Hunter’s Heart Ridge

A death at an exclusive men’s hunting and fishing club and an early winter storm come together in this “locked-room” historical mystery. Hunter’s Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor is the second book in the Franklin Warren and Alice Bellows Mystery series.

Set in November 1965 in Bethany, Vermont and the surrounding rural area, Warren has been with the Vermont State Police as a detective for three months and has responsibility for the southern part of the state.

He gets a call that an accident has happened at The Ridge Club where diplomats, congressmen, judges, and titans of industry go to hunt and fish. A former ambassador, William Moulton, has been shot while hunting deer. As Warren and his assistant Trooper Walter Goodrich investigate, their suspicions about the club members build. On top of this, they get snowed in at the club, possibly with a killer.

Meanwhile, Warren’s neighbor and new friend, Alice Bellows, is throwing a dinner party. She’s worried about her pregnant friend and fellow widow, Sylvie Weber. Her old CIA handler and friend, Arthur Crannock, shows up and comes to dinner. Alice wonders if his appearance has anything to do with the hunting club accident. Additionally, he’s asking what progress she’s made on the last covert task he’s given her. This is a continuing subplot from book one and I wonder how long until it becomes the main plot of a future novel in the series and that is my main quibble with the series. While the main mystery is resolved in each novel, the connection with Alice’s intelligence activities is missing and seemingly minor so far.

Warren, formerly from Boston, must adjust to life in a rural community where he doesn’t know anyone. He’s a sincere and empathetic as well as being a talented investigator. It also turns out that he’s good at mentoring. Alice is somewhat enigmatic. She comes across as a kind and thoughtful person with hidden depths and abilities who loves to garden. Trooper Goodrich is eager to be Warren’s assistant investigator. The other characters have an appropriate depth for their roles.

Once again, the author does a great job of world-building. The early snowstorm is almost another character and plays a significant role in the story. This was also a time of change and conflict and the war in Vietnam is discussed throughout the book.

This is more of a historical police procedural that is heavy on characterization and world-building, but has a well-developed and intricate plot as well as some occasional action and a couple of sub-plots. While somewhat slower paced than many police procedurals set in modern times, the pace felt appropriate to the setting and time of the novel. Secrets play a large role in this novel and are woven throughout the storyline.

Overall, this is an excellent historical crime novel set during a time of change with two fascinating main characters. Readers should be aware that more details on why Warren moved from Boston to Vermont are included in book one. They’re briefly touched on in this novel. The great and vivid storytelling and fantastic characterization have made this novel a winner for me. If you enjoy old-fashioned detective work prior to cell phones, the internet, and DNA testing, then this is a series to consider. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Warren, Alice, and the other residents of Bethany.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Sarah Stewart Taylor provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for August 05, 2025.