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Fergus O'Neill #1
The Moose Jaw
Strange things happen in the Alaska bush. The native Alaskans say that a white man, too long alone out there will go mad. Gus O'Neill suspects it may have happened to him. His two best friends, Hard Case Calis the old Alaska State Trooper, and Haywood Jennings the flying veterinarian think so too. Gus spends a summer on Moose Jaw Creek where he builds a cabin, finds a ravaged red-haired beauty he comes to love, and murders the man who had sexually molested her. When Haywood flies in to join Gus for a moose hunt he finds his friend alone and raving. There is no evidence that Gus' redhead or the dead man he claims to have killed ever existed.
Gus is baffled by the disappearance of his woman and the body of his victim, but he agrees to join Haywood on a moose hunt. While getting in position to drive a large bull toward Haywood, Gus is attacked by a giant grizzly that has been stalking him. He manages to kill the bear but is badly mauled in the process. Haywood finds Gus and the dead bear, and flies his injured friend back to Fairbanks for treatment. The following day Haywood returns to Gus' cabin with Hard Case to deal with the dead bear. During the flight they discuss Gus' condition and his weird tale about the woman he had found and the man he'd killed. They agree Gus must have gone a little crazy while out there alone. Things become complicated when, back in the woods near Gus' cabin, they find no bear carcass. Haywood insists he had seen and touched its dead body just yesterday. The two friends return to Fairbanks as mystified as Gus. When Hard Case unearths an unsolved case file that dates back more than forty years, it becomes clear that Gus may not have imagined the woman or the murder after all. Strange things happen in the Alaska bush.
Gus is baffled by the disappearance of his woman and the body of his victim, but he agrees to join Haywood on a moose hunt. While getting in position to drive a large bull toward Haywood, Gus is attacked by a giant grizzly that has been stalking him. He manages to kill the bear but is badly mauled in the process. Haywood finds Gus and the dead bear, and flies his injured friend back to Fairbanks for treatment. The following day Haywood returns to Gus' cabin with Hard Case to deal with the dead bear. During the flight they discuss Gus' condition and his weird tale about the woman he had found and the man he'd killed. They agree Gus must have gone a little crazy while out there alone. Things become complicated when, back in the woods near Gus' cabin, they find no bear carcass. Haywood insists he had seen and touched its dead body just yesterday. The two friends return to Fairbanks as mystified as Gus. When Hard Case unearths an unsolved case file that dates back more than forty years, it becomes clear that Gus may not have imagined the woman or the murder after all. Strange things happen in the Alaska bush.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
115 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
May 16, 2012
oh, how I enjoyed this book! The author created a real-guy for a protagonist, and the subject of building a hunting camp in the bush kept me captivated. The action was gripping, and when the story took a twist - wow! I never saw that coming. :) Well done Mike Delany! Can't wait for another book from this author.
July 22, 2014
Loved it!!!!
Loved it!!!!
As an avid reader of the mystery genre I was taken by this book from the very beginning. As an outdoorsman I found it to be factual and well written. I have already purchased book two of the series.
Loved it!!!!
As an avid reader of the mystery genre I was taken by this book from the very beginning. As an outdoorsman I found it to be factual and well written. I have already purchased book two of the series.
December 3, 2013
Best mystery read in a long time... All my favorite themes rolled into one. Alaska, wilderness, wildlife, adventure & so much more. Couldn't put it down...
April 8, 2013
Aw, crap. I had to downgrade this enjoyable nightstand read from four stars to three stars to protest its hackneyed, supernatural ending. The occult explanation of events that had been vaguely foretold and lightly foreshadowed was never relinquished, only rationalized. The characters didn't so much solve the mystery as have the spooky solution revealed unto them.
Pity, because I'd been engrossed in the adventure. The novel's first half included several well-written chapters depicting Alaskan outdoorsmanship and backwoods cabin life, among the best I've read. The third quarter placed the protagonist in more and more danger, but events still lay within the bounds of plausibility. I was sure that within the denouement we would learn some natural explanation of weird happenings: something in the spring water; some hallucinogenic plant inadvertently consumed; some mental health issue spurring the protagonist's prodigious consumption of alcohol and increasing paranoia. Some prankster in a bear suit. Something.
But this magic-laced ending, as ripe as a hunting party after a two-week Alaskan fishing trip? Aw, crap.
Side note: there's a touch of arrested development in the author's Hefneresque depiction of a relationship with a damsel in distress, a-heh, a-heh. (Spoiler: goose grease.)
[Reprinted with permission from My Two Innings blog.]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2013
This was a good book, but it's also hard to categorize.
The first part of the novel is a Rugged Outdoorsman story that seemed tailored to appeal to people with an REI membership. We get a blow-by-blow detail of the hero's move to the Alaskan Wilderness, complete with a lot of Woodsman Shopping Porn. There is an entire paragraph devoted to what sounds to me like the platonic ideal of wood-burning cookstoves.
Now, lest you think I'm complaining, I'm not. I enjoyed the detail very much. I camped all through my childhood and am the daughter of two avid campers. I don't like to camp myself but I enjoyed the immersive detail. (I also like books about serial killers, for instance, even though I myself don't enjoy killing OR hunting down those who have killed.) I felt like I was reading a latter-day Jeremiah Johnson or a Grizzly Adams novel.
Perhaps, then, you can imagine the whiplash to my poor noggin when the story takes a hard left into a couple of other sub genres. It'd be like Winnie the pooh becoming a ninja.
It was a good read with an interesting story. I'd recommend it for any Spec Fiction fan. Just know going into it that it'll feel as if you've read three distinct stories.
The first part of the novel is a Rugged Outdoorsman story that seemed tailored to appeal to people with an REI membership. We get a blow-by-blow detail of the hero's move to the Alaskan Wilderness, complete with a lot of Woodsman Shopping Porn. There is an entire paragraph devoted to what sounds to me like the platonic ideal of wood-burning cookstoves.
Now, lest you think I'm complaining, I'm not. I enjoyed the detail very much. I camped all through my childhood and am the daughter of two avid campers. I don't like to camp myself but I enjoyed the immersive detail. (I also like books about serial killers, for instance, even though I myself don't enjoy killing OR hunting down those who have killed.) I felt like I was reading a latter-day Jeremiah Johnson or a Grizzly Adams novel.
Perhaps, then, you can imagine the whiplash to my poor noggin when the story takes a hard left into a couple of other sub genres. It'd be like Winnie the pooh becoming a ninja.
It was a good read with an interesting story. I'd recommend it for any Spec Fiction fan. Just know going into it that it'll feel as if you've read three distinct stories.
September 15, 2014
What a Story
I will not write a review that is nothing more than a synopsis of the book. You can read the Cliff Notes for that. Furthermore, I will not write a review complaining about writing style, grammatical errors, spelling errors, and typos. However, I will tell you about a good story when I read one. If you like the great outdoors, good friendships, scary stories, supernatural events, mystical tales, and mystery, then this story has everything rolled into one. The story took about one hundred pages to heat up as there was some foundation building to do (pun intended). After that, I could not put it down; I read the last two hundred pages in one afternoon. I hope this review was actually helpful.
I will not write a review that is nothing more than a synopsis of the book. You can read the Cliff Notes for that. Furthermore, I will not write a review complaining about writing style, grammatical errors, spelling errors, and typos. However, I will tell you about a good story when I read one. If you like the great outdoors, good friendships, scary stories, supernatural events, mystical tales, and mystery, then this story has everything rolled into one. The story took about one hundred pages to heat up as there was some foundation building to do (pun intended). After that, I could not put it down; I read the last two hundred pages in one afternoon. I hope this review was actually helpful.
August 25, 2016
This author is a first for me, I purchased this book because I liked the cover. It was a great book, I thoroughly enjoyed the wilderness cabin building, the descriptions of how it did things and why. So much of the details we don't think about, not having access to comforts of society - how would you live.
Definitely wanted to read book 2 immediately and searched for others that might be available!
Definitely wanted to read book 2 immediately and searched for others that might be available!
July 18, 2024
Gus loses his IT job, and his wife runs off with a Frenchman. So he runs off to the Alaskan bush to clear his mind. Builds a cabin on The Moose Jaw River, finds a nearly drowned woman. Then things start getting odd. This story is rather Twilight Zone-ish. It's well-written, interesting and entertaining. Good characters, smooth plot, and the twists just fit in so perfectly.
August 10, 2013
I love the fact that this book is not a formula!!!! I am so tired of stories that fit genre and are so predictable. This one could be a non fiction how to . . A mystery, a love story, a story about past lives, time travel, shamanism or fly fishing and hunting. When I finished it I bought the second one right away.
October 4, 2012
Loved this book! Kind of a blend of mystery/sci-fi and I'm not a sci-fi lover but this book had me hooked from the outset. The setting was described in such a way I felt I was really there. A real page-turner!
August 6, 2014
The great outdoors
The great outdoors
If you enjoy the great outdoors,then you'll enjoy this book. Filled with adventure,mystery and a touch of romance. Couldn't put it down.
The great outdoors
If you enjoy the great outdoors,then you'll enjoy this book. Filled with adventure,mystery and a touch of romance. Couldn't put it down.
August 15, 2012
Loved it...a good ghost story and lots (critics might say too much) of detail about living in the Alaskan frontier, hunting and fishing. If your tastes run to the outdoors and ghosts, pick this up.
April 23, 2013
Interesting concept and very well written. The ending was always going to be difficult as the story was unusual, overall - a very good read.
