Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for In the Dead of Winter (The Blue Water Mysteries) by Lyn Farrell. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
In the Dead of Winter (The Blue Water Mysteries) by Lyn Farrell
In the Dead of Winter (The Blue Water Mysteries)
Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Michigan
Publisher : Camel Press
Publication date : February 10, 2026
Print length : 260 pages
Paperback
Victoria Treadwell, dispatcher for the sheriff’s office, is driving to work in a snowstorm when she sees a car fish-tailing behind her. Horrified, she watches at the car swerves off the road. When she heads back to help, she finds the driver bent over the steering wheel and barely breathing. In the back seat is a tiny child in a pink snowsuit. Victoria calls for an ambulance and then dials her boss, Pete Manstead, Undersheriff, of Charlevoix County. The ambulance arrives and the paramedic tries to shock the woman’s heart back into rhythm, but the driver, who they learn is named Carly Yellowwood, is dead. From the autopsy, Pete finds Carly died of a drug overdose, although she didn’t use drugs. The coroner lists the cause of death as murder. Pete sends his deputies to visit Carly’s neighbors and learns she has been seeing two men. One is her ex-husband, Joe Yellowwood, a Native American living on the nearby reservation. No one knows the second man. Since Carly Yellowwood was divorced and has a new boyfriend. Pete believes it’s a crime of passion. Victoria, who hopes to adopt Carly’s motherless child, thinks the motive is far darker.
My review of In the Dead of Winter
In the Dead of Winter by Lyn Farrell is the first book in her new series, The Blue Water Mysteries. The setting is what first drew me to this book. I like reading winter mysteries where there is a lot of snow as long as I’m not in it!
Though the snow storm doesn’t affect the mystery too much, it is the impetus of the crime being detected. Apparently those Michiganders aren’t put off by two feet of snow overnight since Victoria, the police dispatcher, heads out to work with no qualms. She does have some trouble taking her regular route, so she takes an alternate. While she’s driving, the car behind her begins swerving erratically and eventually rolls to a stop without actually hitting anything. Victoria pulls over to check on the driver who has no apparent injuries, but she is barely breathing. After calling in an ambulance and Undersheriff Pete Manstead, Victoria realizes a child is in the car.
The murder has a number of plausible suspects, and though Pete is initially annoyed by Victoria inserting herself into the investigation (since she isn’t an officer of the law), he eventually welcomes her input and the fact that she can search for background information since their PD is so small. In spite of the fact that Victoria comes off as pushy and bossy, it stands to reason since she has become invested in what is going to happen to the motherless little girl. The suspects are eventually narrowed down, and arrests are made. Who was the murderer, what was their motive, and what will become of the little girl? These are all answered by the end of the book, but the ending sets up a new case which will most likely be the plot of the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About Lyn Farrell
Lyn Farquhar—pen name Lyn Farrell—holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University and is an experienced author, having published the seven-book series (the Mae December mysteries) with Epicenter Press and four books in the Rosedale Investigations series. She has also published one women’s fiction book. To date, eight of her books have been picked up by a secondary publisher, Harlequin. Sales to date from both primary and secondary publishers are approaching 50,000. Lyn worked for Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine for 35 years before retiring to pursue her dream of becoming a published fiction author. Lyn is the mother of two, has six stepchildren, and twelve grandchildren. She loves gardening, playing with her Cavalier King Charles spaniels, and is always on the lookout for paintings by her famous artist grandfather, Eugene Iverd.
Author Links
Website https://www.lynfarrell.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586865167762
Purchase Links: Amazon Bookshop.org B&N
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In the Dead of Winter TOUR PARTICIPANTS
April 29 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
April 29 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
April 30 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT
April 30 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
May 1 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 2 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT
May 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
May 3 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 4 – Because I said so – adventures in parenting – REVIEW
May 5 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 6 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
May 7 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
May 8 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
May 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
May 10 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT
May 11 – Salty Inspirations– AUTHOR GUEST POST
May 12 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT
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