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Coeur d'Alene Waters
COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO, is where people go to hide. Neo-Nazis. Corrupt politicians. Mining men with buried secrets.
In 1972, ninety-one men were killed in a mining “accident” sparked by a fire lit nearly a mile underground: the mystery was never solved. After the rest escaped, only three miners survived underground.
More than twenty years later, Matt Worthson is a sheriff’s lieutenant and the disgraced son of mining hero and Sunshine Mine survivor Stanley Worthson. Matt expects to finish out his years on the force in quiet ignominy. But when the gruesomely dismembered body of a police chaplain is found at the swanky Coeur d’Alene Resort, Matt is tapped to find the murderer.
As Matt investigates the murder of his friend, he finds himself digging deep into the labyrinth of lies that seeps beneath the Coeur d’Alene region, including the Sunshine Mine disaster.
Matt now has a chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him, and the darker truths in his father’s past. A neo-Nazi kid holds the only key. If Matt can find a way through the kid’s bravado, he might just uncover the truth behind his own broken family.
Complex, richly atmospheric, and utterly convincing in its portrayal of the Pacific Northwest, Coeur d’Alene Waters will enthrall fans of Mystic River and Snow Falling on Cedars.
Librarian's Note: Alternate format for ISBN 9780985239381.
In 1972, ninety-one men were killed in a mining “accident” sparked by a fire lit nearly a mile underground: the mystery was never solved. After the rest escaped, only three miners survived underground.
More than twenty years later, Matt Worthson is a sheriff’s lieutenant and the disgraced son of mining hero and Sunshine Mine survivor Stanley Worthson. Matt expects to finish out his years on the force in quiet ignominy. But when the gruesomely dismembered body of a police chaplain is found at the swanky Coeur d’Alene Resort, Matt is tapped to find the murderer.
As Matt investigates the murder of his friend, he finds himself digging deep into the labyrinth of lies that seeps beneath the Coeur d’Alene region, including the Sunshine Mine disaster.
Matt now has a chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him, and the darker truths in his father’s past. A neo-Nazi kid holds the only key. If Matt can find a way through the kid’s bravado, he might just uncover the truth behind his own broken family.
Complex, richly atmospheric, and utterly convincing in its portrayal of the Pacific Northwest, Coeur d’Alene Waters will enthrall fans of Mystic River and Snow Falling on Cedars.
Librarian's Note: Alternate format for ISBN 9780985239381.
317 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
22 people are currently reading
681 people want to read
About the author
Ned Hayes
20 books269 followersFollow Ned Hayes:
Ned Hayes is a voracious reader (and writer) from Olympia Washington, who now lives in Portland, Oregon.
My novel THE EAGLE TREE was a national bestseller, and was named by New York Times bestselling author Steve Silberman as one of the top 5 books on the autistic experience.. The book has also been endorsed by Temple Grandin and many others.
I read in many genres. I especially enjoy historical fiction like Philippa Gregory, Anita Diamant and Hilary Mantel, as well as supernatural historical fiction from Susanne Clarke and Tim Powers. But I also love Annie Dillard, Jorge Borges and Michael Chabon.
I also wrote the historical novel SINFUL FOLK, a book set in the 14th century. The cover of SINFUL FOLK a series of lovely internal illustrations were created by the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator Nikki McClure. SINFUL FOLK was nominated for the "Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award" and received starred reviews from many publications, including BookList.
You can find the rest of my books at Ned Note.com .
Ned Hayes is a voracious reader (and writer) from Olympia Washington, who now lives in Portland, Oregon.
My novel THE EAGLE TREE was a national bestseller, and was named by New York Times bestselling author Steve Silberman as one of the top 5 books on the autistic experience.. The book has also been endorsed by Temple Grandin and many others.
I read in many genres. I especially enjoy historical fiction like Philippa Gregory, Anita Diamant and Hilary Mantel, as well as supernatural historical fiction from Susanne Clarke and Tim Powers. But I also love Annie Dillard, Jorge Borges and Michael Chabon.
I also wrote the historical novel SINFUL FOLK, a book set in the 14th century. The cover of SINFUL FOLK a series of lovely internal illustrations were created by the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator Nikki McClure. SINFUL FOLK was nominated for the "Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award" and received starred reviews from many publications, including BookList.
You can find the rest of my books at Ned Note.com .
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 13, 2014
When I learned I'd won this book as a giveaway on Booklikes I couldn't help jumping for joy, then waited with bated breathe until the wonderful day when it arrived for my perusal. Oh, the wait was so worth it, the writing of Ned Hayes' debut mystery novel is so very good, so much better than I'd dared to expect that I found myself both delighted and surprised.
Late one night a dismembered body was discovered in the washroom of a luxury resort near the beautiful Lake Coeur D'Alene in the Pacific Northwest. Matt Worthson, a recovering alcoholic who has lost the respect and backing of his fellow officers, was assigned to investigate and find the killer of the victim, Arlen Bowman, chaplain for the city's police force.
Right from the beginning Matt runs into problems, coverups, secrets withheld from him and secrets he himself is guarding. With guilt eating away at his confidence and self esteem, he is determined to solve the murder despite the obstacles placed in front of him, including being assigned the case by corrupt officials who thought him controllable.
The story unfolds very slowly with side trips to the Sunshine Mine fire disaster that happened nearly 20 years before the murder and the introduction of seemingly random characters and their stories, but as the book progresses, it is all brought together and dark secrets are revealed of what happened at the mine fire where 91 miners perished. There was never a moment before the end that I thought I had figured out who killed Arlen or why he had to die.
I took my time reading this dark, gritty mystery as the tension would build so high I had to walk away for a bit before feeling able to once again return to it. I felt helpless as the walls were closing in on Matt and wondered how and if he could prevail. Hayes did a masterful job of keeping ones interest and the suspense throughout.
This book has it all, corruption in a small town, guilt, greed, mistrust, betrayal yet also love, hope and redemption. I highly recommend to those who love a good historical mystery. I am so looking forward to reading more by this very promising author.
originally published on http://chapterofdreams.com/
Late one night a dismembered body was discovered in the washroom of a luxury resort near the beautiful Lake Coeur D'Alene in the Pacific Northwest. Matt Worthson, a recovering alcoholic who has lost the respect and backing of his fellow officers, was assigned to investigate and find the killer of the victim, Arlen Bowman, chaplain for the city's police force.
Right from the beginning Matt runs into problems, coverups, secrets withheld from him and secrets he himself is guarding. With guilt eating away at his confidence and self esteem, he is determined to solve the murder despite the obstacles placed in front of him, including being assigned the case by corrupt officials who thought him controllable.
The story unfolds very slowly with side trips to the Sunshine Mine fire disaster that happened nearly 20 years before the murder and the introduction of seemingly random characters and their stories, but as the book progresses, it is all brought together and dark secrets are revealed of what happened at the mine fire where 91 miners perished. There was never a moment before the end that I thought I had figured out who killed Arlen or why he had to die.
I took my time reading this dark, gritty mystery as the tension would build so high I had to walk away for a bit before feeling able to once again return to it. I felt helpless as the walls were closing in on Matt and wondered how and if he could prevail. Hayes did a masterful job of keeping ones interest and the suspense throughout.
This book has it all, corruption in a small town, guilt, greed, mistrust, betrayal yet also love, hope and redemption. I highly recommend to those who love a good historical mystery. I am so looking forward to reading more by this very promising author.
originally published on http://chapterofdreams.com/
July 2, 2014
*I received a free copy from the editor in exchange of my honest opinion*
Ned Hayes is obviously a proficient writer and I wish him well on his future projects. However, I wasn't too impressed by Coeur d'Alene Waters.
First of all, the author relies heavily on the same single trick to keep the "mystery" (as such) alive: secondary characters who know important information are always unwilling to talk to Matt, our main protagonist. Or they will shut up at some inopportune time because... well, this behavior doesn't always make sense. I could forgive the author for an instance or two of this "trick", but as a main plot device, it is extremely frustrating. And while the good guys constantly withhold information, the stereotypical villain makes a point to gleefully explain everything to our protagonist - for no reason at all.
