What do you think?
Rate this book
A Loon Lake Mystery #13
Dead Insider
In the midst of a catastrophic August rainstorm, a grisly discovery shatters the serenity of a summer evening in northern Wisconsin. Moving quickly to prevent a panic among tourists, Loon Lake Police Chief Lewellyn Ferris enlists the forensic and interrogation skills of her close friend and fellow fly fisherman, the retired dentist "Doc" Osborne. Within hours of launching their investigation, they find themselves faced with a national media circus as Loon Lake becomes the focus of a murderous scenario that links the murder to the race for the U.S. Senate by a woman who is heir to a Northwoods fortune and other, less savory, family traditions.In the meantime, Doc Osborne's eldest daughter, Mallory, enters into a relationship that may put her life at risk--unless her father and Chief Ferris can find the killer stalking the residents of Loon Lake.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2013
58 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Houston
36 books272 followersShe is the author of the Loon Lake Mystery Series -- DEAD ANGLER, DEAD CREEK, DEAD WATER, DEAD FRENZY, DEAD HOT MAMA, DEAD JITTERBUG, DEAD BOOGIE, DEAD MADONNA, DEAD HOT SHOT, DEAD RENEGADE. DEAD DECEIVER, DEAD TEASE, DEAD INSIDER, DEAD HUSTLER, DEAD RAPUNZEL, DEAD LOUDMOUTH, DEAD SPIDER, DEAD FIREFLY, DEAD BIG DAWG and WOLF HOLLOW in hardcover, trade paperback and as an eBook from Simon & Schuster. The mysteries are set in the Northwoods of Wisconsin against a background of fishing – fly fishing as well as fishing for muskie, bass, bluegill and walleyes.
Houston’s mystery series was featured in a story on the front page of The Wall Street Journal (January 20, 2004) and on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation with Neal Conan” (February 2, 2006). Both can be seen/heard on the website: www.victoriahouston.com.
She has also written or co-authored over seven non-fiction books. An award-winning author specializing in family issues, Houston’s non-fiction books include the highly recommended ALONE AFTER SCHOOL: A Self-Care Guide for Latchkey Children and Their Parents (Prentice Hall, 1985); the national bestseller, LOVING A YOUNGER MAN: How Women Are Finding and Enjoying a Better Relationship (Contemporary Books (1987); Pocket Books (1988); MAKING IT WORK: Finding the Time and Energy For Your Career, Marriage, Children and Self (Contemporary Books, 1990) -- which was published by Simon & Schuster's Fireside imprint in August 1991 as a trade paperback titled MAKING IT WORK: Creative Solutions For Balancing Your Career, Marriage, Children And Personal Life. Houston co-authored RESTORE YOURSELF: A Woman’s Guide to Reviving Her Libido and Passion for Life (The Berkley Publishing Group/2001) with Dr. James Simon, a Past President of the North American Menopause Society.
Houston’s mystery series was featured in a story on the front page of The Wall Street Journal (January 20, 2004) and on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation with Neal Conan” (February 2, 2006). Both can be seen/heard on the website: www.victoriahouston.com.
She has also written or co-authored over seven non-fiction books. An award-winning author specializing in family issues, Houston’s non-fiction books include the highly recommended ALONE AFTER SCHOOL: A Self-Care Guide for Latchkey Children and Their Parents (Prentice Hall, 1985); the national bestseller, LOVING A YOUNGER MAN: How Women Are Finding and Enjoying a Better Relationship (Contemporary Books (1987); Pocket Books (1988); MAKING IT WORK: Finding the Time and Energy For Your Career, Marriage, Children and Self (Contemporary Books, 1990) -- which was published by Simon & Schuster's Fireside imprint in August 1991 as a trade paperback titled MAKING IT WORK: Creative Solutions For Balancing Your Career, Marriage, Children And Personal Life. Houston co-authored RESTORE YOURSELF: A Woman’s Guide to Reviving Her Libido and Passion for Life (The Berkley Publishing Group/2001) with Dr. James Simon, a Past President of the North American Menopause Society.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
June 18, 2013
This novel reminded me of a one-trick pony. But before I get to that particular problem, I need to address another issue first. DEAD INSIDER started off well enough, with the murder occurring in the first chapter, or at least the allusion to it. But then there was this giant chasm of character development and scene setting and dinner parties that was certainly interesting, except for the fact that there was way too much of it. I mean, the dead body didn’t show up until the 34% mark on my Kindle (about 71 pages for those of you who still like to get physical with your books). And if that were this novel’s only sin, that would have been okay. But it wasn’t.
Whenever I read a mystery, I like a red herring or two thrown into the mix, the hero wandering down an alleyway, taking the wrong exit on the interstate, or at least coming to a fork or two in the road. With this story, though, there was no fork, no red herring, no wrong exit, not even a slight meandering. Less than halfway through, it became obvious who the killer was, then it got a little brighter, and before too long, the killer was a bright neon sign in the middle of Times Square the size of a football field.
