Hi, I’m Jamie Adams, and if you’ve been tagging along, you know I’m a mystery junkie. I live for the thrill of untangling clues and that pulse-racing moment when the puzzle snaps together. Right now, I’m obsessed with small towns hiding big secrets—those cozy corners where everyone’s connected, and family history can be the key to unlocking the darkest truths.
Why Family Ties Make Mysteries Juicier
Small-town mysteries hit differently when family’s involved. It’s not just about a crime; it’s about how the past ripples through generations, tying people together in ways they can’t escape. In these stories, history isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a living, breathing force that haunts the present. A long-buried scandal, a sibling’s betrayal, or a parent’s hidden shame can turn a quiet town into a pressure cooker of secrets. I love how family loyalty gets tested, and how the ones closest to you might be the ones hiding the most.
This month I’ve enjoyed two Family-Fueled Mysteries by Susan May Warren. Susan May Warren’s got a knack for blending heart-pounding suspense with family drama, and her latest small-town tales are no exception. Here are two newer books where history—and family—come back to haunt in the best way.
ONE LAST SHOT (Alaska Air One Rescue #1, 2024)
Say hello to Boo Kingston, an EMT with Alaska’s Air One Rescue, licking her wounds in a remote hamlet after a reality TV stint blew up her life. She’s done with the spotlight—until Oaken Fox, a country star with his own family demons, crash-lands into her world. When a survival show turns deadly and five women vanish in a blizzard, Boo’s rescue skills and Oaken’s grit get them digging. The past haunts hard here: Boo’s tangled Kingston roots in Minnesota whisper through her choices, and Oaken’s chasing closure for his sister’s death. Set against Alaska’s icy wilds, this one’s packed with family baggage—secrets that pull Boo back and push Oaken forward. Warren delivers a tense, heartfelt ride where history’s scars fuel every twist.
JACK (Minnesota Kingstons #1, May 2025)
Meet Jack Kingston, a guy who’s spent ten years trying to outrun his past—until a wedding in his Minnesota hometown drags him back. His family’s a mess of rescuers and rebels, and Jack’s the black sheep who left it all behind. But when his ex, Kat Moore, shows up needing help, the past crashes in like a storm. Kat’s digging into a decades-old family secret tied to a heist, and Jack’s stuck choosing between protecting his kin or saving her. Set in a tight-knit lakeside town, this one’s got history haunting every corner—think old grudges, a prison break, and a Kingston clan that’s as much a liability as a lifeline. Warren kicks off this series with a bang, and I’m already hooked on how family loyalty twists the plot.
Why These Hit the Sweet Spot
Both books lean into that “history comes back to haunt” vibe, but family’s the secret sauce. Jack dives deep into a sprawling clan where every member’s got baggage, and the small-town setting makes the stakes feel personal. One Last Shot takes it to Alaska’s wild edge, showing how family—whether it’s Boo’s distant kin or Oaken’s lost sister—can pull you back no matter how far you run. Warren’s got this way of making you feel the weight of every choice, and the family threads turn these mysteries into something you can’t put down.
What’s Your Family Mystery Fix?
Do you love a good small-town tale where family history stirs the pot? Got a favorite Susan May Warren series—or another author who nails this vibe? Spill your recs in the comments—I’m always up for a new mystery to unravel!
Happy sleuthing,
Jamie
Jamie L. Adams fell in love with books at an early age. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott opened her imagination and sparked a dream to be a writer. She wrote her first book as a school project in 6th grade. Living in the Ozarks with her husband, twin daughters, and a herd of cats, she spends most of her free writing, reading, or learning more about the craft near to her heart.
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