Review of Draw and Order by Cheryl Hollon

From the publisher of Draw and Order

Appalachian artist and local guide Miranda Trent opens a new murder investigation after her Paint & Shine tour group discovers the remains of a missing hiker along an ancient trail . . .

For her latest excursion, Miranda is thrilled to take a close-knit group of rock climbers, the Risky Business Adventurers, up the challenging Battleship Rock Trail to paint and sample moonshine. But the outing is cut short when they discover a skeleton near the trailhead. Even more startling, the bones belong to Howard Cable, Miranda’s cousin…and a former classmate of the Risky Business group.

The sheriff chalks it up to a hiking accident, but Miranda isn’t convinced that Howard, an experienced woodsman, died within sight of a well-marked trail. So, with the help of Ranger Austin Morgan, Miranda sets out on her own investigation and discovers that the Risky Business group is keeping plenty of secrets. But is one of them hiding the truth about Howard’s death?  

My review

I thoroughly enjoyed my virtual visit to the Appalachian Mountains. With a local culture that thrives on moonshine, art, and adventure, it’s a place to escape the humdrum of urban life.  Of course, there are plenty of challenges for entrepreneur Miranda Trent as she attempts to get her moonshine business off the ground. Between a flaky contractor, her demanding mother, and a murder, Miranda’s got her hands full.

The mother-daughter angst, which begins with high tension, gradually ebbs as the stakes for the murder investigation build. As a result, the storyline always has something going on and moves quickly. What begins with issues surrounding family and business issues soon turns into a solid cozy mystery puzzle. With plenty of plot twists in this clever cozy, I was kept guessing until the end.  

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.

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