Murder investigation at Vermont lodge during Vietnam War era

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 20, 2026

In 1965 Vermont, State Trooper Franklin Warren investigates the suspicious death of William Moulton, a former ambassador found stabbed at a secluded hunting lodge during a group gathering fraught with political tensions over the Vietnam War. The murder inquiry is complicated by a blizzard that isolates the suspects, revealing hidden animosities and secrets that reflect the era’s divisive climate and personal betrayals.

In 1965, amid the intensifying conflict of the Vietnam War, a murder investigation unfolds at a secluded Vermont lodge where a group of affluent men had gathered for hunting and socializing. William Moulton, a former ambassador to West Germany and outspoken supporter of the war, was discovered dead in the nearby woods shortly after the group’s arrival.

State Trooper Franklin Warren, a character previously introduced in Sarah Stewart Taylor’s 2024 novel “Agony Hill,” is tasked with uncovering the circumstances surrounding Moulton’s death. While the lodge members initially suggest that Moulton’s demise resulted from a hunting accident or suicide, Warren soon identifies it as a homicide. The victim had been stabbed through the heart, after which a rifle was fired through the wound—a deliberate attempt to obscure the true cause of death.

The gathering reflected the divisive atmosphere of the era, with participants deeply engaged in debates over the morality and consequences of the Vietnam War. However, as the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that Moulton had numerous personal and political adversaries among the group. Warren quickly realizes that nearly everyone present, including members of the lodge’s service staff, is withholding information or providing conflicting accounts, though the relevance of these deceptions to the murder remains uncertain.

Complicating the inquiry, an early-season blizzard disrupts communications by bringing down telephone lines, effectively isolating Warren and the suspects within the lodge. This confinement amplifies the tension and recalls elements common to classic mystery narratives, as observed by one of the kitchen workers who likened the situation to an Agatha Christie novel.

While the primary storyline maintains a level of suspense and intrigue, some narrative elements, including a subplot involving Warren’s acquaintances Alice and Sylvie—carried over from the author’s earlier work—are seen as peripheral and may not resonate with readers unfamiliar with Taylor’s previous novel. Despite this, the book’s portrayal of the Vermont setting is vivid, and several characters, particularly a spirited teenage girl named Jenny, add depth and memorability to the story.

The investigation into Moulton’s murder thus combines historical context, complex character dynamics, and a classic closed-circle mystery structure to explore themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the fraught political climate of the mid-1960s.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.