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The Girl in the Net
The Iowa Lakes region is home to deep blue lakes, summer resorts, and a respectable community with families going back generations. But this idyllic image is shattered one night when a fisherman draws in a net with the body of local darling Virginia Lawrey. Seasoned prosecutor Michael Cain with his unrelenting thirst for justice soon gets drawn deep into the investigation. Haunted by his own past, Michael is forced to confront his own ghosts and those of his hometown―someone close has aligned themselves with the devil. Can Michael redeem himself and find the culprit before more lives are lost―including his own?
- GenresBook Club
344 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2024
6 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 21, 2024
Overall story was good!
There were a few things that detracted from the book in my opinion. First being that so many characters were introduced with nicknames (Weird Willy, Picky Picard, Dum Dum, Mark "Connie" Conrad). I understand this often helps establish character traits but it seemed excessive. There were many times in the book I felt lost in the background details of the area, which really took me out of the story (perhaps this is only because I'm a local and already know the details). The last thing that bugged me was that much of the foreshadowing in the story seemed too obvious. There was no surprise whatsoever for me who the killer was when I got to the end.
There were a few things that detracted from the book in my opinion. First being that so many characters were introduced with nicknames (Weird Willy, Picky Picard, Dum Dum, Mark "Connie" Conrad). I understand this often helps establish character traits but it seemed excessive. There were many times in the book I felt lost in the background details of the area, which really took me out of the story (perhaps this is only because I'm a local and already know the details). The last thing that bugged me was that much of the foreshadowing in the story seemed too obvious. There was no surprise whatsoever for me who the killer was when I got to the end.
December 9, 2024
It’s business as usual for Willy DeWeerd, aka Weird Willy, who makes his living as a fisherman in the Iowa Lakes region. He sets the nets before dark and then at midnight he pulls them in and throws back the undesirables. One icy night while working the waters of Lake Okoboji, he pulls in more than fish; this time, his load includes the body of a dead female.
Sheriff Mark Conrad, Connie to his friends, responds to the scene and identifies the body as that of Virginia Lawrey, a local college student. He requests Father Barney to the scene before calling the victim’s aunts, Hoepe and Faethe, to deliver the bad news. Michael Cain is a Federal Prosecutor who grew up with Sheriff Conrad when he was taken in by Michael’s family. Sheriff Conrad brings Michael into the case to get his opinion and before long, he is drawn into the investigation that has as many suspects as motives.
While struggling with his own demons, Michael is determined to find justice for Virginia and unfortunately finds himself in the crosshairs of local hoodlums. The quiet community is soon entangled in a mystery surrounded by corruption and struggles for power that will shatter its idyllic image.
Good mystery novels appeal to our curiosity and sense of justice and keep us engaged as the clues are uncovered and the mystery is hopefully resolved. Since the victim, Virginia Lawrey, was a popular college student it was easy to believe that the police would eventually catch her killer. In “The Girl in the Net,” Gene Gross gives us a gripping mystery and a relatable protagonist in Michael Cain. Despite having a troubled past, he manages to keep going and when presented with the death of a young woman, he is persistent even when his life is in danger. In a town where rumors spread faster than the truth, he finds allies in the most unusual places and people willing to protect family at all costs.
I was drawn to this novel because I’m a big fan of mysteries and couldn’t resist a murder mystery in an otherwise peaceful community. Virginia’s killer, or the details of her death, aren’t revealed in the beginning, so that adds an extra layer of mystery, and we come along with Michael as he investigates the case. It begins with her being callously thrown into the lake and by the second chapter I was hooked. When Weird Willy finds the body, it’s clear from his shocked reaction to the horrific condition of the body that this is an unusual case.
Reflexively dropping the net, Willy’s body snapped back violently in terror from the apparition.
This intense novel combines mystery, police procedural, and suspense to create tension as the story unfolds. The narrative’s pacing is tight, keeping readers on edge as Michael tackles the ghosts from his past along with the current concern of a killer on the loose. Character development is strong across the board, but especially with Michael, allowing readers deep into his mind to understand his fears, desires, and motivations. Because of the vivid descriptions, the settings come to life and when describing the characters, the language is frequently dramatic and sharp:
Wrinkles spread like cracks in thin ice from the corners of his eyes.
Overall, “The Girl in the Net” by Gene Gross is an entertaining and suspenseful mystery that explores the themes of revenge, good versus evil, family, and redemption. The plot twists keep it from becoming predictable and stale and the characters are down to earth and relatable. “The Girl in the Net” is recommended for fans of mystery and crime fiction who appreciate the works of Lee Child, Michael Connelly, and James Patterson.
There never was a single victim. Everyone who dealt with the aftermath, in effect, became a victim. Violent death spawned an insidious evil, touching all who came near.
Sheriff Mark Conrad, Connie to his friends, responds to the scene and identifies the body as that of Virginia Lawrey, a local college student. He requests Father Barney to the scene before calling the victim’s aunts, Hoepe and Faethe, to deliver the bad news. Michael Cain is a Federal Prosecutor who grew up with Sheriff Conrad when he was taken in by Michael’s family. Sheriff Conrad brings Michael into the case to get his opinion and before long, he is drawn into the investigation that has as many suspects as motives.
While struggling with his own demons, Michael is determined to find justice for Virginia and unfortunately finds himself in the crosshairs of local hoodlums. The quiet community is soon entangled in a mystery surrounded by corruption and struggles for power that will shatter its idyllic image.
Good mystery novels appeal to our curiosity and sense of justice and keep us engaged as the clues are uncovered and the mystery is hopefully resolved. Since the victim, Virginia Lawrey, was a popular college student it was easy to believe that the police would eventually catch her killer. In “The Girl in the Net,” Gene Gross gives us a gripping mystery and a relatable protagonist in Michael Cain. Despite having a troubled past, he manages to keep going and when presented with the death of a young woman, he is persistent even when his life is in danger. In a town where rumors spread faster than the truth, he finds allies in the most unusual places and people willing to protect family at all costs.
I was drawn to this novel because I’m a big fan of mysteries and couldn’t resist a murder mystery in an otherwise peaceful community. Virginia’s killer, or the details of her death, aren’t revealed in the beginning, so that adds an extra layer of mystery, and we come along with Michael as he investigates the case. It begins with her being callously thrown into the lake and by the second chapter I was hooked. When Weird Willy finds the body, it’s clear from his shocked reaction to the horrific condition of the body that this is an unusual case.
Reflexively dropping the net, Willy’s body snapped back violently in terror from the apparition.
This intense novel combines mystery, police procedural, and suspense to create tension as the story unfolds. The narrative’s pacing is tight, keeping readers on edge as Michael tackles the ghosts from his past along with the current concern of a killer on the loose. Character development is strong across the board, but especially with Michael, allowing readers deep into his mind to understand his fears, desires, and motivations. Because of the vivid descriptions, the settings come to life and when describing the characters, the language is frequently dramatic and sharp:
Wrinkles spread like cracks in thin ice from the corners of his eyes.
Overall, “The Girl in the Net” by Gene Gross is an entertaining and suspenseful mystery that explores the themes of revenge, good versus evil, family, and redemption. The plot twists keep it from becoming predictable and stale and the characters are down to earth and relatable. “The Girl in the Net” is recommended for fans of mystery and crime fiction who appreciate the works of Lee Child, Michael Connelly, and James Patterson.
There never was a single victim. Everyone who dealt with the aftermath, in effect, became a victim. Violent death spawned an insidious evil, touching all who came near.
November 4, 2025
A murder mystery- 3.5 stars. Had a decent plot, and fairly believable ending. I figured out two of the perpetrators, but liked who shot the rich guy. It was karma.
I didn’t like the fact that he gave almost every character a nickname (one had two different nicknames). Example: Dr Phillipa Goulet/“Dr Le Ghoul”/“Phill”. Then there were worse ones: Weird Willy, Picky Dicky, Digger Dan, Wild Bill, Dickhead Daughtry, etc. It made for too many names and felt sort of film noir. Like a stereotypical detective novel.
And the main character’s name was Michael Cain. I just pictured the old guy in Batman the whole time, but this Michael was supposed to be youngish. I never got the age figured out. But young enough to start sexing up his high school flame. 🤷🏼♀️ And maybe it’s part of a series bc it was referring to stuff that happened in Michael’s past that felt like we should know what was going on.
I didn’t like the fact that he gave almost every character a nickname (one had two different nicknames). Example: Dr Phillipa Goulet/“Dr Le Ghoul”/“Phill”. Then there were worse ones: Weird Willy, Picky Dicky, Digger Dan, Wild Bill, Dickhead Daughtry, etc. It made for too many names and felt sort of film noir. Like a stereotypical detective novel.
And the main character’s name was Michael Cain. I just pictured the old guy in Batman the whole time, but this Michael was supposed to be youngish. I never got the age figured out. But young enough to start sexing up his high school flame. 🤷🏼♀️ And maybe it’s part of a series bc it was referring to stuff that happened in Michael’s past that felt like we should know what was going on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2024
I got right into this book and enjoyed it a lot. Then, we had a death in the family and I had to continue the book in segments. That took away from the enjoyment I should have had with the book. Reading it in choppy blocks on airplanes, in strange hotels etc. etc. took away from the enjoyment of reading, but not the story line or the book itself. I think this is the beginning of a great series!!
September 18, 2024
Lots of accurate, local to the IA Great Lakes area, 'flavor'! It's the 1st in a series set in this area. The author's 1st book......& very well done! A mystery that really showcases this IA region......definitely looking forward to the next one!
October 16, 2025
Very good first novel set in the Okoboji Iowa area. There were a few things that gave me pause, but overall a very good mystery that was relatively easy to figure out, except for one or two final twists I did not see coming.
Looking forward to book two.
Looking forward to book two.
December 27, 2025
I enjoyed the storyline but it felt like someone used a thesaurus every few words. It didn't read at a natural flow of thought or how "normal" people speak or think. I knew the words but the cadence of reading was off which distracted me from enjoying the story.
August 13, 2024
Pretty good - got sort of wordy at times. But great story by a local author. I really enjoyed it!
September 22, 2024
Great Okoboji references.
November 2, 2024
I loved the details explaining the processes. I really appreciated that. This book also introduced me to some areas of Iowa I want to visit.
January 24, 2025
I didn't find it that interesting. The story was all about how the detective knew everyone and very little about the girl.
October 15, 2025
Great read!
The writing style of Mr, Cross captured my imagination and set up the mystery, the characters, and the location in a way that drew me into their world.
The writing style of Mr, Cross captured my imagination and set up the mystery, the characters, and the location in a way that drew me into their world.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews