Cozy-ish Mystery Police Procedural about an ISB agent overseeing Pinnacles National Park and her colleagues as they investigate a murder, a missing person and a cold case that might just be connected.

5/5 stars: This third entry in Kells' National Parks Mystery series and it doesn't disappoint. With plenty of twists and turns, Kells has written a gripping police procedural. Felicity, the MC, is a former FBI agent who after a tragedy now works for the Investigative Services Branch (IBS) investigating crimes that occur in the national parks which Kells takes advantage of by setting each book in the series in a different "smaller" California park with this entry centering around Pinnacles National Park. Kells' descriptions of the landscape paints evocative pictures of the beautiful settings that continually draw me in. I love Felicity's backstory and seeing her character grow throughout the series. Additionally I adore her partner, Hux, and how Kells is ever so slowly building their working and personal relationship. And let's not forget the amazing wonder dog Ollie, Felicity's shepherd mix. Most importantly, Kells crafted three different mysteries, a murder, a missing person and a cold case, that are a perfectly balance of clues, red herrings and suspects that truly blew me away at the reveal. Excellent series for those looking for something different that has that “Cozy Mystery” feel but is a bit grittier. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to check out book one, Vanishing Edge.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

I have been enjoying this newish series from Kells, and was excited to get an opportunity to read this third installment. Hux and Harland head to the Pinnacles to solve a murder and possible missing persons case. This was lagged a bit more than the first two, but it still kept my interest and definitely hints at the plot of a fourth book. All in all, entertaining! Thanks to NetGalley for the chance ti read and review this book!

ISB Agent Felicity Harland is busy working on cold cases when she is called to the new Pinnacles Grand Hotel recently opened in Pinnacles National Park. A body has been found in one of the guest suites during Grand Opening week.

It is a 4.5-mile hike to the hotel. Harland meets her partner Hux there and the two begin their investigation. The FBI should be involved but a credible terrorist threat at the airport in San Francisco is keeping every agent busy. The case looks open-and-shut. After all, the estranged wife was found standing over the body. However, nothing is as it looks at first glance.

The victim - Chris Denton - checked into the resort with a woman who was not his wife. His wife's private investigator told her about the rendezvous, and she decided to confront him. She claims that she didn't kill him but found him in his hotel room. And the woman he checked in with is missing. Nothing is left of her in the hotel room.

But the murder isn't the only case in the park. A woman's dress shoe has been found on a trail with no sign of the woman. Harland and Hux find a driver's license stuck in a tree outside the suite where the body was found. It says Aria Privar who might be the missing person in the murder and who might also be the owner of the shoe in the park.

As Harland and Hux try to unravel this complicated case, they find hints that it might be related to a suspected murder-suicide that took place in the park back in 1994.

This was an engaging mystery. It is the third in a series. I enjoyed getting to know more about Harland in this episode and am curious to know where her relationship with Hux will go.

4.5 stars

I absolutely loved this new instalment in this series. And I love, love, love this series!!! It's so good, and refreshing and the perpetual game of "will they, won't they" is very entertaining.

In this book we have the story of a brand new hotel opened in the heart of mountains, wilderness and, as luck would have it, there is an unfortunate incident in the opening days. What initially seems to be a cut and dry domestic dispute gone wrong, it escalates to be way more than that and what better team to investigate and uncover it all than Felicity Harland former SEAL Ferdinand “Hux” Huxley.

This was a good, fun, fast, action packed book. It has a lot of thrilling moments. The writing is great, the beauty of National Parks gets a front page in a positive way and the whole atmosphere is different yet tense.

I am sooo looking forward to the next one!!!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this fun, awesome book!

Ha, my favorite trio is back with another adventure thriller. Book # 3 in the National Parks mystery series that can be read as a standalone for the mystery. But I would urge you to read the series in order to understand the relationship dynamics developing between Harland and Huxley.

I have said this after reading the 2nd book, An Unforgiving Place that if the author Claire Kells plans to write these thrillers all centered around the National Parks then I'm all in to devour them. The author has an exceptional ability to make the place the central protagonist in the story so much that the characters find themselves facing the dangers of the terrain more than the human elements. The atmosphere and the natural setting of the story add to the thrill brilliantly.

Forgotten Trail has Hux, Harland, and Ollie, the cutie dog travelling to Pinnacles National Park to investigate a murder. In Book #2, the mystery was easily deciphered but here the author definitely upped the ante and delivers a stunning and unexpected culprit and brings in a cold case revelation at the end. The push and pull relationship developing between Hux and Harland has been toned down a bit, so I didn’t really feel any progress from the last two books, no worries, I'm more than willing to wait for that element to take its own sweet time.

If there’s anything I would have loved more in this developing series is the POV of Hux at least through his actions. We hear Harland and know her attraction towards Hux, there’s a slight jealousy angle in this but I still feel the actions showing his care and concern could have been amped up if the POV is not being given.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

This review is published on my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Book Bub, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

3rd book in the National Parks Mystery series featuring Investigative Service Branch agent Felicity Harland and her partner, Ferdinand “Hux” Huxley. When a murdered guest is discovered at the brand new hike-in lodge in Pinnacles National Park, Felicity and Hux are called in to investigate. The crime scene does not give many clues and there is the sense that the hotel workers and suspects are not sharing all they know. In the meantime, a missing person is reported and they assist in the search as she is a possible witness or even suspect in the murder. Claire Kells consistently does a fantastic job with setting and I look forward to learning about the lesser known National Parks she highlights in her books. All of the characters are well drawn and I am completely invested in the partnership between Felicity and Hux as well as the work they do—they are dedicated and very likable characters. The plot and pacing worked well in this book even though I felt like I had to suspend disbelief a bit more in this book than her previous stories. There were some interesting aspects to this novel, like the innovative design of the Pinnacles Grand Hotel and learning about the park itself. This was a solid addition to the series and this author is one of my new favorites!

Claire Kells' third book in her mystery series does not disappoint. She and her partner, Ferdinand Huxley (known as "Hux"), investigate a murder at the Pinnacles National Park in California at the fictional new hotel. The modern, fancy hotel which is only accessible on foot by four or so miles of footpath, is expensive and expansive. Therefore, when a wealthy last minute guest who is there with his mistress is brutally murdered, Harland and Hux are called upon to investigate. The wife of the victim is also at the hotel, and she swears she has had nothing to do with the murder.

As she has so skillfully done in her other two books, Kells describes the surroundings of the park which include amazing ancient volcanic formations, caves, and the serpentine trails that eventually connect everything to the hotel. She and Hux take a break from the Park by visiting his cabin in the magnificent sequoias. As in her other books, there is an underlying tension between the two which adds to the curiosity about their relationship.

As Harland and Hux return to the hotel to search of the mistress, who disappeared immediately after the murder, they find her driver's license and a mysterious shoe, eventually leading them to her hideout in a cave. Ultimately, the murderer is identified, and the roles of the wife, the mistress, and the hit man are explained.

Kells' books are taut with mystery, always encapsulating a stunning national park setting where the plot and setting are tied together to create an intriguing environment.

Thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this delightful book.

Forgotten Trail by Claire Kells is a good mystery. I recommend this delightful mystery to all readers who like a mystery in the NationalParks and Forest.

Another Hux and Harland adventure! I loved this first two books in this series and I was super excited to read this one. I gave this one four stars because it seemed ore slow to me. I missed the long hiking and adventure of the first two books. This was mostly set at a hotel and although the mystery of it all was great. I very much missed the outdoors. I loved the cold case aspect of this as well and felt more intrigued by that than the main case. Over all Hux and Harland's dynamic was wonderful per usual. Overall wonderful third book and this series and I can't wait to read the next one!

Forgotten Trail by Claire Kells is the third in the series with Investigative Services Branch agent Felicity Harland and her partner Hux Huxley and is set in a new hike-in lodge at Pinnacles National Park. A dead body has been found and a missing person adds to the problems they face. With a tie in of a cold case and this mystery to solve Felicity and Hux work in an unforgiving landscape of Pinnacles. The setting, in an unknown to me, National Park made this an interesting location.

I really like Harland and Hux investigating together. It’s interesting seeing Hux getting used to being an ISB agent adding a new layer to his job as a park ranger. That being said, I found this book a little off compared to the previous 2. Harland and Hux don’t have the same camaraderie as before. Granted a new person from Harland’s past is assuring with the investigation and causing some tension. It was frustrating to see they were getting pushed around by the FBI and by the SAR team/park rangers. I understand they answer to higher ups but just doing what they were told doesn’t seem like something they’d do. Especially because they want to solve the murder. I mean The FBI told them the case was closed and for them to leave. Then there’s a person of interest missing and suspected to be lost in the woods but the park rangers say the search is over because they must’ve crossed the border and ran off, Hux unbelievably just walked away. Knowing his penchant for tracking down lost/hiding people I feel like this was completely out of character. The mystery was interesting but most of the book were given very little information until the last quarter where it picked up pace and many details were revealed that lead us to the answer of what happened. Despite all this I enjoy the combination of investigation and searching/tracking in the parks. I’ll be interested to see where the little cliffhangers/questions we were left with at the end of the book.

