Stranded with Secrets
(2026)(The second book in the Track and Tails Mystery series)
A novel by Hailey Hartley
Jessica Moreno loves her job as a freight coordinator for the Silver Crest luxury train line. The work is predictable, the routes are familiar, and she gets to bring her faithful German Shepherd, Hank, along for the ride. But when a bridge washout strands the Silver Crest in remote Ravencrest Canyon with forty-three passengers and no way out, Jessica's routine overnight run turns into anything but ordinary. When Hank discovers the body of a financial analyst hidden in the baggage car, strangled with a luggage strap, Jessica realizes she's trapped on a train with a killer who's desperate to keep deadly secrets buried.
With rescue at least two days away and tension mounting among the stranded passengers, Jessica teams up with the train's no-nonsense conductor to investigate. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a web of corporate fraud, falsified identities, and millions of dollars in embezzlement. The charming CFO, the nervous dining car manager, the mysterious journalist, and even a board member all have secrets they'd rather keep hidden. But which one of them was willing to commit murder to protect those secrets? With Hank's keen nose leading the way and a storm raging outside, Jessica must piece together the clues before the killer strikes again.
Racing against time in the claustrophobic confines of a stranded train, Jessica discovers that solving a murder is nothing like coordinating freight manifests. Every passenger is a potential suspect, every cabin could hide crucial evidence, and every hour brings them closer to either justice or disaster. Can a freight coordinator with a knack for spotting patterns catch a killer who's already proven they'll do anything to escape? One thing's certain: this journey is going to be anything but routine, and by the time rescue arrives, nothing on the Silver Crest will ever be the same.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
With rescue at least two days away and tension mounting among the stranded passengers, Jessica teams up with the train's no-nonsense conductor to investigate. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a web of corporate fraud, falsified identities, and millions of dollars in embezzlement. The charming CFO, the nervous dining car manager, the mysterious journalist, and even a board member all have secrets they'd rather keep hidden. But which one of them was willing to commit murder to protect those secrets? With Hank's keen nose leading the way and a storm raging outside, Jessica must piece together the clues before the killer strikes again.
Racing against time in the claustrophobic confines of a stranded train, Jessica discovers that solving a murder is nothing like coordinating freight manifests. Every passenger is a potential suspect, every cabin could hide crucial evidence, and every hour brings them closer to either justice or disaster. Can a freight coordinator with a knack for spotting patterns catch a killer who's already proven they'll do anything to escape? One thing's certain: this journey is going to be anything but routine, and by the time rescue arrives, nothing on the Silver Crest will ever be the same.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Hailey Hartley's Stranded with Secrets