Russet Hills and Final Exposures
(2025)(The sixth book in the Photographers and Foliage Mystery series)
A Story by Maisy Marple
Riley Crane spent a decade photographing endangered species in remote wilderness locations before severe burnout forced her to walk away from the career she loved. Now she's teaching photography at Thornwick College in Michigan, hoping to find peace in the quiet rhythms of academic life and the spectacular beauty of autumn along Lake Michigan's shore. When the college's Autumn Arts Festival brings together photographers from across the country to capture the stunning combination of golden sand dunes and crimson forests, Riley agrees to lead a masterclass on nature documentary photography. It's supposed to be simple—teach eager students, photograph beautiful landscapes, and finally leave behind the intensity of her previous life. But Riley's documentary eye was trained to see what others miss, and some skills refuse to stay dormant.
During the festival's opening gala at the historic Ashton Gallery, the college president is found dead in what appears to be a tragic accident. But Riley immediately notices inconsistencies in the scene that suggest something far more sinister. A sculpture positioned wrong. A missing memory card from the victim's camera. And several people who seem strangely unsurprised by the death. As Riley reluctantly begins asking questions, she discovers that nearly everyone at the gala had reason to want the president gone—budget cuts threatening beloved programs, a gallery facing demolition, embezzlement about to be exposed, and plagiarism allegations that could destroy careers. When Riley receives threatening messages warning her to stop investigating, she realizes the killer is watching her every move. With Detective Aimee Fournier's cautious approval, Riley uses her observational skills to document evidence and uncover motives, all while teaching her masterclass and trying to maintain the peaceful life she came to Thornwick to find.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Michigan's autumn shoreline, where massive sand dunes meet brilliant hardwood forests, Russet Hills and Final Exposures is the compelling conclusion to the Photographers and Foliage Mystery Series. Riley's final investigation forces her to confront difficult questions about purpose, burnout, and whether her documentary skills can serve justice without consuming her completely. As she photographs golden dunes and turquoise waters while hunting for a killer, Riley discovers that walking away from intense work wasn't failure—it was the beginning of finding balance. Perfect for fans of amateur sleuths, autumn atmosphere, and mysteries where the beauty of nature meets the complexity of human nature, this cozy mystery proves that sometimes the most important shots you capture aren't of landscapes or wildlife, but of truth being revealed one careful observation at a time.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
During the festival's opening gala at the historic Ashton Gallery, the college president is found dead in what appears to be a tragic accident. But Riley immediately notices inconsistencies in the scene that suggest something far more sinister. A sculpture positioned wrong. A missing memory card from the victim's camera. And several people who seem strangely unsurprised by the death. As Riley reluctantly begins asking questions, she discovers that nearly everyone at the gala had reason to want the president gone—budget cuts threatening beloved programs, a gallery facing demolition, embezzlement about to be exposed, and plagiarism allegations that could destroy careers. When Riley receives threatening messages warning her to stop investigating, she realizes the killer is watching her every move. With Detective Aimee Fournier's cautious approval, Riley uses her observational skills to document evidence and uncover motives, all while teaching her masterclass and trying to maintain the peaceful life she came to Thornwick to find.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Michigan's autumn shoreline, where massive sand dunes meet brilliant hardwood forests, Russet Hills and Final Exposures is the compelling conclusion to the Photographers and Foliage Mystery Series. Riley's final investigation forces her to confront difficult questions about purpose, burnout, and whether her documentary skills can serve justice without consuming her completely. As she photographs golden dunes and turquoise waters while hunting for a killer, Riley discovers that walking away from intense work wasn't failure—it was the beginning of finding balance. Perfect for fans of amateur sleuths, autumn atmosphere, and mysteries where the beauty of nature meets the complexity of human nature, this cozy mystery proves that sometimes the most important shots you capture aren't of landscapes or wildlife, but of truth being revealed one careful observation at a time.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Maisy Marple's Russet Hills and Final Exposures