Golden Aspens and Final Frames
(2025)(The third book in the Photographers and Foliage Mystery series)
A Story by Maisy Marple
Harper Sinclair once photographed grizzly bears in remote Alaskan wilderness, but a climbing accident ended that chapter of her career. Now she teaches photography workshops, sharing her expertise while coming to terms with her new reality. This autumn retreat at Whispering Pines Ranch in Colorado's Rocky Mountains should be straightforward—ten eager students, three days of capturing golden aspens at their peak, and a chance to prove she's found her footing as an instructor. But when one participant turns out to be more interested in scouting property than learning composition, tensions run high among the group. Some students have old grudges. Others harbor dark secrets. And everyone seems to have a reason to avoid the arrogant developer who's made enemies of half the retreat.
When the developer is found dead beneath a fallen aspen branch in what appears to be a tragic hiking accident, Harper's photographer's eye catches details that don't add up. The branch shows suspicious cut marks. Evidence has been moved. And Harper realizes she's not just teaching aperture settings and golden hour lighting—she's documenting a murder scene. As the local sheriff treats the death as an accident, Harper begins her own investigation, using the same observational skills that once helped her track wildlife to track a killer instead. With her young assistant Luna helping to research the victim's shady business dealings, Harper discovers that nearly everyone at the retreat had a motive to want the developer gone. The challenge isn't finding suspects—it's narrowing them down before someone else becomes a target.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Colorado's golden aspen groves and mountain vistas, Golden Aspens and Final Frames is a light-hearted cozy mystery about second chances, finding purpose after loss, and learning to see truth through a camera lens. Perfect for fans of amateur sleuths, autumn atmosphere, and mysteries where the beauty of nature meets the darkness of human nature. Harper's journey from wildlife photographer to accidental detective proves that sometimes the most important shots you capture aren't of animals or landscapes—they're of justice being served, one careful observation at a time.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
When the developer is found dead beneath a fallen aspen branch in what appears to be a tragic hiking accident, Harper's photographer's eye catches details that don't add up. The branch shows suspicious cut marks. Evidence has been moved. And Harper realizes she's not just teaching aperture settings and golden hour lighting—she's documenting a murder scene. As the local sheriff treats the death as an accident, Harper begins her own investigation, using the same observational skills that once helped her track wildlife to track a killer instead. With her young assistant Luna helping to research the victim's shady business dealings, Harper discovers that nearly everyone at the retreat had a motive to want the developer gone. The challenge isn't finding suspects—it's narrowing them down before someone else becomes a target.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Colorado's golden aspen groves and mountain vistas, Golden Aspens and Final Frames is a light-hearted cozy mystery about second chances, finding purpose after loss, and learning to see truth through a camera lens. Perfect for fans of amateur sleuths, autumn atmosphere, and mysteries where the beauty of nature meets the darkness of human nature. Harper's journey from wildlife photographer to accidental detective proves that sometimes the most important shots you capture aren't of animals or landscapes—they're of justice being served, one careful observation at a time.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Maisy Marple's Golden Aspens and Final Frames