Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a free digital copy.

I've read a number of Paige Shelton's books. While I found myself losing interest in some of the series, this one I find quite intriguing.

In short, the protagonist, Beth Rivers, has moved ( escaped) to Alaska thinking it's a safe hiding place from the man who kidnapped her. Beth is resourceful and resilient. She's also-- with good reason-- haunted by the past.

I'd call these semi-cozy mysteries. So far, they have held my interest. I hope they continue to do so and don't go over my personal boundaries for*foolish behavior by a heroine" because I have truly been enjoying them. I'm giving them four stars as I reserve the fifth star for books that utterly knock my socks off.

I would definitely recommend them to anyone who is looking for a story that goes beyond cozy but doesn't cause one to hide under the bed or constantly look over one's shoulder. Just remember with this series it's imperative to start with the first book, Thin Ice. Enjoy!

Winter's End by Paige Shelton is another in the continuing saga of Beth Rivers and the interesting and somewhat bizarre inhabitants of a small town in Alaska and the mystery of why she is hiding there. Each of the series makes one like the town residents and wonder why they are living there. I hope this is not the end of a good series.

It's spring in Benedict, Alaska. Time for mud and the annual Death walk, where citizens come to town to mark down that they made it through the winter.
When an older gentleman named Al doesn't show up. Beth and Orin hike up to check on him. When they find him he's ill and hadn't eaten in a while. Beth fixes him food and begins to care for him while Orin goes for help.
Though help arrives Orin doesn't return, soon after that Beth realized her new friend Kaye was checked off the "census," but hasn't been seen for a while. When someone finds her dead Beth starts to ask questions. The Millers (Kaye's husband's family and the Oliphants are the modern Alaskan Hatfield and McCoys, it comes to light that Kaye has been hanging around with the Oliphants and may have been having an affair with Cyrus the younger son. Beth is also still looking for her father who's been missing for many years. Could the killer have been Kaye's husband? her lover? Or did she stumble on Beth's own father?
I like the characters in this series and this is a great addition. Beth is becoming more comfortable with her new role in life and we're learning more about the townsfolk. I was attracted to the series because it's set in Alaska and this book does not disappoint in the mystery or the description of life in Alaska.

Paige Shelton brings atmosphere, mystery, and heart to Winter’s End , the fourth book in the Alaska Wild series set in fictional Benedict, Alaska. This well-written novel combines traditional police detective work and amateur sleuthing. Secrets, murder, and a horrific experience that continues to haunt and traumatize the main character make for a suspenseful and riveting read.

Beth Rivers, a successful thriller writer known as Elizabeth Fairchild is still hiding and recovering in Alaska while the Missouri police look for her stalker turned kidnapper. Only a few locals know Beth’s story including police chief Gril Samuels and his deputy Donner.

With winter ending and springtime approaching, it’s time for a local tradition, the annual Death Walk. All citizens gather at the community center and check their name off a list. If anyone is missing, groups are assigned to go to their homes and confirm whether they are still alive or have died during the winter. A couple, Warren, and Al are missing. Beth, her dog, Gus, and Orin, the librarian, drive and then hike to 94 year-old Al’s cabin. He is alive, but is in bad shape. Beth stays with him while Orin goes to get help. Gril and Donner arrive a few hours later, but Orin has disappeared. However, Al isn’t the only one to not show up at the community center. Are they alive or dead? Was it forgetfulness or something more sinister?

Beth’s character is well-developed. She continues to be a flawed protagonist who has shown some growth through making friends and learning to deal with her post traumatic stress disorder, but she still keeps secrets and finds it hard to trust people. However, readers will see this dynamic character change in attitude and outlook as she responds to events. Several of the secondary characters gained depth in this book as secrets are revealed. This is especially true of Orin and Viola, the owner of the house where Beth rents a room. There are a large number of characters in this story, but several of them were introduced in the earlier books so it felt like I was catching up with old friends.

The author does a great job of portraying the hardships and lack of amenities as well as the friendships, pace of life, the wonders, the loneliness, and the dangers of living in and around small town Alaska. I could easily visualize the town, the people, the road conditions, the weather, and the isolation.

This story hooked me immediately and built momentum leading to an action-filled conclusion. It’s suspenseful and there are twists and turns and surprises along the way in an intricate plot that kept me guessing. From the small town residents to the descriptions of Alaska to the various mysteries, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Several themes run through the tale including death, isolation, disappearances, secrets, dysfunctional families, feuds, and much more.

Overall, this enjoyable mystery was engaging, suspenseful, intriguing, and compulsively readable. The well-developed ideas with good pacing from scene to scene kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy well-written mysteries, then I recommend you check out this series. The books are best read in order, but there is enough background that this one could be read as a standalone. I’m looking forward to book five.

St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books and Paige Shelton provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is set for December 6, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Winter's End is the 4th book in the Alaska Wild series. I have read this series from the first book. The story takes place in Benedict, Alaska. The main character is Elizabeth Fairchild (Beth) who is trying to put her life together after escaping from her kidnapper Travis Walker. She is worried that he is trying to find out who she is and where she is going. Her real name is Beth Rivers. Beth in her other life was and still i a thriller writer for books. There are only a few people who know who she really is. One is the police chief Gril. Beth is the editor of the local paper The Petition. Beth lives at Benedict House owned by a woman named Viola. it is a half-way house for nonviolent females. Her sister, Benny owns the local bar. Violet let Beth stay there even though she was not a criminal. There are a lot of mystery to some of the people who live in the town which the reader will enjoy learning about.

Elijah, who is realy Hugh Givens, has disappeared. He asked Beth to find homes for his sled dogs which names he suggested. All dogs went to the people on his list. Kaye Miller owns the dog Finn who is part St. Bernard. She and Beth walk their dogs together., On their walk Kaye seems upset but does not tell Beth what the problem is. Her husband, Warren comes and gets her. Kaye seems scared.

It is the beginning of spring. The whole town gets together to do the Death Walk. The town goes to find the people on the list who did not sign in, it is the way that they check up to make sure everyone is okay after the winter. Beth goes with Orin, the librarian, to checkup on Old Al, a 94 year old man who lives by himself in the wilderness, They find him in bed and very weak. Orin goes to get help and leaves Beth and her dog there with Old Al. She warms some soup and gets him to eat a little. which he does.. Grill and Donner, police man who works with Gril come and decide to bring Al to town and leave him with Dr. Powder until he is stronger. Orin seems to have disappeared also.

Gril and Donner find out that both Warren and Kaye are missing. They meet with both the Miller's and Oliphant's as they are two families who have been feuding for years.. Kaye is later found dead behind the community center. At this point it is hard to explain on paper all that is going on. I will leave this to the reader to read and enjoy the rest of the story.

I really love this series and know the readers will too, I look forward to the next book to find out what Beth decides to do and what new adventure the town of Bendedict and the townspeople get into.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.

Winter’s End by Paige Shelton (Alaska Wild Mystery #4) 5 stars

Beth Rivers, who we met in “Thin Ice” has survived an Alaskan winter. It is Springtime in Benedict, Alaska and time for the annual Death Count. At the end of winter, it is tradition for the denizens of the Benedict to gather Downtown to determine the status of their community. If people don’t show up, then their fellow citizens will try to find out what happened to them. It is Beth Rivers first time participating in this tradition and she is hiking to find out what happen to an elderly resident. The elderly resident is rescued, but another body is found behind the recreation center. Why was that person killed and who did it is the main mystery. Can Beth use her skills of observation and research to solve the murder?

I really enjoyed this book, not only because of the main crime but there were several sub-plots that intrigued me as well. I continue to enjoy the interaction between the characters and the respect they show towards each other. Since one the threads running through the previous books appears to be solved I thought that this was the last book in the series. But it looks like that another book will be out in 2023 and I anxiously wait for the next Beth Rivers adventure.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the copy of Winter’s End. This is the fourth book in the series and I love how Beth has changed and grown over the course of this series. As usual, there are quirky characters, both new and old that add to the flavor of the town. If you’re looking for a fun cozy mystery/thriller series, this is a great one to check out!

WINTER’S END is the fourth book in the Alaska Wild Mysteries by Paige Shelton. This riveting series continues to enthrall me with the beautiful but brutal setting of the wilds in Alaska along with the intriguing secrets protagonist Beth Rivers tries to uncover as she remains in hiding. While Winter’s End can be read as a standalone, it’s well worthwhile to start from the beginning with how Beth, a thriller author, came to be hiding in Benedict, Alaska. Ms. Shelton does a marvelous job with Beth’s character and it's been a delight watching her grow from a shattered young woman to one who finds strength and courage to face whatever challenge that may come her way… whether the challenge is in the form of nature or human. There is also a wonderful core cast of characters surrounding Beth and, as the series unfolds, it seems most of them have a secretive past.

As I started the book, I could hardly contain my eagerness to find out what happens when the town meets for the annual Death Walk… which the event name alone piqued my curiosity. Guessing that the Death Walk was probably the catalyst for even more suspenseful happenings, I kept turning the pages long into the night, devouring the words to find out what happens next. Ms. Shelton delivers in spades from murder, to a missing baby, to a missing friend, and much more. She does an admirable job wrapping up the murder mystery and missing people threads of the story with a highly satisfactory conclusion, while leaving a hint of more intrigue to come. I, for one, will be impatiently waiting for the next book!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from St. Martin’s Press and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The fourth installment in an established series. If you’re already a fan, you’ll be quite satisfied with this one.

I received this ARC From Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is the 4th in the Alaska Wild Series. I have really enjoyed reading this series and this latest didn’t disappoint. You could read this book without having read the others in the series but you will miss so much about life in Benedict, Alaska and the development of the characters. It is just the beginning of spring and it is that time for everyone to check in. They call it the “Death Walk”. This is to make sure everyone made it through the winter but also for local police to check on the ones missing. There were two citizens missing Al who lives by himself and Warren last had been seen the day before by family. Beth Rivers and Orin go to Al’s house to check on him and the Sheriff Gril leaves to check on Warren and his wife at his house. Beth and Orin find Al very sick and almost at death’s door and Orin leaves to get help. Sheriff Gril finally arrives to help them out and Beth finds out that Orin never contacted the Gril and that he is missing. Then Gril tells Beth that they couldn’t find Warren or Kaye at their house or the surrounding area. Gril stated that he would set up a search the next day and they got Al to the hospital. The next day Kaye’s body is discovered in the woods and she has been murdered. Who killed Kaye? What happened to Orin? Where is Warren? Sheriff Gril and Beth will try to find the answers to those questions and many more that come up during the investigation. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves a great mystery or enjoys reading about the wilds of Alaska.

Paige Shelton captures the Alaska of my imagination perfectly. Beautiful but dangerous landscapes full of fascinating loners. Loved.

Oh my gosh, I really enjoyed reading this book! It was absolutely thrilling and I can’t wait to add it to my physical collection!

Thank you for the ARC. This is a great addition to my favorite series. I love these books. They make me so happy. I love to read them whenever I feel overwhelmed and I consider moving to Alaska. They remind me that crazy things happen everywhere.
I love all the characters and the setting. This one has the addition of wonderful dogs.
The end gave me happy chills. I highly reccomend it.

Not sure why I look forward to new books in this series. I've read other books set in Alaska, with straight and quirky characters, but I look forward to these the most.

The story line is a little conventional, with a couple of extra touches that fit the Alaska setting. Beth seemed a little pushier than usual, but maybe it's been so long since the last book, I'd forgotten. I did have some issues with the ending. One thing is brought up and, seemingly, dealt with, but we get no details. The ending is almost cliffhangerish to me, though it has nothing to do with this actual story.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Dead Man Walking

Paige Shelton has done it again! An intriguing new look on life after the deep winter in Alaska. While still cold in June, it’s interesting to watch Beth maneuver around the wildlife in the small town of Benedict and in true fashion, help solve a murder! Dun, dun, dun! Who didn’t survive the winter? Find out at the annual Death Walk! Where residents show up for accountability and those missing are…hunted. Such an interesting idea brewed with excitement and mystery. A new way to check in on your neighbors.

This time around, I enjoyed getting to know Viola’s character more. It really matches up with her tough chick attitude. And really, she is a tough chick and for good reason. New felon to the area, Chaz, is a treat to this series. I loved everything to do with his storyline. Especially since he reminded me of Neal Caffery from the show White Collar. Something about wanting to see the kind-of-good-guy do well, type of thing!

With every book there are answers for Beth, but also (with her loss of memories from her trauma) more mystery! I can’t wait for the next book in this series. A couple of new developments have given me lots of anticipation for the next one! If you haven’t started the series yet, start at the first one Thin Ice. It’s a must read series!

Anxiously waiting,
x Sarah - Anneoftucson Reviews

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for allowing me to read an early copy of Paige Shelton's Winter's End. I love this series, and it just gets better and better. The characters are realistically written, and their collective sense of community and camaraderie is heart-warming.

Paige Shelton continues to impress with her Alaska-set mystery series. Once again the story flies by with the help of some really colorful characters and crazy hijinks. I always look forward to spending time with these characters and I hope this series continues on for the foreseeable future.

This is the fourth book in this series. Set in remote Alaska, Beth is experiencing her first spring in Benedict. As the town gathers to be accounted for after the long winter, some are missing, including Beth’s new friend. As she tries to solve the mystery of where her friend is, the personal mystery of Beth’s past is also unraveling. This is definitely a series that needs to be read in order, but you will love them all. This book was a page turner and I highly recommend it.

I am quite enjoying the Alaska Wild Mysteries and this one (book four) was a great addition to it. Great read.

I've enjoyed following this saga of stories...so many twists and turns, new characters and old to delve back into with each new book. Mystery, drama, love, and family are all intertwined in so many ways!