Murder in Vail

by Judy Moore

Sally Braddock’s serene lifestyle atop a mountain in Vail, Colorado, changes drastically every year when her three spoiled children and their spouses visit her and her money for Christmas. They live off their trust funds, which are disappearing quickly, and spend most of the holidays bickering and hitting up their mother for money.

This year, Sally makes an announcement that sends her children into a tizzy, and announcement so extreme that it pushes someone in the house to murder. The storm inside the house is matched by a raging blizzard outside, and the family find themselves snowbound with a killer in the house.

"An often-clever mystery about a dysfunctional family going downhill. Moore offers several twists and red herrings over the course of the novel, and she populates the well-paced mystery with a slew of imperfect characters." Kirkus Review

“I don’t give 5 stars easily, but this deserves them. GREAT story!” Goodreads Review

“I loved this story! The humor the author sprinkled throughout kept the pages turning for me More times than not, I found myself smiling. Author Tammy Tate

"A wonderful snowbound mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. A jolly good mystery." Amazon.UK Review

"What a twist! The ending kept me on the edge of my seat." Author Amber Daulton

"Thoroughly satisfying read. Finally another book that rates going on my favorites shelf! I really enjoyed this one, and there was no slow/boring parts." Kindle Review

"A gipping mystery that keeps you guessing until the explosive ending. What a story. This mystery had that old-time feel, and a little bit a of a Clue vibe.” Don'tJudgeRead Blog

“A great psychological thriller. The twists never stop. Just when you think you have it figured out, you realize you’ve been duped.” Barnes & Noble Review

“This was such a great book. The story shows what a lot of money can do to people. Please take the time to read this great story.” Amazon Review

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Crime, Thriller, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2016

About the author

Judy Moore is the author of the popular thriller, "The Mother-in-Law," described by Kirkus Reviews as “A sharply written, suspenseful, domestic thriller.” She is also the author of three traditional mystery novels: "Somebody in the Neighborhood," "Murder in Vail," and "Murder at the Country Club."
Her latest book is "A Tennis Pro To Die For," the third standalone mystery in the Cozy Mysteries To Die For series set in the Beach Reads bookstore and cafe in the fictional town of Manatee Beach, Florida. The first book in the series, "A Book Signing To Die For," and the second book, "A Beach Wedding To Die For," have been exceptionally well received, both earning ratings of 4.7 out of 5.0 stars on Amazon.com.
She has also written numerous novellas, including the Christmas anthology "Christmas Interrupted," which contains three novellas: "Airport Christmas," "The Holiday House Sitter," and "The Hitchhiker on Christmas Eve." Her two thriller novellas "Pecking Order" and "Accidents Do Happen" are offered perma-free on Amazon.com. "Football Blues" is also available on Amazon.
Ms. Moore has a master's degree in journalism from the University of Florida and worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine feature writer, and publications editor for several years. A former tennis pro, Ms. Moore's writing background also includes sports writing, and athletes from various sports are sprinkled throughout some of her novels. A lifelong resident of Florida, she currently resides in Vero Beach.
Visit Judy Moore’s Amazon site at http://www.amazon.com/Judy-Moore/e/B0...
To sign up for her newsletter of new releases and book discounts, visit her webpage at https://judymooreauthor.com

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, light, easy to read, entertaining. An ideal book for the doctor's waiting room or a plane journey.

The family members are appalling people so I was not concerned about who was bumped off. At one point I thought it was going to be like Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and all of them were going to depart this mortal coil. But then there was a little twist and a surprise in who the murderer actually was.

Everything was nicely tied up at the end and the reader was left with no worries about what might happen to the characters in the future. A nice, easy stress free read.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally Braddock’s three adult children – Gwen, Lance and Stephen – had caused Sally despair. When each of them had turned twenty-four, they’d received a trust fund of several million dollars which their father had left them on his death. Yet with all that money, they and their spouses had squandered their fund on expensive frippery – houses, boats, helicopters – and none of them worked. Sally dreaded Christmas when the six of them would descend for a few days, always wanting more money.

