Hunter's Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor is a gripping and atmospheric sequel that beautifully blends historical detail with a compelling mystery. Set against the backdrop of 1965 Vermont during a tumultuous time with the Vietnam War escalating, Taylor creates a vivid world filled with intrigue and complex characters. Detective Warren and Alice Bellows are both navigating personal and political tensions, which adds depth to the suspense. The snowstorm setting adds a claustrophobic and urgent atmosphere that keeps the stakes high. While I would have loved a bit more resolution on certain plot threads, the slow-building tension and richly drawn scenes made for a thoroughly engaging read. A excellent continuation of this series that captures a fascinating period in history while delivering a satisfying mystery.

Thank you Minotaur Books, #partner, for the advanced copy of Hunter’s Heart Ridge in exchange for my honest review.

I cannot tell you how much I am loving this series. Historical mysteries have really become a favorite sub-genre of mine & this particular series is just spectacular! There is such a clear sense of place and time. I haven’t read too many books set in the 1960s and yet I felt myself fully immersed in both the time period and the story itself. I loved all the little details that the author placed throughout the book to remind us of the time period.⁣
⁣
I loved the locked-room mystery that Detective Warren finds himself working on…it was so much more involved than what it first appeared to be. And the weather doesn’t help the investigation. You could feel the tension ramp up amongst those stuck at the hunting lodge where the murder took place, the older generation pitted against the younger because of what is happening in the country during this time. ⁣
⁣
While we don’t see Alice being the amateur sleuth she was in the previous book, she does find herself in an equally tense position. And this scene (don’t want to say too much for fear of spoilers) was so nerve-wracking yet also perfectly set to the time. I loved it! ⁣
⁣
This could easily be read as a stand-alone, though I highly recommend picking up the previous book, Agony Hill, to get a richer feel for both Warren and Alice. This is one series I highly recommend!!! And I hope it’s not the last we’ve seen of them!

HUNTER'S HEART RIDGE by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Agony Hill) is the second in a mystery series featuring state police detective Frank Warren and his neighbor Alice Bellows set in 1965 Vermont. It is the start of deer season when Warren and his assistant, Pinky Goodrich, are called to the Ridge Club, an exclusive hunting club, due to what is first presumed to be an accidental shooting death. Soon an early blizzard arrives, and the two police officers are marooned at the club, with plenty of likely suspects (diplomats, soldiers, and businessmen who have known each other for over twenty years) and even more weapons. Although Warren seems out of his depth at times and his questioning of suspects is rather repetitive, Taylor adds suspense due to the dangerous storm, discovery of another body, and an unexpected childbirth. She clearly cares for these characters, flaws included, and their tense, edgy adventures are likely to appeal to readers who enjoy works by Elly Griffiths, Ann Cleeves, and Jane Harper.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I really enjoyed this book and read it in one day. I loved the storyline and the characters. I thought the characters had great growth. I would definitely recommend this book.

Hunter's Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor, for me I found this a hard book to get into. I know may loved this book, I just did not connect with it. Having said that I would still recommend to others, because I know not everyone enjpys the same books.. Since my star button does not seem to work any longer I left 2 stars.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press the publisher, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This is just a true who done it "locked door" mystery.
Set in Vermont, police go to investigate a death and every one of course gets snowed in with the first winter storm and more incidents happen, but with the amount of characters and all the secrets you really aren't sure who is the killer.

I love when a book is set in New England, being from here it just allows me to visualize and make a movie in my head with everything going on.

My only issue with this story was the amount of characters and needing to keep them straight. Other than that such a good classic mystery.

Good to see these characters again in a new plot! Strong personalities, good plot lines. An enjoyable read; hope there are more in the series coming.

