Crystal Rainey is aghast when she realizes her new year’s resolutions haven’t changed one whit from the previous year. Wanting to escape a future as dreary as a Pacific Northwest winter, she walks out on her dead-end office job, despite her tenuous savings account.Stumbling across a job opening posted by a wilderness guide outfit, an intrigued Crystal bluffs her way into the position. With … With handsome fellow guide, the stalwart Conner Oakes, she leads a corporate retreat on a snowshoe hike to a majestic alpine chalet.
But when the company’s detestable owner turns up dead in the snow, she fears her new life and budding romance slipping away. She finally has something worth fighting for and is determined to solve the murder and grab her chance at happiness before it’s too late.
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I loved this book!
This is a cozy mystery which is the first book I’ve read from this author.
It concentrates more on the mystery side of things rather than the romance which is good.
The characters had genuine chemistry and worked well together.
The mystery kept me guessing till the end and not alot of cozy mysteries do that for me so I say well done for keeping me engaged in this story
This book was enjoyable and easy to read. It is about a woman on a journey to get off the corporate hamster wheel and follow her dreams. It is a great book for anyone who has ever felt stuck in a rut they were afraid to break free from. The imagery of the Pacific Northwest wilderness made me want to plan a trip to visit the area myself.
Winter Takes All is a well-written cozy mystery with believable characters. Likable Crystal Rainey, the main character, realizes that she made the same unfulfilled New Year’s resolution as the prior year to leave the dead-end job she hates and decides to take action. Despite her financial responsibilities, she quits her job without having another one. A lover of the outdoors, the Seattle native fudges her experience on her resume and is improbably hired for her dream job as a wilderness guide for Emerald City Outfitters. Crystal scrambles to purchase the equipment she needs and study the tasks she is expected to perform.
While on her first assignment with fellow guide Connor, one of their guests goes missing. The guest is later found dead and the company is forced to suspend further tours. The detective on the case has no clue what he’s doing. Until the case is resolved, tours will not resume. Cash-strapped Crystal decides to investigate in the hopes of solving the crime so she can go back to work and not have to move back in with her parents.
The story took some unexpected turns and kept me guessing whodunit. The author, a Seattle native, and outdoorsman gave vivid descriptions of the majesty of the Cascades and the city, which added to the veracity of the tale. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Two of my favourites meet, the great outdoors and murder and then a bit of romance added to the mix. Of course I was having a great time reading this mystery. I hope this will be a long going series.
English being my second language I also very much appreciated that the author used some more uncommon words or phrases every now and then. This added an extra perk for me.
This is the first time in reading this author. Crystal wants some changes so she does some drastic moves to go about them. She gets her opening with a wilderness company as a guide doing what I call a fibble. There is also Connor whom is also a guide with romance on her mind I would say when she sees him. Being co workers though is a stumbling block but one that could be overcome if murder had not of found them. Now she is determined to solve this and save her present life so we are given quite the ride with this mystery. It has us following the clues and wanting to help if we could. A delightful mystery romance that keeps a reader engaged.
This was my first M.L. Erdahl’s book. This is the first book in A Seattle Wilderness Mystery Series, a cozy mystery. This is a great start to the Series. The characters are great, and the storyline is fun, intriguing and captivating. Amy Landon did a good job with the narration. I enjoyed it. I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Enjoyable cozy mystery with a great mix of mystery and romance. Crystal Rainey walks out on her office job and bluffs her way into a wilderness guide job where she meets the handsome Conner Oakes, a fellow guide. When a company owner in their tour group is murdered on the tour, Crystals first tour no less, she does some amateur sleuthing in an attempt to save her new life by uncovering the truth before it’s too late. Will she be successful? Find out in Winter Takes All. Love the wilderness scenes described; can just picture them though I’ve not ever experienced a Pacific Northwest winter. Great narration.
I enjoyed this story. It was just what I needed…cozy mystery/suspense with a lighter tone. Crystal was an engaging protagonist and I look forward to reading future books in this new series. The writing was polished and the refreshing voice on point. the book was a smooth and easy read. I liked the main and secondary characters, too. The storyline was interesting …and I am a sucker for anything that takes place in the wilderness. I am hoping as Crystal develops her outdoors legs, future books will include more misadventures outside too, although the Seattle setting felt accurate. I can see self-made detective Crystal trekking through the Pacific Northwest hunting down another mystery… Highly recommend.