And this gets us to my second complaint: the characterization. Except for Matt, you can't make sense of the MOTIVES of secondary characters. They will constantly behave irrationally as if their lives were committed to the story's plot. Needless to say, this is a thriller-killer (if you get my meaning), and breaks any suspension of disbelief you might have worked out.
To top it all, the story goes out with a whimper, nothing surprising in the end if you have paid attention throughout. Well, maybe I'm being harsh, but so it goes as Kurt Vonnegut used to say (ha! a useless quotation... just like the beginning of every chapter in Coeur d'Alène Waters).
Excusez-là. Bonne fête du déménagement tout le monde.
Ned Hayes is obviously a proficient writer and I wish him well on his future projects. However, I wasn't too impressed by Coeur d'Alene Waters.
First of all, the author relies heavily on the same single trick to keep the "mystery" (as such) alive: secondary characters who know important information are always unwilling to talk to Matt, our main protagonist. Or they will shut up at some inopportune time because... well, this behavior doesn't always make sense. I could forgive the author for an instance or two of this "trick", but as a main plot device, it is extremely frustrating. And while the good guys constantly withhold information, the stereotypical villain makes a point to gleefully explain everything to our protagonist - for no reason at all.
And this gets us to my second complaint: the characterization. Except for Matt, you can't make sense of the MOTIVES of secondary characters. They will constantly behave irrationally as if their lives were committed to the story's plot. Needless to say, this is a thriller-killer (if you get my meaning), and breaks any suspension of disbelief you might have worked out.
To top it all, the story goes out with a whimper, nothing surprising in the end if you have paid attention throughout. Well, maybe I'm being harsh, but so it goes as Kurt Vonnegut used to say (ha! a useless quotation... just like the beginning of every chapter in Coeur d'Alène Waters).
Excusez-là. Bonne fête du déménagement tout le monde.
May 24, 2013
Ned Hayes’ debut novel, Couer d’Alene Waters, captures the tragedy and intrigue of the Sunshine Mine disaster alongside the quest for justice in the violent murder of a local chaplain. Both events present a trail of lies to sift through and an array of unanswered questions. The search for truth knits its way into each character and scene in the novel, moving back and forth in time and intricately connecting the historical North Idaho mining tragedy and the chilling murder investigation that is the thrust of this novel’s plot.
The tension between highly localized storytelling and metanarrative prove even more haunting than the horrific details of the crime or the injustices of history. In a town plagued by corruption, can anyone truly be innocent? What is the impact of such cover-ups on subsequent generations? Is it worse to live a lie of your own making or one laid by others?
Matt Worthson, the principal investigator on the murder case and a figure with his own share of demons, is compelling and richly detailed. His son’s friend, Kev Macht, a young man whose life is a tough draw full of neglect, hatred, and misunderstanding, stirs up deep and conflicting emotion about those living on the edges.
This is a stirring mystery, one that stays with the reader well beyond the last page. I highly recommend it.
The tension between highly localized storytelling and metanarrative prove even more haunting than the horrific details of the crime or the injustices of history. In a town plagued by corruption, can anyone truly be innocent? What is the impact of such cover-ups on subsequent generations? Is it worse to live a lie of your own making or one laid by others?
Matt Worthson, the principal investigator on the murder case and a figure with his own share of demons, is compelling and richly detailed. His son’s friend, Kev Macht, a young man whose life is a tough draw full of neglect, hatred, and misunderstanding, stirs up deep and conflicting emotion about those living on the edges.
This is a stirring mystery, one that stays with the reader well beyond the last page. I highly recommend it.
March 29, 2014
I would rate this a 3.5 if goodreads allowed that.
The story captured and held my interest throughout - definitely 4 stars for that, especially considering this is the author's first book. I was glad to see the historical notes as they helped me to appreciate the setting of the novel.
I liked the author's technique in telling the story, but it was, in one or two instances, a bit confusing (for a few paragraphs) when the perspective of the narrative switched point-of-view from one character to another or from one timeline to another. This did not cause me to lose the thread of the story or to lose interest, however.
The characters and situations in this novel are "earthier" than in much of what I read, but are, I suppose, true to the story.
I discovered and read this after reading "Sinful Folks," a more recent novel by this author that I liked very much, and which (in my opinion) exhibits an well developed writing style.
I recommend reading Coeur d'Alene Waters (as well as Sinful Folks).
The story captured and held my interest throughout - definitely 4 stars for that, especially considering this is the author's first book. I was glad to see the historical notes as they helped me to appreciate the setting of the novel.
I liked the author's technique in telling the story, but it was, in one or two instances, a bit confusing (for a few paragraphs) when the perspective of the narrative switched point-of-view from one character to another or from one timeline to another. This did not cause me to lose the thread of the story or to lose interest, however.
The characters and situations in this novel are "earthier" than in much of what I read, but are, I suppose, true to the story.
I discovered and read this after reading "Sinful Folks," a more recent novel by this author that I liked very much, and which (in my opinion) exhibits an well developed writing style.
I recommend reading Coeur d'Alene Waters (as well as Sinful Folks).
December 20, 2025
Almost DNF, Lake Coeur d'Aene may have been the setting but that was all
May 15, 2013
Couer d’Alene Waters is a murder mystery that rises above the genre with language that is simultaneously lyrical and hard-nosed. Ned Hayes kicks off his historical mystery with: “The girl felt hope leave her as the road went dark. Night lapped across the valley and seeped over the mountains, an approaching tide. She turned her head and saw a light far away on the hill. Even as she looked, it faded into the depths. The darkness would swallow her.
“Ahead of the car were only acres of water, an emptiness that roiled slowly against the forest and the mountains. She rolled the syllables around in her mouth, a name her father had taught her: Lake Coeur d’Alene. Her father was gone.”
The bleakness, the cold, and the poetic alliteration of “roiled” and “rolled” set the tone for an engaging story as this beginning quickly leads to a gruesome murder scene.
The lead investigator in the case is Matt Worthson, a recovering alcoholic and a man with a past on the outs with most of his fellow officers. They think he’s screwing up the investigation and covering for his buddy, Russ, who is running for sheriff.
The story is infuriatingly slow to unfold, and there are many threads that seem unrelated at first – repeated scenes of a little girl being (possibly?) kidnapped, memories of a long-ago mining disaster in which Matt’s father saved the lives of hundreds of trapped miners, political intrigues, the death of a woman named Irene who may or may not have been having an affair with Matt. Eventually these threads do come together satisfactorily.
I offer up two sentences which stand as examples of Hayes’ mastery of language:
“Dust rose in a cloud around the truck, it was as if the entire hillside was covered in loose dry dirt. Shapes emerged through the brown fog, things beside the road. In every direction, seemingly random flotsam – broken metal steps, engine flywheels, fenders, cracked steel beams – was joined together in a grotesque mockery of life. Massive figures with eyes made of hubcaps, fantastical twisted flowers, towers as tall as an upended truck. Around the feet of the things, the grass was trimmed, as if they grazed at night.”
And “Matt stepped out of the car and motioned Jerry to do the same. All around them stood huge metal things, some with grasping hands, others with horns or antennae, some with oversized flat large feet, like sentinels all across the lawn. Slicked with a thin sheen of the ever-present dust, a gray-haired man squatted in front of the tilted machine shed.”
I wish some of the characters were more fully developed, especially Matt’s wife and son, but others, particularly a skinhead kid named Kevin, are beautifully brought to life.
This work of literary fiction has the tautness and complexity of the best of crime dramas.
“Ahead of the car were only acres of water, an emptiness that roiled slowly against the forest and the mountains. She rolled the syllables around in her mouth, a name her father had taught her: Lake Coeur d’Alene. Her father was gone.”
The bleakness, the cold, and the poetic alliteration of “roiled” and “rolled” set the tone for an engaging story as this beginning quickly leads to a gruesome murder scene.
The lead investigator in the case is Matt Worthson, a recovering alcoholic and a man with a past on the outs with most of his fellow officers. They think he’s screwing up the investigation and covering for his buddy, Russ, who is running for sheriff.
The story is infuriatingly slow to unfold, and there are many threads that seem unrelated at first – repeated scenes of a little girl being (possibly?) kidnapped, memories of a long-ago mining disaster in which Matt’s father saved the lives of hundreds of trapped miners, political intrigues, the death of a woman named Irene who may or may not have been having an affair with Matt. Eventually these threads do come together satisfactorily.
I offer up two sentences which stand as examples of Hayes’ mastery of language:
“Dust rose in a cloud around the truck, it was as if the entire hillside was covered in loose dry dirt. Shapes emerged through the brown fog, things beside the road. In every direction, seemingly random flotsam – broken metal steps, engine flywheels, fenders, cracked steel beams – was joined together in a grotesque mockery of life. Massive figures with eyes made of hubcaps, fantastical twisted flowers, towers as tall as an upended truck. Around the feet of the things, the grass was trimmed, as if they grazed at night.”
And “Matt stepped out of the car and motioned Jerry to do the same. All around them stood huge metal things, some with grasping hands, others with horns or antennae, some with oversized flat large feet, like sentinels all across the lawn. Slicked with a thin sheen of the ever-present dust, a gray-haired man squatted in front of the tilted machine shed.”
I wish some of the characters were more fully developed, especially Matt’s wife and son, but others, particularly a skinhead kid named Kevin, are beautifully brought to life.
This work of literary fiction has the tautness and complexity of the best of crime dramas.
May 16, 2016
"No One Is Innocent In This Novel"
This is a complex novel that really absorbed me until the end. The story takes place in and about Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. A rustic, rugged landscape of timber and mines. Like the land, the characters in this story are also rugged -- each and every one of them having ultimate goals and remorse. The main character, Matt Worthson, sits at Albi's Bar and Grill. Trying to overcome his taste for hard liquor, he orders coffee. He's carrying a load of guilt, and his recent sharing experience with 'Father' Arlen, a local minister serving the police department when the need arises, seems to somewhat take the load off his back. Matt is a lieutenant for the Bitterroot County Sheriff's Department. He's on duty and as he steps into his old truck, Sheriff Merrill radios him to report to a crime scene at the Coeur D'Alene Resort -- where a dismembered body has been found in the restroom. Scattered over three stalls of the men's room was the mutilated body of 'Father' Arlen Bowman. There are many characters in this novel, including Kev Macht, a young man who has walked away from the Aryan Nations at nearby Hayden Lake. He also has a load of loathing he packs around with him, but is he really capable of killing Arlen? As in many small communities, there are political games played not only between the Resort owners and town officials, but also within the sheriff's department. Regardless, even as Matt's sheriff thinks he is incapable of handling the investigation of this murder, he does slowly make progress. But along his path is much chaos and finger pointing. This novel is also a psychological thriller. At times it appears as a jigsaw puzzle, with pieces missing. But, I couldn't put this story down until I found those missing pieces. Highly recommend this extraordinary, in depth, thriller.
This is a complex novel that really absorbed me until the end. The story takes place in and about Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. A rustic, rugged landscape of timber and mines. Like the land, the characters in this story are also rugged -- each and every one of them having ultimate goals and remorse. The main character, Matt Worthson, sits at Albi's Bar and Grill. Trying to overcome his taste for hard liquor, he orders coffee. He's carrying a load of guilt, and his recent sharing experience with 'Father' Arlen, a local minister serving the police department when the need arises, seems to somewhat take the load off his back. Matt is a lieutenant for the Bitterroot County Sheriff's Department. He's on duty and as he steps into his old truck, Sheriff Merrill radios him to report to a crime scene at the Coeur D'Alene Resort -- where a dismembered body has been found in the restroom. Scattered over three stalls of the men's room was the mutilated body of 'Father' Arlen Bowman. There are many characters in this novel, including Kev Macht, a young man who has walked away from the Aryan Nations at nearby Hayden Lake. He also has a load of loathing he packs around with him, but is he really capable of killing Arlen? As in many small communities, there are political games played not only between the Resort owners and town officials, but also within the sheriff's department. Regardless, even as Matt's sheriff thinks he is incapable of handling the investigation of this murder, he does slowly make progress. But along his path is much chaos and finger pointing. This novel is also a psychological thriller. At times it appears as a jigsaw puzzle, with pieces missing. But, I couldn't put this story down until I found those missing pieces. Highly recommend this extraordinary, in depth, thriller.
