Dakota

Lola Wicks #2

by Gwen Florio

Former foreign correspondent Lola Wicks is getting a little bored in Magpie, Montana, where she landed at a small local newspaper after being downsized from her job in Kabul. Then Judith Calf Looking, a local Blackfeet girl missing for several months, turns up dead in a snowbank with a mysterious brand on her forearm. The sheriff - whose romantic relationship with Lola provides Magpie with its most delicious gossip in years - thinks Judith probably froze to death while hitch-hiking back to the reservation from wherever she'd been.

But Lola hears rumors that Judith had been working as an exotic dancer in the North Dakota oil fields, and further discovers that several Blackfeet girls, all known drug users, have gone missing over the past year. She heads to the oil patch to check things out, only to find herself in a place where men outnumber women a hundred to one, the law looks the other way, and life - especially her own - is cheap.

Dakota shows the frightening underside of a boom-and-bust economy; of the effect on a small town when big-city money washes in, accompanied by hoards of mean far from their families; of what happens when the old rules no longer apply, but the new ones are yet to be determined.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Gwen Florio is the author of the Lola Wicks crime series ("gutsy," says the New York Times) as well as SILENT HEARTS (Atria, 2018), a standalone set in Afghanistan. A new crime series starts in November 2020 with the publication of Best Laid Plans (Severn House). Her first novel, MONTANA, won the Pinckley Prize for debut crime fiction, and a High Plains Book Award. Florio is a veteran journalist who has covered stories ranging from the mass shooting at Columbine High School and the Oklahoma City bombing trials, to the glitz of the Miss America pageant and the more practical Miss Navajo contest, whose participants slaughter a sheep. She's reported from Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, among other countries, as well as Lost Springs, Wyo. (population three). She lives in Missoula, Montana. She is represented by Richard Curtis,

Reviews

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lola Wicks now works for a small Montana newspaper, and is living with the local sheriff, making it impossible for her to have the crime beat; however, when a local girl "from the rez" freezes to death to escape a menace, Lola decides she needs to investigate. Then she finds out there have been other local girls who mysteriously disappeared as well. Off she goes to see about oil mining in Dakota, with her faithful dog as companion. As Lola starts to poke around, her contacts start dying and as her research begins to yield results, she is KO'd by the bad guys. I would have liked this book better but Lola's rescue was too improbable to be taken seriously.

["Avonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did a Feature Blog review of Books #1 - #3 on my website http://www.avonnalovesgenres.com.

[Peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a Preview Edition copy of this book, Dakota, by Gwen Florio, from another site in exchange for an honest review.

On the back cover of this novel, it says "...Lola's story continues with Dakota." Since I had not read the author's first novel, Montana, I didn't know what to expect. Believe me when I say that Dakota stands alone. No need to read Montana first, but once you've read Dakota, you'll want to read Montana. It's that good!!

This novel centers around the North Dakota oil fields, their male workers, and the Blackfeet Tribe which has had several young girls go missing from their reservation. When one turns up dead, Lola, a newspaper reporter living in Magpie, MT, starts to investigate. This is a great mystery taking place in an extremely cold climate. It's mostly fast-paced and there is a great twist near the end. And oh, yes, there's a romance between Lola and the police chief in Magpie.

This is an adult read since it's graphic when dealing with prostitution. Strong characters abound including a 3-legged dog, Bub. You won't want to put this one down. I will be looking for more from Ms. Florio.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reporter Lola Wicks has moved from big-city news and far-flung scenes of war to small-town America. Now she’s not even allowed to follow the crime beat since she’s sleeping with the sheriff, but she can’t switch off her concerns or her suspicions. Missing girls, explained away as runaways or accidental death, demand Lola’s attention, whatever her bosses say. And so she heads from Montana’s mountain to Dakota’s bleak dark plains.

Author Gwen Florio might be described as a thinking woman’s Tony Hillerman. Business, town and reservation all play their parts in this tale, and people are shaped convincingly by culture, place and need. When that shaping fails, the innocent might always pay the price.

Unstinting in wonderfully evocative descriptions of glorious scenery, unflinching in honest depictions of lands and people abused and sold for greed, and unrelenting with its search for resolution, Dakota takes readers to the edge of their seats and delivers them into the lives of genuine characters in a deeply wounded world.

Culture, place and need continue to shape even those who think they might be just passing through, creating a tale that holds the readers' attention and ends just as satisfyingly as it begins. If you’ve not already read the first book in this series, Montana, you’ll want to pick it up straight away and meet the characters again. But Dakota stands alone as a classic mystery novel, deeply American, and a literary feast.

Disclosure: I received a free preview edition from the publisher and I offer my honest review.

[Ev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this contemporary mystery. This is Gwen Florio's second book, however the first I have read. I gave the book a four because it was predictable. The most important thing is, the descriptions are so wonderful. She put me in the scene no matter if it was gritty or beautiful, and everything in between, and I loved that about the book. The events she depicted sometimes happen in any place where there is a strong "haves" base compared to the "Have Nots". I think Gwen not only sparkles with her descriptions, but also comes alive when she writes about the newspaper business. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I feel I shouldn't go too far into the story.

I would recommend this book to people who love a mystery other than a cozy; for those who enjoy the Dakota areas of the country; those who enjoy reading about different cultures; and like romance involved, too. I want to read Montana and follow her writing.

**Notice** I received this book in a First Read chance by the publisher. The above is my honest opinion and given voluntarily.

[Erika Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a native North Dakotan I was interested to read a story actually set in my often overlooked state. And like I often am with the few stories about North Dakota I come across, I was disappointed. If I hadn't been from here, I would probably rate this book a 3. It was obvious, though, that the author (and the narrator of the audiobook version) did not grow up in ND, have probably never even been to ND, and did not bother to do enough research to make the setting believable. Thor and Charlotte and many of the different characters Lola meets in her time in North Dakota felt nothing like Native North Dakotans to me. And on top of that, the narrator chose to use the ridiculous, and completely inaccurate, accent of the main character from "Fargo" (who, by the way, was from Minnesota where this accent actually does exist, NOT North Dakota.) And on top of THAT, the narrator didn't even do a good job with this ridiculous accent. Oftentimes it sounded like she was slipping into an Irish accent. These inaccuracies were just too distracting to me.

[Jim Crocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we go with Lola and Bud on the road again. This is another informative mystery with some great and nasty characters. One thing is for sure: fried chicken will never quite look the same to you after reading this one.

Gwen Florio is on a roll now. The next one is called Wyoming, of all places.

[J.J. Hensley]

A brilliant 2nd book

A brilliant 2nd novel for Gwen Florio. Lola Wicks is a smart and tough protagonist who does not just search for answers - she battles relentlessly to get to the truth.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

A number of Blackfeet girls have gone missing from Magpie, Montanna, and then one turns up dead. There are rumors of drugs and a connection to the Bakken Oil Field. Lola Wicks, a former foreign correspondent, sets off to investigate, notwithstanding her pledge to her paper and her boyfriend (Sherriff Charlie Larndeau) that she'll stay away from the crime beat. This book has potential, Lola's a fine character, Florio captures the sparse beauty of North Dakota and the craziness of the oil boom well, but too often the characters and plot don't track.

[Kris McCracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dakota by Gwen Florio

Florio’s second novel featuring intrepid reporter Lola Wicks is set in the frozen Dakotan prairie lands and tumult of traumatised Blackfeet Nation, with a compelling mystery folded in for good measure.

While the plot never thoroughly convinces (for a streetwise broad, Lola sure does some stupid things), it moves along briskly enough. It explores the cultural, political, environmental and economic tensions plaguing displaced first nations the world over.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½

[Anu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third book by the author and I love her writing style. To be honest, I haven’t been to Utah, Montana or The Dakotas but when I read her books, I get transported to these places. I love how she paints the pictures with her words. That being said, this book was a bit hard for me - young girls going missing, and even though the mystery ( whodunnit) was better than her other two books, I was sadder in the end as compared to the other books.

[Greg Klinkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a cross between a suspense story (not quite) and a romance novel (again, not quite). Rather light reading.

The good things: the author writes well with an easy voice.

The things that could have been better: the story line is thin, suspense never reaches a compelling level, the characters are mostly superficial, and it never really takes off.

Seems to be written for a female audience, which is fine.

[alessandra falca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un poliziesco nel ghiaccio e nella neve del Dakota. Protagonista Lola, una giornalista che indaga su una serie di donne scomparse e morte appartenenti alla riserva indiana. Non ce la faccio però ad appassionarmi e vado avanti per forza di inerzia. Forse i personaggi sono troppo superficiali, la storia va poco a fondo, non lo so. Tutto il thriller mi lascia poco se non che il Dakota è freddo. Freddissimo. E questo è.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the audio. I realize this book is titled "Dakota" and it takes place there, but listening to the narrator do the voices of the locals was like fingernails on chalk for me. Done superbly in the movie "Fargo" - but seemed way overdone here . Now, the story was good. HOWEVER I hated the ending. What a disappointment. I won't read #3.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another adventure with Lola

Lola Wicks is a tough journalist who cares about people more than the story. However her desire to find a solution to a mystery takes her into to danger. Enjoy a story that is fast moving with endearing characters.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is a page turner. It addresses the current, very disturbing problem of missing indigenous women. I wonder how the tribes, specifically the Blackfeet feel about Florio’s ending of this book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good - certainly on par with C.J. Box, etc., but I wish Florio had complicated the predators/"bad guys" a little bit more. Yay for good writing, strong women, calling out prejudices, and showing women, especially Native American women, affected by the fracking boom and the justice system.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book in the series isn’t as good as the first. It is even more raw, dealing with an oil crew camp that is difficult to accept along with other turns I won’t mention because of spoilers. Don’t know if I’ll read any more of this author. Way too many books waiting.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4* not so much for the writing which is good, but for the concept, the setting and the surfacing of trouble. The "man camps" of North Dakota's fracking industry: enforced isolation and virtual slavery in the hours worked and the cost of lives lost. And the women gone missing from the reservation.

[Janell Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few series that the second book is just as good as the first. To me, this one was better! I went through this one faster than the first. Looking forward to reading the third and hope it’s just as good!

[Mary Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery to the end, could not put it down. Excited to read the next Lola Wicks mystery.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Compelling but uneven lead character, grim storyline, abrupt end. Not as strong as the first book in the series.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some things I really like about these books, but overall, I think they're a little too dark and dour for me. I won't be reading anymore of them.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just was bored and it took forever to finish.

[Gretchen Stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this 2nd book in the series

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a novel but it does it in some of the intricacies of life in Native communities intersecting with the White world. Also the rampant rape and abuse present in the Bakken.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book depicting life around the tar sands oil fields.

Need to read the first one first (Montana?)

[Vicki Klemm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good listening but it makes you cringe when the main character puts herself in danger.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable; love the protagonist, setting and plot!

[Karen Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, I couldn't put it down. I wish I had the guts Lola has!