A Murder on the Mountain

Meg Reed Investigates #1

by Ellie Alexander

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy

306 pages, Paperback

Published July 10, 2025

About the author

Ellie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.

She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.

Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed all the books in this author's Secret Bookshelf Mystery series so I was very interested in starting this new series. We meet Meg Reed who manages to get herself a reporting job which involves extreme sports, despite the fact that she is not a sporty person and is afraid of heights. This was so unlikely that it put me off a little bit, but she manages to rise above all the problems that ensue.

The story begins well with a suicide - or is it murder? Meg begins to investigate and of course manages to get herself into some trouble. There is an interesting male friend who helps her and will presumably be the possible romantic interest in future books.

This was an interesting introduction to a new series and although it did not grab me completely I will look out for the next book to see how it goes. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Grandma Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie Alexander is one of my all time favorite cozy mystery authors. This story kept me engaged throughout and was difficult to put down. So many thrilling, edge of my seat moments. Also, I didn’t figure out who the murderer was until it was revealed. Highly recommend and I’m so excited about the next in the series.

I was blessed with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and I highly recommend.

[Jenna (readinginjennaland) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a dedicated reader of this author, with a long-term goal of devouring all her works. Discovering this previously unread series was a real treat, and it certainly lived up to my expectations.
The story introduces us to Meg Reed, who starts out a bit down on her luck—couch-surfing and relentlessly searching for a journalism gig. Her ambition was to join The O, where her father once worked, but recent layoffs closed that door. Opportunity knocks unexpectedly when she lands an interview at Northwest Extreme Sports magazine. Deciding to bluff her way through, she secures the job and her first assignment: trailing an intense, reality TV-style race. However, while hiking, she becomes the only witness to a fatal fall from a cliff. Suddenly, Meg's mission pivots from reporting to unraveling the mystery and identifying the true culprit.
I found myself completely immersed in Meg's journey and the unfolding investigation. The setting made me long for a trip to Oregon, although I'll likely opt for less perilous hikes than those Meg braves! I'm genuinely excited to continue with the next books in the series.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with Ellie Alexander after reading her latest series, A Secret Bookcase Mystery. I grew to love her writing style, how cozy she makes her mysteries, her captivating plots, and how she ties most characters back in with each book and provides a slight background so that even if you didn't read the prior books, you could still jump right in. She's probably my favorite cozy mystery writer!
I was so excited when I saw her latest work, A Murder On The Mountain. The blurb sounded fun and lighthearted for a mystery, which I love. And of course, it sounded promising because anything written by Mrs. Alexander is sure to be a hit (for me, at least)!
Meg Reed is in need of a job, and pronto. By some luck, she is offered a job and happily accepts. The only issue is that she's not the outdoorsy type. Now, she finds herself working for Northwest Extreme magazine, highlighting their Race The States segment. This job is perfect for her, minus the fact that she'll have to spend the majority of her time climbing this mountain. She does her best to power through, which she does an amazing job at, until she witnesses the death of a contestant, Lenny. Now, Meg is not only determined to nail this position and all that it entails, but also find out what happened to Lenny.
This book was a fun, quick read. It's different from the A Secret Bookcase Mystery series in the sense that it's not as cozy, but this also makes it more thrilling and exciting. And just like most of Ellie Alexander's mysteries, just when we think we have an idea of who the suspect is, things take a turn. And of course, there is a love interest. Matt is the cutest, the way he cares for Meg, but they're just friends. I'm curious to see how their relationship will unfold, given he saved her life & all. A solid 4-star read!
Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Ellie Alexander for this ARC!

[Deborah Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Murder on the Mountain

Meg Reed Investigates Book 1

By: Ellie Alexander

Publish Date: July 21, 2025

Publisher: Storm

General Fiction (Adult)/Mystery and Thriller

#AMurderontheMountain#NetGalley

200 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both Storm Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

This is a new cozy mystery series that Ellie is writing. It is a little different than what I am use to reading but I still enjoyed it once I got into it. I gave the book 4 stars and can’t wait for the next installment.

This is about Meg who is having a hard time getting over the death of her father. He was a well-known journalist which is why Meg study to be one. She is living with her college friend Jill who is very supportive of her and worries about her also.

Meg gets a job with Northwest Extreme magazine and finds herself hiking to places she has no business doing. She kind of lied on the application and now finds herself hiking up a mountain. Oh, Meg has one major problem, she is deathly afraid of heights. On her first hike things don’t go well and then one of the contestants goes over a cliff. Meg witnesses the whole thing and realizes that he may have been pushed instead of it being an accident.

Her boss tells her to leave things alone and let the police handle it. This wouldn’t be a cozy mystery if the main character does what they are told. She decides to investigate because that is what she studied to be, a journalist.

I really enjoyed the friendship in this book between Meg, Jill and Matt who was also from her college days. Her boss wasn’t bad either. Meg really loves her Gam (Grandma) and has a love hate relationship with her mom.

The book leaves you on a small cliff hanger, so it makes you want to read the next book. Which of course I will.

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all started four months ago with a lousy umbrella.

Mary Margaret Reed needs a job asap. She's been crashing at her bestie's Jill Pettygrove's couch. She meets Greg Dixon at a coffee shop, and he offers her a job at his magazine, Northwest Extreme. And since Meg knows nothing about extreme sports, she is perfect for the job. Meg will cover a very important and coveted race, where one of the contestants is murdered. Meg will push through the pain, cover the race, and find out many secrets that the show's contestants and producers are holding. Very deadly secrets!!!

It is always such fun to read an Elli Alexander book. I laughed, I stressed, I cheered for my FMC, and I was happy when all the tension ends up in a solved murder case. Except this one left us with a cliffhanger!!!!

[Jennifer Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know it it’s just me (maybe it’s the books I’m picking up) but cosy crime seems to be trending these days towards the cosy and away from the crime. So it was with Ellie Alexander’s A Murder on the Mountain, and it’s fine, it really is, but…it’s just short on what I’m looking for in a crime novel.
The book is set in Portland, Oregon, where wannabe investigative reporter Meg finds herself with a job at an extreme sports publication. Here, naturally, she is required to become involved in extreme sports at which (of course) she is inexperienced and so, expectedly, gets herself into a lot of scrapes. During one of these, as she is covering the filming of an extreme sports competition, she witnesses one of the competitors falling past her to his death as she clings to the side of a mountain.
It wouldn’t be cosy crime of Meg didn’t immediately need to get to the bottom of it, despite being warned off by both the sheriff and a mysterious personage we assume to be the killer. So far, so mainstream.
The trouble is, I found it all a bit…twee. It’s not just that Meg is improbably ditzy for a reporter, and keeps getting herself into situations which would have been avoided if she’d done as the Sheriff told her and stayed at home. It’s that the crime itself is incredibly sketchy. There are no witnesses to see how the victims came to fall and yet the Sheriff concludes that it’s homicide. We never find out why. Most of the investigation is Meg digging around to find out the background of the contestants which, let’s face it, is something the police would be perfectly able to do for themselves — probably rather better and rather quicker.
What we did get, instead of the crime, was a lot of froth. We had the detail on what Meg snd her friends wear, and eat, and detailed explanations of where they live. The secondary characters — friends, family, suspects — are stereotypes and without depth. Difficult mother, grandmother into crystals and alternative therapy, handsome boss vs male best friend, successful female best friend with smug boyfriend — the tropes are all there but there’s nothing to make them any more than one dimensional. That said, Meg herself, despite being on the irritating side, does at least have a complex backstory with which I was engaged, though not enough to read on beyond the end of this book to discover more.
I loved the setting, though, and was following the action with Google Maps open on my phone. The descriptions were great and really evoked the awe-inspiring setting of the Columbia Rover and its gorge, and I did like the touch of including information about all the locations at the end of the book.
Overall, though the tone veered way too much towards the frothiness of a light romcom for my taste. Cosy or not, I’m looking for a little bit more of an edge than this in a crime novel, I’m afraid.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Meg Reed Investigates by Ellie Alexander and it was such a fun, easy book to read. Meg is an interesting main character in the way she lands her first real job, even though she is so unqualified for it. I am so glad that this series is being re-released because I am new to the Meg Reed series and am so happy to have found it.

A chance meeting in a coffee shop with Greg Dixon, editor of Northwest Extreme, and Meg soon finds herself with a job as a junior writer for an extreme sports magazine. The only catch is that she should be able to participate in extreme sports, and she is one of the least qualified people to do this job, especially regarding heights. I love Meg’s determination to do this job despite her fears and how she is going to “fake it until she makes it.” I laughed at many of the descriptions of Meg’s adventures as she works hard to keep her job and become an adventurer.

Meg’s first assignment is to cover Race The States, an adventure race filming in Oregon where Greg is the sponsor of the event. There is tension amongst the three contestants (Lenny, who thinks he is god’s gift to women, Leaf, an environmentalist, and Alicia, the only woman of the group), Dave, the executive producer, Krissy, the production assistant, and Andrew, the camera operator. When Lenny meets with an unfortunate accident on their very first competition, suspicion is cast upon the group. When you read about this group, you know they can all tell that Meg is inexperienced, yet they don’t call her out on it or make trouble for her with her boss. That is surprising, yet nice.

Because Meg is sure it wasn’t an accidental fall, she starts snooping around, even though Greg tells her not to. She soon enlists the aid of her best friends, Matt and Jill, to help her. The story does an excellent job of keeping you guessing on the killer because several of the people seem to have motive and opportunity. The ending exposing the killer is done really well, as well as the ending of the book with a great cliffhanger involving Meg’s father, who recently died in an accident.

I can’t wait to spend more time with Meg, her grandmother, her friends Matt and Jill, and her boss Greg. Is he flirting with her or is it a younger sister vibe? I want to find out what happened with Meg’s father, and if he was correct thinking that there are corrupt high-ranking officials and drug trafficking in the Northwest. I also hope we will see Jill come to the realization she needs to be true to herself and become an artist.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

ook review: Ellie Alexander’s A Murder on the Mountain
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC.

This smart, sharp, and perfectly paced cozy marks the start of the Meg Reed Investigates series—but it’s not the first time we’ve seen this story. Originally published in 2014 under the title Scene of the Climb by Kate E. Dyer-Seeley, this book introduced Meg Reed to readers long before the author began writing exclusively as Ellie Alexander. In 2017, she merged her identities, and now Meg’s back under her unified author name, with a fresh edition and a little polish.

Meg is the kind of amateur sleuth I can get behind—relatable, over her head, but absolutely determined. Fresh out of journalism school, broke, and couch-surfing in Portland, she lands a job at Northwest Extreme by bluffing about her love of the great outdoors. In truth, she’s terrified of heights and owns more lattes than hiking boots. Her first big assignment sends her up Angel’s Rest—where she witnesses a murder and realizes her job may have come with a side of homicide.

The Pacific Northwest setting does more than look pretty—it shapes the story. You can feel the mist, smell the fir trees, and hear your own boots crunching the trail. The mystery unfolds around a reality TV race with a cast of competitive athletes, hidden agendas, and plenty of red herrings. “Sometimes the most dangerous thing about the great outdoors might just be the people in it,” Meg says, and it’s more than just a clever line. It’s the core tension.

Meg’s voice carries the book. She’s funny, flawed, a little dramatic, but totally committed once she senses something’s off. Her support circle—espresso-loving best friends, a Reiki-practicing grandmother, and the loyal (possibly more-than-friend) Matt—adds color and heart without slowing things down. The subplot about her father’s suspicious death adds depth and promises a long game across the series.

Whether you’re a new reader or revisiting a cozy favorite in its new form, this one delivers. The mystery is tight, the setting is rich, and the lead is someone you’ll root for all the way up the mountain. Pair it with a strong mocha or a dirty chai—whichever gets you through the climb.

[Madelene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Murder on the Mountain kicks off a fresh and fun new series by Ellie Alexander, known for her charming mysteries. This time, we meet Meg Reed, a city girl with a journalism degree and zero outdoor skills who suddenly finds herself reporting for Northwest Extreme magazine. The only problem? She’s terrified of heights, nature, and pretty much everything her job now requires. The result is both hilarious and endearing.

Sent to cover an extreme adventure race in the stunning but treacherous Columbia River Gorge, Meg tries to bluff her way through outdoor reporting. But when a contestant falls to their death from Angel’s Rest summit, Meg is the only witness, and she's convinced it wasn’t an accident. With her new job on the line and her instincts as a budding journalist kicking in, she dives headfirst into solving the mystery.

This book has everything I love about Ellie Alexander’s writing. The setting is vivid and atmospheric, the pace is quick, and the dialogue sparkles with humor. What makes this series stand out is how fresh and youthful it feels. Meg is quirky, relatable, and so clearly out of her depth in the outdoor world that it leads to some truly funny situations. I laughed out loud more than once. Her fear of heights and lack of wilderness skills don’t stop her from trying, which makes her easy to root for.

At the same time, the mystery is intense and well-plotted, with enough twists and red herrings to keep me guessing. I also enjoyed the glimpse into the tight-knit and competitive adventure racing community, which added depth and intrigue to the story.

This was a joy to read from start to finish. If you like cozy mysteries with humor, heart, and a little adrenaline, A Murder on the Mountain is a must. I am already looking forward to the rest of the series and will read every book that follows.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrill ride from the get-go! Meg Reed is a baby journalist looking for her first real job post-graduation in A Murder on the Mountain. As the daughter of a recently deceased investigative journalist, Meg was inspired from childhood to dig deep and get the story. Her first real job is as a junior writer for an outdoor adventure magazine. Meg is not a real outdoorsy type and most assuredly not an extreme sports junkie! Her first big assignment involves following the finale of a big cross country race. In her Portland area home, the finalists are set to hike, climb, zip-line across the Columbia River to the finish-line. On Meg's first day on the assignment they are hiking Angel's Rest. Meg lags behind and stumbles under her too heavy backpack, almost falling off the side of a cliff. As she holds on, she sees someone cartwheeling off the side of the mountain. Like any good journalist, she cannot let it go. Come along as Meg fumbles along trying to figure out which of the rest of the finalists, crew and all those involved is responsible. Meet Meg's friends, Jill and Matt, her mother and grandmother (Gam), boss Greg and Sheriff Daniels.
Ellie Alexander has a wonderful gift for painting locations, especially her obviously much loved Pacific Northwest. I could see the areas around Angel's Rest and hear the roaring of the Columbia River as Meg looked down from the bridge. She creates characters I really want to know better and a community where I want to spend some time, so I definitely looking forward to Meg's next adventure!
Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Murder On The Mountain (previously released and titled "Scene of the Climb") introduces readers to a new amateur sleuth named Meg Reed. She's 23, couch-surfing, and down on her luck as she tries to find a job as a newspaper reporter. Her luck changes when she lands a writing gig at an extreme sports magazine. She's so excited...if only she didn't hate climbing. And heights. And most outdoor sports.

When she fills in for another reporter who is covering an extreme adventure called Race The States that ends in Oregon, she's over the moon. Until she learns she'll be climbing along with the contestants. She's nervous, but determined to fake, er, make her way through it. She's not doing too badly...as long as you don't count the blisters, hat falling, and oh yeah, seeing one of the racers falling off the cliff. Meg isn't sure what happened, but she's determined to figure out if Lenny died accidentally or was pushed. Her job, and her life, could be on the line.

A fun and interesting first book in the newly republished contemporary cozy mystery Meg Reed Investigates series, formerly titled A Pacific Northwest Mystery. I enjoyed meeting Meg and her friends and the descriptions of Oregon and the surrounding mountains. Lots of red herrings kept me guessing, although I did guess correctly on whodunnit. I was still surprised at all the revelations. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.

Note: I consider this a contemporary cozy mystery vs traditional as there is some salty language in the book.

[Ruben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nunca había querido visitar tanto Oregón como después de leer a Ellie Alexander. La autora traza con destreza una línea narrativa que guía la evolución de sus personajes, construye diálogos ágiles con una prosa expositiva y culmina con una revelación final que realmente no ves venir.

La historia sigue a Meg, una joven periodista que acepta un trabajo que llega inesperadamente a su puerta. Sin buscarlo, se ve envuelta en una investigación de homicidio. Para Meg, esto representa una oportunidad para proyectar su carrera; sin embargo, su impulsividad, falta de sentido común y la aparente ausencia de miedo hacen que tome decisiones arriesgadas, arrastrando a otras personas con ella.

La historia de Meg no solo gira en torno al misterio, sino también a las consecuencias de sus decisiones cuando creyó actuar con buenas intenciones, pero sin medir los riesgos. Aunque por momentos esto hace que se pierda un poco el hilo principal, también aporta un trasfondo más humano y realista al personaje.

En cuanto al misterio, está construido con precisión: mientras lees, crees tener las piezas resueltas, conectas pistas, haces conjeturas… pero entonces llega el giro final, y te toma completamente por sorpresa. Es un final que, sin sentirse forzado, rompe con las expectativas que tú mismo te habías formado.
Este libro me dejó con ganas de seguir acompañando a Meg en futuras aventuras.

Gracias Storm Publishing por el ejemplar anticipado a través de NetGalley. Opiniones 100% personales

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Reed is definitely not an outdoorsy type of girl. She is more city girl, prefers air conditioning to the outdoors and looking at nature from a window. However, when she gets an opportunity to be a reporter for North Western Extreme magazine, she fudges her experience a little. This was probably a bad idea for someone who is terrified of heights and has no survival skills in the wild. But her need to get off of her friend's couch and make her mark on the world spur her on to do her best at her new job. This has disaster written all over it.

When a contestant in the race she is covering ends up dead, the reporter in Meg will not allow her to let it go. She has the blood of her reporter father flowing through her veins, which means she is like a dog with a bone once she gets something in her head.

Even though I am definitely not an outdoor enthusiast, the author's descriptions of the beauty of the Oregon mountains, where this race was taking place, made me want to be there, minus the rock climbing.

The cast of characters in this new series were interesting, and came from all walks of life. The mystery was fantastic with plenty of red herrings. I enjoyed getting to know Meg Reed and her friends. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Murder on the Mountain by Ellie Alexander is the first book in the Meg Reed Investigates series. Meg Reed is a cliched bumbling stumbling always late early twenties woman who wants to be a “real journalist” and is presently residing on her best friend’s couch. I’m sorry, but I am tired of the clumsy main characters (they are all the same). Meg gets a job at Northwest Extreme magazine by lying through her teeth (her idea of spending time outdoors is relaxing on the beach or enjoying a picnic with dreamboat). A bonus to the job is Meg’s hunk boss and we get to hear about his attributes frequently. The whodunit was straightforward. There is a small pool of suspects. Of course, the guilty party can be identified before the victim flies off the cliff. Meg is told repeatedly to stay out of the investigation, but she is a chip off the old block (her father was an investigative reporter). I enjoyed the picturesque descriptions of Oregon. Meg continued to annoy me through the story (I rolled my eyes often). I mean who goes a hike to ask questions for an article and decides to take notes by hand. The best character in the story was Meg’s grandmother, Gam who is a reiki healer. A Murder on the Mountain is an Oregon outdoor cozy with extreme reporting, aggressive racers, a burdensome backpack, a victim flying off a cliff, big blisters, a bodacious boss, a comfortable couch, scenic hikes, and reiki practicing grandmother.

[Melanie Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg finds herself over her head as she takes a job she is only half qualified for. Her writing skills are not in question as she takes the job but she quickly learned extreme sports can be extremely dangerous. To complicate things she finds a murder while trying to save herself from dying and soon has more to report on than she planned. Her friends are helpful and add to the story. Her grandmother is in a class by herself and even when she is not a part of the story, she plays a huge role. One final note, Meg looks at someone a little differently by the end of the story.
The mystery was a good one and even Meg did not find the answer quickly. She finds herself in a lot of danger and ends up injured.
For me the best part of the story is when Greg admits he knew the truth all along but still took a chance. He gives her a chance to grow into her role and she does so. The ending of this story tells us more is coming and one big secret is yet to be revealed.
This series has a lot of potential and should be enjoyable for books to come.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg Reed wants to be an investigative reporter like her father, but she finishes college at a time when newspapers are closing their doors. Meg manages to land a job with an extreme sports magazine. This seems like a really bad idea. Meg is clumsy and she prefers to watch sports and nature activities not participate. But she is determined to keep this job.
The mystery is a good one. There are pieces of information that do not come together quickly and Meg’s assumption that she knows who is behind the murder gets her into trouble.
I’m not sure I like Meg very much. Her dogged determination to do what she wants and to investigate despite counsel not to get involved causes her injury and hurts people around her. I understand that Meg is coming from a place of hurt due to losing her father recently. And maybe it’s too much to expect that an early 20 something would take advice from anyone but herself.
I like the books enough to continue because the author promises there is a growth arc involved in the series.
The advice for outdoor activity planning was a good addition to the end of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read the book.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a clumsy encounter leads to wannabe reporter Meg landing a job at an adventure magazine it will take all the courage she can muster to overcome her fear of heights and her novice outdoor skills to keep her job and stay alive. While following the contestants of an adventure race up to the summit, Meg witnesses one of them plummet to their death and it becomes apparent right away that something is not right and it wasn’t an accident. Channeling her investigative journalism heritage, Meg with some help from her best friends tries to uncover the dark secrets of this niche community while remaining employed at her first real job.

This is Ellie Alexander’s original series revamped and I loved the setting of this series. Similar to her secret bookshop mystery series, there’s a backstory event that happened in the main character’s past that has changed their life’s trajectory and will be one of the driving factors throughout the whole series. Definitely interested to see where it takes us.



Thank you publishers and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Previously titled Scene of the Climb, the book was given a facelift and a few updates throughout to reflect the current decade and it did seem to make Meg a little more professional and not so teen-sounding. I may or may not've had both books open while reading just to compare a little ;)

My review from 2018 can be found on the above linked page and it still stands with the addition of liking the polished version and that it didn't drastically change anyone from the characters I grew to care about in 2018. And yep, Gam's still a fave character and nope, I'm no more an outdoorsy type than I was seven years ago. Awesome rework and a great way to introduce new readers to this awesome series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Storm Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun adventure visiting the Pacific Northwest. Meg is a recent graduate who is dealing with her father's recent death. She has been living on a friend's couch and is trying to find work as a journalist. Fate would have it that she runs into the publisher of an outdoor magazine. While she has never been an outdoor person, this is just the break she needs, but hopefully she doesn't break herself trying to be more outdoorsy than she really is. On her first assignment, she is tasked to cover a reality climbing race. Sadly, a contestant dies, but under mysterious circumstances. Meg takes it on herself, with the help of her friends, to solve the crime, just like her father. A really cute story, with a whopper of an ending. Looking forward to reading the next in the series. Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for the advanced copy.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in the reissued "Pacific Northwest Mystery" series originally by Kate Dyer-Seeley in 2011. Storm Publishing is reissuing the series under her pen name Ellie Alexander and calling it "Meg Reed Investigates". In the author's notes at the end she admits that this was her first mystery, and in comparison to the new "Secret Bookcase Mystery" series it certainly is not as polished. I read all six books in the new series and I loved them - the characters, the plots, the descriptions were all great.

"A Murder on the Mountain" aka "Scene of the Climb" was a very good cozy mystery and a good introduction to the main character Meg. The murder plot is good and I didn't guess the culprit. Lots of factual information about prominent Oregon hiking sites.

If you like the author's other series, I think you will enjoy this one too.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mistakenly requested this thinking it was a new book in the Meg Reed series, which I read years ago, but then realized the first one was just rereleased under a new title. While I eventually grew to love Meg and the series on the whole, as with other series by Ellie Alexander, it takes me awhile to get into them. I’m not sure why as the writing is always easy to follow and flows well. For Meg, in particular, I am not a fan of the deception, of her pretending to be an outdoor enthusiast when she isn’t, and how she doesn’t even heed the most basic of warnings – break in the hiking shoes before going on a hike – to make her life easier and her feet happier. I will, of course, continue with the series as I did grow to enjoy it and I love the setting, and I hope newer ones will come out.

I received a copy from #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for an honest review.

[Joan Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg finally has a writing job at an extreme outdoor sports magazine publisher. The problem is that she had to lie about her involvement in sports to get it. Undaunted, she sets out to climb a mountain with a threesome of participants in a reality show contest to prove who is best extreme racer. When one of the contestants falls to his death, Meg's investigative instinct kicks in, and despite danger and warnings, she won't stop until she learns the truth about the death.

This book has it all -- quirky characters, gorgeous mountain settings, sparks of romance, and a satisfying mystery. I eagerly await the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Murder on the Mountain is book #1 in the Meg Reed Investigates series by Ellie Alexander.

I am a fan of Ellie Alexander’s work. This was an early series that I wasn’t familiar with so I was really looking forward to it. I wasn’t disappointed. The characters were interesting. I thought the premise of working on an extreme outdoor magazine when you don’t like to go outdoors was fun. You take what you can get when you are desperate for a job. There were plenty of twists that kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to the next book.

Thank you to the author, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Leanne ~ Tales From The Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg is a budding reporter in a world where journalists are being laid off due to online news.
Determined to find her way after the death of her father she finds herself landing on an extreme sports magazine. It seems she'll need to fudge her experience to keep this job.
Her first job is to cover a race with large prize money, a death on the mountain, blisters on her feet and threatening messages are just the tip of this story. She is determined to get to the bottom on this death, is it murder or a dreadful accident? So many possibilities as we can try and guess the culprit. This was quite a fun read and I look forward to more.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by Ellie Alexander’s Novel A murder on the mountain. It was definitely the cozy murder mystery I was expecting. I did have a few moments of disappointment throughout the novel. I wished some conflicts had been resolved such as if the sherif and Gam were really together and if Greg was ever going to tell us what he needed to leave town for. Unfortunately I also was disappointed with the ending. I didn’t quite understand why Krissy needed Meg at Gun point of Meg was already stepping into the harness? The gun seemed unnecessary at that point and it didn’t fit with the rest of the storyline. All in all, it was a good novel that I was glad I got to read!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had some issues with Alexander's first series, Bakeshop Mysteries, but this one held my interest and I really wanted to continue reading.

There were elements that could have gone a little "slap-stickish", but thankfully, didn't. The only other quibble I may have is that Meg and her best friend seemed a little older than the about 23 they were supposed to be.

The other series she writes that I most enjoy are The Secret Bookcase Mysteries.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Reviewer Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book—the mix of outdoor adventure and mystery made it a refreshing and immersive read. Following Meg as she covered the extreme sports event and unexpectedly got pulled into a suspicious death was both tense and engaging. I liked how the story let her vulnerability show without making her feel weak—she's determined, curious, and easy to root for. The Northwest setting added an extra layer of atmosphere, and there were just enough twists to keep me guessing without it feeling overdone. It left me both satisfied and eager to see where Meg goes next.

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg is a wannabe reporter who fudges her resume to attain a job for an extreme sports magazine. Although she has excellent skills as a writer she has zero skills as an outdoor enthusiast. Fast paced, with twists, ‘tumbles’ and murder, this was a nice light good book. Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC. This review is my personal opinion of this new series from author Ellie Alexander.

[Mandy Vallee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of all of Ellie Alexander’s series so I was really excited to be gifted a chance to read an advance copy by Netgalley. This book was entertaining but I found I wasn’t really invested in the main character at all so it didn’t really hit as much for me as some of her others. I do plan to read the next book in the series in the hopes that I connect more with it. Thanks again to publisher and Netgalley for this opportunity.