Susan Stewart Taylor’s first Bethany, Vermont mystery, Agony Hill, is scheduled for release on August 6. In the meantime, she introduces one of her main characters, as well as the town of Bethany, in her short story “Mud Season”. Taylor, the author of the Maggie D’arcy series, is launching a series set in Vermont in the 1960s.

Alice Bellows moved home to Bethany after her husband’s death ten years earlier. She knows the history of the town, as well as its people, and she’s inquisitive enough to ask questions of the right people when there’s a problem in Bethany.

Early April is mud season there, as the melting snowpacks run down from the mountains, causing residents and visitors to get stuck in the mud. Alice recognizes that her minister had problems when he shows up at church mud-covered, but she’s intrigued by his story. He couldn’t visit a sick parishioner because a deserted car was stuck in the mud. Why would someone leave their car, and why did the car have Pennsylvania license plates?

Alice asks just enough questions of the local trooper with the Vermont State Police, as well as the man who eventually towed the car. She knows the families her minister planned to visit, and Alice can figure out who might have had a visitor.

While the forthcoming book, Agony Hill, introduces a new detective with the Vermont State Police, this short story introduces Alice and a few residents who will appear in the novel. This is an enjoyable introduction to Alice Bellows, a story with just enough mystery. And, when you’re ready for Agony Hill in August, the town and a few characters will welcome you back.

Sarah Stewart Taylor’s website is https://www.sarahstewarttaylor.com/.

“Mud Season” is a short story available as a free Kindle edition through Amazon. Minotaur Books, 2024.

Here’s the cover of Agony Hill.

FTC Full Disclosure – I downloaded a copy of “Mud Season”.