A Trip with Trouble by Diane Kelly is the second book in the Mountain Lodge Mystery cozy mystery series. The series features a 50-ish divorcee who owns an inn in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
Title: A Trip with Trouble
Author: Diane Kelly
Series: Mountain Lodge Mystery #2
First Published: October 25, 2022
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genres: Mystery
Acquired: from the publisher via Netgalley
*** Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ***
When the ladies of the Dangerous Curves Motorcycle Club take over the Mountaintop Lodge for their annual autumn ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Misty Murphy couldn’t be more thrilled. Every room is full and the adventurous women even invite Misty and her assistant Brynn to join them on a ride to admire the colorful fall foliage. Hotel handyman Rocky Crowder is happy to keep an eye on the lodge for the day, and the ladies set out for a fun ride on the scenic road.
The skies are clear, the air is crisp, and the leaves are gorgeous. But what starts as a perfect ride turns worrisome when the tail gunner – the last rider in their group – fails to show up at the Craggy Gardens overlook. Cell phone service is spotty in the remote, mountainous area, and the group is unable to connect with their friend. Might the missing woman have simply run out of gas? Or is something far more sinister afoot?
The ladies are determined to locate their ride or die, and Misty is equally determined to help them. But will they be able to solve the mystery when the scenic route seems intent on hiding its secrets?
A fun sequel in an engaging cozy mystery series
I had such a great time with the first book in this series (click here to read my review of Book 1, Getaway with Murder) that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the sequel. I love the main character, Misty, who is a recently (amicably) divorced woman in her 50s. Her new venture, the Mountaintop Lodge, has brought her new friends, a possible new romance, and new adventures. I love that she’s mature, level-headed, and gets along well with the local law enforcement. The police, for their part, are competent, friendly, and willing to work with Misty and her friends to solve the murder.
As the second book in the series there was more character development and you could see the relationships between Misty, housekeeper Brynn, and handyman Rocky continue to solidify, especially as work to solve their second murder at the Inn. Misty knows her strengths and weaknesses and is a refreshing addition to the “over 50” crowd of amateur sleuths that seem to be increasing (no complaints here!)
So many suspects
There were a few suspects in this one and in hindsight, I could see that the reader is given all the clues required to solve the mystery. However, there were enough red herrings to keep me guessing until very nearly the end. During the course of the story, along with the twists and turns, there were also a few other subplots that added to the mystery. Even when I thought I had some aspects figured out, I was pleasantly surprised to find another twist in front of me.
Yeti, Misty’s beautiful white cat, adds a little more to the story in this book – some of the things that Yeti sees from her window perch gives the reader a bit more info that Misty isn’t around for, which adds an extra level of interest. Overall, the story was really well written and a great cozy mystery to spend the weekend with. The sequel may have been even better than the first book in the series so I’m really looking forward to the third book!
Quote from A Trip with Trouble
