Into the Fire

Cozy mystery lovers, the Anna Denning Mystery Series is for you. Karin Kaufman writes the perfect little sleuth escape in Bitter Roots, the fifth book in this series.

Anna Denning and fiancé Gene are given a glorious gift from Gene's father at a luxury hotel in the mountains where they hope to lie back and enjoy doing nothing but what they want. Occupying separate rooms to honor their faith commitment to each other before marriage, the couple looks forward to the tranquility of this mini-vacation by themselves. However, there's a huge snowstorm that traps the guests and the few employees during this offseason adventure, eliminating land lines and cell service while threatening to eliminate the electrical grid. The manager keeps the massive stone fireplace stoked with plenty of wood and there's a kitchen full of food, but before too long there's a brutal murder.

As in these kind of mysteries, there's a diverse collection of characters, some with obvious nefarious agendas, and others who are just plain irritating. Anna and Gene do their best to keep to themselves, but it becomes impossible after the murder. A young female reporter (Kate) from a local - and disrespected - newspaper is on a secret mission to investigate the hotel manager and an employee for fraudulent activities, but things change - as they always do – when the person murdered is a friend of sorts.

The power goes off and the action accelerates. It's not good. Anna is thrust into action and Gene is the anchor in the mess.

With lies, Vodou weirdness, suspicions rampant, Anna must figure out who can be trusted and where there is a connection to what's happening at this isolated hotel. The instant the snow subsides enough to make contact, the Sheriff is summoned and the real investigating begins. It takes Anna, her web-reporter friend, and the rookie reporter Kate to dig deep enough to find the missing links.  

Karin Kaufmann always writes a good mystery and keeps readers guessing along the way. Read the entire series if you love cozy mysteries. And you won't be disappointed in Bitter Roots.

Father, Karin relies on you for all that she needs to accomplish what you ask of her. Please continue to bless her life with your abundance and many more stories to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.