Book Review: Killer Tracks by Mary Keliikoa

 

Sheriff Jax Turner of Misty Pines is invited on a getaway by his ex-wife Abby who he is trying to reunite with. This means leaving his second in command, Rachel, in charge of the unit while he's gone. It's not her, but leaving at all that has him anxious. And when Abby requests that they leave their service revolvers behind for the weekend, he has his qualms.

When they arrive at the cabin, there are signs of a break-in.  And soon other events follow that have the hairs standing up on the back of his neck and his suspicions in overdrive. A death with the markings of a serial killer that he put away ratchets up the tension. Meanwhile, they are dealing with a similar death in town. Add in a mysterious young woman and a wildfire for a few more elements and you have the makings of a thrilling mystery.

My Thoughts: This is a good, solid mystery/thriller. The action, thrills, and mystery start early on. They grab you and take you on a ride as the tension only increases. Jax and Abby are in danger in one place. Rachel and his deputies are dealing with dangers back in town. 

The book is told from Jax's viewpoint and Rachel's. We get to know more about both characters. And we get to see them both wrestle with issues and grow as people and law officers.

There's an unexpected twist to the ending of the crime storyline that works quite well. There is a personal twist as well.

I did have a little trouble suspending disbelief that two officers of the law would go someplace isolated and not carry their service revolvers. The shotgun makes a nice compromise.

Overall, I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. The thing with the guns was my only complaint. Otherwise the mystery/thriller was well executed. I would recommend it to people who have been reading the Misty Pines series as this is book 3. But, it can probably be read as a standalone as well. Things were explained well enough to enjoy the mystery. So, if you enjoy fast-paced, small town mysteries, this could be a good book for you. It's not quite a cozy because it's professionals doing the crime solving, but it still has a little of that vibe.

Killer Tracks by Mary Keliikoa was released September 30, 2025 from Level Best Books. I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my review.