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Reviewed by Brenda Casto for Readers' Favorite
Trial By Twelve: A Murder in the Mountains Book 2 by Heather Day Gilbert takes readers back to Buckneck, WV, and this time it seems like there just might be a serial killer or killers on the loose! Taking a job at Crystal Mountain Spa should have been a very low key, stay out of danger kind of job for Tess Spencer. Unfortunately, when contractors start digging a new pool out back of the spa, they unearth more than anyone bargained for. When numerous bodies are uncovered, the local detective assigned to the case asks Tess to help, and she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a case where there could be more than one killer. As Tess gets closer to the truth, she also becomes the next target. Can she figure out who the killer is before she becomes the next victim?
Heather Day Gilbert's Trial By Twelve provides more twists than the winding country roads that traverse the hills of Buckneck, WV! A mystery that left me guessing and totally wrong about who the killer was. A tightly woven story written in a way that allowed me to feel like I was seeing the events unfold through the eyes of the characters. I love the down to earth, homey feel of the characters and setting. It's very easy to become a part of the community and story. I love the character of Tess; she is a Glock carrying mom who is determined to look out for others, even at the expense of her own safety. She has a penchant for winding up in the middle of trouble, but that doesn't stop her. Even though Tess grapples with family issues from her past, her strong marriage and the bond she has with the Spencers really lends a sense of family to the story.
While there were several clues as to who the killer might be, I found myself totally wrong about who it was right up until the end, which doesn't happen often. I loved the suspense filled mystery, but the balance of family and community woven into the story was also enjoyable to read. The breathless ending that the author provided wraps everything up neatly, but the final chapter leaves me anxious to read the next installment in A Murder in the Mountain Series.
