HIDDEN IN THE PINES

A very cold case has a surprising connection to a recent death in Wisconsin's Northwoods.

For 50 years Judith Hanson has wondered what really happened to her older sister, Maggie, who was found dead at age 16 lying on the banks of the local river. Now that she’s retired, she’s moving into her family home in Loon Lake to prepare it for sale and take a last stab at finding the truth about Maggie’s death. When Judith sees an ad for an administrative assistant in the McBride County Sheriff’s Department, she applies, hoping for inside information. Lew Ferris can use plenty of help now that she’s county sheriff but still wants to find time for fly-fishing. A lawyer is about to file suit against one of Lew’s underlings over a death that was declared an accident. Sharon Knudsen was supposed to have drowned after a Jet Ski smashup, but the coroner is known to be an incompetent drunk, and the girl's family wants an investigation. Meanwhile, Lew’s significant other, Mallory Osborne, daughter of retired forensic dentist Doc Osborne, is in the area to do publicity for wealthy hedge fund owner and art collector Matthew Brinkerhoff. When Lew reads the file on Sharon Knudsen's so-called accident, she learns that the driver of the Jet Ski was Barry Brinkerhoff, Matt’s son. Could the accident actually be murder? A shady scheme run by Matt Brinkerhoff and some long-forgotten DNA kits provide Judith with the answer to the mystery of Maggie’s death.

Complex relationships and a wild chase through the forest provide plenty of excitement in contrast to the Zen of fly-fishing.