I would particularly like to thank Tules Publishing and the Netgalley website for this partnership.

It all starts when a young mother is murdered, her husband is immediately suspected. But there are two men: the biological father and the adoptive father who is fighting cancer.

A book read in one go so much I hooked on the story so gripping, captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns. I found the characters endearing. Looking forward to reading the full series.

Really enjoyed reading this book. Lots of twists and turns in the storyline. Interesting characters in there too. All very good and easy to read.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Tule Publishing and the author, CJ Carmichael, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Bitter End in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
This was the first time I read a book by this author. It certainly will not be the last.
I thought the storyline was well written with engaging and realistic characters. It was a suspenseful and emotional read. I Cannot wait to read more from this author. 3.5 stars
Well worth a read.

This was the third book in a trilogy but it mostly worked as a stand-alone. There were quite a few details missing that felt like they finally trickled in to explain the actions in the first two books but it was not enough to detract from the story. I liked this story but I didn't love it. It was a good mystery but the action was a little slow. I didn't really like the characters that much, they were not very deep and their friendships were pretty shallow. I may have felt that way because I was reading the last of a trilogy without having read the other books. Willow and Justin were college sweethearts but broke up when she ran off with Paul. She and Paul have a child and Willow returns to Justin, marries him, turns over custody of her daughter to him then runs off with Paul again. Justin loves his daughter with all his might but has found out that he has cancer. Willow discovers Justin's cancer and returns to take her daughter away. In the meantime, Willow is murdered and Justin and Paul are the chief suspects. Newly appointed deputy, Zak, must dig into the town's past and discover the killer before an innocent person is accused. This book was just OK. They writing was fair but I didn't really care much about the characters so will probably not be reading the previous two books. Thanks go to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Willow McTavish is murdered in the small town of Lost Trail. She is not a well liked woman, having grown up in Lost Trail but then left, got involved with one man, acquired a child, returned to Lost Trail to marry here childhood sweetheart more for convenience than love's sake, and then left him again, leaving him with the child, whom he comes to love as his own. Then, another year or two later, she returns once more, this time to take the child away for good. There are people a-plenty who would want her dead. Sheriff Ford quickly jumps to convenient conclusions regarding the likely killer but newly-made deputy Zak Waller isn't convinced and the book follows the ensuing investigation mostly from Zak's point of view.

I had not read the first two books in this ''Bitter Root' series and I found the constant references to people and events that I could only half-guess at unclear and cumbersome. So many people were introduced in the first half of the book, and so many veiled references made to past events, that it was very difficult to work out who the main characters were and who or what was important. I found this pretty disconcerting. More helpful would have been some kind of clear discussion of past events or alternatively the author could have just ignored all those that were not pertinent to the current story.

The are a couple of good characters and the plot is quite pacy once you get past the half-hinted-at echoes of the past history, but I couldn't take to the style; I found the characters lacking in depth and their interaction and conversations somewhat twee. Perhaps this was deliberate as the author tried to conjure up the 'small town' feel, but I found it stifling.

Even though I am not encouraged personally to read other books in the series, preferring more subtlety and depth of character, the pace does pick up, the story is well thought out and I enjoyed the second half more once it got going.. I have no doubt that followers of the author and/or style will thoroughly enjoy a good and well-paced story.

Just a warning ... I see that in the blurb for the book, the advertiser has said, "Perfect for fans of the British television film Broadchurch". No, it is not! This book is a far cry from the brilliant character studies and the profound exploration of the effects of murder on a small town that we were treated to in Broadchurch. No comparison, in my clearly less-than-humble view!

Lost Trail, Montana, is a small town full of secrets. Zak Waller has lived here all his life and perfected the art of fading into the background, but he is finally ready to step into a new phase of life. After solving a couple high profile murders, he has earned his deputy’s badge to go along with his dispatcher duties. The newest murder brings home the need for more change in the top spot of law enforcement in Lost Trail.
The murder mystery drew me in and the secondary stories kept me turning the pages. I really enjoy the way the author paced the story and developed the characters, and there are twists to make things even more interesting.
This is the third book in the Bitter Root series, and while I have enjoyed every one, the author supplies enough background information that it can stand alone. If you enjoy murder mysteries, especially those set in small towns, with well-written characters
#BiitterEnd #BitterRootMysteries #CJCarmichael #ReadTulez

I’m late to the party in this series, this being number 3, so there are things that I have had to assume happened! Like the baby swop for example. That said there is enough of it in this book to allow me to read and enjoy it. In fact I may go back and read exactly what happened.

This is set in middle America where not much happens (they same way that not much happens in Agatha Christie’s St Mary Mead !!!) and where personality crashes and misdemeanours last generations. And the book is all the stronger for it. I’m quite interested to see what happens next.

Not my usual type of book but thoroughly enjoyed it

WOW!! I was blown away, intrigued and held in suspense while reading Biter End by CJ Carmichael, the third book in her Bitter Roots Mysteries series. Zak Waller is Lost Trail’s newest deputy, but the promotion doesn’t diminish his power struggle with the town’s old-school Sheriff. Zak investigates the murder of a young mother who just recently returned to town after a year absence. Problematic for Zak is the list of suspects, especially the father of her child. In this case, there are two: the biological father who hasn’t seen his daughter in over a year and the adoptive father whose life is in limbo as he struggles with cancer. Zak is aware enough to know that these two are not the only two suspects as he looks for additional clues to determine who else might be involved. Hopefully, Zak’s open mind toward the case will help him in solving the case, even if it does cause additional drama with the closed minded Sheriff. Solving the case might just be the impetus Zak needs to run against the Sheriff in the next election.

Ms. Carmichael wrote a wonderfully moving story that is not to be missed. It kept me on my toes, guessing and wondering what would happen next throughout this story. This story is filled with sexual attraction, fun dialogue, and endearing characters. I highly recommend this book to other readers and look forward to the next book in the series

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This was the first book I've read in the Bitter Root series, and I enjoyed most of it. It was filled with vivid characters and plenty of conflict, plus people I was rooting for. The writing was great on a scene-by-scene basis, and the author fills in enough of the complicated backstory that I didn't fill lost. However, two of the biggest questions of the entire book (the outcome of Justin's cancer treatment and the outcome of the election) are both revealed in summary chapters that skip ahead in time and deny me the payoff I wanted after being emotionally invested in the storylines. That part feels like a cheat. I wanted to be there IN the resolution of those issues, not just told about them afterward. Other than that, I would have given this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I'll definitely try the next in the series...hoping the author includes the reader in the resolution in that one!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fitting end to CJ Carmichael’sBitter Root mystery series, Bitter End brings readers back to Lost Trail Montana, a quiet little town where generally nothing much ever happens. At least that’s how things look on the surface, but with murders happening for very little apparent reason it’s clear that something is afoot.
Enter Zac Walker, dispatcher in the sheriff’s office and amateur sleuth par excellence. Zac has a knack for digging deep for the truth and in the first two books in this series he has successfully solved two murders. Of course Bitter
End brings with it another murder for Zac to solve.
I loved the plot twists in this novel and the fact that there were so many possible suspects. I was intrigued by the side stories that took place as the novel progressed, and I loved how it all came to a nice conclusion at the end. This book had me on the edge of my seat throughout.

I've been a CJ Carmichael fan since I chanced upon her First Bitter Root Mystery.
Love the easy storytelling, perfect read for cosy nights!!!

An awesome mystery that takes place in the small town of Lost Trail Montana. A young mother is murdered and the new Deputy Zak wants to solve, especially since he wants to run for the town sheriff. There are lots of potential suspects, but some of the clues are not adding up. Zak will not give up until the killer is found, and boy was I surprised.

This story had many twists and turns of who done it. It was also great to catch up previous characters. Love Justin and Geneva. This book is part of a series, it can be read as stand alone but so much better when read in order. I highly recommend this page turner small town with layers of secrets.

This book is everything a psychological thriller/mystery should be! The author created characters that are well developed and a plot that moves along quickly! I found myself completely immersed in this one! Highly recommend!

Bitter End by CJ Carmichael is the third in the Bitter Root Mystery Series featuring the residents of Lost Trail, Montana and my first read of the series. The protagonist here, and apparently in earlier books is Zak Waller, a sheriff’s deputy. From the way this book reads, Zak was a dispatcher in earlier books who solved two different murders, although he let the sheriff take the credit. Through the insistence of some of Zak’s friends, a wealthy, powerful family, the sheriff has been compelled to promote Zak to deputy, although he still has his dispatch duties to fulfill..

The book has several secondary storylines. Including a planned bone marrow transplant for Justin, one of the local citizens who is also learning to accept the fact he was swapped at birth and now how a different biological family. In another, Zak is attracted to Nadine, one of the sheriff’s deputies and there is some light development of their ongoing relationship. Additional storylines include Zak and Nadine investigating where the third deputy, Butterfield, spends his days and Tiff, the new-found sister of Justin becoming more involved in running her family’s Christmas tree farm. The book is told from multiple points of view, moving back and forth from one person to the next. These are easy to keep separate and it adds to the pacing of the book, helping to keep it moving forward.

In this book, Willow, a former resident of Lost Trail, has returned to town to reclaim her child and take her to Colorado. Willow is introduced as a calculating, somewhat heartless woman and has been followed by Paul, who seems to have a strong hold over her and wants her to return to their jet-setting lifestyle. There are multiple references to abuse of some sort, particularly toward the child, however these are not specified.

Plotting for this mystery is well-done with clues and red-herrings sprinkled liberally throughout the novel. There are a couple of twists at the end of the book which could have the reader thinking, “I should have seen that” if they didn’t and feeling gratified at their ability to solve the mystery if they did. None of the clues or red-herrings are so blatant as to telegraph the end of the story.

Although this is a self-contained mystery, the reader is at a distinct disadvantage if it is the first book they are reading in the series. Likewise, the end of the book blatantly foreshadows the next book in the series which, if the foreshadowing holds true, sets up the storyline that will lead to the next book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Tule Publishing for a review copy of Bitter End, the third novel to feature Deputy Zak Waller of Lost Trail Montana.

When Willow McTavish is murdered in the small town of Lost Trail Sheriff Ford soon fastens on to a suspect but newest deputy Zak Waller isn't so sure and mounts his own investigation.

Bitter End is an enjoyable read with its mixture of small town characters and whodunnit plot. It's a bit cosy for my taste but is very well done for the genre. It is mostly told from Zac's point of view but also focuses on a couple of other characters and their domestic issues. It is the first novel in the series I have read so I got a little lost in the references to past events but as they are mentioned frequently I soon caught up. The downside is that there is now no point in reading the previous novels.

I thought the solution to the shooting was well thought out and the lead up to the denouement well paced with Zak working through his evidence and the past to reach his conclusions. I just found all the extraneous detail of the various characters' lives and loves fairly tedious although I'm sure that genre aficionados will love it.

Bitter End is not really my thing so I'm lukewarm towards it but I can appreciate its strengths and am sure it will appeal to anyone who likes a good cosy.

Lost Trail. Montana -- small town full of unique characters. Zak Waller has been the police dispatcher for awhile. With a penchant toward solving crimes, he has been given a badge .. now he's also a Deputy.. but still has to to the dispatch work. The Sheriff is not too happy, but public opinion insisted.

Willow is a woman .. not too well liked in Lost Trail, even though she grew up there. She and Justin were high school sweethearts before she left to see the world. Last year she married Justin then turned around and left him and her daughter and disappeared.

Justin has taken care of Geneva, the 4-year-old darling that he adopted. He loves her as much as he would love his own child if he had one.

Months have gone by, life goes on, and then there she is ... Willow back in Lost Trail. She's decided that she would like 'her' daughter back and she's planning on grabbing Geneva and just leaving.

Willow is found murdered, her body left in the cemetery where her parents are buried.

Zak is known for his patience, common sense, and his ability to see connections other people often miss. As he starts investigating, he finds many suspects .. but who wanted Willow dead?

