Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tour: Natural Causes by Nikki Stern (review)

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NATURAL CAUSES

by Nikki Stern

July 20 – 31, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Natural Causes by Nikki Stern

A SAM TATE MYSTERY

 

An intelligent suspense thriller and gritty crime procedural featuring a complex female detective.

Three years after quitting her job as a homicide cop, Sam moves to Denver as a named partner with a boutique private investigation firm. She’s finished with the violence and trauma that have marked both her personal and professional lives. But when a zealous eco-terrorist begins a killing spree with plans to escalate, she finds herself once again hunting a serial killer whose past too closely resembles Sam’s own.

Praise for Natural Causes:

“A memorable mystery that sizzles with action, twists of plot, and a host of possibilities and characters” ~ D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Literary Review

NATURAL CAUSES Trailer:

Book Details:

Genre: Police Procedure, Suspense Thriller, Crime Mystery Published by: Ruthenia Press Publication Date: June 23, 2026 Number of Pages: 280 ISBN: 979-8996092208 Series:The Sam Tate Mystery Series, Book 5 Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

“Gorgeous, absolutely drop-dead gorgeous.” Todd Fischer stood near the edge of a snowy precipice and slapped his chest like a primate surveying his kingdom. He pulled in a lungful of air, his new Filson hiking vest tight against his broad chest. He was winded, more than he cared to admit, and cold. Even at the end of April, the temperatures on this trail lingered in the low thirties. A late-season snowfall added to the discomfort, not to mention the threatening gusts of frigid air. “You know,” he continued, turning to his companion, “people would pay plenty to live here.” “I don’t think you can just put up housing in a national park,” she replied. “Anything can be bought and tamed, Elena. Even the Rockies.” “I believe you, Todd. Now, please come down off that ledge? Remember the warnings we received about the missing railings and the danger of microbursts? I do not want my husband to be blown away like a character in The Wizard of Oz.” Fischer laughed. “I’m not about to be knocked over by a blast of air. I think you should worry more about the kids. Go see what’s happened to them.” As soon as she’d moved out of sight, he bent over, suddenly dizzy. Crap, getting old was not for sissies. He needed more exercise, more hydration, more time, more of everything. Elena turned back to the trail, shaking her head. The “kids” were young adults and, as far as she was concerned, pampered twenty-somethings. She was the “wicked” stepmother, just ten years older than the eldest, perpetually a graduate student. Whereas younger brother Paulie treated school as one long excuse to party. Now she heard them, bickering, as usual. “Could you stop complaining?” Rowan was saying. “Not a chance,” Paulie griped. “We are tramping in the mountains, just past dawn, in the cold and the wind. In late April. I left a warm bed and a warm body so I could freeze my backside off with distant dad and wife number three.” “Maybe the warm body should have helped you dress for a hike in the Rockies.” “You’re just jealous.” Rowan appeared first, dressed perfectly for a mountain trek. Paulie, on the other hand, looked like he’d come from a night of clubbing, right down to his overpriced sneakers and his curated day-old beard. “There you are,” Elena said, forcing a smile. “We were on the ledge for a better view.” “The one with the ‘danger’ sign?” Paulie asked. “Oh, right. Dad likes to go where he’s not supposed to. I guess you could call it his specialty.” Elena reminded herself that she could handle two brats for one morning. Before long, she would get herself pregnant and make them both irrelevant. “Take a look,” she suggested. “It’s quite lovely.” But they were back to fighting, ripping into each other like territorial animals. Until an unexpected gust of wind interrupted their discourse, strong enough to send a few rocks scuttling down into the valley. “What was that?” Paulie asked. “Nature, dummy,” Rowan retorted. “Wait, where is your father?” Elena demanded. Paulie cupped his hands and yelled, “Attention, Todd Fischer. We’re officially concerned. Show yourself.” Rowan climbed to the ledge and swallowed hard. “Maybe he found another way to head down,” she said. “No,” Elena declared. “Something happened.” *** Excerpt from Natural Causes by Nikki Stern. Copyright 2026 by Nikki Stern. Reproduced with permission from Nikki Stern. All rights reserved.

 

My Review

“It’s the price you pay for being good at what you do.”

Natural Causes by Nikki Stern is a turbo-charged thriller with plenty of well-developed characters and dynamic action that just won’t quit. And who would want it to? Even though Natural Causes is book five in A Sam Tate Mystery series, it can stand alone quite easily, with just enough references to previous books to encourage readers to grab book one (The Wedding Crasher) and beyond.

Sam Tate is now a private investigator in Denver, Colorado, following a law enforcement career (homicide) and some residual notoriety. When a new case falls into her investigative lap, Sam and her team are soon faced with multiple murders with a similar modus operandi (MO), pointing directly to a possible serial killer.

Natural Causes has a lot to offer, including danger, mystery, engaging characterization, lots of coffee, and even a bit of romance. With so much activity and drama, the overall pace is super quick, and despite the mystery, murders, and personal internal struggles, the tone remains somewhat upbeat and positive.

As the story unfolds on the local and eventually the national stage, a few themes emerge, such as the value of friendship, healing from past trauma, and trusting gut instincts and intuition. With more than one suspect roaming around, catching the killer will take the skill of several agencies, include Sam’s. While Sam Tate is trying to keep a low profile these days, the limelight just won’t let her go. And maybe, just maybe, she misses the adrenaline rush, the danger, and the thrill of the chase that goes along with it.

The ending is explosive, and the epilogue wraps up all the loose ends nicely. Moreover, natural causes is the absolute perfect title. Dive into Nikki Stern’s latest Sam Tate Mystery and find out why that is, along with more than enough action and excitement. This thriller packs an incredible punch.  

Author Bio:

Nikki Stern

Nikki Stern is the author of eight books, including five in the award-winning Sam Tate Mystery Series. She was a co-author of several musical murder mystery plays in the popular Café Noir collection. She’s also written a number of short stories and essays, some of which can be found here. A former families’ advocate following the death of her husband on 9/11, Nikki now serves on the leadership council for Search for Common Ground, a global conflict transformation organization. She lives in Princeton, New Jersey.

Catch Up With Nikki Stern:

NikkiStern.com Amazon Author Profile Goodreads BookBub – @NikkiStern Instagram – @realnikkistern Threads – @realnikkistern Facebook – Nikki Stern, Author YouTube – @NikkiStern

 

Tour Participants:

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2 Replies to “Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tour: Natural Causes by Nikki Stern (review)”

  1. I love a book with lots of coffee!!! 😛
    But actually, I read this one and I did love it!
    Thanks for the great review!

    Reply ↓

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