Cruelest Month

Ray Elkins Mystery #6

by Aaron Stander

Winter is starting to loosen its grip on Cedar County along the shores of northern Lake Michigan. The first hints of green are becoming visible on the edges of the receding snowpack. On the inland lakes, the layers of ice that started forming in late November and December are slowly subsiding. The search for morel mushrooms is still three or four weeks off. But this year there is other treasure to hunt. Vincent Fox, an octogenarian, has self-published a book, Al Capone’s The Secret Lost Treasure. Following the descriptions in the book, some of the locals are beginning to scour the beaches with shovels and metal detectors. When Fox suddenly goes missing, Sheriff Ray Elkins and Detective Sue Lawrence are confronted by a complex web of fact and fiction to sort through, and along the way they discover new information to a decades old unsolved murder. Praise for Aaron Stander’s This is a well-crafted, cerebral police procedural that should easily satisfy fans who’ve enjoyed reading about Elkins in other books. —Lansing State Journal Stander once again demonstrates his deep understanding of the geographic area and total fabric of northern Michigan. And he successfully melds this within a natural ability to tell a good yarn. —I Love a Mystery Newsletter With a protagonist as deep and textured as Ray Elkins and a backdrop as varied as this resort community, Stander has created a high-quality mystery series. —Foreword Magazine Stander’s Cedar County with its haunting sand dunes, woodlands, and Lake Michigan—alternately raging and serene—shape and shade every character on the canvas. —Northern Express

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Amazon, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks, Suspense

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Aaron Stander spent most of his adult years in the Detroit area, where he taught English and trained writing teachers. In 2000 he and his wife left college teaching positions and moved permanently to their cottage near Traverse City. Aaron is the author ten mysteries set in northwest lower Michigan. He is also the author of numerous articles, stories, poems, and reviews, and the host of Michigan Writers on the Air on Interlochen Public Radio. When not writing or thinking about writing, Aaron spends a lot of time kayaking along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was disappointed that the crime seemed to solve itself. The novel was long on description but short on action. It was very dry reading. Whenever I read a novel on a kindle it seems like the story drags on and on. I don't know why, but it does. Anyone else notice this?

[Will Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice light read, and although the characters are well developed and believable, there isn't a lot of depth to them. Having 2 mysteries unraveling at the same time is a nice touch, but the author relied too heavily on coincidence to bring them together and draw a conclusion. Despite the long drawn out process of investigation done by the protagonist, none of the mystery was exposed by hard detective work, but once again, coincidence. Too much time spent playing in their kayaks and not enough time spent actually solving the mysteries. But like I said, a nice light read.

[Bert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting novel, set in Northern Michigan along Lake Michigan. An old eccentric, author of a book claiming that Al Capone hid millions along the shoreline, winds up dead. $10,000 turns up in a mason jar discovered by a dog. A woman returns to seek vengeance against the men who raped her and murdered her brother 20+ years ago. There's a charismatic county sheriff who tries to make sense out of all the confusing drama, and he's got a girlfriend who's a physician. I was unimpressed by the quality of some of the dialogue, and I would have preferred better closure at the end, but nevertheless the author is fluent with language and his story proceeds smoothly.

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me longer to read than most It is the 3rd one I have read in the Ray Elkins series, completely out of order (ie #8, 3, and 6). First I will say that each book can easily be read as a stand-alone. But now that I've gotten to know the main characters I am eager to find out more!

The cruelest month in Upper Michigan is March. The ice on Lake Michigan is beginning to melt. The body of an eccentric old man is discovered and there are signs he had been tortured and murdered. He had self published a book of his tales of Al Capone hiding large amounts of money somewhere along the lake coast.The Cedar County sheriff's department is also looking into a 20 year old cold case of a young man whose death had been ruled an accidental drowning but there were clues in the forensic autopsy leading Ray to believe it was murder. Unbeknownst to the sheriff a stranger has returned to the area to seek justice for the death of her brother. Her part of the story is told from her POV and is gripping. I delayed finishing the book because of her story and the suspense of her quest. How all these stories tied together may have been a bit contrived but ultimately believable! I truly loved it. I would dearly love to read more in this excellent series.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have grown to love the Ray Elkins series and this was another great read.