July 6, 2014
This novel is as gritty as the mines that it describes.
Matt Worthson is the investigator assigned to the murder of the police chaplain, Arlen Bowman, who was found dismembered in the bathroom of a fancy resort in Coeur D’alene Idaho. Matt has a troubled past as an alcoholic and almost seems set up for failure in this investigation from the beginning. The officer, Russ White, assigned to help him is retiring shortly and will be running against the current sheriff in the next election. The owner of the resort is just wants it all finished and covered up so there’s no stigma attached to the resort. And some suspect Matt himself of being involved in the murder.
This novel has atmosphere in spades. The whole things feels like an old black and white movie. It has several interwoven stories including the fire in the Sunshine mine 20 years before of which Matt’s father was the hero. The near-by camp of skinheads play a role. Old family rifts and people thought dead long ago all play roles in the story. It is a complex and multi-faceted story which almost gets confusing at times because of the changes of perspective that happen frequently. The mystery of who killed the priest is fairly obvious from the beginning but that doesn’t ruin the flow of the story. There is a lot of foul language so take note if that matters to you. I would have deducted 1/2 a star for that if I could have.
If you like gritty and what I would call modern noir, this is the book for you.
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review but then I lost the book and went ahead and bought it on Amazon because I didn’t think it was fair to the author not to review it, so it was given to me and I paid full price for the ebook but either way, this is still my honest review.
Matt Worthson is the investigator assigned to the murder of the police chaplain, Arlen Bowman, who was found dismembered in the bathroom of a fancy resort in Coeur D’alene Idaho. Matt has a troubled past as an alcoholic and almost seems set up for failure in this investigation from the beginning. The officer, Russ White, assigned to help him is retiring shortly and will be running against the current sheriff in the next election. The owner of the resort is just wants it all finished and covered up so there’s no stigma attached to the resort. And some suspect Matt himself of being involved in the murder.
This novel has atmosphere in spades. The whole things feels like an old black and white movie. It has several interwoven stories including the fire in the Sunshine mine 20 years before of which Matt’s father was the hero. The near-by camp of skinheads play a role. Old family rifts and people thought dead long ago all play roles in the story. It is a complex and multi-faceted story which almost gets confusing at times because of the changes of perspective that happen frequently. The mystery of who killed the priest is fairly obvious from the beginning but that doesn’t ruin the flow of the story. There is a lot of foul language so take note if that matters to you. I would have deducted 1/2 a star for that if I could have.
If you like gritty and what I would call modern noir, this is the book for you.
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review but then I lost the book and went ahead and bought it on Amazon because I didn’t think it was fair to the author not to review it, so it was given to me and I paid full price for the ebook but either way, this is still my honest review.
May 7, 2015
This is the Author's first book and what a book it is. Well written, complicated characters and storyline. I found nothing likeable about any of the characters and at times was ready to put the book down and not finish it but something kept me going, I had to finish the story. I wanted to find out what people knew and who or what was the cause of all the trouble, what was the reason the story needed to be told. Based on true facts of the mining industry and accidents in Idaho around the mid to late 70's, early 80's, the story follows several generations of a family caught in the dirty side of mining. It seems that all the characters in the story are hiding secrets from one another and frankly not a one of them is trustworthy at all. Lies, deceit, cheating - it's all here. It's not an easy read and definitely not to be considered a "cosy" mystery yet I am glad I read it and I do have to say that yes, I did actually enjoy it.
November 3, 2013
I'm not sure it gets for stars because "I really liked it." It gets four stars in my book because it is well written, well plotted and kept me interested to the last page. It is a bit "hard edged" for my personal tastes - language is corse and the details a bit graphic. I am not sure any of that is necessary to the story. I am not a prude; I just don't like corse and graphic over-done for the sake of attention.
Having said that, beyond the story being good, it is also a story of forgiveness and grace and second-chances. Who does not need that?
I especially like the setting and the history - I grew up in the Inland Empire. I know the history and I remember the mine accident and I enjoyed reading a novel against that backdrop.
I did like much about this book, I just didn't "really like it." It is certainly worth the read.
Having said that, beyond the story being good, it is also a story of forgiveness and grace and second-chances. Who does not need that?
I especially like the setting and the history - I grew up in the Inland Empire. I know the history and I remember the mine accident and I enjoyed reading a novel against that backdrop.
I did like much about this book, I just didn't "really like it." It is certainly worth the read.
November 11, 2015
It’s the first Hayes’ book that I’ve read and definitely I’d like to check out his other works. The story is revolving around the crime investigation conducted by Matt Worthson. Apart from the murder of a local priest there are other mysteries to uncover connected with the tragic mine accident that happened years before the main events. The plot is developing rather slowly but for me it wasn’t an obstacle. The author’s descriptions of a town, nature, characters and events are so amazingly picturesque that the scenes should stay in a reader’s mind (at least in my case) for a long time. The characters that at the beginning seemed to be rather stiff and uninteresting appeared to be well-developed and complex. Along with a bitter-sweet ending the author created a really gripping book with a sad and melancholic atmosphere.
October 19, 2014
Very intriguing story. I have to admit it took me a couple chapters of listening to the story to get into it. However, as the story went along I found myself becoming more and more intrigued as I sat there listening waiting to find out what was going to happen next. If you love suspense/thrillers, you will love listening to this audio book. This author did a great job with the story line in this audio and I look forward to listening/reading more of his future work.
April 20, 2015
I'm surprised that this is the author's first novel. Loved the intricate storyline, the characters and the mystery spanning decades. The fact that it is based on true historical events makes it that much more interesting. I had a hard time putting this book down and look forward to future works by the author.
January 31, 2021
This book was so slow it was painful. I considered stopping reading it several times but kept picking it up. I'm wishing I had put it away and chosen something else. A very unfulfilling murder mystery. I'll stick to Deaver, Preston/Child and others that are my go-to's from now on if I'm craving some action.
May 9, 2013
Great literary read, kind of like Dennis Lehane's Mystic River in style and tone.
Really enjoyed this book... and it's one of the few murder mysteries I can name that is set in Idaho.
Really enjoyed this book... and it's one of the few murder mysteries I can name that is set in Idaho.
December 23, 2013
I got this book from Goodreads First Reads.
I live about an hour away from Coeur d'Alene, and it was fascinating to read about places I've been.
Good story, good writing style, good ending. I liked it, and am glad Mr. Hayes is writing another novel.
I live about an hour away from Coeur d'Alene, and it was fascinating to read about places I've been.
Good story, good writing style, good ending. I liked it, and am glad Mr. Hayes is writing another novel.
June 15, 2014
Ned Hayes has a great talent for wrapping a fictional mystery around an historical event. Although a bit confusing at points, this is a great read. He had me up into the wee hours last night finishing this one.
November 1, 2019
Stunning to read so many lyrical reviews! It was good, but I didn't feel it was great. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was awful, to put it kindly.
January 26, 2021
Interesting Idaho historical novel. Well developed characters driving the plot. Enjoy when a historical novel sorts the fact from supposition and fiction in the afterward.
September 28, 2014
Audiobook Review
3 1/2 Stars
First, a note to the author: When you author a superb book, find a superior narrator. Kevin Arthur Harper, a Video Game Voiceover artist with nothing else to his credit is NOT a book narrator. Simply because of Haye's excellent writing and story I stuck with dialogue that was chopped (not choppy), mispronunciations, and no pauses between scenes. Harper is simply awful. (I certainly hope he's not your friend or a relative, but he needs to keep his day job.)
Coeur d'Alene Waters is the story of a mining town in Northern Idaho, one where a mining disaster in 1972 claimed 91 lives. Now Police Lieutenant Matt Worthson, the son of one of the disaster survivors, is assigned to a gruesome crime that occurred at the town's high-end resort. The resort owners are the heirs to the original mining operation, and now own virtually all the business as well as the politicians and police in the town. Corruption is a mild word for the vicious grip of those who will do anything to protect power and long-kept secrets.
In recent readings, Coeur d'Alene Waters is similar to Natchez Burning by Greg Iles in that it weaves past and present in small town atmospherics. Yet it is a thriller for the reader is constantly on edge wondering who really did what, and who is guilty -- of what.
An excellent read. I wish I could have read it in text, for I surely would have nuked the audio version.
3 1/2 Stars
First, a note to the author: When you author a superb book, find a superior narrator. Kevin Arthur Harper, a Video Game Voiceover artist with nothing else to his credit is NOT a book narrator. Simply because of Haye's excellent writing and story I stuck with dialogue that was chopped (not choppy), mispronunciations, and no pauses between scenes. Harper is simply awful. (I certainly hope he's not your friend or a relative, but he needs to keep his day job.)
Coeur d'Alene Waters is the story of a mining town in Northern Idaho, one where a mining disaster in 1972 claimed 91 lives. Now Police Lieutenant Matt Worthson, the son of one of the disaster survivors, is assigned to a gruesome crime that occurred at the town's high-end resort. The resort owners are the heirs to the original mining operation, and now own virtually all the business as well as the politicians and police in the town. Corruption is a mild word for the vicious grip of those who will do anything to protect power and long-kept secrets.
In recent readings, Coeur d'Alene Waters is similar to Natchez Burning by Greg Iles in that it weaves past and present in small town atmospherics. Yet it is a thriller for the reader is constantly on edge wondering who really did what, and who is guilty -- of what.
An excellent read. I wish I could have read it in text, for I surely would have nuked the audio version.
August 16, 2014
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway contest.
I like a good murder mystery. Take a gruesome murder scene, sibling rivalery and a corrupt police force. A body is found cut up in an Idaho resort. What happen?
I enjoyed the the premise of the plot. A twist in the plot always helpt to keep the reader interestred. There was some action in the story, there was a murder after all. I fould this to be a character driven story. The major character was developed quite well. We found him to be an honest and slightly flawed character. The other characters were also quite developed and complex with their own flaws. Finding the murderer was not as important as finding the reasonm for the murder.
I did find the story hard to follow at the time. The writer tried to make the characters realistic. Their speech was confusing and not clear at times. I did feel that the story was stretched out at points. How long did it take for the case to be solved?
This was a goo debut novel for the author and I beleive he will get better and grow with his next one.
I like a good murder mystery. Take a gruesome murder scene, sibling rivalery and a corrupt police force. A body is found cut up in an Idaho resort. What happen?
I enjoyed the the premise of the plot. A twist in the plot always helpt to keep the reader interestred. There was some action in the story, there was a murder after all. I fould this to be a character driven story. The major character was developed quite well. We found him to be an honest and slightly flawed character. The other characters were also quite developed and complex with their own flaws. Finding the murderer was not as important as finding the reasonm for the murder.
I did find the story hard to follow at the time. The writer tried to make the characters realistic. Their speech was confusing and not clear at times. I did feel that the story was stretched out at points. How long did it take for the case to be solved?
This was a goo debut novel for the author and I beleive he will get better and grow with his next one.
October 28, 2016
This is a story of a murder,a man wrongfully accused and how a long dead secret has affected a whole town.I liked it.I found it too long and some spots boring. I don't know if the narrator,Kevin Arthur Harper was meant to read it that way but it made it tough to get through.He is a good narrator.I was given this book free for an honest review.
January 17, 2016
A long, slow read. Lots of detail that, at the conclusion, seems unnecessary.
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