Show Me the Sinister Snowman by Carolyn Mulford is the fifth book in the “Show Me” mystery series. Publisher: Cave Hollow Press, April 2017

North Missouri has seldom been snowier and the mysteries more perplexing than in Show Me the Sinister Snowman, the fifth novel in Carolyn Mulford’s Show Me detective series.

Was the ailing congressman’s death an accident, suicide, or perhaps even murder? And if it was murder, could it be that he was the wrong victim and the murderer might be poised to strike again? We watch as the action zeroes in on a snow-bound estate to provide a new twist on the classic country house mystery. The questions and perils build up, but retired CIA operative Phoenix Smith–with help from her faithful canine assistant, Achilles–is on the case.

I enjoyed the tantalizing trails that the author planted for me in this engrossing drama of suspense and intrigue. The narrative pulled me in immediately as I had to know who was behind the threats and possibly the murder. The author took great care to craft a novel that was tightly woven with the elements one expect in a mystery, that included a list of suspects, clues buried for me to find, the victim or victims and the protagonist whose role is to ferret out the culprit. With masterly adept dialogue and a snowbound setting where no one can escape, this drama kept me engaged in all that was happening and entertained as step by step, the plot thickened to a frenetic tempo as the story came to a fitting conclusion. This was a terrific read and I look forward to the next exciting adventures with Phoenix, Achilles, Connie and Annalynn.