrets that connects four of Copper Ridge's most respected ranching families.
Wade had discovered something worth killing for—a five-year-old insurance fraud scheme that netted thousands of dollars during a brutal Montana winter. For eight months, he'd been systematically blackmailing the families involved, collecting payments and planning his escape. But when Wade demanded one final payout that would wipe out his victim's savings, someone decided murder was cheaper than fifty thousand dollars. With threatening notes appearing on her doorstep, her truck tires slashed, and a dark sedan following her on deserted roads, Mandy realizes the killer knows she's getting close and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the past buried.
Racing against time with Rusty's nose leading the way and Deputy Pete Collins quietly supporting her investigation, Mandy must figure out which of the desperate ranchers struck the fatal blow before she becomes the next victim. In a tight-knit community where family legacy matters more than truth and neighbors protect their own at any cost, uncovering a killer means risking everything Mandy has built in Copper Ridge. But Wade Parker deserves justice, and Dr. Amanda Sullivan has never been one to back down when lives are on the line—even when that life might be her own.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Wade had discovered something worth killing for—a five-year-old insurance fraud scheme that netted thousands of dollars during a brutal Montana winter. For eight months, he'd been systematically blackmailing the families involved, collecting payments and planning his escape. But when Wade demanded one final payout that would wipe out his victim's savings, someone decided murder was cheaper than fifty thousand dollars. With threatening notes appearing on her doorstep, her truck tires slashed, and a dark sedan following her on deserted roads, Mandy realizes the killer knows she's getting close and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the past buried.
Racing against time with Rusty's nose leading the way and Deputy Pete Collins quietly supporting her investigation, Mandy must figure out which of the desperate ranchers struck the fatal blow before she becomes the next victim. In a tight-knit community where family legacy matters more than truth and neighbors protect their own at any cost, uncovering a killer means risking everything Mandy has built in Copper Ridge. But Wade Parker deserves justice, and Dr. Amanda Sullivan has never been one to back down when lives are on the line—even when that life might be her own.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Hailey Hartley's Shadows in the Shed