Her Last Best Friend

Shadow Lake Ranch Murders, #1

by

Nellie H. Steele

An adult summer camp ranch experience turns deadly.

Her Last Best Friend kicks off author Nellie H. Steele’s latest suspense-filled mystery series, the Shadow Lake Ranch Murders, and I couldn’t have asked for a better start. Besties Melanie “Mel” Halston and Lindsey Hartwell head to a Montana ranch for a summer experience of a lifetime with sunrise yoga, horseback riding, bonfires, personal renewal, and of course, daily chores; it is a working ranch after all. Mel is the more colorful, outgoing, big personality of the two, while Lindsey is shy and reticent, still getting over the breakup of her last romantic relationship. When a handsome ranch hand shows an interest in Lindsey, Mel thinks it would be cool to help push him in her bestie’s direction - until it becomes clear he only has eyes for Lindsey after all. Mel thrives on being the center of attention – everyone’s attention – and when she’s not, she’ll stop at nothing to set things straight. Unfortunately for Mel, someone else has other ideas. 

With its engaging main character and clever storytelling, I was glued to this book from the attention-grabbing epilogue to the final page. The premise of the adult summer-long ranch experience was intriguing and lent itself well to the romantic subplots and the subsequent turnaround of the relationship between Mel and Lindsey. Mel is the ultimate manipulator and, like a runaway speedboat, sucks Lindsey along in her wake. As the saying goes, “With friends like that, who needs enemies?” 

The plot unfolds from multiple points of view, both in the past and in the present. I enjoyed how the story begins with Mel’s death a fait accompli, with the details of what has gone on revealed as Lindsey and others are questioned by the investigative team from the local sheriff’s department. The remoteness and closed community of the ranch limit the cast of characters and, by extension, the possible killers, but because of Mel’s machinations, there are still a couple of good suspects. I’m certain some sharp-eyed armchair detectives will be able to figure out who the real murderer is before the surprising reveal. All in all, this book was an intriguing winner for me. 

I recommend HER LAST BEST FRIEND to readers of mysteries, thrillers, and tales of suspense. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.