Did her ex-husband kill her to keep her from taking his daughter? Her present lover who has rented a place to keep an eye on Willow? Another woman who wants her to leave Justin alone? Any of the other residents who harbor hate?

Although 3rd in the series, this does well as a stand alone. However, I do recommend starting at the beginning. Zak is a unique character, very likeable, and solid. Justin makes a good character as well, although he is dealing with a recurrence of cancer. The lady who runs the day care center maybe has a 'thing' for Justin. Another Deputy ..female.. really likes Zak, but neither of them have made a move yet.

This is a well written mystery, a page turner, with twists and turns and relationships that seem to be topsy turvy. Looking forward to the next Bitter Root Mystery.

Many thanks to the author / Tule Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this mystery. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Bitter End is book three of Zak Waller’s rise from dispatcher to deputy story. You see a better future for his town if he was to become sheriff. He is the man you would want to investigate the crime in your town.

CJ Carmichael knows small-town, writing with wit, honesty and a realism that places you right dab smack in the middle of a murder investigation. Right when I think I knew who the guilty party was, something else came to light. This is cozy mystery western style. Great reading.

Bitter End by C. J. Carmichael
Murder in a small town is always personal.
When a young mother is murdered in the isolated ranching town of Lost Trail, Montana, the father of her child is the first suspect. In this case, there are two: the biological father who hasn’t seen his daughter in over a year and the adoptive father whose life hangs in the balance as he struggles with cancer.
Zak Waller is Lost Trail’s newest deputy. He’s also locked in a power struggle with the town’s old-school Sheriff. If Zak solves this case maybe he’ll finally get the respect he deserves. But is he willing to tear a family apart in the process?
This is Nadine Black and Zak Waller's story.
Willow married Justin to give her young daughter a father.
This story is about the murder case of Willow McTavish.
Zak Waller leaned against the corral fence, watching as Deputy Nadine Black ran her new horse, Making Magic, through her paces. He knew little about horses or rodeo, but it seemed to him Nadine’s new horse was living up to her name.
“Looking good!” he called out as they circled by him.
Zak is also hard at work on the murder case of Willow McTavish. There are a lot of suspects, but the clues just aren’t adding up.
Nadine smiled, but kept her focus on the track. She’d set up a barrel-racing course in the corral next to the barn and was taking her time getting her new quarter horse used to the pattern.
“I have a confession,” she said.The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. “Yeah?”
“I filed papers with the county to have my name go on the ballot for Sheriff.”
He froze. Slowly turned to stare at her. “You didn’t.”
I highly recommend reading.
Bitter End by C J Carmichael is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by C. J. Carmichael.
C. J. 's Books with Tule:
Promise Me, Cowboy
Carrigans of the Circle C
The 75th Copper Mountain Rodeo
Good Together
Carrigans of the Circle C
Close to Her Heart
Carrigans of the Circle C
Snowbound in Montana
Carrigans of the Circle C
A Cowgirl’s Christmas
Carrigans of the Circle C
Writing the Bestseller: Romantic and Commercial Fiction
Non-Fiction
Writing the Bestseller II: Romantic and Commercial Fiction
Non-Fiction
A Bramble House Christmas
Carrigans of the Circle C
Melt My Heart, Cowboy
Love at the Chocolate Shop
Bitter Roots
Bitter Root Mysteries
Sweet Dreams, Baby
Love at the Chocolate Shop
Bitter Truth
Bitter Root Mysteries
Bitter End

I had the pleasure of reading an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book. It is not my usual genre but I really enjoyed it!
It has several characters in it as this is book three of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed it so much that I plan to read books 1 and 2 and am looking forward to book 4!
Kudos to C.J. Carmichael!

This was the first book from this author that I have read. I like the way the author gave enough information about the characters so that I did not have to read the other books to follow the plot. Likewise, there is also a foreshadow of what's to come.

The plot was good, but somewhat boring. I think maybe there were just too many characters and perhaps I would have enjoyed the book better if I could have just concentrated on the current situation/mystery.