A tense, atmospheric, and unpredictable crime series…
Karson delivers tightly wound mysteries where justice is never simple, and danger lurks beneath Montana’s rugged beauty. In Land Grab, outsiders scheme to carve up Anderson for profit. A baker’s wife finds a bloody crime scene—her husband missing. Hours later, a sapphire dealer is found hanged, his gems gone. Suicide? The autopsy says murder. Sheriff Peter Elliott must untangle a web of theft, threats, and Russian Mafia muscle before more bodies drop. Innocence Slain takes a darker turn. Women have vanished from Anderson for years—unnoticed, until Stacey Nichols disappears. New deputy Birdie Bradshaw’s investigation into old cases uncovers a pattern long ignored. Meanwhile, Stacey is fighting to escape her captor. With time running out, Peter races to find her before she’s lost forever.
A junk man turns up dead at the dump, buried under grass clippings and a kiddie pool in Justice Rendered. A town steeped in secrets, an antique serving fork, and a killer with nothing to lose—Peter’s investigation turns deadly as danger closes in. A couple is found murdered in their Moonlight Mountains home, and their son and daughter-in-law are nowhere to be found in Nefarious Intent. A bus crash and stolen church funds complicate the matter further. With the media circling and pressure mounting, Peter must hunt the killer before time runs out.
Peter Elliott remains at the heart of the series. He is no grizzled relic or cowboy caricature. He’s methodical, sharp, and respected. Karson crafts him as a leader who has earned his authority yet remains vulnerable, a man who understands that justice in Anderson is rarely black and white. His interactions with other characters, including with the gossipy bakery owner, the conniving Liz Benton, or the relentless Helen Ferguson, bring levity to the heavy cases he investigates. Zack is an absolute darling. Karson masterfully blends small-town quirks, such as petty disputes over garage sales, nosy neighbors, and long-standing feuds, with the stark realities of crime. Equal parts picturesque and decaying, the town of Anderson makes for more than a backdrop. Shaped by its sapphire mines, fading traditions, and secrets that refuse to stay buried, it becomes a living, breathing entity.
Each book builds its tension deliberately, drawing readers into Anderson’s rhythms before tightening the noose. Innocence Slain carries the most emotional weight, delving into the town’s darkest truths, while Land Grab leans into political maneuvering and greed. The result is a crime series where the past is never truly buried, and justice is anything but simple. Fans of Craig Johnson’s Longmire series or C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett novels will find much to love here.
Anderson, Montana, may look idyllic on the surface, but Karson ensures we never forget just how dark and dangerous it can be underneath.
Granite Mountain Press
Land Grab (The Anderson Chronicles #1)
Price $16.99 Paperback, $22.73 Hardcover, $4.99 Kindle edition
Innocence Slain (The Anderson Chronicles #2)
Price $17.99 Paperback, $21.90 Hardcover, $4.99 Kindle edition
Justice Rendered (The Anderson Chronicles #3)
Price $16.99 Paperback, $26.99 Hardcover, $4.99 Kindle edition
Nefarious Intent (The Anderson Chronicles #4)
Price $16.99 Paperback, $26.99 Hardcover, $4.99 Kindle edition