Tracks in the Snow at Stoneridge
(2026)(The sixth book in the Paws and Powder Mystery series)
A novel by Hailey Hartley
When resort naturalist Harper Daniels discovers the body of snowshoe guide Ian Burke on a closed mountain trail at dawn, everyone assumes it's a tragic accident—experienced guides sometimes get overconfident, and winter conditions can be deadly. But Harper's Norwegian Elkhound, Thor, won't stop alerting to disturbed snow fifty feet from the body, and Harper's years of tracking wildlife tell her something is very wrong with the scene. The boot prints don't match snowshoe patterns, the victim's equipment shows signs of deliberate damage, and most troubling of all, the trail gate was locked from the outside after Ian died. Someone with after-hours access killed Ian Burke and staged it to look like an accident, and Harper realizes the murderer is someone she sees every day at Stoneridge Resort.
As Harper investigates Ian's final weeks despite management pressure to accept the accident narrative, she uncovers secrets that someone was willing to kill to protect. From the security supervisor running a lucrative theft ring to the operations manager covering up dangerous safety violations, suspects emerge from every corner of the tight-knit resort community. Ian had discovered crimes that threatened careers and fortunes, and when he tried to do the right thing by confronting the guilty parties, he paid with his life. With Thor's remarkable tracking instincts leading her to hidden evidence and her own knowledge of mountain ecology helping her reconstruct what really happened, Harper begins to piece together a carefully planned murder that exploited the victim's sense of duty and love of the wilderness. But when Harper gets too close to the truth, the killer strikes back with escalating threats—anonymous notes, sabotaged equipment, and finally a violent attack that nearly costs Harper her life.
In a tense confrontation on the same trail where Ian died, Harper must use her knowledge of the mountain, Thor's protective instincts, and her own courage to survive an encounter with someone who's already killed once and has nothing left to lose. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with clever protagonists and loyal four-legged companions, Tracks in the Snow at Stoneridge delivers small-town intrigue with genuine danger, witty banter with heartfelt emotion, and a puzzle that keeps you guessing until the explosive final reveal. Join Harper and Thor as they prove that sometimes the gentlest souls make the fiercest protectors, and that justice is worth fighting for even when the fight comes at a personal cost. This gripping sixth installment in The Paws and Powder Mysteries will keep you on the edge of your seat while warming your heart with its celebration of loyalty, courage, and the unbreakable bond between a woman and her dog.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
As Harper investigates Ian's final weeks despite management pressure to accept the accident narrative, she uncovers secrets that someone was willing to kill to protect. From the security supervisor running a lucrative theft ring to the operations manager covering up dangerous safety violations, suspects emerge from every corner of the tight-knit resort community. Ian had discovered crimes that threatened careers and fortunes, and when he tried to do the right thing by confronting the guilty parties, he paid with his life. With Thor's remarkable tracking instincts leading her to hidden evidence and her own knowledge of mountain ecology helping her reconstruct what really happened, Harper begins to piece together a carefully planned murder that exploited the victim's sense of duty and love of the wilderness. But when Harper gets too close to the truth, the killer strikes back with escalating threats—anonymous notes, sabotaged equipment, and finally a violent attack that nearly costs Harper her life.
In a tense confrontation on the same trail where Ian died, Harper must use her knowledge of the mountain, Thor's protective instincts, and her own courage to survive an encounter with someone who's already killed once and has nothing left to lose. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with clever protagonists and loyal four-legged companions, Tracks in the Snow at Stoneridge delivers small-town intrigue with genuine danger, witty banter with heartfelt emotion, and a puzzle that keeps you guessing until the explosive final reveal. Join Harper and Thor as they prove that sometimes the gentlest souls make the fiercest protectors, and that justice is worth fighting for even when the fight comes at a personal cost. This gripping sixth installment in The Paws and Powder Mysteries will keep you on the edge of your seat while warming your heart with its celebration of loyalty, courage, and the unbreakable bond between a woman and her dog.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Hailey Hartley's Tracks in the Snow at Stoneridge