[Jennifer Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read

Nice feel for n Michigan and the lakes. Sporty and a fast read. Enjoy on a quite weekend at the beach.

[Michelle Adamo #EmptyNestReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ray Elkins is the Sheriff of Cedar County located in the northwestern portion of Michigan's lower peninsula. Detective Sue Lawrence is his second-in-command. A years old unsolved murder is the center of this entertaining book.

An elderly widow, Ma French, found a glass “ball” jar containing a wad of $100 bills while visiting the graveyard. She dutifully turns the bills into the Sheriff and they learn that the bills are all traceable back to money paid to the Iraqi government during the war. Vincent Fox, who is nearing 90, is reported missing by his adult daughter. Fox has a life-time of stories that he tells, most of which are fairly unbelievable-except the one that he turned into a book. Though most of the “facts” don’t add up, the book: “Al Capone’s Michigan: the Secret Lost Treasure” has sold some copies and it has become popular with some book thieves in the area. Seeking treasure is a popular past time. Later Fox’s body is found on the side of the road, apparently having been tortured. Elkins and Lawrence connect Fox to a twenty year old unsolved murder. Now the Sheriff and the Deputy are knee deep in stories, wondering which is fact and which are fiction. Twenty years ago a dead teenaged boy was found naked on the Lake Michigan shore. His death was ruled a suicide; however, no one believed it. Back then the county sheriff and his deputies were all incompetent and corrupt.What really happened?

In Aaron Stander’s capable hands these three events are woven together into a spellbinding tale of mystery, intrigue, murder and revenge. How it all started
and where it will end is told in captivating detail. Elkins is a great protagonist. He and deputy Lawrence are well developed characters with just the right amount of loyalty to the job, humor and interpersonal interactions. These books are fun, quick reads. I read this one in a day. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Note: Cruelest Month is Book 6 in the Ray Elkins Mystery Series. I began reading this series with book 11 (it was sitting around the house. Stander is an old friend of my husband’s -I’ve never met him). I had no trouble picking up the storyline so I have continued to read them out of order, based on my mood and their availability.

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[Rick Rapp · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'm officially done with this series. On top of the literary offenses committed by the author, one thing I've failed to mention is the sloppy editing: incorrect words (especially pronouns) jammed into sentences. No excuse for that. This tale is convoluted and misleading. There are two murders. and neither one is adequately solved. There is a side tale of stolen vegetables that takes up too much time and is a complete red herring. My biggest beef with this one is the presence of a woman who appears to be a vigilante of some sort going after the men who caused the death of her brother. But she is just a regular person in over her head and almost buys the farm in the process. And the Sheriff (the protagonist) has yet another couple of dangerous moments as he is kayaking in the frigid waters of Lake Michigan...this is de rigeur in this series. It's tiresome and unrewarding.

[Sandy Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure about this one.

While I am enjoying this series, this one seemed a bit vague. The Mackenzie character was interesting and I felt more could have been done with her....instead we learn the why but little else then bam! Story over. This may be the problem with this series - good start to a mystery, interesting steps to solving (a bit too much time spent with the fleece outfits and kayaking excursions - more than I want/need to know in a mystery story), then a rushed ending. Why all the depth for the kayaks, the doc and her problems, the special foods and wines, the deputy's love life, and even the descriptive care given to the landscape if some care can't be given to the ending. I, for one, would have liked to know what happened to some of these characters....did they live, die, become incarcerated, stay, leave....what???

[Tweety · Rating 4 out of 5]

Companions

Love Simone, she lives things up. Am glad Roxys getting her operation. I had a dog with the same thing, couldn't afford the surgery lost him early in life totally broke my heart so I relate to Ma. Do not care for Rays girlfriend. Too boring. Needs someone like Sue and Simone to give his home life a little excitement.Simone could make that happen all by her self😃
I am holding out for the end,hope I'm not disappointed 😞
Tweety🐦🐦

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Ray Elkins book. The last book i read was about crew, this book has lots of kayaking details. Set in Michigan, I guess this falls into the category of procedural, although Sheriff ray Elkins does have interesting procedures. Lots of interesting tech devices that a major character has access to, adds some zip to the plot. Also a lot of minor plot digressions to keep us interested. Worth another book.

[Liz Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. Original storyline and real people.

This was a good book and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Nearly lost me when our heroine turned up all Special Forces with no training, but her quick collapse back into reality saved the day. Taut writing and a good ending; I was actually sorry it finished. Will definitely read more Aaron Stander.

[Rosanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great inspector Gamache novel. This time, a resident of Three Pines dies at a seance at the scary old Hadley house, and it turns out to be murder. With the usual cast of quirky characters and many twists and turns to find the murderer. And, with a mystery inside the mystery, related to the mysterious Arnot case from Gamache's past. Very enjoyable.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy the description of the upper UP and the people.
I do not enjoy all the loose ends that this author leaves in all the stories.
The end usually comes very quickly and is rarely resolved.
Very little depth given to characters other than the four mains that are central.
Central aspects of the story are unresolved or glossed over.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lake Michigan area - when one of the residents finds a large sum of cash washed up on shore, strange things begin happening. Several deaths, later ruled murders, happen. The police department of the quiet town is pushed hard to find out what is going on, who is responsible, and if there a link to a mysterious death twenty years earlier.

[Daniel Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ilove

I love Mr. Sanders books. This one, like the others kept me up reading, as well as during the day. It is noted it is the last of a series, ?????. Well I will be looking for the next gig. I love the main characters that just became family. I hope everyone who reads these books will enjoy as much as I have!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spring time and the living is easy.....well maybe not. Seem there's a lot of turmoil making it hard for Ray and Sue to get the time off they so deserve. Everything from crazy cash randomly found to murder. Sheriff Elkins and his team have their hands full. Meanwhile Dr. Hannah Jeffers is both trying to work out her demons and get with Ray. Very interesting Spring in Northern Michigan

[Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read. I like the good-guys verses the bad-guys stories, but this one goes a couple of steps further being winter along the northern shore of Lake Michigan. The story is well told and there are enough "oops events" to keep you tuned in.
Thanks from the reminder that I don't want to move back to northern states.

[edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

This series just continues to be a great read. The detail and authenticity makes the readers feel like they are right there experiencing the events but especially the scenery and the characters. I can feel the excitement of kayaking and see the landscapes as if being there.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

The story goes fast, it always had my interest. Believable, well developed characters, good people doing good work, except for the bad guys. Several related story lines.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written mystery novel

This is the first I've read in the series, but I will certainly read more. Engaging characters and fairly good depth to story. Refreshing to read a mystery/crime novel without the profanity and explicit sex.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice easy read - good for a holiday

Good plot here. Tough to tie the two stories together, but nicely done by the author. The setting is well described and an integral part of the story. I would have liked some closure on the Capone treasure, but probably not possible......

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always fun to read something set in familiar territory, and I love the Traverse City/Lake Michigan shoreline area. That said, Stander leaves a lot of loose ends dangling. Who stole the permanent record, and why? For instance.

[Sandie Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cruelest Month

This is a great story that is very well told. The murder, or was it an accidental death of a young man twenty years before had shaped the lives of all the people involved.
If you like mysteries read this book and enjoy!

[Dallas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay for a few hours entertainment

Okay, a weak ending doesn't entirely ruin a book is it's otherwise well crafted . If the author has spent as much time developing the segment as he did on the kayaking of the main character, it would have been a stronger book.

[Nanette Edmonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cruelest Month

Book 6 of the series...these are quick reads and fairly entertaining. Good mysteries with limited foul language. It seems like Mr Stander finishes his books with “open endings” - interpretation is up to the reader.

[Geraldine R. Gaugler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book

Creepiest Month is very well written and holds your attention until the very end. The author's descriptions of the Michigan countryside just paints a picture in my mind.

[Shirlgig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this because I'm from Northern lower Michigan, this this novel was set on the West side of the state, so I was not very familiar with the cities.

I enjoyed it, but at times I was getting the women mixed up. :)

[Adam Mahler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great addition to the timeline

I liked this one and how it added more info on a personal basis for Ray and sue. It wasn't just on and off again friends but the beginnings of something bigger for the both of them.

[David J · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow getting going, but he pulls it together well. He does a good job capturing the feel of northwest Michigan. I'm familiar with the area. so having a non-existing county is a touch jarring.