Item: Northwoods
Rating: 4.00
Author: quirkycat

by Amy Pease

“Riveting.” —People

In this “compelling and heartbreaking debut that marks a new and important voice in the mystery genre” (William Kent Krueger), a murder with ties to America’s opioid epidemic reveals the dark underbelly of an idyllic Midwestern resort town.

Eli North is not okay.

His drinking is getting worse by the day, his emotional wounds after a deployment to Afghanistan are as raw as ever, his marriage and career are over, and the only job he can hold down is with the local sheriff’s department. And that’s only because the sheriff is his mother—and she’s overwhelmed with small town Shaky Lake’s dwindling budget and the fallout from the opioid epidemic.

The Northwoods of Wisconsin may be a vacationer’s paradise, but amidst the fishing trips, campfires, and Paul Bunyan festivals, something sinister is taking shape. When the body of a teenage boy is found in the lake, it sets in motion an investigation that leads Eli to a wealthy enclave with a violent past, a pharmaceutical salesman, and a missing teenage girl. Soon, Eli and his mother, along with a young FBI agent, are on the hunt for more than just a killer in this thriller that is “not to be missed” (Mindy Mejia, USA TODAY bestselling author).

Book Summary:

Things aren't going too well for Eli North – to put it mildly. Everything seems to be falling apart, with the exception of his career (and really, he has his mother and the nature of small towns to thank for that).

It's that very job that will throw Eli into the deep end. When a body is found, Eli and the rest of the police department will crack open a dark secret, violent pasts, and more. It could destroy the town. It can also offer Eli a chance at redemption. Which will it be?

My Review:

Northwoods is a murder mystery based in a remote setting. That part probably feels familiar to most mystery readers. Where Northwoods gets interesting is with the main character – Eli. Eli is the heart and soul of this story, and there's no point denying it.

That takes this darker murder tale into something else, as Eli strives to solve the mystery and redeem himself in one go. This made it easy to root for him. There are other noteworthy characters, but I don't want to spoil them all!

As far as debut novels go, Northwoods is incredibly strong. Amy Pease has great potential, and I can't wait to see where she goes. I'll be watching her future works, that's for sure!

Highlights:
Mystery/Thriller
Mental Health
Family Drama

Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Northwoods

by Amy Pease

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Dec 31, 2023

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