April 9, 2014
Mystery holds interest but wanders a bit. Definitely NOT Christian based novel. I finished it but it took some.
September 18, 2014
High adventure, unexpected twists and turns, strong relationships between friends. Everything I like in a book.
October 16, 2014
Great story!!
Loved the story,it all got tied together at the end. Really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.
Loved the story,it all got tied together at the end. Really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.
July 11, 2024
Extraordinary! Remarkable! The plot of this grand Alaskan adventure was captivating, intriguing and very addictive. Gus O'Neill was seeking solitude and tranquility when he decided to go to his newly acquired homestead and build his rugged Alaskan cabin. What he experienced and endured is not to be believed. However, it makes one heck of a story that will have you begging for more. This one gets Five Big Fat Stars for the hint of "other worldliness" alone. The addition of a clever, vindictive grizzly just adds another element of suspense with a touch of unbridled terror. Wow! This one was Great!!!!!
January 30, 2018
Engaging fun, one helluva well written adventure tale of the Alaskan bush . As a first novel it's great. As a male fantasy it's got everything. Adventure,violence, humor, guns, fishin', huntin', good whiskey and a beautiful woman.
To say I enjoyed it is an understatement. Many thanks to Mike Delaney for a great story and the promise of more.
[note: Enjoyment of this tale is especially enhanced if read while sippin' a dram of 'Tullamore Dew']
To say I enjoyed it is an understatement. Many thanks to Mike Delaney for a great story and the promise of more.
[note: Enjoyment of this tale is especially enhanced if read while sippin' a dram of 'Tullamore Dew']
July 4, 2017
Strange
This was an interesting story and I stuck it out driven by curiosity. The end ticked me off and I'm glad the sequels are already out. I have to continue just because I'm hard headed and it cuts off hanging at the end. I can't guess any good end coming of this but onward I go.
This was an interesting story and I stuck it out driven by curiosity. The end ticked me off and I'm glad the sequels are already out. I have to continue just because I'm hard headed and it cuts off hanging at the end. I can't guess any good end coming of this but onward I go.
January 19, 2018
The author went into great detail on building a log cabin. I felt very enlightened and enjoyed it very much. Mr. Delany knows Alaska. My first grandchild was born in Fairbanks hospital and I've passed by Skinny Dick's a couple times. Next time I'll be sure to stop. I feel sure I've met some of the characters (or a reasonable facsimile).
September 17, 2019
Fantastic
A very creative and believable story that would make a helluva "Twilight Zone" type movie. I plan on reading both of the follow-up books on the series and will definitely look for anything else this gifted writer has produced. His characters are so believable they could walk right in your door.
A very creative and believable story that would make a helluva "Twilight Zone" type movie. I plan on reading both of the follow-up books on the series and will definitely look for anything else this gifted writer has produced. His characters are so believable they could walk right in your door.
August 22, 2017
Moose Jaw
At first it was long and boring and I almost gave up on it. I didn't though. I struggled through it and it finally got good. I guess now I will have to read book 2. Mr Delaney writes in depth but good novels.
At first it was long and boring and I almost gave up on it. I didn't though. I struggled through it and it finally got good. I guess now I will have to read book 2. Mr Delaney writes in depth but good novels.
August 3, 2018
A nice surprise
Was a good read. Very likable characters, made you care about them. Very interesting story line and good flow to the story. Nice mix of reality and supernatural. This is listed as book 1 in a series, good enough that I will watch for book 2.
Was a good read. Very likable characters, made you care about them. Very interesting story line and good flow to the story. Nice mix of reality and supernatural. This is listed as book 1 in a series, good enough that I will watch for book 2.
November 24, 2019
This book was exactly the kind of book i needed to get back into reading. it was about this man that struck out into the wilderness of Alaska alone but it was just action packed enough to keep me interested but not so out there that it turned me off. It was a great read. I really enjoyed it!
June 13, 2017
Read it in 3 days
Nice story great descriptions of bears wolves fly fishing and tracking. I thought at the end they would be reunited but fooled me.
Nice story great descriptions of bears wolves fly fishing and tracking. I thought at the end they would be reunited but fooled me.
June 24, 2019
What an ending
Fun read. Interesting twist to this book. Definitely will read another of Delany"s s books. I would recommend this book
Fun read. Interesting twist to this book. Definitely will read another of Delany"s s books. I would recommend this book
January 7, 2020
The prologue was unnecessary and it gives away too much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2020
May want you to move to Alaska and maybe not
July 11, 2021
This is the second time I have read this book. It is a male romance with a time travel twist that makes it a wonderful story.
March 27, 2022
interdementional
A Twilight Zone story. I was not expecting that. But it was a good read on my IPhone.
As a forester who likes remoteness I could relate.
A Twilight Zone story. I was not expecting that. But it was a good read on my IPhone.
As a forester who likes remoteness I could relate.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews