October 2025: Murder in Skoghall is the Minnesota Author Project Adult Fiction Award Winner 
Presented by the Minnesota Library Association & Minnesota Library Foundation. Voted on by librarians across the state.

A HAUNTED FARMHOUSE.
AN INNOCENT MAN BEHIND BARS.
A WOMAN FORCED TO SOLVE A 40-YEAR-OLD MURDER.

Determined to live her dream life in an arts community on the Mississippi River, Jessica Vernon sinks every penny from her divorce settlement into a charming old farmhouse. But she didn't count on her new puppy being so much work, the locals being quite so close-knit, or her home--which was such a steal--being haunted. If she can't solve a dead woman's riddle and put her terrifying ghost to rest, Jess may not survive her first season on the river.

If you like haunting gothic tales, dark mysteries, intense thrillers, and paranormal twists, then you'll love the Skoghall Mystery Series.

EDITORIAL REVIEW:

Murder in Skoghall is the first book in the Skoghall Mystery Series. It features an amateur sleuth, ghosts, and psychic abilities which will attract both mystery fans and readers of paranormal fiction.
 
The prologue introduces a stalker, who is watching an alluring red-haired woman who reminds him of lost love Bonnie.
 
Military past and PTSD come into play as he reveals the horrors of war which changed him forever:
 
He felt the tipping point at the very edge of his humanity. On one side, sanity and a way home. On the other side, red and black. He couldn't talk about it, not even there. Not even then. Not even to guys who saw what he did. So he joked about the red and black. And then he lost it. He lost it so bad the way home was behind him now and everything was red and black.
 
Readers seeking mystery and ghostly themes may not expect the depth of this prologue, but it neatly sets the stage for what follows and demonstrates that Murder in Skoghall will actually be more than a formula-written murder mystery typical of the genre.
 
Alida Winternheimer creates a story that simmers with underlying grief, anger, reflections on the past, and insights on moving forward in novel new ways. These reflections aren't limited to the killer, but evolve in a host of characters, including investigator Jessica Vernon, who stifles her own grief and anger with her expectation of positive change in her life.
 
Jessica is shifting from her beloved Minneapolis to Wisconsin, the setting for her new life and career. As antique stores, puppies, ghosts, and new romantic possibilities emerge from her move, Jess finds herself probing a dead woman's puzzle and its implications for her future life in the attractive arts community.
 
Winternheimer's ability to capture atmosphere, depict a strong sense of place in the one-stop-sign town's makeup, and present a character who is trying to start over while facing impossible situations that stretch her boundaries and talents makes for a truly compelling read.
 
Readers used to paranormal stories and mysteries will find added value in the vivid small town experiences, the injection of moments of normalcy which contrast with Jess's evolving involvements, and an undercurrent of wry ironic humor which emerges from some of her observations and efforts:
 
 "I need to go to prison to talk to my ghost's husband and possible killer."
 
The juxtaposition of different elements of adaptation, survival, intrigue, love, and death will delight libraries seeking multifaceted mysteries for their collections that will appeal beyond the usual genre reader.
 
This is why Murder in Skoghall is especially recommended for libraries seeking exceptional books that are well developed, featuring strong characters and realistic settings designed to appeal well beyond the usual reader of murder mysteries.

-D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review