The ending felt a little cheap to me, and I need to air out the rest of my laundry, so that I can move on with my life and find some clean clothes.
So, yeah, I’m a little frustrated, mainly because I think Victoria Houston has potential.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
Whenever I read a mystery, I like a red herring or two thrown into the mix, the hero wandering down an alleyway, taking the wrong exit on the interstate, or at least coming to a fork or two in the road. With this story, though, there was no fork, no red herring, no wrong exit, not even a slight meandering. Less than halfway through, it became obvious who the killer was, then it got a little brighter, and before too long, the killer was a bright neon sign in the middle of Times Square the size of a football field.
The ending felt a little cheap to me, and I need to air out the rest of my laundry, so that I can move on with my life and find some clean clothes.
So, yeah, I’m a little frustrated, mainly because I think Victoria Houston has potential.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
August 2, 2022
Dead Insider is another fast paced fun filled fishing expedition with a somewhat different twist. nicely done by Victoria Houston.
June 24, 2017
A cozy whodunit mystery, #13 in the series, that can stand on it's own. Although Houston does a nice job of 'filling you in' on the returning characters, you do get a better sense of them by reading previous ones. And I happen to like all the characters even if the plot was a little thin. I also liked that it is a fast read and sometimes you need one of those...
January 9, 2019
Good story with evil politicians.
April 4, 2013
Apparently, this is 23th in a series, "Loon Lake Mystery." Means I have a lot to catch up on.:)
Review of Dead Insider by Victoria Houston
5 stars
This is the 13th in a series, the Loon Lake Mysteries, set in Northern Wisconsin, a land of lakes and firs, cold winters, beautiful summers, and isolation from big city confines. Loon Lake, a community, has 300 lakes within its town limits. Chief of Police is Lewellyn Ferris, a strong but lovable individual, deeply involved in a steady relationship with Dr. Osborne, retired dentist and odontology consultant to the Loon Lake force. Additional important characters in this mystery are Ray, a thirty-two-year old tracker, fishing guide, and close friend of Doc’s; Kaye Lund, a woman with a tragic past who has been friends (and formerly babysitter) for Jane, daughter of the late Senator, a very wealthy woman, and candidate for her deceased father’s Senate post; and Lauren Cantrell, the willful and controlling campaign manager.
I won’t spoil the plot, except to say that this is a murder mystery. and therefore does contain some gory forensic detail. However, in this era of CSI, court documentaries, and forensic documentary series, most readers will not find this too much. Author Victoria Houston has a flair for demonstrating the scenic background, the locals (and the outsiders, such as Lauren and Kenton, the current friend and colleague of Doc’s elder daughter Mallory), and of fleshing out her protagonists and secondary characters. Additionally, the mystery itself is tautly plotted, and contains certain twists and denouements which will intrigue and gratify readers who “love a good mystery.”
Review of Dead Insider by Victoria Houston
5 stars
This is the 13th in a series, the Loon Lake Mysteries, set in Northern Wisconsin, a land of lakes and firs, cold winters, beautiful summers, and isolation from big city confines. Loon Lake, a community, has 300 lakes within its town limits. Chief of Police is Lewellyn Ferris, a strong but lovable individual, deeply involved in a steady relationship with Dr. Osborne, retired dentist and odontology consultant to the Loon Lake force. Additional important characters in this mystery are Ray, a thirty-two-year old tracker, fishing guide, and close friend of Doc’s; Kaye Lund, a woman with a tragic past who has been friends (and formerly babysitter) for Jane, daughter of the late Senator, a very wealthy woman, and candidate for her deceased father’s Senate post; and Lauren Cantrell, the willful and controlling campaign manager.
I won’t spoil the plot, except to say that this is a murder mystery. and therefore does contain some gory forensic detail. However, in this era of CSI, court documentaries, and forensic documentary series, most readers will not find this too much. Author Victoria Houston has a flair for demonstrating the scenic background, the locals (and the outsiders, such as Lauren and Kenton, the current friend and colleague of Doc’s elder daughter Mallory), and of fleshing out her protagonists and secondary characters. Additionally, the mystery itself is tautly plotted, and contains certain twists and denouements which will intrigue and gratify readers who “love a good mystery.”
May 13, 2013
Dead Insider is a great way to kill a few hours.
Jane Ericsson, heir apparent to her father's Wisconsin Senate seat and hip deep in an exhausting election run, has a few minor problems. She's had a falling out with her lifelong friend Kaye, she drinks too much, and her accountant says the campaign fund is missing tens of thousands of dollars. On top of that, a long buried secret in her past threatens to derail her career before it even gets started.
But before she gets a chance to take any action, she disappears. It's up to Loon Lake's police chief Lewellyn Ferris to solve the disappearance and find out what happened to Jane. Assisted by retired dentist Paul Osborne, her close friend and sometimes medical examiner, her investigation is hampered by the arrival of a hornet's nest of press and TV reporters, as well as a torrential downpour that threatens to flood the town. Dr. Osborne has his own distractions to contend with...his daughter Mallory is back in town for a visit, and the good doctor is working hard to deal with her new boyfriend, who seems determined to alienate everyone he meets. Ray Pradt, a local fishing guide, helps in the search as well, and his tracking skills are matched only by his talent with a fishing rod.
Ther are plenty of suspects to consider when Jane winds up dead. The unfolding hunt for the killer, and the interaction among the casserole of characters, makes for a fun read. And if you ever wanted to learn the proper techiniques behind fly fishing, Victoria Houston is kind enough to provide a lesson...no extra charge.
Jane Ericsson, heir apparent to her father's Wisconsin Senate seat and hip deep in an exhausting election run, has a few minor problems. She's had a falling out with her lifelong friend Kaye, she drinks too much, and her accountant says the campaign fund is missing tens of thousands of dollars. On top of that, a long buried secret in her past threatens to derail her career before it even gets started.
But before she gets a chance to take any action, she disappears. It's up to Loon Lake's police chief Lewellyn Ferris to solve the disappearance and find out what happened to Jane. Assisted by retired dentist Paul Osborne, her close friend and sometimes medical examiner, her investigation is hampered by the arrival of a hornet's nest of press and TV reporters, as well as a torrential downpour that threatens to flood the town. Dr. Osborne has his own distractions to contend with...his daughter Mallory is back in town for a visit, and the good doctor is working hard to deal with her new boyfriend, who seems determined to alienate everyone he meets. Ray Pradt, a local fishing guide, helps in the search as well, and his tracking skills are matched only by his talent with a fishing rod.
Ther are plenty of suspects to consider when Jane winds up dead. The unfolding hunt for the killer, and the interaction among the casserole of characters, makes for a fun read. And if you ever wanted to learn the proper techiniques behind fly fishing, Victoria Houston is kind enough to provide a lesson...no extra charge.
November 13, 2013
This book was a surprise. I wasn't expecting much. It was either a freebie from Kindle or else very cheap. So I wasn't expecting much.
But it does take place in northern (?) Wisconsin. I have relatives who live on lakes and rivers and fish. I don't fish. But I do live a couple of blocks from a Great Lake. Growing up we had property in Wisconsin. No house because we got a boat and the majority of our time then was spent on the boat, either working on it or sailing it.
This book involves a woman running for the Senate in Wisconsin. We only see her in the very beginning. She quickly disappears only to reappear in a slightly different form. The question is who put her in that different form? We are offered a couple of suspects.
But the story revolves around a couple of central characters - the chief of police, her boyfriend who is a retired dentist who fills in for the coroner when he's out of town, a neighbor who guides fishing and hunting trips to outlanders. I liked the characters she peopled the town with. I will read more of this series. There aren't too many decent series about the Midwest so when I find one I've got to stick with it.
Plus there are people who used to live in my town. So when I find a book where people live (d) in Evanston, I've got to read it. But these haracters probably won't be in another book.
But it does take place in northern (?) Wisconsin. I have relatives who live on lakes and rivers and fish. I don't fish. But I do live a couple of blocks from a Great Lake. Growing up we had property in Wisconsin. No house because we got a boat and the majority of our time then was spent on the boat, either working on it or sailing it.
This book involves a woman running for the Senate in Wisconsin. We only see her in the very beginning. She quickly disappears only to reappear in a slightly different form. The question is who put her in that different form? We are offered a couple of suspects.
But the story revolves around a couple of central characters - the chief of police, her boyfriend who is a retired dentist who fills in for the coroner when he's out of town, a neighbor who guides fishing and hunting trips to outlanders. I liked the characters she peopled the town with. I will read more of this series. There aren't too many decent series about the Midwest so when I find one I've got to stick with it.
Plus there are people who used to live in my town. So when I find a book where people live (d) in Evanston, I've got to read it. But these haracters probably won't be in another book.
October 17, 2020
The per capita death rate in Loon Lake is getting crazy. Good thing all those tourists from Chicago and Milwaukee come north to die. So, in reality the series got bad a long time ago. My mom reads them and passes them on to me. I would, under no circumstances, pay for these books. They are worse than pulp fiction now. The current installment is 200 pages of pseudo large print and the plot is so thin that you can read the next volume through it.
Having said that, this version is better than some that pre-date it. At least there is a fresh angle to the death. Unfortunately Victoria Houston's ability to keep a character growing from volume to volume is very limited. Doc, Ray and Lew are basically the exact same characters they were in the first or second books. Ray grows some over time; but the others are stale, cookie-cutter images of themselves.
On top of that Houston's pacing of time over the series is woeful. This is the 13th installment and only three years have passed, yet we have had two winters, five falls, two springs, and four summers in that time frame. (Okay I didn't count it exactly but you get my meaning.)
Finally, the fictional town of Loon Lake has run out of locations to be. My best guess is that it is supposed to be Lake Tomahawk; since Houston name drops all the other small towns in the area that would be contenders. The fishing elements stay good and Houston must really be into fishing herself, because this is the one part of the stories that is always fresh and original.
I'll keep reading when I am otherwise bored, because my mom gives them to me for free and these take only a few days to read; but don't pay for these anymore.
Having said that, this version is better than some that pre-date it. At least there is a fresh angle to the death. Unfortunately Victoria Houston's ability to keep a character growing from volume to volume is very limited. Doc, Ray and Lew are basically the exact same characters they were in the first or second books. Ray grows some over time; but the others are stale, cookie-cutter images of themselves.
On top of that Houston's pacing of time over the series is woeful. This is the 13th installment and only three years have passed, yet we have had two winters, five falls, two springs, and four summers in that time frame. (Okay I didn't count it exactly but you get my meaning.)
Finally, the fictional town of Loon Lake has run out of locations to be. My best guess is that it is supposed to be Lake Tomahawk; since Houston name drops all the other small towns in the area that would be contenders. The fishing elements stay good and Houston must really be into fishing herself, because this is the one part of the stories that is always fresh and original.
I'll keep reading when I am otherwise bored, because my mom gives them to me for free and these take only a few days to read; but don't pay for these anymore.
April 22, 2021
A Whole Lot of Crazy Assed Folks in this one...
During a flood, what looks to be 6 packages of butcher paper wrapped venison are seen floating down a flood of water; when the local deputy & flood control worker snag & open the packages, what they find are the body parts of the woman who was running for Senator...
Lew, Dr Osborne, Ray, & Bruce are on the case as well as on the lake/stream fishing.
There is one thing I notice consistently about Dr Osborne; while he's supposed to be sharp & able to read an interviewee as good as, if not better than Lew, he always notices a Red Flag and either ignores it or forgets about it until the end of the book; which makes me wonder just how good of a Deputy he really is.
The more I read of this series, the more I skim over the parts of everyone's back stories & the fishing.
April 3, 2025
This series got off to a great start - the characters were likeable, the settings were enjoyable, the circumstances were believable. But as I read more and more of the series, little things started bugging me - time had passed, but characters didn't age... tiny stuff like that - It was almost as if Victoria Houston had contracted other writers to keep the stories going, and they didn't do their homework... or follow the style book... As I was reading these recovering from an illness, I was reading them one right after the other, so those inconsistencies would be more apparent....just my two cents.
May 1, 2019
I forgot that I had read this series before and didn’t particularly care for it. Parts of the stories are always interesting but there is so much time spent on fishing…hunting…eating…having parties…things that I admit are a pert of everyday life, but it seems the “mystery” is almost forgotten. The best part was when the individually wrapped body parts showed up. I didn’t like this character anyway. Other than that I was bored and was ready to kill someone just to give the book some spice.
July 18, 2018
During a flood, the pieces of a body are discovered floating, all neatly wrapped in freezer paper so the police officer who discovers them thinks he has found himself some nice venison steaks. The victim turns out to be a woman who is running for the US Senate.
These books are very light reading and anyone who knows forensics would probably shudder, but I find the people and the Wisconsin northwoods setting interesting. Plus, there is always a very satisfying ending.
These books are very light reading and anyone who knows forensics would probably shudder, but I find the people and the Wisconsin northwoods setting interesting. Plus, there is always a very satisfying ending.
January 19, 2022
Talk about some real nasty twists and turns
After reading all of these books so far.......this book has all of the great aspects of the authors best work. Great characters and some of the most self centered new arrivals to drive Lee And Osborne crazy. Its a page turner
After reading all of these books so far.......this book has all of the great aspects of the authors best work. Great characters and some of the most self centered new arrivals to drive Lee And Osborne crazy. Its a page turner
December 2, 2017
A most excellent 5 star read! I don't know why I love this series, I don't even like to fish...:)
December 27, 2018
A woman found dead in Lake Loon turns out to be running for senate. Lew & Doc Osborne & Ray have to figure out what really happened.
Laid back police procedural which includes a lot of fishing.
Laid back police procedural which includes a lot of fishing.
February 11, 2019
Easy read. Nothing fancy. I like that this series takes place in Wisconsin.
March 29, 2019
I enjoy this series
December 15, 2019
love the psycho character
June 26, 2021
Enjoyed the Wisconsin Northwoods references.
June 2, 2023
Another fun adventure at Loon Lake with Lew and Osborne. No time to write more, but I so enjoy this Loony county of characters.
December 12, 2024
this one had some unexpected twists, really good...
Read
June 26, 2015There is so much to like about Victoria Houston’s new novel, “Dead Insider,” I almost don’t know where to begin.
Plot-wise, it is what I might call a suspenseful cozy, or maybe a rural mystery, or a light mystery: It takes place in a remote area where the ones who solve the case are the locals with some non-law enforcement personnel recruited to handle certain duties (all overseen by a chief of police, however). No serious violence is written about directly, all found second-hand, though the crimes are a bit grisly even if second-hand. The main characters are not in that much danger, though we are constantly wondering what will happen next. And there are, of course, suspects you hope are not, but have every reason to believe are red-handed guilty.
Here’s where the novel jumps its competition: It’s one of the most well-plotted and character-nuanced rural mysteries I have ever read. In fact, its one of the best mysteries I’ve ever read, period. I was blown away. Everything about it is plausible and the plot develops so subtlety you don’t realize Houston is only reeling you in. Those who usually don’t like cozies or non-law enforcement populated mysteries should stop immediately and read the first 10 pages of “Dead Insider.” That’s all it will take. Ten pages. Like a fish on the line, they will be hooked.
The plot involves the death of a prominent local woman running in her father’s footsteps for the U.S. Senate. She is brutally murdered. Jurisdiction falls under the local police department, which – because it is a remote fishing area – is understaffed. A local dentist routinely fills in when the coroner is unavailable, which he isn’t at the time of the crime. Friends and family associated with the Loon Lake Chief of Police are brought in to fill certain duties. In effect, the police do the police work, but they rely on a small group of seasonal help (for lack of a better word) when crimes do occur in an area where crimes rarely, if ever, occur. These few hold down the fort until other authorities – if need be – have a chance to get there. Having spent much time in rural areas such as this, all of this is as plausible as it can get.
It is the interconnection of all the characters in this small fishing community in Wisconsin that makes it work. Author Houston has assembled the perfect cast for solving just about any crime that could be committed in this village. The Loon Lake Fishing Mystery Series rivals anything I’ve seen come out of Cabot Cove. I love the portrayal of the autumn relationship of Osborne and Ferris and the sensitively handled comparison between their relationship and Osborne’s past marriage. Being a Southerner, I could also not help but be attracted at the dichotomy between the political elite and the folks they are supposed to represent.
“Dead Insider” is the only book I’ve read in the Loon Lake Fishing Mystery Series and I’m a fan. For 206 pages, I missed Wisconsin. I’m hoping sometime if Victoria Houston is as good a fly-fisherman as she is an author should the Killer Nashville gang ever make it to the proverbial Loon Lake that she’ll loan us a pair of waders and take us up one of those beautiful rivers she writes about. Just reading “Dead Insider,” I heard the loons calling and found myself perusing Travelocity.
My Review of Dead Insider on Killer Nashville
My Other Reviews on Killer Nashville
Plot-wise, it is what I might call a suspenseful cozy, or maybe a rural mystery, or a light mystery: It takes place in a remote area where the ones who solve the case are the locals with some non-law enforcement personnel recruited to handle certain duties (all overseen by a chief of police, however). No serious violence is written about directly, all found second-hand, though the crimes are a bit grisly even if second-hand. The main characters are not in that much danger, though we are constantly wondering what will happen next. And there are, of course, suspects you hope are not, but have every reason to believe are red-handed guilty.
Here’s where the novel jumps its competition: It’s one of the most well-plotted and character-nuanced rural mysteries I have ever read. In fact, its one of the best mysteries I’ve ever read, period. I was blown away. Everything about it is plausible and the plot develops so subtlety you don’t realize Houston is only reeling you in. Those who usually don’t like cozies or non-law enforcement populated mysteries should stop immediately and read the first 10 pages of “Dead Insider.” That’s all it will take. Ten pages. Like a fish on the line, they will be hooked.
The plot involves the death of a prominent local woman running in her father’s footsteps for the U.S. Senate. She is brutally murdered. Jurisdiction falls under the local police department, which – because it is a remote fishing area – is understaffed. A local dentist routinely fills in when the coroner is unavailable, which he isn’t at the time of the crime. Friends and family associated with the Loon Lake Chief of Police are brought in to fill certain duties. In effect, the police do the police work, but they rely on a small group of seasonal help (for lack of a better word) when crimes do occur in an area where crimes rarely, if ever, occur. These few hold down the fort until other authorities – if need be – have a chance to get there. Having spent much time in rural areas such as this, all of this is as plausible as it can get.
It is the interconnection of all the characters in this small fishing community in Wisconsin that makes it work. Author Houston has assembled the perfect cast for solving just about any crime that could be committed in this village. The Loon Lake Fishing Mystery Series rivals anything I’ve seen come out of Cabot Cove. I love the portrayal of the autumn relationship of Osborne and Ferris and the sensitively handled comparison between their relationship and Osborne’s past marriage. Being a Southerner, I could also not help but be attracted at the dichotomy between the political elite and the folks they are supposed to represent.
“Dead Insider” is the only book I’ve read in the Loon Lake Fishing Mystery Series and I’m a fan. For 206 pages, I missed Wisconsin. I’m hoping sometime if Victoria Houston is as good a fly-fisherman as she is an author should the Killer Nashville gang ever make it to the proverbial Loon Lake that she’ll loan us a pair of waders and take us up one of those beautiful rivers she writes about. Just reading “Dead Insider,” I heard the loons calling and found myself perusing Travelocity.
