The Melancholy Howl
Circling vultures lead hunting outfitter Allison Coil to an angry man tied to a tree. The man will answer none of Allison's obvious questions.
Devo, a frequent ally of Allison's and the leader of a group of scrappy devolutionists, has gone missing.
Allison's best friend, Trudy Heath, finds herself intrigued by the overtures of a retired rock star who has put down roots to grow tomatoes.
And Trudy's boyfriend, newspaper reporter Duncan Bloom, is tempted by an opportunity to resolve his bleak finances by taking a flyer on Colorado's fastest growing industry, retail marijuana.
Allison's trail across the Flat Tops Wilderness leads to an airplane wreck, a murder, and a cunning conspiracy.
The Melancholy Howl braids interweaving threads of mystery as Allison, Trudy, Duncan, and Devo's followers test the definition of family and the dangerous boundaries of trust.
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Mark Stevens
Mark Stevens is the author of The Flynn Martin Thriller series including No Lie Lasts Forever (June 2025) and Two Truths and A Lie (April 2026), both from Thomas & Mercer; The Fireballer (Lake Union, 2023), and The Allison Coil Mystery Series including Antler Dust, Buried by the Roan, Trapline, Lake of Fire, and The Melancholy Howl.
Buried by the Roan, Trapline, and Lake of Fire were all finalists for the Colorado Book Award. Trapline won.
Allison Coil Mystery
Allison Coil Mystery consists of five books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

