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Alex McKnight #8
Misery Bay
The New York Times Bestseller
One of The Boston Globe's Best Mysteries of 2011
ALEX MCKNIGHT IS BACK in the long-awaited return of one of crime fiction's most critically acclaimed series.
On a frozen January night, a young man loops one end of a long rope over the branch of a tree. The other end he ties around his neck. A snowmobiler will find him thirty-six hours later, his lifeless eyes staring out at the endless cold water of Lake Superior. It happens in a lonely corner of the Upper Peninsula, in a place they call Misery Bay.
Alex McKnight does not know this young man, and he won't even hear about the suicide until another cold night, two months later and 250 miles away, when the door to the Glasgow Inn opens and the last person Alex would ever expect to see comes walking in to ask for his help.
What seems like a simple quest to find a few answers will turn into a nightmare of sudden violence and bloody revenge, and a race against time to catch a ruthless killer. McKnight knows all about evil, of course, having faced down a madman who killed his partner and left a bullet next to his heart. Mobsters, drug dealers, hit men--he's seen them all, and they've taken away almost everything he's ever loved. But none of them could have ever prepared him for the darkness he's about to face.
One of The Boston Globe's Best Mysteries of 2011
ALEX MCKNIGHT IS BACK in the long-awaited return of one of crime fiction's most critically acclaimed series.
On a frozen January night, a young man loops one end of a long rope over the branch of a tree. The other end he ties around his neck. A snowmobiler will find him thirty-six hours later, his lifeless eyes staring out at the endless cold water of Lake Superior. It happens in a lonely corner of the Upper Peninsula, in a place they call Misery Bay.
Alex McKnight does not know this young man, and he won't even hear about the suicide until another cold night, two months later and 250 miles away, when the door to the Glasgow Inn opens and the last person Alex would ever expect to see comes walking in to ask for his help.
What seems like a simple quest to find a few answers will turn into a nightmare of sudden violence and bloody revenge, and a race against time to catch a ruthless killer. McKnight knows all about evil, of course, having faced down a madman who killed his partner and left a bullet next to his heart. Mobsters, drug dealers, hit men--he's seen them all, and they've taken away almost everything he's ever loved. But none of them could have ever prepared him for the darkness he's about to face.
294 pages, Hardcover
First published June 7, 2011
148 people are currently reading
1464 people want to read
About the author
Steve Hamilton
53 books1,684 followersTwo-time Edgar Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of the Nick Mason series, The Lock Artist, and the Alex McKnight series. AN HONORABLE ASSASSIN (Mason #3) coming August 27, 2024!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 406 reviews
April 10, 2018
It was truly a good read it kept me on the edge, with Alex going the extra mile again , add to it the unusual alliance between him and his archenemy ,really , McKnight has a golden heart if not sometimes naive , but we love him anyway ,i swear this series is getting better by the book...
October 28, 2018
This is a really good series about a retired Detroit police officer who is now a Private Investigator in the UP of Michigan.
March 7, 2015
A fast-paced interesting mystery with alot of great characters. The ending was a bit of a surprise, but it was believable. I really liked how Chief Maven and Alex McKnight worked together to solve the mystery, even though they didn't exactly like each other. Great dialogue, too. I will definitely be reading more books in this series.
February 28, 2019
This is the eighth book in the Alex McKnight series, and I normally don’t like jumping in mid way through, but didn’t realise this when I got it from book club, and really think it didn’t matter as there was plenty of backstory and the mystery stood alone. I hadn’t heard of this author before but will be looking out for more of his work on the strength of this.
McKnight, former Detroit police officer turned reluctant PI, who lives full time in Northern Michigan, is approached by his nemesis, police chief Roy Maven, and asked to investigate the unexpected suicide by hanging of Maven’s friend’s son, a college student, on the shores of a remote lake in the middle of winter. Initially unwilling to get involved, when he meets with the grief-stricken father, he agrees to go speak to the friends, but on returning to deliver his findings, finds the man murdered. When they discover that another state policeman’s son also committed suicide recently, they suspect a pattern, and team up to investigate despite being warned off by the FBI.
This was a fluidly written mystery thriller with a likeable protagonist and a wonderfully descriptive sense of place. I’ve always been fascinated by the way people choose to live in almost unsurvivable cold for months of the year, and while this doesn’t really tell me why, it certainly fills in how. As with all American private investigator fiction, there’s a bit too much driving from place to place, and in this case, huge distances, to interview witnesses, but the gradual drip feed of clues kept the plot interesting and unpredictable. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.
