Maudy Lorso is the head park ranger at Stone’s Throw State Park in Michigan. She loves her job, and she loves living in the town of Stone’s Throw, which is on the shore of Lake Michigan. Maudy’s life isn’t without complications: She’s running for a seat on the Village Council, but her opponents are wealthy and influential, and they make no secret of their scorn for her. If she’s elected, she can help protect the town and park she loves, but if she loses, her rivals will funnel more money into tourist attractions that will negatively affect residents and the land. On top of that, her friend and neighbor, Eli, has recently confessed his love for her. Maudy hasn’t reciprocated, because she doesn’t want to ruin their friendship, but it seems like it might be ruined anyway. Eli’s acting tense around her (“The cloud of awkwardness is so thick it could choke someone”), and it only gets worse when his old high school friends come to town to attend their class reunion and celebrate Halloween. On the day after Halloween, one of Eli’s friends is found poisoned. Eli seems to be the prime suspect, but Maudy can’t believe he’s the culprit. She and her beloved dog, Martin Short (aka Marty), put the detective skills they learned in the Stone’s Throw Mystery series’ first installment to use to pursue the real murderer. This is a cozy mystery par excellence. While the issues raised in the story—including murder, addiction, and corporate greed versus environmental protection—are serious, the narrative always feels endearing, even joyful. Maudy is a lovable character, simultaneously competent and a bit of a bumbler—it’s easy to root for her and her friends. The language is a little cliched at times, but it doesn’t interfere with the agreeable atmosphere. Readers who like their mysteries with a little bit of romance will especially enjoy this entry.