My Review of Dead Insider on Killer Nashville
My Other Reviews on Killer Nashville
March 29, 2014
This is the first I've read from this author although the 13th book in the series. If she's been at it that long she must be doing something right & has found her fan base. But as usual, it's a matter of taste & what you enjoy reading.
It starts of with a bang. Jane Ericsson is running for a seat in the senate & has come home to the north woods of Wisconsin for a brief respite from the campaign trail. At least here, she'll be among friends.
Or maybe not. She gets up to check on a noise in the kitchen & the last thing she sees is a dark, blurry figure.
Meanwhile, the Loon Lake area is taking a battering from torrential storms that are flooding the streets, drain sewers & more than a few basements. A town cop & city employee are on night shift, watching for potential problems when they spot a few packages resembling wrapped cuts of meat. Maybe some butchered venison from someone's basement? Um...no.
Thus begins the murder investigation of who killed & packaged Jane. There are many returning characters such as Chief "Lew" Ferris, retired dentist & acting coroner Dr. Paul Osborne (Lew's main squeeze) & his neighbour Ray, local outfitter & jack of all trades. Paul's daughter Mallory is in town for a visit with her new boyfriend Kenton (I'm guessing faithful fans are hoping this is the last they see of him...he's an ass). There's also Kaye, Jane's neighbour, former caretaker & childhood friend.
This is a "cozy" & by that I mean a very clean read. No swearing or sex & gentle dialogue (words like "golly" and "swell"). Nothing gentle about the murder, that's for sure, but it happens off the page. I guess I just prefer a grittier read with a more complex plot. There are several characters that come off as flat & you'll spot the killer a mile away. So it's just a matter of waiting for the chief to see it & for me, from then on the pace slowed 'til it reached a nice, tidy resolution. The prose is a bit disjointed at times but this may be due to me receiving an advance copy & was cleaned up later in editing.
So it boils down to what you enjoy & with this being #13, obviously lots of readers do.
It starts of with a bang. Jane Ericsson is running for a seat in the senate & has come home to the north woods of Wisconsin for a brief respite from the campaign trail. At least here, she'll be among friends.
Or maybe not. She gets up to check on a noise in the kitchen & the last thing she sees is a dark, blurry figure.
Meanwhile, the Loon Lake area is taking a battering from torrential storms that are flooding the streets, drain sewers & more than a few basements. A town cop & city employee are on night shift, watching for potential problems when they spot a few packages resembling wrapped cuts of meat. Maybe some butchered venison from someone's basement? Um...no.
Thus begins the murder investigation of who killed & packaged Jane. There are many returning characters such as Chief "Lew" Ferris, retired dentist & acting coroner Dr. Paul Osborne (Lew's main squeeze) & his neighbour Ray, local outfitter & jack of all trades. Paul's daughter Mallory is in town for a visit with her new boyfriend Kenton (I'm guessing faithful fans are hoping this is the last they see of him...he's an ass). There's also Kaye, Jane's neighbour, former caretaker & childhood friend.
This is a "cozy" & by that I mean a very clean read. No swearing or sex & gentle dialogue (words like "golly" and "swell"). Nothing gentle about the murder, that's for sure, but it happens off the page. I guess I just prefer a grittier read with a more complex plot. There are several characters that come off as flat & you'll spot the killer a mile away. So it's just a matter of waiting for the chief to see it & for me, from then on the pace slowed 'til it reached a nice, tidy resolution. The prose is a bit disjointed at times but this may be due to me receiving an advance copy & was cleaned up later in editing.
So it boils down to what you enjoy & with this being #13, obviously lots of readers do.
April 3, 2013
A Loon Lake Mystery #13
This is the second of the series I have now read and have liked both of them. I would like to read the others in the series sometime. The main characters are back plus some new ones to enjoy. The Mystery keeps you guessing almost all the way through the book. It is a clean read. Their is a lot of fishing in the story but not as much as the first one.
Sheriff Lewellyn is back. She is a strong woman character. Her hobbies are fly fishing. She loves to relax fishing especially after tough cases. She and Doc Osborne are together in a relationship now.
Doc. Osborne is a retired Dentist. He helps out once in a while if the medical examiner is busy or out of town. He did some dental identifying in the Korean War. He is a widower with two grown daughters. Loves to fish is happier than ever before.
Ray is still a fishing guide, grave digger, good cook and takes photo's sometimes for the cops. He also does some tracking for the cops. He lives next door to Doc on the lake. He has been known to poach on private lakes, smoke weed ect.
The weather has been raining heavy and some flooding in the Loon Lake area. One of the deputies on lookout for more flooding sees some meat floating in the runoff. He decides that it will just wash down the river and he would love some venison. Him and a city worker find 8 packages of unmarked packages. His first is thawed out. The second they open is a human head.
Osborne gets to call the body deceased and he recognizes the face. He never forgets faces and he has done dental work on this one.
Doc's daughter Mallery has brought her boyfriend home to meet him. She does media public relationship and ends up working for the Sheriff to help out because of the media has gathered for the big news event.
This book is a quicker read. A little grizzlier murder. Some beautiful scenery that makes you want to go fishing.
I was given this ebook to read and in exchange asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.
06/18/2013 PUB F+W/Adams Media Tyrus Books 208 pages ISBN:9781440533563
This is the second of the series I have now read and have liked both of them. I would like to read the others in the series sometime. The main characters are back plus some new ones to enjoy. The Mystery keeps you guessing almost all the way through the book. It is a clean read. Their is a lot of fishing in the story but not as much as the first one.
Sheriff Lewellyn is back. She is a strong woman character. Her hobbies are fly fishing. She loves to relax fishing especially after tough cases. She and Doc Osborne are together in a relationship now.
Doc. Osborne is a retired Dentist. He helps out once in a while if the medical examiner is busy or out of town. He did some dental identifying in the Korean War. He is a widower with two grown daughters. Loves to fish is happier than ever before.
Ray is still a fishing guide, grave digger, good cook and takes photo's sometimes for the cops. He also does some tracking for the cops. He lives next door to Doc on the lake. He has been known to poach on private lakes, smoke weed ect.
The weather has been raining heavy and some flooding in the Loon Lake area. One of the deputies on lookout for more flooding sees some meat floating in the runoff. He decides that it will just wash down the river and he would love some venison. Him and a city worker find 8 packages of unmarked packages. His first is thawed out. The second they open is a human head.
Osborne gets to call the body deceased and he recognizes the face. He never forgets faces and he has done dental work on this one.
Doc's daughter Mallery has brought her boyfriend home to meet him. She does media public relationship and ends up working for the Sheriff to help out because of the media has gathered for the big news event.
This book is a quicker read. A little grizzlier murder. Some beautiful scenery that makes you want to go fishing.
I was given this ebook to read and in exchange asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.
06/18/2013 PUB F+W/Adams Media Tyrus Books 208 pages ISBN:9781440533563
April 7, 2013
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
I have read all of Victoria Houston's "Loon Lake" mystery series, and was excited to read this latest installment. Retired dentist Doc Osborne and Loon Lake Police Chief Lew Ferris have settled into a comfortable, loving relationship. This summer, Loon Lake is experiencing torrential rains and flooding, and when a policeman sent out to direct traffic away from the water-filled streets makes a grisly discovery floating on the current, the book is off and running. As usual, Chief Ferris enlists the help of Doc Osborne as a forensic dentist, but he doesn't need dental evidence to recognize the murdered person, since they were a patient of his before his retirement.
Politics also enters into the story, both with regard to a U.S. Senate race, and the family kind. Doc's daughter Mallory comes to visit with a new boyfriend that rubs everyone the wrong way, a campaign manager seems to do the same, and Ray, the resident fishing guide and loose cannon, has to find someone who can fix his iconic fish hat.
The murder in this book is a bit more grisly than Houston's previous books, involving dismemberment and a suspect who is known for her butchering skills, but once past that chapter, the book was very enjoyable. The mystery kept me guessing until close to the end.
I have read all of Victoria Houston's "Loon Lake" mystery series, and was excited to read this latest installment. Retired dentist Doc Osborne and Loon Lake Police Chief Lew Ferris have settled into a comfortable, loving relationship. This summer, Loon Lake is experiencing torrential rains and flooding, and when a policeman sent out to direct traffic away from the water-filled streets makes a grisly discovery floating on the current, the book is off and running. As usual, Chief Ferris enlists the help of Doc Osborne as a forensic dentist, but he doesn't need dental evidence to recognize the murdered person, since they were a patient of his before his retirement.
Politics also enters into the story, both with regard to a U.S. Senate race, and the family kind. Doc's daughter Mallory comes to visit with a new boyfriend that rubs everyone the wrong way, a campaign manager seems to do the same, and Ray, the resident fishing guide and loose cannon, has to find someone who can fix his iconic fish hat.
The murder in this book is a bit more grisly than Houston's previous books, involving dismemberment and a suspect who is known for her butchering skills, but once past that chapter, the book was very enjoyable. The mystery kept me guessing until close to the end.
June 19, 2013
To see my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
This novel started out very slow for me, to the point that I was afraid that I wasn’t going to like it since, by 30% in, I still felt like nothing had happened except introductions of characters and fishing related talk. However, these introductions are extremely important, as I later found out, and once the murder itself took place (around 33% in), the pacing picked up and the story unfolded quite nicely.
I have to say that the characterization throughout the novel was done very well. By the end, I truly felt like I knew all the characters, even those who weren’t mainstream, and it takes a lot of effort and ability to make all the characters so real and relatable. And, while I wasn’t a fan of all of them, each character played an extremely important role within the story—and the mystery behind it all was highly intriguing. Filled with politics, country traditions, and good old fashion mystery, this novel will sweep readers up in its lies and deceits until the truth is laid bare. I have to say, for most of the novel I really didn’t expect the murderer to be who it was, and I really enjoyed sleuthing alongside the characters and trying to put it together. Nothing is as it seems in this novel.
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
This novel started out very slow for me, to the point that I was afraid that I wasn’t going to like it since, by 30% in, I still felt like nothing had happened except introductions of characters and fishing related talk. However, these introductions are extremely important, as I later found out, and once the murder itself took place (around 33% in), the pacing picked up and the story unfolded quite nicely.
I have to say that the characterization throughout the novel was done very well. By the end, I truly felt like I knew all the characters, even those who weren’t mainstream, and it takes a lot of effort and ability to make all the characters so real and relatable. And, while I wasn’t a fan of all of them, each character played an extremely important role within the story—and the mystery behind it all was highly intriguing. Filled with politics, country traditions, and good old fashion mystery, this novel will sweep readers up in its lies and deceits until the truth is laid bare. I have to say, for most of the novel I really didn’t expect the murderer to be who it was, and I really enjoyed sleuthing alongside the characters and trying to put it together. Nothing is as it seems in this novel.
August 31, 2013
I really wanted to love this book. After all, I am a born and bred Wisconsinite, and truly love the beauty of our four seasons (even though the summers can be a tad HOT for me). I love reading books with a Wisconsin base, as I have traveled this great picturesque state, and am able to "picture" myself in the surroundings described.
The story was mediocre, and there was not a whole lot of mystery to the whodunit. I enjoy trying to figure out who the bad guy is, and like being thrown a curve ball once in a while. But there was nothing. The side stories of the relationships, love interests, past relationships, dinner parties, who is or was sleeping with whom that did not really have any pertinence to the story was just too boring. I also found some of the forensics not too believable. Everything was just too wrapped up in a pretty bow.
If you like murder mysteries where everything is spelled out and there really is no mystery, then I am sure that this series would fit.
On the plus side, the author does describe the "up nort woods" accurately, and the fishing is a fisherman's paradise.
The story was mediocre, and there was not a whole lot of mystery to the whodunit. I enjoy trying to figure out who the bad guy is, and like being thrown a curve ball once in a while. But there was nothing. The side stories of the relationships, love interests, past relationships, dinner parties, who is or was sleeping with whom that did not really have any pertinence to the story was just too boring. I also found some of the forensics not too believable. Everything was just too wrapped up in a pretty bow.
If you like murder mysteries where everything is spelled out and there really is no mystery, then I am sure that this series would fit.
On the plus side, the author does describe the "up nort woods" accurately, and the fishing is a fisherman's paradise.
July 5, 2013
I received a free copy of Dead Insider via a goodreads giveaway.
The first thing I thought when I opened the package was that it was a surprisingly small book. Short. But really, it was long enough.
This was my first time with a Victoria Houston book, and I worried about jumping into an existing series. That turned out not to matter in the least. As far as I could tell, this book did not assume any previous knowledge. I never felt confused or excluded due to it.
As for the story... It was a good little mystery. Maybe a bit too convenient, but that's not always a bad thing. It's a light read.
The characters were likable, as well. I could tell they had depth and a history, barely scratched at, but there. I'm considering going back and reading the other books in the series, actually.
The first thing I thought when I opened the package was that it was a surprisingly small book. Short. But really, it was long enough.
This was my first time with a Victoria Houston book, and I worried about jumping into an existing series. That turned out not to matter in the least. As far as I could tell, this book did not assume any previous knowledge. I never felt confused or excluded due to it.
As for the story... It was a good little mystery. Maybe a bit too convenient, but that's not always a bad thing. It's a light read.
The characters were likable, as well. I could tell they had depth and a history, barely scratched at, but there. I'm considering going back and reading the other books in the series, actually.
July 8, 2013
I won my copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. This is the first book I’ve ever read by Victoria Houston, but I can promise you that it won’t be the last! I’m looking forward to reading the other books in the Loon Lake mystery series. The author has a way of making you feel like you’re right there in the room with the characters.
Dead Insider is a story surrounding the death of a prominent candidate for the U.S. Senate. We follow retired dentist Doc Osbourne, Chief of Police Lewellyn Ferris, avid fisherman Ray Pradt, and a hodge podge of other supporting characters as we unravel the details surrounding the victim’s life, personality, and her campaign.
This story had just the right amount of mystery and suspense. I was very impressed with Houston’s writing style and how it drew me into another world. That’s what makes a good book. Definitely recommend.
Dead Insider is a story surrounding the death of a prominent candidate for the U.S. Senate. We follow retired dentist Doc Osbourne, Chief of Police Lewellyn Ferris, avid fisherman Ray Pradt, and a hodge podge of other supporting characters as we unravel the details surrounding the victim’s life, personality, and her campaign.
This story had just the right amount of mystery and suspense. I was very impressed with Houston’s writing style and how it drew me into another world. That’s what makes a good book. Definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews