This is book 2 in the series. and Lew is up to new tricks, as she has been elected to Sheriff, and now runs the entire county. She is still trying to settle in, as she realizes one of her under chiefs may have gotten a case wrong. Confronting him goes as expected, and soon Lew is digging deep to see what happened. It takes Lew's trusted few to help her solve this crime, and bring to light long-held secrets. This is a new series that is not only fun but a quick page-turner. You'll love this new series especially if you're looking for something new this holiday season!

Hidden in the pines by Victoria Houston is the second book in this new series but with the old characters Lew Ferris and Doc Osborne. I really like these series and the atmosphere is wonderful. There is one thing though that bothers me and that is the fact that Houston has lost control. The timeline is so out of whack that despite the number of winters Lew and Doc has been an item it has only been 3 years! In this book she even involves a new coroner that has some of the bad habits that the current is supposed to have, that means that she has divided one coroner into two. Apart from that I love this book, we have murder and mayhem as usual with a little fishing in between and the usual characters are all there. I like the fact that Lew now is the sheriff of all three counties and I'm looking forward to what this will bring. I will continue reading this series despite the small things that disturbs me because it's a wonderful crew of characters and I enjoy the setting. Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for letting me read this book.

I was intrigued by the title and cover of this book as it reminded me a lot of nothern Maine. The book started off slow for me, but really picked up in the last 100 pages and I couldn't put the book down and stayed up late to finish it. It's a quick read if you're looking for a thriller to read.

I really enjoyed this novel. The rural Wisconsin setting gives a new spin on a police procedural story, and the strong female characters, both the sheriff Lew and Judith who can't let the long-ago death of her sister rest.

Where to start! Edge of your seat thrilling. This is a page turner.
The world building is incredible. We connect with Judith immediately. Her tragic story stays with you. It stayed with her for almost 60 years!
The death of her sister that her parents felt she was too young to know the truth about has haunted her since she was 8 years old.
Now retired, her own daughter wants her to move south to be closer to family and away from bad memories that haunt her.
A chance glimpse at a job posting changes all those plans.
This is such a great story. Even if police procedurals are not your thing, or true(ish) crime, you will find yurself staying up late to see what hapens. Can evil be generational?
I don't want to give the story away but grab this book! It will pull you in and you will appreciate the characters. Not all cops are good, not all bad guys are the worst. Sometimes the truth takes digging.

Victoria Houston’s Lake Loon series morphs into Lew Ferris Mysteries and keeps the same cast of engaging characters. More focused on the newly elected Sheriff Ferris, the shift is a comfortable change of pace.

The new sheriff deals with a coroner ill-equipped to do his job, a mishandled death that turns out to be murder, and a new employee chasing the 30-year-old cold case of her sister’s murder.

Ms. Houston’s cozy mysteries offer intriguing yet comfortable reads. Hidden in the Pines is a solid addition to her many novels about Doc Osborne, Sheriff Ferris, and fishing guide Ray Pradt.

This book was such a treat! Leaving in the UK, I am fascinated with mystery books set in beautiful picturesque backdrops where you feel you are there. This story being set in the northern Wisconsin woods was simply pure pleasure. The lead character being a female sheriff is just spot on! You also get some really interesting insights on fly fishing all whilst following a really good mystery plot. Absolutely stunning...

Victoria Houston's Hidden Pines revolves around Lew Ferris... a newly elected female sheriff in northern Wisconsin. Lew is supported by a fantastic cast of characters including Doc, her significant other, Dani, her can-do-it-all assistant, and Judith, a retired professional and newcomer to the department. This book intertwines several mysteries very neatly. Lew is also an avid fly-fisherwoman, and the descriptions of fly fishing and the northern Wisconsin woods are spot on. Looking forward to more from this series.

This series is very good, just enough crime with dabs of romance and every day life. I also enjoyed the first book and am looking forward to more books about Lew.📖📖📖

More than 50 years later Indian returns to her home-town to uncover the mystery behind her sister's death. And in order to do so she gets a job with the sheriff's office. Will she be able to finally Find the peace that she has been looking for all her life?
The story has a great plot. A woman trying to figure out what happened to her sister and why was it never arranged. I loved how as the story progressed, newer sub-plots were introduced but the story never felt off track.
It was an adventurous mystery ride that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I could totally see what was coming and who the bad man was, but I still enjoyed the ride all the same.
The women in this story are truly inspiring
“ a gripping adventure down a 50+ year old mystery”

My first read from the Victoria Houston collection and I am glad I requested this. I was intrigued by the title and cover and it lived up to its premise which was extremely interesting.

A thriller that also focuses on the personal aspect of the characters rather than just being a chase to solve the mystery. The strong female characters was a huge plus for me. The book immediately grips you with the first chapter and I was following the journey of the protagonists. Liked the imagery used in the book and the use of fishing for the storyline.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange of my honest review.

Hidden in the Pines dives into two big cases striking the town with one big connection to each other. Victoria Houston showcases the characters on a personal level as they work to solve the cases. While not a hard-hitting mystery/thriller book, While predictable at times, Hidden in the Pines captivated my attention. I could see this book being the beginning of a Netflix chick-flick series. I will definitely read more books from this author.
**I posted a smaller review on my instagram stories -- britbritfit

I have not ready any other books by this author, but that is definitely going to change now! I was hooked from start to finish with this book. The imagery was on point and I felt like I was there. The story was gripping. I loved it!

This is the second book to focus on Lew Ferris (though I have discovered there's another Loon Lake series that centers on Doc) and picks up as she begins her new job as Sheriff. Lew is a middle-aged woman who's known adversity, but who's always had the strength to pick up and soldier on. She's smart and independent and loves fly-fishing. This depiction of a career cop in a small town in Wisconsin is a refreshing twist on police procedurals, and a nice easy-going read. Not a traditional whodunnit, but an engaging story nonetheless. I wasn't convinced about Lew and Loon Lake after the first book (Wolf Hollow), but I"m glad I gave this series a second chance.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley

This long-running series (the same characters are in the Loon Lake Fishing series and in the Lew Ferris series) is among my very favorites.

This one does not disappoint. This time, Lew, Doc, and the other characters, are involved in a cold case from 60 years earlier, as well as an art theft scheme. There's a terrific new addition to the cast of characters.

Reading Victoria Houston mysteries is always a treasure and this one is absolutely terrific.

Highly recommended!!

Hello, Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley.

The file that came into my Kindle has all of the paragraphs without indentions. Thus, the reading process of this arc is not easy on the eyes or enjoyable.

Unfortunately, I found this poor formatting with several of the cozy mystery tiles from Crooked Lane books.

The only two that were formatted correctly and readable were A Christmas Candy Killing and A Good Day To Pie, both of which I loved. I will post reviews for those books later this Fall on my blog and include the links.

List of Crooked Lane Books that are incorrectly formatted are;

Death by Margins
Dead Men Don’t Decorate
The Game Is A Footnote
Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking
Streetcar Named Murder
Snuffed Out
Hidden in the Pines
Canter With A Killer

Title: Hidden In The Pines
Author: Victoria Houston
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Release Date: January 10, 2023

Review: I want to thank Victoria Houston, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. This is my first book by Victoria Houston and I doubt it will be my last. This book captivated me from the beginning and kept me wanting to read more. It’s been a bit where I’ve stayed up late due to not wanting to put it down or stop reading. This is book two in the Lew Ferris Series and there is also a Loon Lake Series that is connected as well. Although this is the second book in the series and my first book, I didn’t feel lost or confused at any time during the book. I highly recommend this book and just going off this one, the series as well. I can’t wait to read more.

There were two mysteries and twists that kept you on your toes. One mystery bringing Judith back to her hometown and meeting new friends while solving another mystery together. The two storylines were intriguing and although you could at times see where it might be going, it didn’t ruin the suspense. It was definitely a thrill at the end with the intense journey and hunt. I would probably say this would be a 4-4.5 star book, just because I could see where it was going, but it still captivated me and kept me wanting more.

4/5 Stars




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Filled with strong female characters made this read a joy! A solid fast paced mystery with plenty of twists and turns. I found this read very hard to put down! Thanks #netgalley and #Crookedlanebooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this book, Hidden in the Pines.

I have read all of Victoria Houston’s ‘Loon Lake Fishing Mysteries’ as well as her ‘Lou Ferris Mysteries’ and I have never been disappointed. Maybe it is the mythical setting in Loon Lake, Wisconsin. Maybe it is the assortment of characters that are involved in helping now county sheriff Lew Ferris solve murder mysteries. Maybe it is just Houston’s writing style. I just enjoy the stories and how the plots unfold. This latest story continues the series with the usual characters; Lew (in her new role as county sheriff), her assistant, Dani, and new hire, Judith (who really just wants to find out the truth about her sister’s death many years in the past), Doc, Lew’s partner, in love and in fishing, and Ray, the colorful fishing guide who charms all of the ladies.

This is another delightful story, making me wait for the next book in the series.

Never know what’s hidden in the pines! This was a great book! Highly recommend it! I look forward to reading more books by this author!