I felt this was a good follow up to Agony Hill. I learned more about Warren and Alice. There is the murder of a diplomat at the exclusive Ridge Club. A freak snowstorm hits and all the likely suspects are trapped in the lodge turning this into a locked room mystery which I quite liked. In the mean time Alice is helping Sylvie during the storm and contemplating why her old handler, Arthur Crannock, is in the area. Is he somehow connected to the murder? This was not a fast story but I still found it a page turner and I enjoyed the characters and the mystery. I am looking forward to reading more adventures with Warren and Alice. Perhaps we might even see a love story.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.

Thanks to Minotaur for a copy of Hunter's Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor. This is book two in the series and is a police/detective mystery set in Vermont in the 1960s.

This is a locked-room mystery with beautiful storytelling. I enjoyed this book and Agony Hill, the first book in the series but they are slower paced with deep characters. I liked seeing Frank and Alice as they tried to piece together the murder of a diplomat during a raging snowstorm.

These books are more police in a small town historical mystery vs thriller and if you enjoy more of a mystery you'll enjoy this book and series.

It’s 1965 and the start of deer season in Bethany, Vermont with a snowstorm fast approaching. Detective Franklin Warren is called up to The Ridge Club, a hunting lodge, when a former diplomat, Bill Moulton, is found dead in an apparent hunting accident. As Warren and his assistant, Pinky, interview the guests they’re stranded by this intense storm with downed phone and power lines.

Alice Bellows is unsettled by the reappearance of an old intelligence agent, Arthur Crannock. He and his wife have bought a home nearby and are in the process of remodeling. It’s been years since Alice’s diplomat/spy husband died. Years since Alice has assisted with missions, but she’s suspicious of Arthur’s motives. Alice needs to figure out if she’s in danger.

Sylvie Weber, now heavily pregnant, tags along with Alice to a poetry reading. Alice gets caught out at Sylvie’s farm when the snowstorm arrives in full force.

This was a locked door sort of mystery with the guests of the Ridge Club stranded with Detective Warren and Pinky. There are several with a motive to kill Moulton and so they’re all in danger. Especially when the guests are reluctant to divulge information. It’s a mystery that kept me guessing!

Hunter’s Heart Ridge is the second book in a series best read in order, even though this is a new mystery. The history and relationships from the last book carry over, deepening and progressing here. We get more of Alice’s history, parts of it surprising and personally painful for her. I worry about Arthur’s presence. I continue to root for Sylvie and Warren even if it’s difficult. As with the first book, the time period was an interesting feature, and the setting of a wintery Vermont was richly portrayed! I’m eager for the next installment!

In Sarah Stewart Taylor’s follow up to Agony Hill she takes you back to Bethany, Vermont in 1965 where deer hunting season has begun and the body of a former ambassador is discovered. State investigator Franklin Warren must tread carefully when he is called to the scene. The Ridge Club has been host to celebrities, industrialists and presidents. The ambassador had been hunting with three friends who had last met up in 1946, when an argument between the men led to physical violence. The men claim that all was forgiven and there was no animosity but at dinner the night before his death it turned into a shouting match. Jenny, a local girl who works at the lodge, has read a number of mysteries. She has a crush on Trooper Pinky Goodrich, Warren’s deputy. No one pays attention to her as she works. If she can discover what happened and solve the murder, Pinky will finally notice her. A storm soon moves in, trapping Warren along with his suspects with no phone or power. Holding interviews with the guests and staff reveals that the ambassador was a known womanizer who had been involved with the women at the lodge in the past. At first the death had been attributed to an accidental shooting while hunting. When Warren receives the coroner’s report it was clearly a murder committed by someone close to him. The storm is raging and tempers are fraying as Jenny finally makes a discovery that also puts her in danger.

Warren moved to Bethany from Boston after losing his wife and child. He is still adjusting to small town life where everyone knows each other. His neighbor Alice, a retired widow with connections to the CIA, is still being pulled into intelligence work by her former handler, making her question whether he was involved in the death. While Taylor’s story deals with a death, it also deals with new life. Sylvie Weber, a pregnant widow introduced in Agony Hill, is trapped on her farm with Alice, who had been visiting. When she goes into labor, Alice is forced to assist in a complicated delivery. With a murder to solve and a birth to celebrate, Taylor’s story will have you looking forward to a return to Bethany. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book.

Hunter’s Heart Ridge is the second in the Warren and Bellows series and I liked it as much as I did the first. It has the same slow, deliberate pacing that Agony Hill does without dragging. It takes place in 1965, several months after the first book. We learn more about the characters and best of all I didn't guess who was responsible for the murders. I can't wait for the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Let me start by saying that is you have not yet read anything my Sarah Stewart Taylor yet, then you need to get on that as soon as possible! She has created multiple worlds to escape into for the atmospheric, mystery loving hearts out there! Her mysteries are what I like to call 'gentle' mysteries: They aren't horrific or graphic, but they are also not cute like cozies. Think Louise Penny and Ann Cleeves. Just simmering, character driven mysteries with settings that feel like bonus characters. She has written the Sweeney St. George series set in Boston, the Maggie D'Arcy series set in Long Island and Ireland, and now we get the Agony Hill series set in 1960's Vermont. Talk about range!

I really love the Maggie D'Arcy series, so I was very excited to read this new series set in Vermont when it debuted last summer. But I have to be honest, the first in the series, Agony Hill, threw me off a little because I did find it to be on the slower side. However, I realized that slower pace is intentional due to the historical nature of this series and the small town it is set in. I enjoyed the mystery elements of Agony Hill but did struggle with the pacing.

But now that I have read the second book, Hunter's Heart Ridge, it is all coming full circle! The first book was really building up the town and the characters so that the follow up books would make a bigger impact. I really loved Hunter's Heart Ridge, it was so comforting to return to rural Vermont and dive back into Detective Warren's world. I especially love that characters that were in the center of the last book's mystery got to reappear in this book.

The pacing in this book was a little faster than Agony Hill and the locked room trope was also perfectly plotted! Snowed in at the same hunting lodge where a murder just took place!? Yes, please!
I definitely recommend this series and Hunter's Heart Ridge will make a great snowy title to add to your fall and winter reading lists!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

"Hunter's Heart Ridge" is an atmospheric mystery that goes far beyond a simple whodunit. A deadly hunting accident at an elite men's club during a snowbound Vermont weekend becomes the catalyst for unraveling a dangerous web of political secrets.

Returning to this series feels like reconnecting with old friends. Detective Franklin Warren and Trooper Pinky Goodrich anchor the narrative, their complex partnership bringing depth to the investigation. The hunting lodge setting becomes a character itself, trapping secrets and suspects in a claustrophobic winter landscape.

What sets this mystery apart are its masterful misdirections. Taylor crafts a narrative that constantly keeps you guessing, weaving together past revelations, political intrigue, and personal drama. Each twist feels organic, emerging from carefully developed characters rather than cheap plot tricks.

The book excels in its nuanced exploration of moral gray areas. Warren's internal struggle between professional duty and personal ethics adds a layer of complexity that elevates the story beyond a standard police procedural. His connection to the community and the weight of his choices create a tension that's as compelling as the murder mystery itself.

For readers who crave mysteries that dig deep into human nature, "Hunter's Heart Ridge" is an absolute must-read.

Special thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my advance copies. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.

4.25⭐
Second book in Taylor's historical fiction/mystery series set in Vermont in 1965. There's a suspicious death at an exclusive hunting and fishing club visited by diplomats, industrialists, presidents and spies. Detective Warren landed in the area with plenty of baggage, the violent murder of his wife. Alice Bellows is a widow who has connections to people in the CIA who has gotten to know Warren on his previous case. Besides crafting an excellent "locked room" mystery, Taylor weaves in the beginnings of unpopularity of our involvement in Vietnam. While I enjoyed the first book, this one drew me in further.

