After reading more about cooking pasta than is normal I switched gears to northern Minnesota murder mystery. I read Boundary Waters by this author a few months ago, and it was alright. Once I started this one I realized it was the same series, but a book that came before Boundary Waters – oops!
Would I recommend it? I feel about the same as I did with the other. To use John’s least favorite phrase: I didn’t hate it.
Well Corky since you asked…
I’d say this book has a classic example of why I think the little blurb reviews pasted on the covers of books are not to be trusted. This has one that says:
“The bitter cold can be felt emanating from the pages. – Midwest Book Review”
I’m sorry Midwest Book Review, but it’s not that cold in the book. The weather in upper Minnesota is getting near winter and there are a few nasty characters but, having apparently read much more gruesome books, I wouldn’t describe the baddest guy in here as “bitter cold.”
Would I recommend it? Eh… fifty-fifty…
I liked that it was set in an area I knew, the plot twists surprised me and I liked the main character. But I prefer my gruesome murder mystery’s to occur places that I don’t ever travel therefore reducing my tendency to jump out of my skin for no reason.
After quite a few “fluff” books I thought I’d go for something a little more serious. This book certainly fit the bill.
The subject matter is deep and often unpleasant and the book is populated with unlikable characters, sounds great so far doesn’t it?
BUT, the characters have depth and realism beyond what I expected when I first started the book and the writing is interspersed with great lines like this:
“I kept my smile tight to hold back my pride and stuck all my fingers between all my toes for the low pull of pleasure.”
Would I recommend it? Yes. Not any easy read but a good read.
