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Boldt & Matthews #7
Middle of Nowhere
Known for his meticulous, fascinating research, as well as his ability to create exciting plot twists that inevitably, a month or two later, seem to have anticipated real-life headlines, Ridley Pearson has genered praise as a "master" of the suspense novel.
In Middle of Nowhere, the "Blu Flu" has struck the Seattle Police force and a majority of the officers are on a unofficial strike, with the exception of a few, including Detective Lou Boldt, who is committed to the job. When a string of robberies and the brutal assault of a female cop rock the city, the pressure of isolation threatens Boldt's psyche and his marriage. With the help of psychologist Daphne Matthews and Sergeant John LaMoia, Boldt is able to make progress on both the assault and the robberies, but things soon spin out of control, and Bodt's refusal to drop the case puts his own life at risk.
Filled with the fast-paced, spiraling action that has made Pearson's previous novels "irresistable" (Los Angeles Times Book Review) works of suspense that "grip the imagination" (People magazine), this offering from "the best thriller writer alive" (Booklist) is certain to keep the reader breathless.
In Middle of Nowhere, the "Blu Flu" has struck the Seattle Police force and a majority of the officers are on a unofficial strike, with the exception of a few, including Detective Lou Boldt, who is committed to the job. When a string of robberies and the brutal assault of a female cop rock the city, the pressure of isolation threatens Boldt's psyche and his marriage. With the help of psychologist Daphne Matthews and Sergeant John LaMoia, Boldt is able to make progress on both the assault and the robberies, but things soon spin out of control, and Bodt's refusal to drop the case puts his own life at risk.
Filled with the fast-paced, spiraling action that has made Pearson's previous novels "irresistable" (Los Angeles Times Book Review) works of suspense that "grip the imagination" (People magazine), this offering from "the best thriller writer alive" (Booklist) is certain to keep the reader breathless.
531 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
69 people are currently reading
518 people want to read
About the author
Ridley Pearson
191 books2,121 followersRidley Pearson is the author of more than fifty novels, including the New York Times bestseller Killer Weekend; the Lou Boldt crime series; and many books for young readers, including the award-winning children's novels Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, which he cowrote with Dave Barry. Pearson lives with his wife and two daughters, dividing their time between Missouri and Idaho.
Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.
Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
March 11, 2024
Това дългичко за полицейски трилър, който не е особено заплетен, повествование беше малко неубедително.
Тръгна добре, добри ченгета, лоши ченгета, преследване, нападения, отвличане,сблъсък.
Основната причина да отнема една звезда на иначе добрите идея и реализация е загубата на време за ненужни описания.
Тръгна добре, добри ченгета, лоши ченгета, преследване, нападения, отвличане,сблъсък.
Основната причина да отнема една звезда на иначе добрите идея и реализация е загубата на време за ненужни описания.
January 1, 2013
Although I tend to dislike reading serial books out of order, I have only happened across two of Ridley Pearson's Lou Boldt series thus far and so have had to read them out of sequence. Notwithstanding, Middle of Nowhere was another excellent police procedural centred around a very personable, very believable central character.
Lou Boldt is a very likable cop, he has all the failings of any ordinary human being, and the linkages between his work and his personal life are quite evident, the way they would be with a factual person you know well.
The dark side of the police force came out in this particular novel, the politics and dirty pool that go along with it, and the dark side of any organised force of humans is exposed. Rather than engender anger, though, this makes you all the more determined to cheer for Boldt, as he deals with criminals both external and internal with the unfailing instincts of a detective honed through years of experience and the honour of a man honed through years of adherence to principle, although sometimes that grip can seem tenuous.
An excellent novel that left me wanting to see more of Lou Boldt and will keep me on the lookout for more in the series.
Lou Boldt is a very likable cop, he has all the failings of any ordinary human being, and the linkages between his work and his personal life are quite evident, the way they would be with a factual person you know well.
The dark side of the police force came out in this particular novel, the politics and dirty pool that go along with it, and the dark side of any organised force of humans is exposed. Rather than engender anger, though, this makes you all the more determined to cheer for Boldt, as he deals with criminals both external and internal with the unfailing instincts of a detective honed through years of experience and the honour of a man honed through years of adherence to principle, although sometimes that grip can seem tenuous.
An excellent novel that left me wanting to see more of Lou Boldt and will keep me on the lookout for more in the series.
July 25, 2012
Not the best in this series, but still enjoyable. Lou and Daphne deal with the "blue flu ", a cop beaten nearly to death, a string of burglaries, and personal issues. A lot is going on at once, and I found myself wondering how all of it would eventually come together. Some explanations were too far flung for me at times, but you have to expect that in thrillers sometimes. I like Ridley Pearson a lot . I wasn't disappointed, but to me, this wasn't one of his best.
August 8, 2023
Exhausting to read. Plot jumps all over the place. Dialogue not very coherent. Pearson wrote just to add pages to the book. Example The Good Guys contact The Techies in order to find out where The Bad Guy is. Six pages. Six pages of The Techies calling Good Gal to come to their lab so they could explain the results. Six pages of explaining cell towers, triangulation, signals and circuits. Six pages of wasting time. Six pages of wasting miles. Six pages just to say The Bad Guy will be on the 8:30 ferry!!!
November 20, 2021
Read in 2000. A dark and powerful crime thriller. One of my favorites that year.
September 28, 2012
The majority of the Seattle Police force is out with the "blue flu," an unofficial strike protesting the new Police Chief's mandate against earning overtime pay and restricting off-duty jobs. With the reduction of cops, only about one-fifth are signing in, crime is on the increase and it's the luck of the draw who works each case. That is how homicide detective, Lieutenant Lou Boldt ends up working a string of burglaries and why police psychologist Daphne Matthews draws lead on an assault case of fellow officer, Maria Sanchez, who is brutally attacked at her home and now lays paralyzed from a broken neck. The perpetrator sets the scene up so that the Sanchez case looks like a rape. But then, again, the television set is missing. Maybe, she surprised the burglar. It's either a "twisted burglar, or a greedy rapist" according to Detective Bobbie Gaynes. Neither MO feels right. Boldt and Matthews fear a "black hole." Then as the blue flu continues, there's this nagging question - was it cop against cop - unthinkable for a line of work that relies on each other for protection.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://mostlyfiction.com/sleuths/pear...
Read the rest of my review here:
http://mostlyfiction.com/sleuths/pear...
August 2, 2011
The Blu Flu has the Seattle Police force divided. In the middle, still working is LT Boldt. He is trying to track down a burglar when his own colleagues start getting beating. This story is very twisted and has many different things going on at the same time. It really keeps you guessing and turning pages!
The only issues I had with the story were the dialogue and the rambling. The author makes the dialogue between the characters feel stilted. I almost quit reading after the first chapter. What he left out of the conversations he put into the scenery and descriptions. The book has 499 pages which could have been less if they left out some of the lengthy descriptions. Example. The description of the cell phone tower tracking. I skimmed.
All in all it was a really good story.
The only issues I had with the story were the dialogue and the rambling. The author makes the dialogue between the characters feel stilted. I almost quit reading after the first chapter. What he left out of the conversations he put into the scenery and descriptions. The book has 499 pages which could have been less if they left out some of the lengthy descriptions. Example. The description of the cell phone tower tracking. I skimmed.
All in all it was a really good story.
September 11, 2014
The city of Seattle goes to hell during a police strike-out. Only a limited number of cops remain on the job working the many nasty crimes affecting the city. It gets a little too close to home when one of their own is assaulted and left for dead in her own home. Lou, Daphne and Gaynes make an effective team as they try to figure out what is really going on while protecting each other and their families. Is it the thief who's breaking and entering to steal electronics who attacked the cop or is it cop on cop? That is the question that is haunting the three of them and what will it personally cost each of them to dig deeper and find the culprit(s)?
I enjoy this series mainly because the characters are real. They have real lives, real issues, real problems, etc. They aren't perfect cookie cutter two-dimensional characters.
I enjoy this series mainly because the characters are real. They have real lives, real issues, real problems, etc. They aren't perfect cookie cutter two-dimensional characters.
January 13, 2018
ok, I am finished with Lou Boldt as a character and Ridley Pearson as a writer. The repetition of explanations is exhausting. The single sentence that tries to convey emotion falls flat. I do not find the characters believable. I almost wish that I had not wasted time on the two books that I read. Oh well, learned not to waste any more time........
April 15, 2018
This book was torture. One star for effort. I'm weeding my library and this book was next. The weed is out.
December 9, 2020
Since the bulk of Middle of Nowhere takes place in the Greater Seattle area, the significance of the title eluded me until roughly 4/5 of the way through the novel. If one wanted a more thematic concept that applies to this novel, I think it would be “fidelity.” Middle of Nowhere considers the need to be faithful to one’s vocation, especially when the lives of one’s colleagues (as well as, in this case, lives of the general public) might be at risk. Unfortunately for me, there is a sub-plot dealing with faithfulness and intimacy in marriage which had already been resolved (for good or bad) in a novel from another of Ridley Pearson’s excellent series. Finally, Middle of Nowhere turns on the idea of obligations owed to be faithful to a blood relationship (in this case, with a sibling) with more than one impact on the story.
Although most of the mystery thrillers I read are specifically built around murder, the bulk of the mysteries involved in Middle of Nowhere are based on debilitating, but not necessarily fatal, physical attacks. Indeed, even within the solution, the protagonists face likely attacks. What really captivated me was the age-old mystery idea of “If only the victim could talk…” and the way Pearson worked within that context.
So, Middle of Nowhere is largely concerned with a series of burglaries that are “almost” locked door mysteries. The solution to the series of burglaries is foreshadowed about 1/5 of the way through the novel. Confession: I didn’t catch it. But it was fascinating to see the way Pearson weaved the warp and woof of his plot together.
I can also readily commend the quality of the writing, particularly descriptions. Since I once lived in the Seattle area, I very much appreciated the description of the Lake Union area. “The hippie feel of the past was giving way to Microsoft geeks who looked stupid smoking their cigars while sucking down their microbrewery beer on warm summer nights, with the city’s killer skyline forming a stage set in the near distance.” (p. 104) And, like anyone who has ever answered a wanted ad which turned out to be a multi-level marketing pitch or a sales boiler room recruitment, “The office tried too hard to imply money but reminded Boldt instead of a room found in a truck stop motel with a heart-shaped bath.” (p. 200)
Now, of course, as true to the mystery thriller genre, there isn’t just one mystery but multiple problems to solve. But that isn’t the beauty of Ridley Pearson’s crafting such stories. Rather, it is his ability to tap into the motivations and misgivings of characters such that one cares about what happens. As with the horror genre, torture and death doesn’t really affect one unless one cares about the character(s). The same is true in a thriller. Fortunately for Middle of Nowhere, one really cares about missed phone calls blackmail attempts, and physical threats that put various characters at risk.
Since I have no issues whatsoever with Middle of Nowhere and only words of praise to disseminate, I must give this the highest rating.
Although most of the mystery thrillers I read are specifically built around murder, the bulk of the mysteries involved in Middle of Nowhere are based on debilitating, but not necessarily fatal, physical attacks. Indeed, even within the solution, the protagonists face likely attacks. What really captivated me was the age-old mystery idea of “If only the victim could talk…” and the way Pearson worked within that context.
So, Middle of Nowhere is largely concerned with a series of burglaries that are “almost” locked door mysteries. The solution to the series of burglaries is foreshadowed about 1/5 of the way through the novel. Confession: I didn’t catch it. But it was fascinating to see the way Pearson weaved the warp and woof of his plot together.
I can also readily commend the quality of the writing, particularly descriptions. Since I once lived in the Seattle area, I very much appreciated the description of the Lake Union area. “The hippie feel of the past was giving way to Microsoft geeks who looked stupid smoking their cigars while sucking down their microbrewery beer on warm summer nights, with the city’s killer skyline forming a stage set in the near distance.” (p. 104) And, like anyone who has ever answered a wanted ad which turned out to be a multi-level marketing pitch or a sales boiler room recruitment, “The office tried too hard to imply money but reminded Boldt instead of a room found in a truck stop motel with a heart-shaped bath.” (p. 200)
Now, of course, as true to the mystery thriller genre, there isn’t just one mystery but multiple problems to solve. But that isn’t the beauty of Ridley Pearson’s crafting such stories. Rather, it is his ability to tap into the motivations and misgivings of characters such that one cares about what happens. As with the horror genre, torture and death doesn’t really affect one unless one cares about the character(s). The same is true in a thriller. Fortunately for Middle of Nowhere, one really cares about missed phone calls blackmail attempts, and physical threats that put various characters at risk.
Since I have no issues whatsoever with Middle of Nowhere and only words of praise to disseminate, I must give this the highest rating.
Read
December 12, 2019I’ve dipped in and out of this series over the years at will, and it is a thrill every time. I find the on-again off-again affair between Seattle Detective Lou Boldt and Psychologist Daphne Matthews a bit tiring. I feel terribly sorry for Boldt’s wife, Liz. But that’s another matter.
The Seattle cops have a nasty case of the blue flu. Thousands of officers have walked off the job in a sickout, but Lou Boldt remains on the job. Crime rates spike as the cops remain off work, including a string of burglaries that almost go unnoticed. Of concern to Boldt is the assault on a fellow police officer—an assault that left her unable to speak and paralyzed.
This is a good look at the behind-the-scenes work of law enforcement. It is fast paced and gritty in places, and the end is … well, it’s just electrifying!
The Seattle cops have a nasty case of the blue flu. Thousands of officers have walked off the job in a sickout, but Lou Boldt remains on the job. Crime rates spike as the cops remain off work, including a string of burglaries that almost go unnoticed. Of concern to Boldt is the assault on a fellow police officer—an assault that left her unable to speak and paralyzed.
This is a good look at the behind-the-scenes work of law enforcement. It is fast paced and gritty in places, and the end is … well, it’s just electrifying!
April 2, 2020
Again, Pierson manages to summon up a solid police procedural and blend it into a powerful thriller with a solid mystery story. Once again, Boldt and his team manage to put together a solid forensic and detective program to bring the mystery to the light. Once again, the sexual tension between Matthews and Boldt tests their professional relationship.
Pierson's police procedurals are wonderful. Excellent details about forensics, procedures, equipment, etc. are provided. He continues to demonstrate tons of research is done for each novel. This novel doesn't quite reach the same levels of tension as some of the previous books, but again it is indeed a really solid story and I enjoyed it, as usual.
Pierson's police procedurals are wonderful. Excellent details about forensics, procedures, equipment, etc. are provided. He continues to demonstrate tons of research is done for each novel. This novel doesn't quite reach the same levels of tension as some of the previous books, but again it is indeed a really solid story and I enjoyed it, as usual.
July 25, 2019
This was an action packed, suspenseful, fast paced mystery. I read the second half of the book on my flight home from Boston, Massachusetts. Finished it right after we landed.
Lou Boldt-Still married to Liz. But still in love with Daphne. They kiss and he ends up telling Liz
Daphne-during the “Flu” she is the lead investigator of the Attack on fellow cop Sanchez. Puts herself in danger with a suspect at the end of the book
LaMoia-was dating Sanchez when she was attacked. He is also attacked and spends time in the hospital
This would be a great movie.
It was so fast paced, I think it lost a little bit in the credibility arena
But it was still so good....
Lou Boldt-Still married to Liz. But still in love with Daphne. They kiss and he ends up telling Liz
Daphne-during the “Flu” she is the lead investigator of the Attack on fellow cop Sanchez. Puts herself in danger with a suspect at the end of the book
LaMoia-was dating Sanchez when she was attacked. He is also attacked and spends time in the hospital
This would be a great movie.
It was so fast paced, I think it lost a little bit in the credibility arena
But it was still so good....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2021
Lou Boldt is one of the few at work in the Seattle police department which is suffering a collective 'sick out'. (This, apparently has nothing to do with the November WTO excitement…) And things are getting bad. One of the other working members of the department was viciously attacked in her home. Boldt, himself, was attacked at his home and there is a string of mysterious burglaries. Pearson truly captures Seattle which makes all of his books great fun for me, but the Boldt series, I think, holds up no matter where you are.
March 11, 2020
I hadn't read any of this series in a while and had forgotten how engaging they can be. Lou is a fine cop and doesn't participate in the Blue-Flu. Consequences follow. Step by step the buy guy is found. Actually, there are two sets of bad guys to collar, each confusing the issue as to which goes with which. While the narrator leaves a little to be desired once the game is one the pacing is as good as I remember it and remains exciting to the end.
July 12, 2020
This has been on my TBR stack for a few years now, so I got to it whilst staying home during this COVID-19 pandemic. I listened to the Audible version, which always increases my appreciation of a book. Hence 4 stars. The story itself is the usual close-to-OTT Lou Boldt murder mystery, but I’ve always enjoyed the police characters. Author Ridley Pearson does a decent job narrating his book, but I do prefer professional voice actors.
September 17, 2025
I kinda hate books like this - they take over your life - no sleep, no friends, no nothing but racing through the book to see what's gonna happen.
Splendidly told - and the 3 main characters are vivid - so much so that you know what their responses and reactions are going to be before they unfold.
Splendidly told - and the 3 main characters are vivid - so much so that you know what their responses and reactions are going to be before they unfold.
May 24, 2017
Good story. Nasty corruption in the police force by officers willing to kill to try and get better contact for the police.
September 16, 2018
Love reading Ridley Pearson's Lou Boldt/ Daphne Matthews books. This one was a good but was not my favorite of the others I have read.
August 30, 2019
Fine book for a very long flight. I read a few of Pearson's books years ago and enjoyed them for what they are. Same with this one.
April 13, 2021
good series
July 1, 2021
This is damn so good. A thriller at its finest. Better read it.
August 21, 2022
Very good. Grabbed me from the beginning and wouldn't let me go until the end. Such good suspence.
Read
December 24, 2024excellent
Read
July 20, 2025Aug 2003 #7 of 9
November 6, 2025
A great thriller
March 26, 2026
If you like Bosch, you’ll find this detective very similar. Determined, Good policing skills, strong sense of obligation.
June 21, 2024
I couldn’t get into this book and put it to the side after a few chapters then returned it to the library without finishing.
October 1, 2014
In this genre, for me, there is John Sandford and there is everybody else. Ridley Pearson's Lou Boldt/Daphne Matthews series is really the only one that truly stands along side the Prey books.
I've recently given the series a re-read and if you have the chance, I highly recommend them.
Pearson creates a very human, very likable cop in his main character Lou Boldt. He's not the badass hero who always saves the day. He's the tireless worker who plugs away at a case until it submits to him. The interplay between him and Daphne Matthews is flawless. Add in some other great characters like LaMoia, Bobbie Gaynes and Showswitz and you've always got some fun in store.
The best part of these books is the combination of the case in conjunction with the humanity of the characters. They are real, flawed and doing their best in a world and setting where that's not always enough.
I highly recommend starting at the beginning of this series and reading it though. The series starts in the days when a fax machine was a big deal and cell phones were unheard of and advances along with the times. Once you put that aside, it's great reading though. Check them out.
I've recently given the series a re-read and if you have the chance, I highly recommend them.
Pearson creates a very human, very likable cop in his main character Lou Boldt. He's not the badass hero who always saves the day. He's the tireless worker who plugs away at a case until it submits to him. The interplay between him and Daphne Matthews is flawless. Add in some other great characters like LaMoia, Bobbie Gaynes and Showswitz and you've always got some fun in store.
The best part of these books is the combination of the case in conjunction with the humanity of the characters. They are real, flawed and doing their best in a world and setting where that's not always enough.
I highly recommend starting at the beginning of this series and reading it though. The series starts in the days when a fax machine was a big deal and cell phones were unheard of and advances along with the times. Once you put that aside, it's great reading though. Check them out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews