by Sandra Murphy, Sarah Erwin,
& Tracy Condie

Due to the holidays this is our only post on KRL this week–we do have 2 more mystery reviews/giveaways over on KRL News and Reviews. We will also be taking off the weekend of January 3, 2026 and back on track after that. Happy New Year!

This week we have reviews and ebook giveaways of another fun trio of fun mysteries from Level Best Books-Killer Tracks by Mary Keliikoa, Murder in Fifth Position: An On Pointe Mystery by Lori Robbins, and Killer Secrets by Jackie Layton. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win ebook copies of all books and links to purchase them from Amazon at the end of each review.

Killer Tracks by Mary Keliikoa
Review by Sandra Murphy

Rachel is a deputy sheriff, in charge while the boss, Sheriff Jax Turner, and his ex-hope-to-be-again wife are taking a short trip together. It’s a small town, not to say they don’t have their share of crime, but it’s not large scale like a big city problems.

Well, not until the apartment house explosion and the dead (but not from the explosion) body found inside. The medical examiner recognizes a clue, the office secretary knows more than she’s telling, Rachel’s dad (Jax’s former partner) just happens to drop in for a visit, and there’s a weird stranger in the area. It’s not the quiet week Rachel was promised.

Abby, Jax’s former wife, is in a weird mood as far as Jax is concerned. She wanted this trip, tires out fast, just wants to sleep, and is mysterious about her motive for spending time with him. As she’s about to explain, Hannah, who says she’s camping nearby, drops in for a visit. The area, mountainous and beautiful, isn’t the place for a woman alone. Hannah swears her boyfriend is on his way. The area is closed to the public, except for the cabin Jax and Abby have, so Hannah’s story is more than a bit off.

It all stems from past crimes. In the present, will they be able to solve the crimes and prevent more?
This is a complex book with several settings—the town, the mountain, and the past. Danger isn’t limited to what a killer can do. There are bears, deer, wolves, and more on the mountain. In town, the people are even more dangerous.

Jax and Abby work well together but the trip is about, can they live together? Rachel wants to prove to her detective father and Jax that she’s up for the job. With the help of her flunked-out-of-police-school dog, Koa, the odds are good.

Just when I thought I’d figured out what had happened or would happen, there’s a twist I didn’t see coming. It seemed every puzzle solved created at least two more. In the end, it’s a satisfying solution. Despite how many times I was fooled, I still wanted to read more.

Previous books include the Kelly Pruett series (Derailed, Denied, and Deceived), a stand alone (so far anyway), Don’t Ask, Don’t Follow, and the Misty Pines series (Deceived, Hidden Pieces, Deadly Tides).

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She’s the editor for the upcoming Yeet Me in St Louis, an anthology with stories from twelve St. Louis writers. Her own short stories have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Mystery Magazine, and anthologies such as The Perp Wore Pumpkin and I (Almost) Died in Your Arms. ‘Lucy’s Tree’, published in The Eyes of Texas, won a Derringer Award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society. She lives in St. Louis with Ozzie the Westie Impersonator and his sidekick in crime, Louie the Cat.

Murder in Fifth Position: An On Pointe Mystery by Lori Robbins
Review by Sarah Erwin

Ballerina Leah Siderova is back in Murder in Fifth Position, the latest entry in the On Pointe Mystery series by Lori Robbins. Readers can jump into the series with this title which can be read as a standalone. Don’t miss, though, the rest of the entertaining series.

The mystery kicks off early in the novel when Leah attends a fancy party to celebrate three finalists (which include herself) for the highly competitive Vanderhof Prize for Choreography. Not long into the party, the wealthy mentor to many dancers (including Leah), Leland Vanderhof, falls sixteen stories from his penthouse apartment to the pavement below. Leah certainly doesn’t believe that Leland jumped, and she’s hired by Vanderhof’s widow to investigate.

Suspects abound in this fast-paced story, and Leah plunges into the backstabbing and secretive behind-the-scenes world of the American Ballet Company. Not only could she be in danger, but rumors are flying and are attempting to sabotage her winning the prestigious award.

I inhaled this absorbing read in one sitting. This smart story is full of secrets, money, and so many twists, as well as humor sprinkled throughout. There’s lots I enjoy about Lori’s writing, including the behind the scenes look at whatever place Leah finds herself––this time the world of professional dance. I’m not a dancer myself, so getting to see the inner workings is entertaining and interesting.

I was happy to reconnect with several side characters including Leah’s mom and her boyfriend, Jonah Sobol, homicide detective. Leah, though, remains a favorite, because she is level headed and grounded despite what is thrown her way.

The setting is detailed so it is easy to visualize Leah as she investigates––many times I felt as though I was right there with her.

If you are looking for a read that will pull you right in and keep you turning the pages, Murder in Fifth Position is a great choice.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

Killer Secrets by Jackie Layton
Review by Tracy Condie

Murder sounds scary, right? Well, how does dating sound … after decades of not dating? Have no fear, Kate Sloan, co-owner of Let’s Get Organized, is here to help by playing date-night wingman to business partner and BFF, Bess King. Kate has “mama bear” instincts like any good friend and only the best of intentions when it comes to her timid friend who couldn’t possibly be on the suspect list. Could she?

Bess’s sister insists that Bess get out and meet a man. Bess decides to take part in the singles weekend event hosted by Clint Speck at the Seaside Hideaway Resort. I wonder if Clint had been a sailor because he seems to have a gal or two in every “port.” Kate notices him in warm embraces in slightly secluded places, even though Reid, her new hubby, gently reminds her that it isn’t their business. But investigations often start with an amateur sleuth who can’t help but get involved, one way or another.

Oh, what a tangled web was weaved when one too many people tried to deceive, but there is no fooling Kate when she has her notebook at the ready. Reid gifted Kate with a new notebook to show his love and support because, even though he might not want her to, he knows Kate is going to ask questions and get involved.

Killer Secrets is book number three of the Organized Crime Cozy Mystery series, and it is just as entertaining as its predecessors. Since each story is a standalone, you don’t need to have read either Clutter Free or The Con to keep track of people or places. I also appreciated that Ms. Layton does not reveal who did the deeds in the previous stories.

In addition to lonely hearts, there are scams, unrequited love, love lost, and even possible embezzlement. Kate has several suspects to choose from, and none of them like to be questioned. On the bright side, this event has brought a possible love match for Kate’s son and her new assistant because they were at the event due to work.

This story follows a well-laid and organized plot with great clues and sneaky misdirection. Kate is an engaging and realistic character. She usually does a great job at not being in the wrong place at the wrong time on her own and she is very direct with her questioning. I couldn’t wait to see what she was going to say next as suspects found themselves on the hot seat. I am looking forward to seeing how she organizes her next murder mystery.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win ebook copies of all 3 books, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “level best” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen January 5, 2026. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify.

Tracy Condie is a paralegal by day and cozy armchair sleuth by night. When she is not working or reading, she enjoys preparing the recipes found in culinary cozies or researching recipes of meal items described therein and sharing reviews of both books and food on Instagram and on KRL. She lives in Corona, California with her husband and dog Zoolie, and looks forward to visiting with their grown sons when their time permits.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.