Hunter's Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor is the second book in a series featuring Vermont state police detective Franklin Warren. Warren is new to Bethany, Vermont, following a personal tragedy. The setting is well written, small town New England in the 1960's, which was a time of social change and unrest. It's well depicted in this closed door mystery, thanks to a blizzard closing the roads.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my ARC of this book.

Book #2 in the Warren/Bellows series by Sarah Stewart Taylor, taking place just a few months after the events of Book #1, Agony Hill. It's the week before Thanksgiving 1965 and an early season snowstorm hits Bethany, Vermont, leading to a somewhat locked room mystery at an exclusive hunting club. Rich out-of-towners and a few locals are stranded at the club, along with police detective Warren and his partner, Pinky. Who killed one of the members and is it someone they are stranded with or an outsider? Meanwhile, widow Alice Bellows is on an adventure of her own during the storm and gets stranded at the remote home of Sylvie Weber, who readers will recognize from the first novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Minotaur Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Stewart Taylor is back with a captivating installment in her beloved Franklin Warren and Alice Bellows Mystery series, titled HUNTER'S HEART RIDGE (#2) in the Bethany, Vermont Mysteries, following Agony Hill ( #1) and the prequel, Mud Season: A Bethany, Vermont Story(0.5).

In this novel, Detective Frank Warren and his assistant, Trooper Walter Goodrich, and his former CIA-connected neighbor, Alice Bellows, investigate the suspicious death of a diplomat. Their suspicions about the club members build. On top of this, they get snowed in at the club, possibly with a killer.

Set against the rich historical backdrop of rural Vermont in 1965—a time of significant change marked by the Vietnam War and widespread protests—the story delves into dark secrets hidden beneath this snowy, picturesque setting, creating a locked-in suspense.

With a well-developed and engaging cast of characters, readers will find themselves eagerly anticipating the next installment in this intriguing series.

About...

It's November 1965, Vermont, and deer season is underway. Vermont State Police Detective Franklin Warren is out in the woods hunting when he receives a call to return to Bethany. An accident has occurred at The Ridge Club, an exclusive private hunting and fishing club for congressmen, diplomats, and judges. A former ambassador has been shot while hunting then another murder (later).

Amid the turmoil of the Vietnam War, Warren is acutely aware that many members of the club are powerful men with connections and possible ulterior motives. Warren is joined in the investigation by Trooper Walter "Pinky" Goodrich, his assistant.

Alice Farnham Bellows, a widow and amateur detective with her secrets (having led a fascinating life and being connected to the intelligence community through her late husband), is busy preparing for a Thanksgiving dinner. She is also concerned about her pregnant friend and fellow widow, Sylvie Weber, whose due date is approaching.

When Alice's former handler and friend, Arthur Crannock, unexpectedly arrives in Bethany, she begins to suspect that his presence may be linked to the death at the hunting club.

Who wanted Moulton dead?

As a snowstorm sweeps through Bethany, it knocks out power and phone lines while blocking roads. Warren and Trooper Goodrich find themselves trapped at The Ridge Club, potentially alongside a killer. Meanwhile, Alice, increasingly worried that her past in the intelligence world is catching up with her, must act quickly to protect Sylvie and her baby.

My thoughts...

HUNTER'S HEART RIDGE is a compelling small-town murder mystery with a well-developed, fun cast of characters, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in this intriguing series.

As I mentioned in my previous review of Agony Hill, this is an excellent historical crime series, an intriguing mystery with a literary flair—and the author is off to a fine start with this exciting series, with a large cast of colorful characters amidst the vivid 60s rural backdrop.

Both Warren and Alice emerge as fascinating protagonists and an intriguing supporting cast. The slow-burning mystery comes to life with its vivid backdrop, well-developed plot, and engaging characters.

I loved Alice's stunning garden, the food, the neighbors, her stories, and the town. Alice is one sharp, resourceful, interesting cookie! I also enjoyed the mysterious Sylvie, a mother, her poem writing, and her love of books. I can't wait to catch up with all these characters in the next edition.

The series has a noir vibe since it is set in the 1960s without all the modern cop procedurals, cell phones, etc. Vivid storytelling! The author does a great job with the small rural town setting and its politics, gossip, secrets, greed, power, money, and more. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Warren, Alice, and the residents of Bethany.

I particularly enjoy books set in the '60s since I grew up in the era before all the modern conveniences of the world took over.

Recs...

Hunter's Heart Ridge is an essential read for fans of the series and the author, as well as those who enjoy Tess Gerritsen's Martini Club series. Readers who appreciate the works of Matthew Becker, Tim Johnston, Allen Eskens, T. Greenwood (Tammy), Ron Rash, Linda Castillo, Heather Gudenkauf, and Nicole Baart will likely find this book a compelling addition to their libraries.

The Series...

*THE NOVELLA: .05 Prequel Mud Season: A Bethany, Vermont Story Bethany, Vermont—in this suspenseful short story featuring characters from Agony Hill. A must-read short story. If you are curious about Alice. It includes an illustrative map of Bethany, Vermont, and all the places you will find in Agony Hill. Alice is a hoot, with a case she gets involved in, and the introduction of Detective Warren.

Agony Hill: Sarah Stewart Taylor's new fascinating historical mystery series, set in 1960s Vermont, featuring Detective Frank Warren #1, is a unique blend of small-town crime and small-town secrets. In Agony Hill, you learn more about Detective Warren around the 70% mark, so be patient. It's a tragic story and will make you appreciate him even more.

A highly recommended cop procedural/detective mystery series.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy for my honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDColins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 5, 2025
Aug 2025 Must-Read Books
Aug Newsletter

This was a solid follow up to Agony Hill, as Detective Warren continues to establish a new life in the fictional rural small town of Bethany, VT. I’m enjoying the slow reveals of the townspeoples’ stories, including his neighbor Alice, but keeps the emphasis on the murder he is investigating. I liked the increasing tension as Warren searches for answers, especially when he is trapped in a hunting cabin with several suspects during a heavy snow storm. In 1965, big snow and winds was pretty much automatic insurance that the roads would be impossible to traverse, the electric would go down, and the phones would be out - this was excellently executed for the height of suspense. Pulling through threads from the previous novel is helping to build the setting for future novels, but it is not necessary to read Agony Hill to enjoy and understand this book. This is not a fast-paced read, the writing is more lyrical and lovely, leading you to savor the story.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this mystery.

A murder at a hunting lodge where another violent episode occurred fifteen years ago. Same people but this time someone kills someone versus stabbing them. All of them are hiding something, it’s up to Warren to figure out what that is.

Sarah Stewart Taylor drops you right into the mystery and I love that. Then they build the foundation and link in everyone else. I will admit to seeing some characters in the story have a bigger presence than just a mention due to being in the first book. It makes me intrigued to see how they are going to play into the future.

Warren seems a bit thirsty on all fronts in this outing. He needs a solid case ending as the case up on Agony Hill wasn’t the best for him professionally. So he is hoping for a clean case this time around which blocks him from seeing everything. Then on the personal front, he’s definitely coming out of his mourning period. Oi vey! He seems to like the unavailable ladies which says a lot about him and I’m not a fan of that trait.

There are a lot of characters and I will admit having to pause and orient myself so I know which one is which, for example Theron and Arthur are very similar to me. So I always have to pause and think about how they fit into Alice’s life in the past and how they fit now. Everyone is keeping secrets 😆.

I think why I like this series so much is because it is set in the time before technology, so it really is about social engineering. People can fancy it up and call it “interviewing”, but you want people to divulge their secrets, tells, and anything else that will help the investigation. The author does a great job of having Warren remain alert enough to pick up on the nuances.

Hunter’s Heart Ridge is an interesting title as it tells its own tale about the mystery. I had a good time slipping back to a quieter and just as violent time. Warren is a likeable detective who I hope is around for a good long while.