Sally still grieved the unexpected loss of her husband only five years previously. She lived with her trusted housekeeper, Helga, who was also a dear friend, high up on a mountain in Vail, Colorado. But this particular Christmas was going to be different. Sally had an announcement to make; one she knew her children wouldn’t like. When the violent storm hit on Christmas Eve, they were snowed in, though because it was Christmas, there was plenty of food to keep everyone happy. But the shocking discovery of one of the guests, dead in bed, had each person suspecting the other – who was the person that no one could trust? They were all family after all…

Murder in Vail by Judy Moore is a murder mystery with greed and selfishness at its core. A group of people who were incredibly self-centred and narcissistic, expecting everything to be handed to them on a platter – and a mother who decided to take a stand. A quick, enjoyable read which I recommend.

[Alex Cantone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Widowed billionaire Sally is looking forward to her three adult children’s traditional visit to her home near Vail, Colorado, for Christmas, despite their woeful choice of spouses. Each has spent their endowment and is looking for more to fund their excessive lifestyles – but Sally is determined to leave the bulk of her wealth to charity. I enjoyed the skiing, but a shallower group of people it would harder to find. The murder came as a relief. Not a big fan of cosies and this does little to enchant.

[Sally906 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this cosy mystery - some very clever twists - did not pick the killer at all right up until they announced their guilt and intention of one final Murder I had another suspect in mind.

Have the next book in the series so can’t wait to start that one

[Jennifer Girardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful snowbound mystery, Murder in Vail keeps you guessing until the end.

Sally Braddock invites her three ungrateful and money-hungry children to her snowy home in Vail, little knowing that murder is afoot.

But when Sally announces that the greedy little darlings won’t get a penny of her money when she dies, someone takes matters into their own hands and a ruthless murderer strikes.

With well-crafted characters, a brisk and captivating setting, strong and flowing writing, and plenty of twists and turns, Murder in Vail is a must-read novel with a dynamic ending...and a jolly good mystery!

[Stacie Haden · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was predictable, but I enjoyed the Colorado setting and I found it entertaining.

[Lisette Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder in Vail
By Judy Moore
4 Stars

Murder in Vail by Judy Moore is a suspense-thriller story. This story is about Sally Braddock’s serene life in Vail, Colorado and how it becomes a not-so-serene every Christmas, when her children and their families visit her every year. They suck the life out of her and her money every year, until she has had enough and makes an announcement that will change everything for them. After the announcement, things begin to change but not for the better. Someone has been pushed to edge and everyone is fearing murderer is staying in the home. Which one of the family members in the house is out to kill? This is a great who-done-it that will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering who is killing. Add a blizzard that keeps everyone indoors, it raises the stakes on everyone’s lives. This is the second story that have read by this author and she really knows how to keep you in suspense through her writing and her attention to the smallest details.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vail, CO. Christmas. Sally Braddock (56, mother/widow, steel buss., billionaire), had 2 Labradoodles: Goldie & Silver. Helga (50+, Swedish) had been her cook/housekeeper forever.
Gwen Sherman (33, Braddock’s daughter, Glen’s wife, nee Braddock, English, U of Miami) & Glen Sherman (Gwen’s husband, high-end boat salesman), from Palm Beach FL., came to visit.
Jack Braddock (55, husband/father, steel buss., billionaire) had died of a heart attack.
Stephen Braddock (ex-druggie, son/brother, husband, PS, BYU) & Rachel Braddock (wife) had arrived.

Lance Braddock (31, oldest son, economics) & Yvette Braddock (39, wife) arrived last in his helicopter from LA, CA.
Sally wanted the 3 children to become philanthropists & agree to give away $3 billion to charities.
Later Rachel had been found dead.
No one’s cell phone would work, now what?
The helicopter radio was nothing but static.
Later Glen could not find Gwen.
Sergeant Grant Evans, Officer Dan Christopher & Officer Jan Presley had arrived via helicopter.
Detective Jackson & Detective Lindsey Belton were doing the follow-up.

Would the murder mystery get solved?
Who did the arm belong to found out in the snow on the property?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written who-dun-it murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great who-dun-it murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Author Goodreads; MakingConnections; bookstogonow; Amazon Digital Services LLC; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Anesha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Braddock’s serene lifestyle atop a mountain in Vail, Colorado, changes drastically each year when her three spoiled children and their spouses visit her – and her money – for Christmas. They live off their trust funds, which are disappearing quickly, and spend most of the holidays bickering and hitting up their mother for money.
This year, Sally makes an announcement that sends her children into a tizzy, an announcement so extreme that it pushes someone in the house to murder. The storm inside the house is matched by a raging blizzard outside, and the family finds themselves snowbound with a killer.

This is the second book I have had the pleasure of reading and it will truly suck you in before you even know it. It's a great "who did it?" type of book with some twists and turns throughout. I thought I had figured it out but in the end it surprised me. Did the rich kids do it? Maybe the angry housekeeper even? Read and find out, you won't regret. Judy's writing always keeps things interesting and her mystery's have a great flow, great characters and nice writing to match.

[Liza O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a very fine mystery! I guessed the wrong who- did-it, but I still loved the book because the story was far more than a murder mystery. It was also about the corruption massive money can do to your children.

And frankly, all her grown kids are obnoxious enough that any of them could be the murderer. And then there is an angry housekeeper to suspect as well.

The mass of angry relatives & angry housekeeper are caught in a huge winter storm, stuck in the large mansion. Who will die? And who will live?
And who will hear the wakeup call and get a job so their life has value!!!!

I loved this book from beginning to end. Actually, the adult spoiled brats annoyed me to no end, but that’s because I have a relative just like them. The book was well written, and devilishly clever. While I didn’t correctly pre-guess who did it, I did agree with the resolution when I got there. I give this a perfect 5 stars.


I received an ARC in exchange for reading this very fine book.

[Katie Kearney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in Vail by Judy Moore is a suspenseful murder mystery set in a house on a mountain in Vail, Colorado. Sally Braddock is one of the richest women in America; she also has some of the most ungrateful children alive. Only seeing them at Christmas time when they come asking for more money to offset their rapidly dwindling trust funds Sally has decided that she’s had enough. With a massive snowstorm raging outside Sally informs her children that they won’t be seeing another dime from her. After her declaration one of the family members ends up dead and everyone is a suspect. Trapped in the house due to the storm it doesn’t take long for everyone to realize that they are trapped with someone willing to kill to get what they want.

This book had me on the edge of my seat and turning page after page looking for the murderer. Each of the people in the house have just as much to lose, or gain, as any other and that makes this book even more intense. You never really know who the killer is until the end and wow I never saw it coming. Each of the characters is well written and has a distinct personality that helps to make them come alive. The plot is tightly written and the suspense is drawn out until the very last moment. A wonderful book that definitely deserves a five star rating, I look forward to reading other books by Ms. Moore in the future.

[Marilyn Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Didn’t know who the killer was, kept me entertained. keep up the good work!!

[Nikki LeClair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story reminded me of the old school Who-Dun-It's and I loved it! It has everything from spoiled, resentful characters to a gorgeous mansion on a mountainside and a grey, wintry storm brewing outside. Sally's children, spoiled trust fund babies, are the definition of entitled and one Christmas Sally has had enough. She makes a special announcement to her children and the cause of it...well, leads to murder. This was a VERY gripping story with plenty of twists and a ending that I was a bit shocked at. In a good way of course! It was hard to put this novel down and I can't wait to read more of Judy Moore's mysteries.

[Amber Daulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a twist! In this murder/mystery set at Christmastime, billionaire Sally Braddock is 51 years old and one of the richest women in the country. Her beloved husband died a few years ago and left her everything but she’s not one of those old, snooty ‘I’m better than you’ people. She’s kind, down-to-earth, in-shape, and plans to donate billions to charities. Her three children, however, are selfish, money hungry and broke despite the millions Sally and her husband left them in a trust fund. Her kids and their spouses always visit Sally once a year at Christmas to get money from her. They’re horribly rude to Helga, Sally’s best friend and housekeeper, and constantly insult Sally in roundabout ways. When Sally finally snaps and announces her plans to cut the bickering kids from their inheritance, it drives someone to murder.
But who? Everyone has motive to kill. Billions are at stake. Trapped in a house with a murderer, it’s snowing outside and the roads are impassible. No one trusts each other and the tension runs high.
I couldn’t figure out who the killer was until the end but I knew right way the person who was framed for the murder was innocent. The ending kept me on the edge of my seat and I was happy to see that everyone got their well-deserved comeuppance.
5 Stars

Disclaimer – I volunteered to read and review this book. Thank you, Judy Moore, for sending me an ebook copy. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape or form for this review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.

[Laura Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in Vail is an enjoyable tale in the style of the old “locked room” mysteries, but instead of a locked door, the characters in this story are trapped together in a snow-bound house. Wealthy mother, Sally Braddock, has gathered her grown children at her home in Vail for the holidays, along with her housekeeper. There’s no one else in the house when a murder occurs. One of them has to be the murderer. Easy to solve, right?

Wrong! The author, Judy Moore, keeps her readers guessing via misdirection and red herrings. Right up to the exciting conclusion, you can’t be sure what’s what, who’s the bad guy (or girl) and who’s going to survive. Even the characters go from being atrocious to likeable, and back again. A fun read for the holidays or any time of the year, if you love a good mystery.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a quick easy read. But compared to other mystery books I've read..it fell short. It held my interest enough to finish. Don't expect a WOW factor.
Didn't love it..didn't hate it.

[Patricia Gligor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder in Vail" by Judy Moore was fantastic! Great characters, an intricate plot and an incredible setting. Loved the book!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Give your children enough to do anything, but not enough to do nothing.”
Judy Moore hit the murder mystery category out of the park here! I admit I was skeptical at first because I usually go for covers of books and this one just didn’t jump at me. I have read Judy Moore before though so I am super happy I decided to give it a try. This had the perfect mixture of suspense, drama, and a good plot with the surprise twist ending that makes that mystery book so good you think about it a few days after reading it.
Sally Braddock hates Christmas with her three children and their spouses. Why? Because all they do is fight and ask her for money. And she is tired of giving them money.
“Her three children visited her – and her money- only once a year, and a few days of each year were plenty, Sally could barely tolerate them anymore. None of them worked, had children, helped charities, or knew how to do much of anything except how to spend money. They lived off their trust funds- and those funds were disappearing quickly.”
The family is all together for their once a year Christmas get together and a storm is brewing outside the family home. It is about to trap the family inside with a storm brewing that they are unaware of as well. Sally tells her kids she is no longer going to leave her children the money they expected to get in the will. She is giving 95% of it to charity and 5% to split among her and the rest of them.
“Money hasn’t done anything except cause problems for this family. Big problems. All of you have squandered the money from your trusts. Your father would be so disappointed. I want each of you to know that the money you already have in your tryst is the last you’ll ever get from me. Not one more penny, so don’t ask.”
After this dinner everything changes. People start dying. But who is killing who? And what really is the motive? Angry and unsatisfied housekeeper? Or is it the brother who has spent all his money in the movie business with too many collectibles and helicopters? No, maybe the daughter and her husband with the boats and overpriced watch collection? So many options! This was a really good read. It kept me wanting to turn the page and turn the page, till I was finding myself at the end of the book in under a few hours. I can’t wait to read more of Judy Moore.

[BookLoversLife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally Braddock invites her children and their spouses to her mountain top mansion, atop a mountain in Vail. They are there for Christmas, but Sally has some news for her family. That news will change everyone's life, because someone is willing to murder in order to stop it from happening!!

I love a good cozy mystery and this one was awesome!! I have to say that Sally's children were horrible! So obnoxious, and I just wanted to reach in and shake them, but I suppose, that's what money can do. As for their spouses, oh god, they were so ungrateful! It would be a nightmare to sit through that.

Anyway, the plot was entertaining and exciting. I actually thought I had the right person figured out, but I didn't. I love a book like this, that can throw you off the scent completely!!! It could have been any of them, because they were all set to lose an awful lot of money.

The only nice character was Sally. She was such a nice woman and just wanted to do the best by her kids, and if that meant doing what she had planned, then that was what she would do. I thought she deserved so much, what with the amount of things she had to put up with!! I will say that one of her kids redeemed themselves somewhat near the end and I ended up liking them.

Anyway, this was a great mystery and I will definitely be checking out more from this author. She made me feel a lot for the characters, and that's always good!

Stacey Melotte was clear and read it well, but I found some of her voices to be so forced and annoying! Especially for the wife of one of Sally's son. I thought she really didn't need to put on such a fake accent and force it. A subtle change would have done fine.

I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder in Vail by Judy Moore is a suspense-thriller story that will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to see who did it. This is not my first story by this author but it is my favorite. I enjoyed how she was able to pull me into the story with easy and keep me engaged until the end. This is a who done it kind of book that will keep you guessing until the end. This author's attention to details will pull you into all directions and keep you guessing. The twists and turns she took me on, left me wanting to find out who was lurking in every page. Her characters are creative and fit right into the story. They are connectable and true to life and you will enjoy them. This is a story about a mother who has all of her children home for Christmas. They are all ungrateful for what they have and only see their mother to ask for money. When she makes an announcement that will change everything, will it push someone over the edge? What will happen when murder starts playing a role in their family? Which one of them is the murder? They will take you on an adventure of who done it where they each have a motive for the killing. What will happen when the storm outside competes with the storm that is raging in the inside of this house? I enjoyed all the characters in this book. Even though the children are ungrateful they still seem to have a sensitive side to them. There are a couple of them that I didn't care for but that is what makes the story interesting. I did feel compassion for the mother as she has selfish children that only want to see her for one reason. Wait until you see the twists and turns that they create in this story. I highly recommend this book. Find out what happens when this family becomes snowbound together and no way out!

[Ellen Behrens · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not easy to write a good mystery, though the best mystery authors make it seem as though all they do is write about interesting characters chasing clues around until they hit on the culprit. It *is* easy to forget the hard work that goes into writing mysteries until you write one, or read one by someone who's still honing their skills in the genre.

Judy Moore's "Murder in Vail" manages to take a good swipe at it, though she misses in some key ways. Her premise is as old as they come: a wealthy widow's greedy offspring gather in her Vail estate for the holidays; someone dies; a blizzard traps the survivors--and killer--on a mountaintop where land lines are down, cell phone reception is obliterated by the fierce storm, and roads are blocked.

There isn't much question about motive: greed seems the only possibility here. I won't get into possible suspects because the slightest error on my part in discussing them could reveal the murderer. And that's one of the problems with the book.

A few awkwardly-handled red herrings damaged the book as well, as did some lengthy, unnecessary sections with far too much detail about things the author must have thought was too fascinating to leave out. Perhaps they're special interests of the author or maybe she just did so much research into them she couldn't bear to delete or shorten those sections.

Which leads to the story's pace. The beginning is overburdened with background information, much of which we find out soon enough anyway, rendering those parts repetitious, all of which slows the narrative down.

Another reader has written the book needed a good edit, and I agree that a professional eye could have added a star or two to this rating.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Murder in Vail is a murder mystery by Judy Moore. It is the second book of Ms. Moore’s that I have read, but it is my favourite of the two. The story is set against the picturesque scenery of Vail in Colorado. It is Christmas time, when families come together to celebrate. But that’s not exactly what happens in this story. There is murder, mystery, some action, adventure, suspense, drama, a hint of romance, and some discoveries.
Ms. Moore once again kept me guessing through the entire book, twisting and turning the plot while I scrambled looking for clues to try to figure out what was going on. I didn’t see the twist coming, which I might add was quite cleverly done. The story was detailed and descriptive, bringing the events to life and leading me further and further into the story.
This was a great, fun, quick and easy read- but at the same time had enough depth and drama to keep me avidly turning the pages. Ms. Moore built the suspense and tension beautifully and had me wondering about the outcome, the whole way.
The characters were well developed, fully realised individuals who had their own unique personalities. I really liked Sally, but her ‘children’ frustrated me to death by how selfish, self-centred and materialistic they all were- and how thoughtlessly they treated their mother. But I also liked the character growth and development that occurred over the course of the story- making them far more likeable by the end.
The dogs were a cute addition to the book and I thought Sally…. and her late husband’s backstory was a lovely addition.
A very enjoyable tale.
I look forward to reading more books by Ms. Moore!

Thank you, Ms. Moore!

[Naomi Valkyrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read another book by this author that was pretty good, but Murder in Vail was even better! I read part of this book at night and it creeped me out, lol. Nothing better than a book that causes an emotional response. I think part of what made the book so unnerving is that all of the characters seem like normal people, a little selfish, but fairly normal. You’ve got seven suspects to a murder and they all have equal motive, but none of them stand out as a likely suspect. It literally could be anyone. There is only one clue in the entire book, and you don’t even realize it is a clue until you get to the end.

The cast of characters is pretty colorful. You have Sally, who has most of the focus in the book. She is a wealthy widow, and former athlete, who lives in a nice house on a mountain in Colorado. Then there are her adult children and their spouses who range from a helicopter pilot to a Playboy bunny type to a drug addict, all of which have blown through their substantial trust funds. And finally, Helga, the live-in housekeeper and Sally’s best friend.

Sally rarely sees her children, but they are all getting together for the Christmas holiday. Little do they know it is a Christmas they will never forget. After a tense family dinner, Sally makes an announcement that shocks her family. That is when the real trouble starts. When one of the family winds up dead, no one is above suspicion. And to complicate matters, there has been a big snowstorm and they are stuck in the house with no way to get help.

I loved this book. It was quite an adventure to read it. And the ending…you just don’t see it coming.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder in Vail is the second book I have read by Judy Moore, and I plan to read more. I enjoyed the book, and liked that it was not predictable. Going into the book, I knew it was about someone being killed, from the description, but the killer was kept hidden until the very end of the book. I like there were no spoilers, and each character seems to have a motive to kill. There was a twist about halfway through, that I did not see coming, which I liked a well. The author is good at keeping the details hidden until the moment of reveal. The characters in the book were okay, not my favorites, but I like that each had a back story and interaction with each other. They were basically spoiled brats, trust fund children, who only care about money. The characters had blown insane amounts of money, that I cannot even comprehend, but the story itself was enjoyable.
Sally is the mother of three grown children, who she only sees once a year, at Christmas. Most people would want to be around their family more, but for Sally, those couple days annually are plenty. Her children are spoiled, and their spouses are even worse, living extravagant lives, without jobs, living off their trust funds. But as their account balances get smaller, the tension rises, and she has decided to skip any more inheritance and donate most of her money to charity. After slipping this plan during a argument of frustration, someone in the house is found dead the next day. No one knows who to trust, or who to fear, someone in the house is a murderer. Now to figure out who.

[E.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder in Vail by Judy Moore was an gripping mystery that keeps you guessing until the explosive ending.

What a story. This mystery had that old time feel, and a little bit a of a clue vibe. A house full of people, snowed in, and one is murdered. Everyone is a suspect. The story is told in third person, so you get interchanging POV's. Normally that would give away clues, or even the killer. But that was not the case here. If anything it made you more confused as to who the killer was. That back a forth really keeps your eyes glued to the pages.

I went through almost everyone, but when it was reveal, I was like, damn.... Totally didn't see it coming, but at the same time, I did have a feeling about said murderer.

Sally, our MC, and the spark to this mess, was a wicket character. For me, she was a little too nice, but I liked how she stood to her friend and wasn't taking any more of their kids BS. Speaking of her children. What brats! I would have cut them off years ago. 30 year olds should not he asking for their parents money. Sally was right to say F this. I like her spark and I loved how she wasn't going to let herself become the victim.

Overall this is an engaging story that pulls you in, gets your mind thinking and, your heart pounding. I highly recommend you pick up this thriller mystery. It's that perfect lazy day read, or a perfect read to get those detective skills working.

Happy Reading

-E.A. Walsh

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Judy Moore. What a good mystery with a twist! This was a quick read which held my attention for the entire book. I wondered who was going to die and who was the killer because children don’t want to kill their own mother…right? Right.

This book felt like an intro into the lives of many characters. Sally, the billionaire widow and mother of Stephen, Gwen, and Lance, decides that her children are a little too dependent on her and her money after they spend all of their own trust funds. But could one of them really kill her just to get more money? Their spouses seem pretty guilty too. There’s even a suspicious housekeeper that could be a killer. Or maybe the unknown poachers, or Robbie, the hottie from the ski shop. So many suspects, too many dead bodies. I could easily see many of these characters getting their own stories.

While this story is about murder and greed, there were a few laughable situations. Murder in Vail also makes you think. If there was a moral to this story it would be that family is what counts and money should not be the most important aspect of a person’s life.

“Money hasn’t done anything except cause problems for this family. Big problems. All of you have squandered the money from your trusts. Your father would be so disappointed.”

I recommend this story to mystery lovers.

[Karyn Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a good thriller with loads of suspense then Murder In Vail by Judy Moore is the book for you. This is the second book that I have read by this author and both have kept me gripped from start to finish.
Sally Braddock is a very wealthy widow. Her 3 grown up children were all left substantial trust funds when their father died but have squandered the money and are always looking for more from their mother. When the 3 children and their equally frivolous spouses come to spend a few days for Christmas, Sally has had enough of their money grabbing and announces that she’s donating almost all of her 3 billion wealth to charity. That’s when the murders start. As there has been a major snow storm, they are cut off from the outside world, no one can get out to get help and no one can get in. The family have to spend time together knowing that one of them is a murderer.
Judy Moore does a fantastic job at creating the characters in this book. You really want to slap all of Sally’s children and their spouses, They are such horrible characters that you can’t help but hate them.
With many twists and turns we eventually find out who the murderer is. I have to say that I had my suspicions as to who the killer was but I was totally wrong.
This is an excellent read that will keep you gripped the whole way through.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder In Vail by Judy Moore is an amazing 5 star thriller mystery book. This is seriously one of my new favorite authors! Judy leaves me speechless in her writing as it is so addicting, I get sucked in and can’t put it down until I find out what happens. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who the murderer was.

In this book we meet Sally, a billionaire widow with 3 children whom she can’t stand to be around because of their greed. Christmas is coming up and the kids and their spouses come home to Vail to spend it with their mother. Little does Sally’s family know, she is going to drop a bomb on them regarding where her money is going when she dies. When Sally spills the news during a horrible and tense family dinner, the shock and anger from her children gives way to murder.

I cannot say enough good words about his book. Throughout the whole book I figured I knew who killed Sally and was pretty confident about it. When the ending comes I am hit out of nowhere because, the person I thought was the murderer was the least likely suspect. The actual murderer will surprise you, and the way they act throughout the book, you would think, there is no way. I loved every twist and turn this book brought me, and totally understand that greed is a dangerous trait. I would highly recommend this book to any lover of crime solving and murder/thriller/mystery books.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judy Moore is a new author to me. It was one of those books that I downloaded on my Kindle and was wishy-washy about reading it. I tend to read authors  I am familiar with first when picking a book, and seem to put those I am not familiar with on my to-read list, sometimes removing it from the Kindle before I read it. I am glad I did not do this with Murder In Vail.

It drew me in right away. I had a few days of trying to to get through another book and not being able to get into it so I was pleasantly surprised when I didn't want to put this book down.

I liked the characters and thought the family dynamics were interesting. It was a good story on what pulls families together or what pulls them apart. Along with highlighting no matter how much we differ or we fight we seem to defend our families and the Braddock family in this book is no different.

The plot was easy to follow but the mystery was not so easy to solve. I kept flopping back and forth trying to decide the guilty party. The easy style of the writing drew me in, kept me focused so much that I finished this in an afternoon. I could also identify with Sally and her questioning her parenting decisions. Don't we all do that with our adult children?

I good read. A new author for me to explore. I can't ask for anything more.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

MURDER IN VAIL IS ANOTHER EXCELLENT BOOK BY JUDY MOORE. IT IS A MURDER MYSTERY THAT HAS A LOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS THAT WILL KEEP YOU GUESSING UNTIL THE VERY END. I THOUGHT I KNEW WHO DONE IT BUT THEN JUDY SURPRISED ME.

SALLY LIVES IN VAIL COLORADO AND HER CHILDREN AND SPOUSES ARE COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. HER CHILDREN AND SPOUSES ARE SO VERY SPOILED AND SELFISH. THE CONSTANT BICKERING WAS DRIVING SALLY CRAZY. ALL SHE WANTED WAS TO SPEND A NICE CHRISTMAS WITH HER CHILDREN BUT THEY ARE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MONEY. SALLY MAKES A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THAT UPSETS EVERYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD WHICH ENDS WITH SOMEONE BEING MURDERED.

JUDY MOORE HAS BECOME ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS AND I ENJOY HER WRITING SO MUCH. SHE WRITES TERRIFIC STORYLINES AND CHARACTERS AND KNOWS HOW TO KEEP HER READERS ENGAGED. MURDER IN VAIL WAS NO EXCEPTION. SHE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN PORTRAYING THE CHARACTERS AND HOW EACH ONE CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE STORYLINE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD MURDER MYSTERY, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING MURDER IN VAIL. THIS BOOK TRULY SHOWS WHAT MONEY DOES TO PEOPLE.