01/13/2025
This promising series opener from Maggi (The Forgetting) centers on Emmeline “Emme” Helliwell, a special agent with the investigative branch of the National Parks Service. At the outset, Emme is feeling untethered: her mother has just died, her archeologist sister is halfway around the world on a dig, and her most recent case resulted in the death of a young woman named Hannah DeLeo. She’s so distraught that she gives her boss, Stace Pompey, two weeks’ notice. Soon after, investigators find a body in Zion National Park, and Stace asks Emme to look into it. The victim turns out to be Emme's high school friend, Max Kerchek, and she considers delaying her retirement until she finds justice. When another body turns up, and Emme learns that both deaths have links to the Hannah DeLeo case, she becomes obsessed, launching an investigation that leads her to a violent cult in the nearby town of Redwater. Against the stunning backdrop of southern Utah, Maggi unspools an intricate whodunit with a memorable cast whom readers will hope to meet again. It’s a winner. Agent: Anne Tibbets, Donald Maas Literary. (Mar.)
A unique and binge-worthy thriller. Set in the simultaneously beautiful and terrifying terrain of a national park, A Murder in Zion is both a page turner and a nuanced tale of how family and career can tear us apart and also fortify us in unexpected ways. The best kind of story. I can’t wait to read the next installment of the Agent Emmeline Helliwell series.” —Danielle Girard, USA Today best-selling author
“Against the stunning backdrop of southern Utah, Maggi unspools an intricate whodunit with a memorable cast whom readers will hope to meet again. It’s a winner.” —Publishers Weekly
“While investigating a dead body in a national park, ISB agent Emme is faced with one challenge after another, especially when it becomes clear that she knew the deceased. A Murder in Zion’s imagery couldn’t have been more vivid if it was a Van Gogh painting. Gripping family drama is twisted up with a heart-pounding desire for the truth where no one is safe. This well-crafted story will have you flipping pages at warp speed. A truly epic tale for Maggi’s entrance into the adult mystery world.” —Jaime Lynn Hendricks, best-selling author of Finding Tessa
“Fans of investigative mysteries and national parks, look no further! Nicole Maggi’s A Murder in Zion is a gripping page-turner that blends the breathtaking beauty and treacherous dangers of the wilderness. ISB agent Emme is a fiercely relatable protagonist, grappling with grief, regret, and a single choice that’s haunted both her personal life and her career. Maggi’s prose effortlessly balances a suspenseful criminal investigation with the majesty of nature. A dynamic debut into the adult mystery genre that will leave you begging for more.” —Karin Nordin, author of Sweet Little Lies
“A Murder in Zion is a thrilling tale of redemption and justice against those who abuse their power.” —Finley Turner, author of The Engagement Party
