Book Review: A Small Mountain Murder

Reviewed by Chelsey Tucker

A cozy Midwestern mystery that brings a new kind of excitement to the ski culture of middle America

Tillison Tucker is the head of Snow Hat Ski Enterprises in Colorado. When the company acquires a ski resort in Wisconsin, Tucker sends his right hand man, Ronny Schwartz, to settle some business there. A few days into his assignment at the newly renamed Big Horizon resort, though, Ronny disappears and prompts more people than just his boss to inquire on his whereabouts.

TV reporter JC, his girlfriend Robin, and his photographer Milt are assigned to a story out in Wisconsin. A big wig from a well-known ski company has gone missing, they hear. The ski culture in Colorado turned out to be completely different than what they encountered in the Midwest. While the Midwestern nice was completely different from what they were used to, JC was able to still make sense of the ski slang like when a young snowboarder yelled “Hey, gray on a tray,” to Milt. “’He thinks you’re an old snowboarder,’ JC told him.” 

Quip Kelly is a famous journalist who is known for exposing government officials like Congressman Bat Bellows. “There were online discussions held with a deep-pocketed, homophobic donor to his campaign. The congressman used slurs and intolerant language to appease his patron.” Quip tends to be applauded by the everyday people of America while being on the shit lists of some of America’s most powerful politicians.

Unexpected murders begin to link all of these characters together, turning a few into suspects and few more into victims. The overlapping storylines are woven together with adeptness, adding complexity to the mystery and real depth to the characters. Author Phil Bayly does an excellent job weaving in Midwestern history and geography into the murder mystery plot, adding a certain charm to the story while giving readers who are familiar with the area a nod and an excuse to relate to the curious mystery at hand.

It can be difficult to bounce from one perspective to the next, but the switching also provides the story a fast pace that pairs well with the sense of mystery and the seriousness of the murder investigations. There are many instances where the answers seem obvious to us, only to be shown by another character’s perspective that we were dead wrong.

Midwesterners will love this cozy mystery with its rich local history, specificity of detail, and true authentic feel. It’s also a story with a penchant for good criminal justice dealings and journalism. The storyline is uber-realistic, and the plot is paved with enticing breadcrumbs. I think you’re going to like this one.

Thank you for reading Chelsey Tucker’s book review of A Small Mountain Murder by Phil Bayly! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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