Publication Date: March 10, 2026
As a doctor’s wife in a thriving Adirondack village in the 1920s, Ella Devine seems to have an ideal life. Her husband grew rich catering to New York City socialites who wanted to hide their TB diagnoses from their friends. Their marriage is devoid of emotion, but so is she, having learned long ago to quietly accept whatever life offers. But all that changes when three men are charged with a nineteen-year-old murder, and the long-buried crime that shaped Ella’s childhood is exposed.
Spring Melt draws on the rich and fascinating history of the Adirondacks, where hikers who see only low hills and lush vegetation fail to perceive the hidden dangers and lose their lives by stepping two feet off the trail. Since the late 1800s, the wilderness that is the Adirondacks has been both a frontier to be conquered only by the hardiest of humans and a playland for the wealthy. When these two worlds collide, the resulting explosion can be fatal.
A woman must face a horrific secret from the past when three men are charged with a decades-old murder.
Set in the vast Adirondacks in the 1920s, author Lori Duffy Fosterleverages the area’s rich history to bring Spring Melt alive.
The focus of the story is what would have prompted three lumberjacks to kill a prominent young man. That leads the defense attorney to unravel the details regarding a terrible incident involving Ella Devine. The court case unfolds, drawing attention because of the salacious details.
It’s a story that contrasts the wealthy and poor as the rich flock to the area for the TB clinics. Ella’s character is a bit of an anomaly because of her underprivileged upbringing and later loveless marriage to a doctor. Reliving her story gives Ella a second chance at real happiness.
Spring Melt features a fascinating mystery that unfolds in the courtroom.
A former crime reporter, Lori Duffy Foster was born and raised in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, where a piece of her heart remains. Her previous novels include NEVER LET GO, a thriller, and the Lisa Jamison Mysteries Series. Her books have been nominees or finalists for Agatha, Silver Falchion and Shamus awards. Lori is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, The Historical Novel Society, International Thriller Writers, The Finger Lakes Authors & Readers Experience and Pennwriters. After several moves about the country with her family, Lori now lives and writes in the hills of Northern Pennsylvania. Look out for two new novels in 2026 and 2027 from Speaking Volumes LLC, SPRING MELT, an historical courtroom drama, and NO STRANGER HERE, a thriller.
