Caffeinated Reviewer

The Pines Were Watching by Linda Norlander is the second novel in the Sheriff Red Mystery series. Narrated by Elizabeth Ashby, the author takes us to the Northwoods of Minnesota, where Joanie Crea is found strangled on the grounds of the crumbling Grandgeorge estate.

The pines are watching, the shadows are creeping closer, and no one—not even the sheriff—is safe from the secrets of the Northwoods.

When Joanie Crea is found strangled on the grounds of the crumbling Grandgeorge estate, Sheriff Red Hammergren faces a chilling mystery as dark as the dense forest surrounding the crime scene. All eyes turn to Derek Grandgeorge, the reclusive heir with a penchant for wearing a green jacket—even in the sweltering Minnesota summer.

But soon, a second body surfaces—a victim found with Joanie's house key shoved into their mouth.

The gruesome discovery sends a shiver of dread through the tight-knit community. The key isn't just evidence—it's a macabre message from a killer who's growing bolder and more brazen with each passing day. As the oppressive summer heat bears down and the shadows deepen, Red glimpses unsettling flashes of green at the edge of her vision. With a cunning murderer on the loose and the town spiraling into panic, Red must unravel the connection between the victims...before she becomes the final piece in the killer's twisted game.

Each novel in the Sheriff Red mysteries offers a single case in this small town in the Northwoods of Minnesota, but if you want to learn more about Sheriff Red Hammergren, I recommend starting with book one. When nurse Joanie Crea is found murdered, the number one suspect is Derek Grandgeorge, the estate owner, but when another body turns up with Joanie’s house keys in its mouth, Red knows she is dealing with something far more sinister.

Red has her hands full, and the townfolk aren’t much help. Some are keeping secrets. This was a well-paced, suspenseful thriller that kept me engaged as Red tries to tie the two victims together and unravel the clues left by the killer. The author breaks up the tension with small-town issues, a sick pup and town politics.

If you enjoy small-town crime stories set against the backdrop of the Minnesota Northwoods, you’ll want to grab a copy of The Pines Are Watching. I found it to be a light, engaging thriller.

Elisabeth Ashby narrates and brings Red and secondary characters to life with unique voices. She captured the tone of the story and provided an entertaining listen.

Amazon* | Audible | Libro.fm

*kindleunlimited

About Linda Norlander

Linda Norlander is the author of A Cabin by the Lake mystery series including "Death of an Editor" (May, 2020), "Death of a Starling" (May 2021) and Death of a Snow Ghost (May 2022.) Before retiring to take up the pen as a mystery writer, Norlander published award winning books on end-of-life care as well as short stories and humor. A Cabin by the Lake series takes place in northern Minnesota among the pines and aspens (and in the summer, mosquitoes.)

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About Elisabeth Ashby

Elisabeth Ashby is a seasoned character actor and singer with over two decades of stage experience. Having loved audiobooks since she was a little girl checking cassettes out from the local library, she is thrilled to have found a way to combine her love of performing with her lifelong passion for the written word as a narrator. Originally from Upstate New York, she now lives in Central Virginia with her husband and two cats.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2025 Audiobook Challenge

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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