McKnight, former Detroit police officer turned reluctant PI, who lives full time in Northern Michigan, is approached by his nemesis, police chief Roy Maven, and asked to investigate the unexpected suicide by hanging of Maven’s friend’s son, a college student, on the shores of a remote lake in the middle of winter. Initially unwilling to get involved, when he meets with the grief-stricken father, he agrees to go speak to the friends, but on returning to deliver his findings, finds the man murdered. When they discover that another state policeman’s son also committed suicide recently, they suspect a pattern, and team up to investigate despite being warned off by the FBI.
This was a fluidly written mystery thriller with a likeable protagonist and a wonderfully descriptive sense of place. I’ve always been fascinated by the way people choose to live in almost unsurvivable cold for months of the year, and while this doesn’t really tell me why, it certainly fills in how. As with all American private investigator fiction, there’s a bit too much driving from place to place, and in this case, huge distances, to interview witnesses, but the gradual drip feed of clues kept the plot interesting and unpredictable. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.
June 4, 2011
I wanted to end the week with a bang and I chose this novel to start it off.
Let’s get rolling on” Misery Bay”! Here is the synopsis:
“On a frozen January night, a young man loops one end of a long rope over the branch of a tree. The other end he ties around his neck. A snowmobiler will find him 36 hours later, his lifeless eyes staring out at the endless cold water of Lake Superior. It happens in a lonely corner of the Upper Peninsula, in a place they call Misery Bay, a good 250 miles west of Paradise. Alex McKnight does not know this young man, and he won’t even hear about the suicide until two months later, when the door to the Glasgow Inn opens and the last person Alex would ever expect comes walking inside to ask for his help. What seems like a simple quest to find a few answers will turn into a nightmare of sudden violence and bloody revenge, and a race against time to catch a ruthless and methodical killer. Alex McKnight knows all about evil, of course, having faced down a madman who killed his partner and left a bullet next to his heart. Mobsters, drug dealers, hitmen—he’s seen them all and they’ve taken away almost everything he’s ever loved. But none of that could ever prepare him for the darkness he’s about to enter. “
This is only the second novel of Steve Hamilton’s I have read and the first Alex McKnight vehicle for me. It will not be my last. Suspenseful is not a good enough adjective to describe this novel. Hamilton seems to anticipate my every need as a reader, pulling back for a bit when he has pushed fast and hard, giving me a small glimpse of a possible clue, than smacking me in the head with a dead end. Personally I love it. “Misery Bay” did not want to leave my hands. My eyes didn’t want to stray from the page. I loved the entire cast of characters and that is one of the big reasons I am going to backtrack and read the rest of the McKnight novels.
Steve Hamilton right now is in the front of pack for my best novel of the second quarter 2011, no doubt, no contest. Where will it be come December for my best of the year? What do you think?
Things have changed around here. I am now the published author by Trestle Press of “I Have Chrome Balls, Don’t You?” an “In Between The Collaborations”, “Down Low- Dead” with Vincent Zandri, “The Jersey Shore Has Eyes” with Big Daddy Abel”, “G.S.I Gelati’s Scoop Investigations Psychotic Detectives” with Thomas White, “Who Whacked The Blogger” with Benjamin Sobieck,“Thad and The G-Man’s Most Awesome Adventure” with Thad Brown , “Hotel Beaumont” with B.R. Stateham, and the soon to be released “Give Us Your Living…Now!” with HR Toye. All the stories are available @ Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and Smashwords. I am also the host of the wildly popular The G-ZONE blogtalk radio show. Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Let’s get rolling on” Misery Bay”! Here is the synopsis:
“On a frozen January night, a young man loops one end of a long rope over the branch of a tree. The other end he ties around his neck. A snowmobiler will find him 36 hours later, his lifeless eyes staring out at the endless cold water of Lake Superior. It happens in a lonely corner of the Upper Peninsula, in a place they call Misery Bay, a good 250 miles west of Paradise. Alex McKnight does not know this young man, and he won’t even hear about the suicide until two months later, when the door to the Glasgow Inn opens and the last person Alex would ever expect comes walking inside to ask for his help. What seems like a simple quest to find a few answers will turn into a nightmare of sudden violence and bloody revenge, and a race against time to catch a ruthless and methodical killer. Alex McKnight knows all about evil, of course, having faced down a madman who killed his partner and left a bullet next to his heart. Mobsters, drug dealers, hitmen—he’s seen them all and they’ve taken away almost everything he’s ever loved. But none of that could ever prepare him for the darkness he’s about to enter. “
This is only the second novel of Steve Hamilton’s I have read and the first Alex McKnight vehicle for me. It will not be my last. Suspenseful is not a good enough adjective to describe this novel. Hamilton seems to anticipate my every need as a reader, pulling back for a bit when he has pushed fast and hard, giving me a small glimpse of a possible clue, than smacking me in the head with a dead end. Personally I love it. “Misery Bay” did not want to leave my hands. My eyes didn’t want to stray from the page. I loved the entire cast of characters and that is one of the big reasons I am going to backtrack and read the rest of the McKnight novels.