Crystal is a newly hired wilderness guide. She’s thrilled to finally have excitement in her life as she heads into Washington State’s Cascade wilderness. It’s all so promising. She’s on the trail with a ruggedly handsome, experienced guide mentoring her on leading a private snowshoeing weekend party. Who could have predicted that before the night ended she’d be told that a “rescue operation has become a search and recover . . . It means he’s dead.”
Crystal is now caught up in more excitement than she’d expected. She’s in the midst of a puzzling murder mystery. This snowshoe weekend was a corporate celebration. The business owner wanted to treat his employees before his pending retirement. At the secluded lodge reserved for the group in the mountains, it became clear that there were tensions between employees, and with the owner. One became a deadly conflict. But which one? And why?
Crystal’s new employer has been shut down from further expeditions until the police solve the case. Crystal’s bank account will not last through a sustained investigation. She will bring the needed urgency to solve this case herself, and she shares the clues to the delight of sleuthing readers who want the chance to find the killer. Crystal investigates while consulting, and dating, the dreamy guide who was with her on the trip, Connor.
Can Crystal find the killer before it’s detected that she’s on the trail? Or will the killer stop her in her tracks? As Crystal approaches a dangerous, precipitous moment, will she have the strength and resources to prove her case, save herself, and clear her employer’s reputation?
From the variety of lively, urban Seattle, to the peaceful solitude of the Cascade Mountains, this author writes a vividly descriptive setting. His characters leap to life off the page and into the imagination, with the flavor of an engaging Agatha Christie, that has an alluring, contemporary twist. He creates an intricate puzzle, with fascinating suspects, and an amateur sleuth who’s delightful and so humorous.
Author Michael Erdahl lives amidst the trees of the Pacific Northwest, and has spent his lifetime exploring. When he’s not wandering the mountains, he’s gardening, reading, or searching for the best coffee in Seattle. You can learn more about the author at mlerdahl.com.
Fun cozy mystery with an interesting storyline and relatable characters. Who among us, at one point or another, doesn’t want to quit our day job and pursue a dream career? That’s exactly what Crystal does at the beginning of this book, and, of course, things don’t run smoothly. The winter scenes are beautiful yet deadly, and with her new job at risk and bills piling up, Crystal becomes an amateur sleuth to solve this who-done-it. I enjoyed the ride from start to finish.
Winter Takes All by M.L. Erdahl is unique and refreshing. I loved the concept and the characters.
Will Crystal find the killer or lose the future that she wants desperately?
Crystal
Crystal is our main character and sleuth. She doesn’t start as a sleuth, but when her new profession is threatened, Crystal must find out what happened to Philip. Crystal quit her tedious office job and started working as an outdoor guide, which is something that she has wanted to do for a long time. Yet, now she is doing what feels best, and that is being a guide and dating Conner.
I like that Crystal has made up her mind to do what makes her happy and not what her mom wants. Crystal is going to protect her newfound life. I can’t wait to see how Mr. Erdahl gets her to sleuthing in the next book. Oh, I loved the way that Crystal leaves her former office job.
The Mystery
The victim is a cad. Philip thinks because he has money and power that he can be inappropriate with his young female interns. Philip books his company on a snowshoe guided adventure with rooms in a chalet in the wilderness. However, Philip gets in an argument with multiple members of his staff and ends up dead. But was it an accident or murder? Who would have the most significant motive for Philip’s death? Crystal starts investigating once her boss has to stop the tours until the investigation is completed.
Four Stars
I think that Mr. Erdahl has a well-plotted mystery, the characters are superb, not just Crystal and Conner but the entire staff at Calvert and Associates. The setting is so beautiful, from the quiet of the mountains to the neighborhoods of Seattle. I am giving Winter Takes All by M.L. Erdahl four stars as it was an enjoyable read.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Winter Takes All by M.L. Erdahl.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book on your site.
Until the next time,
~Jen
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This is my first cozy mystery. I adored it from beginning to end! The overall story and characters were so relatable and believable.
I’m not a very outdoorsy girl but I could picture the scenes vividly. The story was well crafted and pulls the reader (or listener in my case) in.
Great job!
The mystery genre is not my normal go to, but. I was looking for something different. I’m so glad I did.
