Sarah has told Maxie she is dying, but is still well enough to spend quality time with Maxie, and Maxie wants to spend her friend’s last few months with her. When Maxie and Stretch arrive in Grand Junction, they learn they have arrived too late. Maxie was taken to the hospital shortly before their arrival and dies after a quick visit.

Maxie is heartbroken, but when she arrives at Sarah’s house, she sees that someone has turned the place apart looking for something. Knowing her friend’s penchant for puzzles and secret hiding places, Maxie knows a few places to look where an intruder might not think to search. She finds some letters that Sarah has left for people to read after her death. While Maxie doesn’t read the letters that are not addressed to her, she tracks down a young woman named Jamie, to whom one of the letters is addressed, and gets the surprise of a lifetime.

The more Maxie pokes into Sarah’s past, the more she learns how little she knew of her friend. Mutual friend Ed Norris arrives just after Sarah’s death and Maxie wonders just how Ed Norris fit into Sarah’s life and what his plans are for the future.

The Serpent’s Trail begins a new series for Maxie, first introduced to readers in Sue Henry’s Jessie Arnold series. Maxie is learning again how to be independent and doing an admirable job. She fearlessly handles her RV and with only Stretch as a companion is willing to travel anywhere. Maxie speaks very highly of Sarah and of their relationship over the years and readers may regret not having an opportunity to get to know her.

There are few other characters; Sarah’s adopted son Alan storms into a meeting between Maxie and Sarah’s attorney, yet later is very calm and contrite. Readers may be undecided who to blame for Sarah’s murder as there are two good suspects, though one’s motive is not revealed until much later.

The mystery that Maxie must unravel in order to solve Sarah’s murder will intrigue readers and will keep them interested after solving Sarah’s murder.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry