**Features:**

- Small town murder mystery
- Local police vs. the Russian Mafia
- Mystery/thriller with some humor and cozy moments

**Synopsis:**

Aside from neighborly spats and the occasional runaway cow, nothing much happens in the small town of Anderson, Montana. So it is a real shock when a gruesome murder scene is discovered in the back of the local bake shop. To complicate matters, one of the shop owners has also gone missing. As Sheriff Peter Elliott and the rest of the sparse Anderson Police Department try to piece together what happened, the patriarch of the town is also discovered dead at his home. Though it appears that the sapphire dealer had hung himself, an autopsy and his missing sapphire inventory points to something more sinister. With two bodies, a missing person, and the arrival of Russian Mafia members, Sheriff Elliott and his team find themselves in the middle of something much larger than they are prepared for.

**Thoughts:**

Though things get a little too intense for a cozy mystery, there is an almost ‘sitcom’ quality to this mystery/thriller that I found really endearing. The small town of Anderson, Montana is painted as a peaceful, idyllic place with a close knit community and a history of sapphire mining that attracts tourists. We mainly follow Sheriff Peter Elliott, but there is a whole cast of quirky characters we get to know and love. Though they all often feel more like caricatures than real people, I still found myself fully invested in their lives and the town in general.

Despite its overall lighter tone, there is still a pretty gruesome string of murders at the heart of this story. As Sheriff Elliott works to solve this mystery, we also learn more about the sapphires the town is known for and the battle for these precious gems that has been waging just under the surface. Though I frequently had to suspend disbelief in this story, the parts that focused on the sapphires speak to a part of Montana’s history (and present) in a way that always feels authentic. Overall, this was a fun and engaging read that would be perfect for readers who want a solid mystery but are ok not taking things too seriously.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Granite Mountain Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First book in the Anderson Chronicles series featuring Sheriff Peter Elliot and his family, friends and deputies. This seiries falls somewhere between a cozy and a thriller, elements of both kept my attention centered on what was happening in Anderson, Montana. This small town Sheriff's office is facing a string of crimes that are challenging their skills and patience. Kit Karson weaves multiple suspects through the story until it's anyone's guess who done it. Come to find out,......well, I'm not telling.

Land Grab is book 1 in The Anderson Chronicles series by Kit Karson. This was a new author for me, and overall I did enjoy the book not a typical read for me. I did enjoy the small town setting, and I found it to be an original story line. I found the pace of the story line to be consistent, not slow then fast which in my opinion made for a more enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more from this author. I would recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and I am leaving my review voluntarily

I love Kit Karson’s writing style!

Karson effortlessly took me to the small mining town of Anderson, Montana and introduced me to her great cast of characters. I instantly liked Sheriff Peter Elliott and had no difficulty keeping track of the town’s inhabitants.

The book opens with a brief history of the town before ramping up the action - a dispute between tourists and locals, a grisly murder scene in a bakery, a missing baker, foul play surrounding a sapphire dealer and the introduction of the Russian mob. I loved the ‘freshness’ of it - unique setting, wonderfully crafted characters and an intriguing mystery.

This was a binge read; a compelling whodunnit.

I started book two immediately.

I was gifted this copy by the publisher through NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.