I obtained this e-book through my Kindle Unlimited Subscription.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: June 11, 2024
Summary:
Enter the world of 1960s Bethany, Vermont in this suspenseful short story featuring characters from the forthcoming Agony Hill.
It’s mud season in Bethany, Vermont. As spring nears, the thawing ground and melting snow-pack has created muddy, impassable roads. It’s not unusual to see a driver pushing their car or going for help. But a car with Pennsylvania plates has been completely abandoned, still stuck in the mud.
Alice Bellows, an inquisitive widow who seems to know everything going on in town, can’t help but wonder what would lead someone to abandon their car like that. All that’s left in the car are two suitcases sitting in the trunk, no registration or keys. The police aren’t too concerned about the abandoned car, but Alice thinks there’s more to the story. Not sure what she’ll find or who may get hurt, she takes it upon herself to find the car’s owner and what they’re hiding in her small town.
My thoughts:
I am so excited about Sarah Stewart Taylor’s upcoming new series and was quite thrilled to discover this novella that introduces some of the characters that we will be meeting in the series as well as the town where the series takes place. This short story acts as a prequel to the series and I think it is the perfect introduction.
I loved getting to know Alice, who seems to be the amateur sleuth of the town. I have a feeling there is so much more to her than we have seen here and I cannot wait to find out all that is uncovered as the series progresses. We get glimpses of the townsfolk and they seem to be a quirky bunch that I am quite eager to know more about.
This novella also allows us to get a feel for the time period and setting, which unlike the other series I’ve read by this author, is historical in nature. I’m so excited to see how this all plays out. I haven’t read much set in the 1960s, especially anything set in rural Vermont and am eager to see what the author does with that.
This is gearing up to be one of my most anticipated series!
