The Secret of Trail House Lodge

Sophie Collins Mystery Series Book 2

Young Adult - Mystery
240 Pages
Reviewed on 10/01/2016
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Award-winning author Madge H. Gressley, lives in the Mid-west with her granddaughter, great-grandson and two dogs. She has been an award-winning visual artist for over 30 years, but in 2013 she made a life-changing decision and traded her paintbrushes and canvas for paper and pen but, in this case—computer and keyboard. Gressley works from home where, during the daylight hours, she is co-owner in a graphic design business. Evenings find her at her trusty computer writing away.
Before joining Black Opal Books, Gressley self-published several books including her award-winning YA Sophie Collins Mysteries series—“The Red Coat” and “The Secret of Trail House Lodge,” winner in the Young Adult Fiction category in the Independent Press Book Award, and Distinguished Favorite in the New York City Big Book Award. Both books are also 5 Star Readers’ Favorite choices.
Gressley has also written and illustrated two children’s picture books— “Dexter’s Wonderful Day” a Purple Dragonfly Book Award winner, and “Totally Terrible Tommy.” Both books are also 5 Star Readers’ Favorite choices.
Gressley’s most recent awards: 2018 Independent Press Book Award Winner—Young Adult Fiction category for “The Secret of Trail House Lodge.” Distinguished Favorite in the 2018 Independent Press Book Award for “Inescapable ~ The Beginning,” which was also selected as a Finalist in the 2017 Book Excellence Award, Romance category. “Inescapable ~ Remembering” has been selected as a Finalist in the 2018 Book Excellence Award—Romance category. Both competitions are international.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mgressley1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadgeHGressleyArtistAuthor/
Website: http://www.meg-originals.com

    Book Review

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

The Secret of Trail House Lodge: A Sophie Collins Mystery, Book 2 by Madge H. Gressley is for young adults. Fifteen-year-old heiress Sophie Collins and her friends explore an abandoned lodge and become curious after seeing a particular guest entry in the registration book, and finding a stash of old coins and puzzling footprints. Her guardian, Mr. Johnson, investigates the lodge’s history and learns it was once owned by a notorious gangster. Sophie’s suspicions increase when she and her friends return to the lodge and realize someone else was searching the rooms. Their sleuthing picks up surprising clues that help the sheriff link unsolved cases. Sophie’s estranged Uncle Titus believes he should be her guardian, but Mr. Johnson is wary of him, much to his displeasure.

The Secret of Trail House Lodge is a lovely sleuth mystery, especially with its main character. Sophie is a high-spirited teen who is clever and brave with a keen sense of perception. It is a suspenseful story that sees the teens take on investigative roles, despite the risks they encounter. The interaction among the characters, both good and evil, is sharp. Sophie can be a bit rebellious, but this probably comes from her dismal past. This is Madge H. Gressley’s second book in the Sophie Collins Mystery series. The mystery interested me, but so did Sophie, whose present lifestyle was entirely different to what she was accustomed to. Book 1 is another mystery that sees Sophie’s luck change. Madge H. Gressley's book is recommended.