ML Erdahl set the scene very well for this winter in the Northwest whodunnit.
The main character, Crystal is a risk taker. Her decision to hit reset on her life is admirable. Determination and guts take her along on a bumpy and dangerous ride.
The author kept me guessing until the end about who the bad guy was.
I will definitely keep my eyes open for the next book and maybe have even found my new favorite genre.
Well done.
Light romance with a little muystery. Characther well written and fit into the story. Kept you guess who did until the end. Could have used some more romance and been somwhat more realistic but I enjoyed it.
A young woman quits her office job and signs on as a guide for snow shoeing adventures, but her first outing goes horribly wrong and one of the participants ends up dead. When the death turns out to be murder she and her guiding partner turn sleuth to find the killer.
Chock full of meddling parents, dysfunctional office relationships, unreliable vehicles, a little romance and a whole lot of smiles, Winter Takes All is a fun romp through the cozy mystery genre.
Crystal is the perfect cozy mystery heroine; good-hearted, a bit naive, determined and very lucky as she works to piece together what happened on the fateful night when her first back-woods adventure went so horribly wrong all while dealing with the financial, vehicular, employment and romantic challenges that seem to plague today’s young literary heroines.
I enjoyed puzzling out the events of this light-hearted cozy mystery.
On realising that her unfulfilled resolutions from the previous year were identical to those she was setting for herself in the new year, the next morning finds Crystal heading in to the job she hates and quitting. Serendipity seems to task a hand in helping her land a great new job that she’s sure she’s going to love – with a bit of creative skill set description, and then cramming to pick up the skills she said she had. That is, until her first assignment results in a dead body.
What happens when Crystal and her bestie Olivia realize the detective on the case doesn’t know what he’s doing and that some one else needs to step in? Crystal decides to investigate, finding herself in a few sticky situations.
A good story, with quirky fun characters – well, the good guys anyway – and one that I’m sure you’ll enjoy too!
[Many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this book, in conjunction with the Winter Games Reader Challenge. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.]
Fun and interesting cozy mystery — loved the storyline and characters. Some parts were a little unrealistic but I felt it didn’t take away from the theme too much and enjoyed the story as a whole.
Winter Takes All is a well written, keep you on your toes cozy mystery with a nice romance as an added bonus.
Crystal was an awesome character. She made a decision to change her life and totally just a right into it. Leaving her cramped cubicle and talking her way into a job as a wilderness guide. I truly love the tenacity this girl has. On her first assignment Two things happen Crystal realizes she made the correct decision with this job and a dead that shuts down her adventure company.
With sparks flying with her adventure partner Conner, an unexplained death and being stuck in a store until the mess is cleaned up, Crystal ups her game and works to get to the bottom of this crazy up and down mystery. Crystal and Conner are a wonderful couple. They complement each other well. They are funny and attentive and their romance comes naturally. That’s big points coming from an avid romance reader.
I was pleasantly surprised with Winter Takes All. It’s a keep you guessing, fun, humorous and touching story all in one. Author M.L. Erahl ties mystery and romance perfectly to make good story. The characters are fun and OMG that cat!
Winter Takes All could easily be the beginning of a series that I would thoroughly enjoy reading.
This is the first cozy mystery I have read. I enjoyed the book. Crystal Rainey was a fun character to follow through her adventures. I found myself envying her because she found the job of her dream. I kept reading to see if she could find a way to keep it. All the characters were well-developed. The description of Seattle and the surrounding mountains was awesome. I felt like I was there with them.
An enjoyable cozy with an enthralling heroine, Crystal. Crystal spontaneously quits her uninspired job and signs on to be a wilderness guide, a job she is not qualified for, adding some humor to the story-line. While purchasing snowshoes she meets Conner, their paths cross again and soon a charming romance develops.The mystery portion of the story is well developed, moving along at a nice pace. When the wilderness company Crystal works for is “grounded” after a guest dies Crystal, desperate to be making money, takes it upon herself to find out what happened. I highly enjoyed unraveling the mystery along with Crystal, it had me guessing until the end. The author transports the reader to the beauty of winter in the Pacific Northwest and the Seattle area. I felt as if I was on the snowshoeing trip or walking the paths of Green Lake with Crystal and Conner. I highly recommend spending time in Crystal’s world, a fun adventure awaits.