Nora Bennett has found her home in Harvest Hollow, Colorado—a charming mountain town where she runs The Alpine Stein, a cozy brewpub serving craft beers to locals and tourists alike. With her elderly chocolate lab Stout snoring by the fireplace and her best friend Mallory always ready with coffee and conversation, Nora is looking forward to the town's twenty-fifth anniversary Octoberfest celebration. But when a wealthy Boston developer named Preston Caldwell arrives with aggressive plans to transform the historic Silverpoint Mine into a luxury resort, the festival's cheerful atmosphere turns tense. Preston's ruthless tactics—threatening local businesses, destroying conservation projects, and systematically targeting anyone who opposes his vision—leave a trail of anger and broken dreams throughout the community.
When Preston is found dead near the mine entrance during the festival's third night, what initially appears to be a tragic accident quickly reveals itself as something far more sinister. With a missing phone, suspicious evidence, and half the town harboring reasons to want the developer gone, Nora finds herself drawn into the investigation. Guided by mysterious anonymous texts that lead her to crucial clues, she begins unraveling a complex web of motives, alibis, and carefully planted evidence. As Nora digs deeper with help from Mallory and other concerned citizens, she discovers that Preston had literally made a list of people to eliminate as obstacles—and now someone is trying to frame her for his murder. With the killer still at large and the festival continuing around her, Nora must figure out who wanted Preston dead before she becomes the next victim.
Racing against time as the Octoberfest draws to a close, Nora realizes that the obvious suspects might be exactly what the real killer wants everyone to see. The truth lies not in who hated Preston most, but in who stood to gain the most from his death. Can Nora separate revenge from real motive, or will a killer's carefully laid plans succeed in destroying both her reputation and her life? Pour yourself a glass of autumn's finest and settle in for a cozy mystery filled with mountain charm, small-town secrets, and a determined brewer who won't stop until justice is served—no matter how dangerous the truth becomes.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
When Preston is found dead near the mine entrance during the festival's third night, what initially appears to be a tragic accident quickly reveals itself as something far more sinister. With a missing phone, suspicious evidence, and half the town harboring reasons to want the developer gone, Nora finds herself drawn into the investigation. Guided by mysterious anonymous texts that lead her to crucial clues, she begins unraveling a complex web of motives, alibis, and carefully planted evidence. As Nora digs deeper with help from Mallory and other concerned citizens, she discovers that Preston had literally made a list of people to eliminate as obstacles—and now someone is trying to frame her for his murder. With the killer still at large and the festival continuing around her, Nora must figure out who wanted Preston dead before she becomes the next victim.
Racing against time as the Octoberfest draws to a close, Nora realizes that the obvious suspects might be exactly what the real killer wants everyone to see. The truth lies not in who hated Preston most, but in who stood to gain the most from his death. Can Nora separate revenge from real motive, or will a killer's carefully laid plans succeed in destroying both her reputation and her life? Pour yourself a glass of autumn's finest and settle in for a cozy mystery filled with mountain charm, small-town secrets, and a determined brewer who won't stop until justice is served—no matter how dangerous the truth becomes.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Maisy Marple's The Final Tap