Maiden Rock

Claire Watkins #6

by Mary Logue

Deputy Sheriff Claire Watkins is back, in this tragic, personal follow up to Poison Heart. Claire's daughter Meg is struggling with depression--after an all-night high school Halloween party, Meg's best friend was found dead of an apparent suicide at the foot of Maiden Rock. Krista and Meg had fought at the party, over a boy, and Krista had run off. Meg feels responsible, but what shocks the deputy is that Krista was found with meth in her system. Now Claire is faced with a growing trend in her rural town--meth labs, doped-up teenagers, and young girls just looking for a way to escape their small-town lives.

Genres: Mystery, Procedural, Fiction, Adult

239 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is fiction, not memoir. Mary gently examines the impact of meth on small-town Wisconsin teens (circa 2007) and captures place and culture with a near-perfect ear. Although the themes are heavy, this is a lighter-weight mystery and romance written to appeal to a wide audience. I would have appreciated it most when I was in high school.

[Chana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern day cautionary tale for teens about the perils of drug use, especially meth. I could relate to the pain of the parents of the child who died and to the parents and families of those who were addicted to drugs. I feel like doing all those superstitious things one might do to protect against "the evil eye" or a bad fate. I don't know how this will affect teens who read it, I remember not being frightened by the literature about the dangers of drug use when I was a teen. As an adult, parent and grandparent I found the book frightening.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so disappointed in this book because I absolutely love the other ones in this series. This one had very little to do with the characters and more about the use of meth. I felt like the author was warning against meth in small towns vs. telling a good story. Would not reread.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, not enthralling, not really a mystery, not a thriller and not really sure why the main character is supposedly the police officer. This book hardly needed "Clair" --aside from her concerns about her child missing, the story could easily be a standalone alone as very little had to do with the detective work.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because I grew up in the area of Maiden Rock WI and as I read I was able to put myself right where the characters were at in the story which made it really visual for me. It was a little anti-climatic and flat... making in somewhat predictable. Overall though, I did enjoy it.

[Jan Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a cautionary tale about meth than murder mystery. Claire's daughter's best friend is found dead with meth in her system. Is it suicide and who supplied her?
It is mostly sad. Kids should not die for being a dumb ass.

[Sarah Jowett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldnt get into the style of writing, didnt draw me into the characters or story

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last book my mother recommended to me before she died. It was well written and a good mystery.

[Dennis James · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother's family rented a house on Long Farm when she was growing up. My grandfather was related to the Longs. This was right above Maiden Rock. Lund Farm in the book.

[Jess Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very straightforward with a see-through plot and an invigorating message: METH BAD. The characters were two dimensional and the story lacked vibrancy.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed the Claire Watkins series, though for some reason it had fallen to the wayside and I hadn't read one for a while. Then, several titles were discounted on Kindle a few months back so I added them to my library. It has been quite a while since I read one of these, but I felt like this was not one of the better ones.

Catching up with Claire, Rich and Meg was nice but the mystery didn't do much for me this time around. It isn't unusual for me to come across a slump in a series though so I'm not writing it off. Not to mention, I already have the next two books in my library. Hopefully things pick back up with the next book.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read in this series and the first by this author. Honestly it seemed more like a tutorial manual for high schoolers against methamphetamine use. It was obvious from the start who the culprit was and only someone without eyes couldn't figure that out. The story was left open-ended without a real conclusion which I always find annoying and think a cop-out for the author. I wouldn't read this author again.

[David Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maiden Rock (Claire Watkins Mystery #6) by Mary Logue (Bleak House 2007) (Fction-Mystery) is a simple whodunit set in Wisconsin. Deputy Sheriff Claire Watkins investigates the disappearance of a high school girl and her apparent suicide by walking off the top of a local landmark called "Maiden Rock" while under the influence of methamphetamine. An attentive reader could see this resolution coming a mile away. My rating: 4/10, finished 2/9/12.

[Amy]

I've read all of the previous Claire Watkins books, and I really liked a few, so I kept reading. I flew through this one last night and I decided that this would be my last Claire Watkins book. There's not enough substance to keep me going. They come across as very flat and I don't enjoy reading them.

[Tina Quinlan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to a new Claire Watkins mystery, but this one was disappointing. There was very little "mystery." It was pretty obvious who done it. It was really more of a sermon on the dangers of meth. I highly recommend the first 5 books in the series though

[carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok read. A story about murder, meth, and love. I liked how the author always broke it down and let you know the exact time everything was happening. The flow of the story went very well, good descriptions and all.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just discovered this author in the last year and am reading as many of her books as I can. I love detective novels, especially those in the Wisconsin and minnesota areas. The female lead sheriff is great character.

[Dianne Fossum · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fun to read a mystery which takes place near my home town--a fictional small town along the Mississippi between Winona, MN and Pepin, WI. It also incorporates the legend of Princess We-No-Nah.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read. And, well, the begining gives away the end so finishing the book is more about the relationship of the characters than finding out who done it.

[Mich · Rating 3 out of 5]

drug scene in smalltown america... not bad

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

i have really liked her other books...this one was just bad, like it was written for a 12 yr. old, maybe it was....really simple, dumbed down

[Jessy245 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too preachy and not enough story or character. If the main character is supposed to be the lead deputy sheriff than it was very badly written. This was my first from this series and my last.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok

[Pat]

Claire Watkins

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catuionary tale about amphetamines and teens, and parenting as well--well written and also timely. I like Claire the sheriff alot and her relationship with her daughter

[Alannah Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this one down.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Nothing deep here. Quick read. A definite focus on the evils of meth.

[Laura Salas · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love the Claire Watkins series, but I was disappointed in this one. There was little mystery and little sense of resolution at the end. More of a sermon against meth use.

[Mellodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and highly recommend it to mystery lovers.