Felicity is an investigative officer for the national parks, and she and her partner Hux are called to look into a murder at the new Pinnacle Hotel. The victim checked into the hotel with his girlfriend, but he wasn't aware that his wife, who had him followed, had also arrived. She was fed up with his cheating, but was she also a murderer? Everything changes as Felicity finds a shocking connection to a cold case she is working. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Forgotten Trail: A National Park Mystery by Claire Kells is the latest in this very good series that began with Vanishing Edge: A Novel. This third book in the series takes readers to Pinnacles National Park in California. One of the newer parks, it includes a newly opened hotel, Pinnacles Grand Hotel. Only open about a week, not only is it a bit of hike from the parking lot to get to the hotel, once there, the room are not cheap. A murder is not going to help the price point or their reputation. But, that is what has happened.

At least, that is what the manager, James Dunaway, claims in a phone call to Special Agent Felicity Harland. He has bypassed the protocols in place to report the situation directly to her. Since the scene is in the park, that makes it an Investigative Services Branch case. Since she is a special agent with ISB and currently covering Pinnacles National Park, and several other parks, that makes the case hers.

Before long, Agent Harland is at the hotel, as is her partner, Investigator Ferdinand “Hux” Huxley. The deceased is Chris Mason though, according to his wife, his real last name is Denton. The same wife who was found standing over the body of her dead husband. A serial cheater, according to his wife, he checked in with another woman who is now believed to be missing.

There is also a missing hiker elsewhere in the park and a serious terrorism threat situation at San Francisco International airport. That means Harlan and Hux have to handle the case on their own without any assistance from the FBI. They are pretty much on their own with a lot to do.

What follows is a complex mystery where readers are given little more regarding the backstory of Harland and how she got to this point in her life. That further character development does not get in the way of the complex mystery at work in Forgotten Trail: A National Park Mystery. Like any really good series where each book builds on the previous ones, such is the case here. So, if this series is new to you, start in the beginning with Vanishing Edge: A Novel. That is followed by An Unforgiving Place: A National Park Mystery. The reads are well worth it.

If it is not clear already, Forgotten Trail: A National Park Mystery by Claire Kells is a mighty good read. Strongly recommend, as is the series.

My reading copy came by way of a publisher ARC through NetGalley with no expectation of a review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2023

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

Last fall I fell in love with this series by Claire Kell. I got into them just as the second book released, and had been waiting anxiously for the third. As an avid hiker I love the setting and the active actions of the characters - Amy McCullough is the only other recent author I have found to give a more present perspective on the outdoors and adventure mystery theme.

For "Forgotten Trail" Claire brings us back to Harland and Hux in Pinnacles National Park as they attempt to solve the murder of a philandering husband and his missing affair partner. The pacing of the story is smooth, and involves a few twists that deepen the mystery and the layers around the history of the park. Harland and Hux continue to be a witty and fun team to follow the trails with.

We spend significantly more time with Harland without Hux (unlike in An Unforgiving Place) and the two are circling each other in a fashion that I do wish would have had a bit more focus or exploration.

We also spend time in Harland's Australia flashbacks as she reflects more on Kevin's fate as he searched for help after her back breaking fall. Now that she works cold cases, it would be interesting to see how that develops - especially with it being external to a USA national park - especially with Hux's search skills.

I can't wait for the next book in this series!

I really liked this 3rd installment in Claire Kells’ National Parks Mystery series. And although it is the 3rd book, I feel like it would work fine for a stand-alone book too.

These National Park Mysteries are such a fun niche read for me. There’s something cozy about them for me even though I wouldn’t classify them as cozy mysteries. I love Harland and Hux and their dynamic and I can’t wait to see which National Park their next adventure will be at
.
This read has the atmospheric setting of the rocky landscape of Pinnacles National Park, a murder during the grand opening of a luxury hotel within the park, a missing person, a cold case, and more.

There were a couple parts that I felt weren’t quite clear or I misread or missed something in my reading because I remember thinking, “wait, when did that happen?” Or “I thought this was how it happened but now it’s saying something else that doesn’t jive with that”. It didn’t really change the overall story but it’s what dropped the book from a solid 4 stars for me to a 3.75 (rounded up to 4 stars).

I think if you love atmospheric mysteries, National Parks, and investigative mysteries you’ll love Forgotten Trail.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the copy of this eARC!

I love these characters and their relationship and backstories. The plot of the story is intriguing and I love the setting. Mostly a fun read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of the book. There are some distracting discrepancies in the story line that should be fixed before publication.

This is the first book I've read in the series, and I really like it. It's book 3, and although there's obviously a lot of backstory between the characters, I feel like this stands alone as a terrific read. Though it's good enough that I also now want to go back and read books 1 and 2. This is a cool mix of extremely rugged natural setting and ridiculously high-tech/luxurious setting. The characters, especially Felicity and Hux, feel real and interesting. The tension is high, and the murders in the past tie together logically with the current murder. I thought a bit of the cross-agency drama when Felicity and Hux conveniently have to leave the park felt a bit over the top, as if it had to happen for the plot to progress, so the author made it happen. Maybe it's true to life, but that's how it felt to me. Other than that, though, this felt gripping and immediate and believable. A really good read!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

crime-thriller, California, survival, suspense, revenge, search-and-rescue, dog, federal-agents, ex-FBI, ex-SEAL, Pinnacles, National Parks, series, friends, friendship, family, park-ranger, action, missing-persons, due-diligence, working-partners, murder, murder-investigation, lies, secrets, hospitality-industry, hotel, unputdownable*****

I absolutely love this series and this one is the most ambitious in terms of depth of characters and their perspectives.
Felicity Harland is former FBI out of Chicago and now with Investigative Services Bureau of the U.S. National Park Service currently in California and sent in a rush to Pinnacles National Park to investigate a purported murder at the very brand new hotel. dog Ollie. Her partner on this assignment is Ferdinand “Hux” Huxley, park ranger, former navy SEAL, expert tracker, trainee into the ISB, and has brought with him Felicity's marvelous dog Ollie who is learning search techniques. This investigation has more complications that could possibly be summarized, plot twists that boggle the mind, and an ending that I never saw coming! Great read!
I read the second courtesy of NetGalley, then bought the first in audio, and hope for the fourth.
I requested and received an EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Quick Review: This book and series is a fun, easy, read, but I'd enjoy it more with a little more time spent on character development and a little less objectification of Hux.

I got this one free from Netgalley. I had not read this author before but I have read a lot of books about crimes in National Parks and I really enjoy this subgenre of books so I had high hopes! Also, before digging in to this one, I went back and read the first two books in the series.

All three have enjoyable and complex crimes/plots and none of the books disappoint in that area. I did guess the bad guy in this one but I still enjoyed the overall story.

I really like the two main characters working as partners to investigate these outdoorsy crimes. What I really don't like is the possible romance angle between these two. There really is no romantic chemistry between them at all. It clear that Harland really, really finds Hux attractive (he's maybe too perfect in her eyes?) but we get absolutely nothing from him to make me think that he is interested in her in that way. No fun banter, no sweet displays of protectiveness, no flirtation. I LOVE a romance but in this case I think we are probably better off without it.

It's funny that in most action stories we have a well rounded main guy character and a one dimensional, hottie, female, sidekick but these books flip that dynamic. Guess what? I still don't like it!

Forgotten Trail ends with two juicy cliffhangers. If I started the series here I'd be excited about both of them but since I read the first two books in the series, I am a little irritated that the backstory of Harland's husband changed quite a lot for Book 3 to set up one of the cliffhangers. (This might be a problem specific to me because I read all the books in quick succession. People who space out their reading might not remember those little details and in the scheme of things.)

I love the settings of these novels and the slowly developing relationship between Harland, the main character and narrator, and Hux, the ex-military-turned-park-ranger who is her partner in solving crimes. I will keep reading these for a while at least, but I do think a strong editor could really spiff up the writing, which often gets clunky ("Niles sounded like he was in his forties"....what does that sound like? and comments like "it wasn't a rusted old padlock with a tiny keyhole" — at a glossy brand new hotel. Of course there wasn't a rusted lock.) The narrative also talks down to the reader at times, i.e., spelling out what SEALS stands for. And there is a prominent character in the book who wears a mask, just one, and there's no allusion to the pandemic, which was disorienting and could be easily corrected.

I read an ARC of this, courtesy of NetGalley, so perhaps some of these things will be corrected before the book comes out. Despite the things that annoyed me, I did enjoy they mystery and the twists and turns in this quick read.