Steve Hamilton right now is in the front of pack for my best novel of the second quarter 2011, no doubt, no contest. Where will it be come December for my best of the year? What do you think?
Things have changed around here. I am now the published author by Trestle Press of “I Have Chrome Balls, Don’t You?” an “In Between The Collaborations”, “Down Low- Dead” with Vincent Zandri, “The Jersey Shore Has Eyes” with Big Daddy Abel”, “G.S.I Gelati’s Scoop Investigations Psychotic Detectives” with Thomas White, “Who Whacked The Blogger” with Benjamin Sobieck,“Thad and The G-Man’s Most Awesome Adventure” with Thad Brown , “Hotel Beaumont” with B.R. Stateham, and the soon to be released “Give Us Your Living…Now!” with HR Toye. All the stories are available @ Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and Smashwords. I am also the host of the wildly popular The G-ZONE blogtalk radio show. Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
July 7, 2011
There’s a reason Steve Hamilton draws fine comments from the likes of Lee Child, George Pelecanos and many others at the rule at the top of the American mystery heap.
He’s very, very good. Nothing flashy, no gimmicks. Just good.
Hamilton is such a confident, powerful writer. He doesn’t rush or force anything. Despite the body pile-up in “Misery Bay,” the events don’t feel forced or contrived. There’s lots of plot and good detective work by Alex McKnight, but the whole book is so character-driven, too, that you are along for the ride and you feel good about being in the front seat as McKnight takes you along. Plot, character and finally, tons of great Michigan atmosphere. Hamilton owns Michigan.
The story here starts with a suicide and gets, in a word, rowdy. It’s quickly clear that there’s a killer loose and, yeah, sure been there, done that. But Hamilton takes this concept and puts it through a blender, conjuring a supremely bad bad guy and just enough wannabes to give McKnight plenty to stew about.
At the end, it’s McKnight’s savvy that comes to the rescue, pulling the initial thread that unravels the tightly-wound spool. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “I know this is going to sound crazy. It already sounds crazy in my head and it’s going to sound twice as crazy when I say it out loud, but I’m gonna say it anyway, all right?”
As that line suggests, McKnight doesn’t fancy himself a superhero, just a regular joe detective looking for things the cops might have missed. In “Misery Bay,” the same thing that finally jumps out at McKnight was right there for us to see, too, if we were thinking and reading carefully. Well, maybe. It’s clever.
There’s an obvious false summit as “Misery Bay” reaches a climax (there are too many pages left to go) but who cares? You’re in Hamilton’s hands and there’s a few more stops on the road to a heart-gulping conclusion.
He’s very, very good. Nothing flashy, no gimmicks. Just good.
Hamilton is such a confident, powerful writer. He doesn’t rush or force anything. Despite the body pile-up in “Misery Bay,” the events don’t feel forced or contrived. There’s lots of plot and good detective work by Alex McKnight, but the whole book is so character-driven, too, that you are along for the ride and you feel good about being in the front seat as McKnight takes you along. Plot, character and finally, tons of great Michigan atmosphere. Hamilton owns Michigan.
The story here starts with a suicide and gets, in a word, rowdy. It’s quickly clear that there’s a killer loose and, yeah, sure been there, done that. But Hamilton takes this concept and puts it through a blender, conjuring a supremely bad bad guy and just enough wannabes to give McKnight plenty to stew about.
At the end, it’s McKnight’s savvy that comes to the rescue, pulling the initial thread that unravels the tightly-wound spool. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “I know this is going to sound crazy. It already sounds crazy in my head and it’s going to sound twice as crazy when I say it out loud, but I’m gonna say it anyway, all right?”
As that line suggests, McKnight doesn’t fancy himself a superhero, just a regular joe detective looking for things the cops might have missed. In “Misery Bay,” the same thing that finally jumps out at McKnight was right there for us to see, too, if we were thinking and reading carefully. Well, maybe. It’s clever.
There’s an obvious false summit as “Misery Bay” reaches a climax (there are too many pages left to go) but who cares? You’re in Hamilton’s hands and there’s a few more stops on the road to a heart-gulping conclusion.
August 21, 2024
A nice pivot 2/3 through. One of the better McKnight, but still not quite top-shelf.
October 1, 2019
The Lock Artist was my first introduction to Steve Hamilton. I enjoyed that book, so I decided to try one of his popular Alex McKnight mysteries. This novel starts with an unexplained suicide of a young man on the shores of an isolated lake, soon followed by the murder of the suicide victim’s father, an ex cop.
Alex is a retired Detroit police officer living in an isolated snowed-under place in the Upper Peninsula, he is recovering from physical and psychological scars (presumably from earlier cases), spending his time renovating cabins and driving a snow plow. Chief Maven, an old acquaintance but no friend of Alex, asks him to investigate this is pattern of deaths (son/daughter-police officer father) that is rapidly escalating. How are these killings linked to each other and who is behind?
It wasn’t too hard to jump right into this series despite the novel being #8 in the sequence. The MC was a flawed but likable character and nicely drawn, the suspenseful story was perhaps more convoluted that it ought to be but it had a nice pace, it seems to me that the author prefers a “cinematic” style of narration, the novel would make a decent movie script .
I wasn’t blown away but I liked this book and will probably go back to the start and try the first novel in this series.
March 31, 2025
ME? LIKING DETECTIVE FIC? WHO AM I?
This gave the same atmospheric vibes as Villeneuve’s Prisoners (2013), blue, gloomy, COLD. Alex McKnight reminded me of detective Loki but I’m going to be real and say no one can level with Loki. As for the mystery, halfway through I had a strong suspicion as to who the murderer was but I was wrong (shocker!). Pacing was well done, kept me interested enough without any shock factor and without diverting the readers attention from the actual story (*cough McFadden cough*). I was afraid the writing would be pretentious or that it would be covertly misogynistic (idky I was thinking that don’t ask me) but it wasn’t and I’m glad for that.
As for now, I don’t think I’ll be continuing this series but if I ever feel the itch for detective fic, I know who to go to.
This gave the same atmospheric vibes as Villeneuve’s Prisoners (2013), blue, gloomy, COLD. Alex McKnight reminded me of detective Loki but I’m going to be real and say no one can level with Loki. As for the mystery, halfway through I had a strong suspicion as to who the murderer was but I was wrong (shocker!). Pacing was well done, kept me interested enough without any shock factor and without diverting the readers attention from the actual story (*cough McFadden cough*). I was afraid the writing would be pretentious or that it would be covertly misogynistic (idky I was thinking that don’t ask me) but it wasn’t and I’m glad for that.
As for now, I don’t think I’ll be continuing this series but if I ever feel the itch for detective fic, I know who to go to.
June 13, 2011
It's been a long time since Hamilton published an Alex McKnight mystery, but this book was worth the wait.
Alex is still drinking Canadian beer at the Glasgow Inn under the grumpy eye of barkeep Jackie, still working on rebuilding his cabins with Vinnie, still wondering why on earth he lives in a place where winter never seems to end. Everything in his life is reassuringly normal---and then he receives a plea for help from his arch nemesis, local police Chief Roy Maven. As strange as it seems to Alex, it turns out that Maven does have at least one friend, U.S. Marshall Charles Razniewski. Razniewski is a friend in pain who needs help investigating the death of his only child. A reluctant McKnight agrees to help even though he thinks there is little he can do--- how can he say no to what will surely be a once in a lifetime request for a favor from Chief Maven?
But from the moment Alex sets foot on the shore of Misery Bay, where Razniewski’s son died, he knows in his gut there's more to this case than meets the eye. As he investigates it becomes clear that there is a killer on the loose targeting specific people. How many more does the killer plan to murder, why are they targets, and can the killings be stopped? McKnight and Maven become the investigative equivalent of strange bedfellows as they unite to track down the answers---even if it means they have to learn to get along.
Hamilton’s writing is taut, with frequent flashes of mordant humor. The pacing is electric, building to a heart stopping climax. I defy anyone to stop reading this book once they’ve hit page fifty. Another bonus: it’s not necessary to have read the previous McKnight novels to enjoy this one. So here’s my advice-- don’t delay. Add this book to your to-read list now.
Alex is still drinking Canadian beer at the Glasgow Inn under the grumpy eye of barkeep Jackie, still working on rebuilding his cabins with Vinnie, still wondering why on earth he lives in a place where winter never seems to end. Everything in his life is reassuringly normal---and then he receives a plea for help from his arch nemesis, local police Chief Roy Maven. As strange as it seems to Alex, it turns out that Maven does have at least one friend, U.S. Marshall Charles Razniewski. Razniewski is a friend in pain who needs help investigating the death of his only child. A reluctant McKnight agrees to help even though he thinks there is little he can do--- how can he say no to what will surely be a once in a lifetime request for a favor from Chief Maven?
But from the moment Alex sets foot on the shore of Misery Bay, where Razniewski’s son died, he knows in his gut there's more to this case than meets the eye. As he investigates it becomes clear that there is a killer on the loose targeting specific people. How many more does the killer plan to murder, why are they targets, and can the killings be stopped? McKnight and Maven become the investigative equivalent of strange bedfellows as they unite to track down the answers---even if it means they have to learn to get along.
Hamilton’s writing is taut, with frequent flashes of mordant humor. The pacing is electric, building to a heart stopping climax. I defy anyone to stop reading this book once they’ve hit page fifty. Another bonus: it’s not necessary to have read the previous McKnight novels to enjoy this one. So here’s my advice-- don’t delay. Add this book to your to-read list now.
May 10, 2014
Reviewed for Library Journal:
There are not many places as remote or as unique as Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and few authors capture it better than Hamilton (whose stand-alone The Lock Artist won this year's Edgar Award for Best Novel). It has been six years since his last Alex McKnight novel (A Stolen Season), and eager fans won't be disappointed. McKnight, a former Detroit cop who retreated to the tiny town of Paradise after being shot and severely wounded by a psychopath who killed his partner, is now approached for assistance by Roy Maven, the police chief of Sault Ste. Marie. Maven's old friend, U.S. Marshal Razniewski, has been shattered by the death of his only son, who hung himself from a tree out at Misery Bay. The marshal won't rest until the reasons for his suicide are uncovered, and Alex reluctantly agrees to investigate. When Razniewski is murdered, McKnight finds an unlikely partner in Chief Maven.
Verdict: A tightly woven plot and a sense of urgency create a suspenseful mystery that keeps the reader fully engaged from start to finish. A perfect fit for regional mystery fans and those who like their mysteries fast-paced and gritty. Strongly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, 1/21/11; library marketing.]-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph P.L., MI
There are not many places as remote or as unique as Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and few authors capture it better than Hamilton (whose stand-alone The Lock Artist won this year's Edgar Award for Best Novel). It has been six years since his last Alex McKnight novel (A Stolen Season), and eager fans won't be disappointed. McKnight, a former Detroit cop who retreated to the tiny town of Paradise after being shot and severely wounded by a psychopath who killed his partner, is now approached for assistance by Roy Maven, the police chief of Sault Ste. Marie. Maven's old friend, U.S. Marshal Razniewski, has been shattered by the death of his only son, who hung himself from a tree out at Misery Bay. The marshal won't rest until the reasons for his suicide are uncovered, and Alex reluctantly agrees to investigate. When Razniewski is murdered, McKnight finds an unlikely partner in Chief Maven.
Verdict: A tightly woven plot and a sense of urgency create a suspenseful mystery that keeps the reader fully engaged from start to finish. A perfect fit for regional mystery fans and those who like their mysteries fast-paced and gritty. Strongly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, 1/21/11; library marketing.]-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph P.L., MI
June 18, 2012
Following the acclaim for, and award-winning success of, his standalone thriller starring a mute safe-cracker, The Lock Artist, US crime writer Steve Hamilton brings back to the page his troubled hero, ex-cop Alex McKnight, for the first time in several years.
McKnight, a former city cop from Detroit still haunted by his own bloodstained past, finds himself investigating the hanging suicide of a young University student in the frozen wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – prodded by the most unlikely person to ask for his help; his old nemesis, the local police chief. What seems like a simple quest to find some answers for a grieving father turns into something far darker and more complicated when the body count begins to rise. Just how are a series of suicides and murders linked? Are the suicides what they seem, or is something more sinister at work?
Hamilton shows a nice touch for evoking a sense of the freezing expanses of the Upper Peninsula. Misery Bay starts with a slow burn, but then builds into a gripping tale that intrigues as much with its characters, especially McKnight, as the events and twists that power the storyline and keep you turning the page.
3.5 stars
McKnight, a former city cop from Detroit still haunted by his own bloodstained past, finds himself investigating the hanging suicide of a young University student in the frozen wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – prodded by the most unlikely person to ask for his help; his old nemesis, the local police chief. What seems like a simple quest to find some answers for a grieving father turns into something far darker and more complicated when the body count begins to rise. Just how are a series of suicides and murders linked? Are the suicides what they seem, or is something more sinister at work?
Hamilton shows a nice touch for evoking a sense of the freezing expanses of the Upper Peninsula. Misery Bay starts with a slow burn, but then builds into a gripping tale that intrigues as much with its characters, especially McKnight, as the events and twists that power the storyline and keep you turning the page.
3.5 stars
January 14, 2015
Well, not a book I'd be attracted to by the title; but I've very much enjoyed this series, and this was the next in line. Winter in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is even more a character than usual in this outing, and the hero drives hither and yon over most of the UP several times. He and the local sheriff have hated each other with a visceral hatred since they met in the first book of the series; but here they are forced to investigate together (and I mean together, for hours, in the cab of a truck), and watching them learn to get along is most of the fun. A serial killer is loose; the hero is always a little ahead of the cops; and it ends with a far-too-long confrontation. It's written in first person. Does any reader believe the hero is not going to win?
December 4, 2018
"Misery Bay" the eighth Alex McKnight thriller from author Steve Hamilton is one of those books to just sit down and read start to finish in less than 24 hours. Without counting a couple of minor stops I read this one in just a sitting. Charles Jr., the son of U.S. Marshal Charles "Raz" Razniewski commits suicide by hanging on a cold and lonely day just in the view of Lake Superior. Three months later Alex's nemesis Chief Roy Maven pays a visit looking for a favor. Maven dislikes McKnight but knows he's exactly the guy to create waves in any criminal case. Maven needs Alex to go ask some questions about Charles, Jr.'s suicide. Maven and "Raz" were partners in the Michigan State Police twenty years ago before "Raz" left to become a marshal. After Alex comes home with no answers bodies start to drop. Suicides and murders revolving around the Michigan State Police personnel of twenty years ago. When "Raz" meets his end in a very unexpected place Alex knows he's got to start over. All the signs point to an old actor who is long a public nuisance. As Alex creates trouble for the FBI investigating the case. Naturally FBI Special Agent Janet Long threatens McKnight several times. Even though Alex pays no mind to Agent Long he stars to see her as he would see the late Natalie. Surprisingly Maven and McKnight are friends and partners investigating the murders/ suicides. With several unexpected twists and with just a touch of romance this plot cooks. At just over 290 compact pages author Steve Hamilton also weaves a story chock full of fascinating supporting characters. Hamilton has a real talent spinning some colorful characters to life. I just could not put this one down. With a couple of minor breaks forcing me to stop I quickly got back to this read. "Misery Bay" is easily the best book in this series. I was glad to see Alex start to have possibilities in the romance department. all in all at 290 some odd pages this one was exactly right in length. Five stars out of a possible five stars for "Misery Bay", from author Steve Hamilton. An outstanding read in a very good series. Hopefully now that this adventure is over Alex can get back to helping Vinnie rebuild his burn out cabin. (Vinnie's doing all the work !). Check it out.
February 24, 2025
This is a sad story all the way around.
It's at the latter of a long cold winter in the Upper Peninsula, even though there hasn't been a lot of snow this Particular year. McKnight is still constantly snow plowing everywhere with his pickup though.
He's drinking Canadian beer at his favorite haunt, when the local police chief, with whom he has a bad history, asks him a favor. The son of the chief's former partner committed a mysterious suicide. The chief asks McKnight to investigate.
McKnight honors the request, but then someone murders the partner.
The FBI comes in, and mostly complains about other people investigating, doing the job they're not doing because they're trying to get transferred to a better office. The state police get uptight as well.
Sounds unfortunately true to life.
And that's not the sad part.
It's at the latter of a long cold winter in the Upper Peninsula, even though there hasn't been a lot of snow this Particular year. McKnight is still constantly snow plowing everywhere with his pickup though.
He's drinking Canadian beer at his favorite haunt, when the local police chief, with whom he has a bad history, asks him a favor. The son of the chief's former partner committed a mysterious suicide. The chief asks McKnight to investigate.
McKnight honors the request, but then someone murders the partner.
The FBI comes in, and mostly complains about other people investigating, doing the job they're not doing because they're trying to get transferred to a better office. The state police get uptight as well.
Sounds unfortunately true to life.
And that's not the sad part.
September 29, 2023
A solid 4 -4 1/2 star read for me - I added another 1/2 star for a 5 shiny star read with a fantastic series. I'm only on 8 - (for some reason I keep forgetting about this series until one of my goodread pals comments on a more current book) .... great story, great characters and a great series - yes, I know I already said that !
July 2, 2022
Another solid entry in the Alex McKnight series. Kind of slow developing but came together nicely! Highly recommend!
January 5, 2012
Steve Hamilton may be one of the best crime/mystery writers in the literary world today. After his spectacular book The Lock Artist, Hamilton returns to the town of Paradise in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and his series of books featuring baseball player-turned-cop-turned-sometime-private investigator Alex McKnight. And it's truly like the return of an old friend, as Hamilton hooked me within the first few pages and kept me racing breathlessly until the book's conclusion.
One cold night, a college student hangs himself from a tree in the middle of a snowy, deserted field. He didn't leave a note, but suicides often don't. The boy's father, a federal marshal and an old friend of Alex McKnight's favorite nemesis, Police Chief Roy Maven, asks Alex to look into his son's suicide and try and find out why he might have chosen to end his life. But what appears to be a simple investigation uncovers a pattern of crimes more affecting and sinister than anyone ever expected, and Alex and Chief Maven find themselves thrown together, trying to find and stop a cold-blooded killer, all while Alex tries to put the demons of his past behind him.
Steve Hamilton knows how to tell a story amazingly well. It's a testament to his skill that he can make the eighth book in a series featuring many of the same characters feel as fresh as the first. The pacing is razor-sharp, the action is first-rate, and even as you think you've gotten the whole mystery figured out, he still has some tricks up his sleeve. If you've never read any of Hamilton's books, you don't know what you're missing—so remedy that right away! Can't wait to see what he comes up with next...
One cold night, a college student hangs himself from a tree in the middle of a snowy, deserted field. He didn't leave a note, but suicides often don't. The boy's father, a federal marshal and an old friend of Alex McKnight's favorite nemesis, Police Chief Roy Maven, asks Alex to look into his son's suicide and try and find out why he might have chosen to end his life. But what appears to be a simple investigation uncovers a pattern of crimes more affecting and sinister than anyone ever expected, and Alex and Chief Maven find themselves thrown together, trying to find and stop a cold-blooded killer, all while Alex tries to put the demons of his past behind him.
Steve Hamilton knows how to tell a story amazingly well. It's a testament to his skill that he can make the eighth book in a series featuring many of the same characters feel as fresh as the first. The pacing is razor-sharp, the action is first-rate, and even as you think you've gotten the whole mystery figured out, he still has some tricks up his sleeve. If you've never read any of Hamilton's books, you don't know what you're missing—so remedy that right away! Can't wait to see what he comes up with next...
March 19, 2020
Wow. Well, the words that come to mind are creepy, creepier and most creepy. Seriously. This book was creepy. I didn’t want to read it before bed—that type of creepy. But as usual, Steve Hamilton’s writing is top notch, and the end had me smiling. So, read at your own risk, but don’t read before bed.
Note: minor “language” and disturbing scenes.
Note: minor “language” and disturbing scenes.
January 13, 2012
Not as good as "The Lock Artist" (which was great!), but another entertaining Alex McKnight novel with great discriptions of northern Michigan, now added to my 'places to avoid' list - at least during their 10+ months of winter!
July 27, 2016
Audio.
March 1, 2022
I really enjoyed this book, I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I started reading it. The overall plot is that the main character, Alex, a retired cop, was shot on the job and his partner was killed. A kinda friend kinda mean cop asked Alex if he could investigate a suicide. He hasn't done an investigation for quite a while and tries to turn down the offer. He insists saying that his friends son killed himself and he wanted to know why. Alex starts the investigation slowly realizing that something was off about this suicide.
When the boys dad was murdered, also a retired cop, he knew that this was not a suicide and they had a serial killer to hunt down. The book really keeps you on your toes and makes you want to keep reading. In between chapters there are short paragraphs, sounding like a film director making a movie, it doesn't make much sense at first but as the story unfolds it does. I enjoy that the author did that, because once it is narrowed down to a few possible suspects. The directing depictions make you think you know who it is, but it takes a much different turn at the end, once you think its over. 5/5
When the boys dad was murdered, also a retired cop, he knew that this was not a suicide and they had a serial killer to hunt down. The book really keeps you on your toes and makes you want to keep reading. In between chapters there are short paragraphs, sounding like a film director making a movie, it doesn't make much sense at first but as the story unfolds it does. I enjoy that the author did that, because once it is narrowed down to a few possible suspects. The directing depictions make you think you know who it is, but it takes a much different turn at the end, once you think its over. 5/5
June 16, 2017
It's been quite a while since I've read an Alex McKnight story and it was good to come back. I've enjoyed all the books in this series and this one as much as any. The relationship with Alex and Chief Maven has always been bad and in some books has been too much for me. Flipping that around and having them work together was a great twist and as usual the mystery itself had a nice twist to it as well.
November 1, 2017
Wow! Very good and what an ending. I love the plot twists and turns. It takes a while to get into the book but once you do you will not put it down.
February 3, 2024
Number eight in the series and the characters and description of setting are better than ever. This could be read as a standalone, but I’d recommend starting at the beginning of the series. That way you can appreciate the full storyline, the back stories, the depth of the characters and the cold, cold setting of the Upper Peninsula and Sault Ste. Marie 🥶
March 14, 2025
Murders of cops following apparent suicide of their children link ex state police and FBI to solve the crimes. Best part was all the geography and lives of the characters in the state of Michigan. From western UP to Detroit and thumb, has many familiar settings.
February 28, 2019
I like Alex McNight, and his friends, Vinnie, Jackie, and Leon. He is asked to help out in an investigation about a suicide, just "look into it", and it expands from there. Good fast paced mystery.
June 23, 2025
Tragic, tests your patience, and really warms you up to some long-standing characters in the series.
August 10, 2020
Really enjoyed this entry. The killer here was very different than what Alex McKnight has been faced before, and the final showdown is downright creepy.
February 11, 2012
This was an ARC copy, that was received through the GoodReads Advance program.
I thought that this was an excellent read from all points of view - character development, plot, and atmosphere. What attracted my at this novel was its realism. I sometimes find the detective figure to be over-the-top in a way or another (smart, witty, valiant to foolishness, or empathic). But there is nothing excessive about Alex McKnight: he makes mistakes, he is in no particular way courageous, his level of compassion is middle-of-the-road, and his past is a(n apparent) burden. I say apparent because this is the first book in the series that I read, so I am not familiar with his history.
Maybe even more important, I was impressed with the way Mr. Hamilton chose to portray the murderer. In spite of all the horrors he did, by the time I leaned his story, I was truly sad for him. What he does is execrable, but nonetheless he is a victim.
The third part that I found outstanding was the winter atmosphere. Not only the reader can feel the chilling weather, but the elements are a character in itself, a character that participates and facilitates much of the plot.
Finally, I want to point out that this is one of the most visually grisly novels I have read. If you don't like repeated macabre details, then probably this is not the book for you.
I thought that this was an excellent read from all points of view - character development, plot, and atmosphere. What attracted my at this novel was its realism. I sometimes find the detective figure to be over-the-top in a way or another (smart, witty, valiant to foolishness, or empathic). But there is nothing excessive about Alex McKnight: he makes mistakes, he is in no particular way courageous, his level of compassion is middle-of-the-road, and his past is a(n apparent) burden. I say apparent because this is the first book in the series that I read, so I am not familiar with his history.
Maybe even more important, I was impressed with the way Mr. Hamilton chose to portray the murderer. In spite of all the horrors he did, by the time I leaned his story, I was truly sad for him. What he does is execrable, but nonetheless he is a victim.
The third part that I found outstanding was the winter atmosphere. Not only the reader can feel the chilling weather, but the elements are a character in itself, a character that participates and facilitates much of the plot.
Finally, I want to point out that this is one of the most visually grisly novels I have read. If you don't like repeated macabre details, then probably this is not the book for you.
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