Pioneering Secrets
Liane Mahugh
Independently Published (2025)
ISBN: 978-1778022524
Reviewed by Jill Rey for Reader Views (09/2025)
Friends from high school, C.J. and Andie, have always had an intrigue in sleuthing. Whether figuring out who the vandal was or getting to the bottom of a school yard mystery, these two always seemed to be on the case. A member of the school paper, C.J.’s ties to journalism run deep. Now, as adults, working as a teacher and a reporter, their curious ways still run ever strong. So, when one of Andie’s students is murdered, in a small town with very little crime, they can’t help but get involved in Liane Mahugh’s Pioneering Secrets: A Rolling Brook Falls Mystery.
Out filling the bird feeder after seeing her brother and boyfriend off to a morning of fishing, Sarah never would have expected it would be her last moment alive. Yet, when her parents find her lying motionless on the lawn, the small town is instantly rocked by the loss of one of their kindest souls. Corey Sayers is new to town, bringing with him his big-city detective skills. With bodies suddenly piling up and no obvious motive or murder weapon to be found, the town of Rolling Brook Falls is on high alert.
As the pair dubbed “Bad Influence” (C.J.) and “Partner in Crime” (Andie) unravel this case, they remain one step ahead of Detective Sayers through the finish line. As the chemistry ignites between Corey and Andie, the race to stop the killer is on, before they are able to put Andie in their sights.
Author Liane Mahugh pens a fun mystery of best friends, a hint of romantic interest, and a tangled history of this small town. As members of the community are questioned, the answers slowly slide into place. This charming team of female sleuths makes for a quick-witted and enjoyable pairing as they take readers through the case. From knowing the victims to comforting family, tracking down the killers, and reporting on the facts, there’s nothing this team of independent women can’t do.
Instantly taken to this amateur pair, readers will fall into the grooves of the town of Rolling Brook Falls as we are captivated by C.J., Andie, and the mysterious killer on the loose in Pioneering Secrets, the first book in the Rolling Brook Falls Mysteries series by Liane Mahugh.