Deep in the Forest

"Lynda McDaniel's ability to weave psychological perspectives and changes into the bigger picture creates a story that is thought-provoking on more than the mystery level alone. Deep in the Forest stands well alone, and as a nice addition to the prior adventures." ~D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Hampshire, England, 2006: I should've known not to visit Nigel Steadman; trouble followed him closer than his shadow. But I'd finally made it all the way to Dublin, and it seemed a shame not to hop across the Irish Sea to see my old friend. Besides, he'd always said for me to come stay with him in London.

It wasn't till I called from Dublin that I learned he'd moved to the New Forest in the south of England. Goodbye London before I ever met you—and hello heartache. That's where Nigel roped me into doing some undercover work checking out the Ownbey gang he was trying to trick into telling the truth. But as you can imagine, things didn't go the way we'd planned. Gunslingers, kidnappers, and thieves highjacked my vacation and turned it into a nightmare.

So here I am in a makeshift jail, and it feels like I'll never see Fiona and the boys again. And if the bad guys have their way, I won't! Even when my best friend Della Kincaid flies over to help, she can't do much. I'm in so deep, she doesn't know where to look for me. Time to pray. ~Abit Bradshaw

You'll enjoy this suspenseful mystery because who hasn't tried to do the right thing—only to have it all go wrong?

If you love Jacqueline Winspear, Sue Grafton, and Cheryl Bradshaw (no relation to Abit Bradshaw that we know of), you're sure to enjoy the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series.

Get it now—for the rich natural setting, colorful characters, and suspenseful investigations.

Murder Ballad Blues is the fourth book—and a standalone novel—in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series by award-winning author Lynda McDaniel.

Interview with the Author
Q: What's new in the series?
A: It's a year after the last scenes in Murder Ballad Blues, and I've taken Abit Bradshaw and his family to Ireland and England, where Abit lets Nigel Steadman lead him into a world of trouble. I spent some happy times in the New Forest in Hampshire, England, and I had fun revisiting it in my mind's eye. (I had planned to do research in person, but the pandemic put the kibosh on that!). A young boy by the name of Baldy (short for Archibald) is my favorite new character. He makes a big impression on Abit and experiences a major arc by the end of the book.

Q: Why should readers give this series a try?
A: Because these are serious mysteries without over-the-top violence. And readers tell me the character development makes them eager to read more: "a pair of unforgettable crime-solving characters," one reader shared, and another wrote, "I became intrigued by and attached to the characters—Della, Abit, Alex, even the dog, the villagers and their dialogue."

Q: In what order was this series written?
A: Deep in the Forest is a standalone, so readers won't be confused if they start with this book. Actually, I worked to make all the books in the series easy to understand, wherever readers start the series. The other books in order written: A Life for a Life, The Roads to Damascus, Welcome the Little Children, Murder Ballad Blues, Up the Creek, Unwrapped, After Dusk, and Waiting for You (free prequel)