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Still Waters: A Novel
If you’re reading this email, I am dead. I know this will sound strange, but someone has been trying to kill me.
Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom are estranged siblings who haven’t seen each other in years, but that’s about to change when they receive a rare call from their older brother’s wife. “Mack is dead,” she says. “He died of a seizure.” Five minutes after they hang up, Liv and Gabe each receive a scheduled email from their dead brother, claiming that he was murdered.
The siblings return to their family-run resort in the Northwoods of Minnesota to investigate Mack's claims, but Leech Lake has more in store for them than either could imagine. Drawn into a tangled web of lies and betrayal that spans decades, they put their lives on the line to unravel the truth about their brother, their parents, themselves, and the small town in which they grew up. After all, no one can keep a secret in a small town, but someone in Leech Lake is willing to kill for the truth to stay buried.
New York Times bestselling and Emmy award-winning author Matt Goldman returns with a gripping, emotional thrill ride in this compelling story on grief and uncovering the past before it’s too late.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom are estranged siblings who haven’t seen each other in years, but that’s about to change when they receive a rare call from their older brother’s wife. “Mack is dead,” she says. “He died of a seizure.” Five minutes after they hang up, Liv and Gabe each receive a scheduled email from their dead brother, claiming that he was murdered.
The siblings return to their family-run resort in the Northwoods of Minnesota to investigate Mack's claims, but Leech Lake has more in store for them than either could imagine. Drawn into a tangled web of lies and betrayal that spans decades, they put their lives on the line to unravel the truth about their brother, their parents, themselves, and the small town in which they grew up. After all, no one can keep a secret in a small town, but someone in Leech Lake is willing to kill for the truth to stay buried.
New York Times bestselling and Emmy award-winning author Matt Goldman returns with a gripping, emotional thrill ride in this compelling story on grief and uncovering the past before it’s too late.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2024
96 people are currently reading
7855 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
November 14, 2024
Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom are estranged siblings who haven’t seen each other in years, but that’s about to change when they receive a rare call from their older brother’s wife. “Mack is dead,” she says. “He died of a seizure.” Five minutes after they hang up, Liv and Gabe each receive a scheduled email from their dead brother, claiming that he was murdered.
The siblings return to their family run resort in the Northwoods of Minnesota to investigate Mack's claims, but Leech Lake has more in store for them than either could imagine. Drawn into a tangled web of lies and betrayal that spans decades, they put their lives on the line to unravel the truth about their brother, their parents, themselves, and the small town in which they grew up. After all, no one can keep a secret in a small town, but someone in Leech Lake is willing to kill for the truth to stay buried.
Holy cow! How have I never read anything by Matt Goldman before? Pulled in by the intriguing synopsis, I had rather high expectations for Still Waters before I even opened the cover. Needless to say, it far surpassed any hopes that I had. A quick, easy read with stellar characters and an altogether addictive plot, it was just what the doctor ordered between some harder hitting thrillers. That’s not to say it lacked suspense. Oh no, that was definitely there in spades.
Speaking of those characters, they ran the gamut from poignantly endearing to severely unlikeable. While that combination can often come across as irritating, these personas were everything I wanted and more. Evocatively bringing to mind eccentric individuals known to live in small towns, each served a purpose while also giving the ultimate in fictional entertainment. The two siblings were the winners in the dynamite cast, however, as their character arcs wrapped up the entire book with utter perfection.
While not exactly Agatha Christie-esque, this murder mystery came close but with a well executed modern twist. While it started out as a definite slow burn, the plot quickly stepped on the gas as schemes and plans were put into action. From there, the on point climax and happily-ever-after conclusion hit just the right chord. The plot even served up some delightful dysfunctional family dynamics, which added layers to the book that I wasn’t expecting. All in all, if you’re searching for a story that packs quite the punch, look no further—you’ve found it. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Matt Goldman and Forge Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 21, 2024
Trigger warning: infidelity
The siblings return to their family run resort in the Northwoods of Minnesota to investigate Mack's claims, but Leech Lake has more in store for them than either could imagine. Drawn into a tangled web of lies and betrayal that spans decades, they put their lives on the line to unravel the truth about their brother, their parents, themselves, and the small town in which they grew up. After all, no one can keep a secret in a small town, but someone in Leech Lake is willing to kill for the truth to stay buried.
Holy cow! How have I never read anything by Matt Goldman before? Pulled in by the intriguing synopsis, I had rather high expectations for Still Waters before I even opened the cover. Needless to say, it far surpassed any hopes that I had. A quick, easy read with stellar characters and an altogether addictive plot, it was just what the doctor ordered between some harder hitting thrillers. That’s not to say it lacked suspense. Oh no, that was definitely there in spades.
Speaking of those characters, they ran the gamut from poignantly endearing to severely unlikeable. While that combination can often come across as irritating, these personas were everything I wanted and more. Evocatively bringing to mind eccentric individuals known to live in small towns, each served a purpose while also giving the ultimate in fictional entertainment. The two siblings were the winners in the dynamite cast, however, as their character arcs wrapped up the entire book with utter perfection.
While not exactly Agatha Christie-esque, this murder mystery came close but with a well executed modern twist. While it started out as a definite slow burn, the plot quickly stepped on the gas as schemes and plans were put into action. From there, the on point climax and happily-ever-after conclusion hit just the right chord. The plot even served up some delightful dysfunctional family dynamics, which added layers to the book that I wasn’t expecting. All in all, if you’re searching for a story that packs quite the punch, look no further—you’ve found it. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Matt Goldman and Forge Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 21, 2024
Trigger warning: infidelity
June 5, 2024
3.5 Goldmans writing is so smooth, his novels just flow with nary a misstep. A family that had drifted apart is brought together after their brother’s death, though only two are now left. They receive an email from him saying his death is actually a murder. Now they must work together, return to their family owned summer camp, and try to find the truth.
The summer camp and their experiences there when younger brought to my mind the times I spent summers at my families summer house. Glorious day, swimming, skiing, hiking, just priceless. But as this book also shows your memories as a child are not seen the same way as an adult. There are secrets here, plots and happenings that were not as they appeared. A good, solid mystery.
The summer camp and their experiences there when younger brought to my mind the times I spent summers at my families summer house. Glorious day, swimming, skiing, hiking, just priceless. But as this book also shows your memories as a child are not seen the same way as an adult. There are secrets here, plots and happenings that were not as they appeared. A good, solid mystery.
June 18, 2024
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
“Family is powerful. Powerful like the forces that bind an atom. That power can be beautiful when the bonding particles are rooted in love and honesty.
But when they’re rooted in lies and deceit and betrayal, a family’s power can be devastating. It is human nature, after all, to want what we don’t have…”
It's hard to entirely dislike either of the Irish twins - Gabe and Liv as they return home nearly twenty years later upon the startling death of their older brother Mack due to unforeseen circumstances. It makes it an even more necessary visit when they both receive mysterious emails from him, hinting that his death may have been a calculated murder, done by one who's still intent on making sure the two siblings don't figure out the truth that ties their past to their present and what may make their return home to their family resort a much more unfavorable one for all those involved. 😟 The three Ahlstrom siblings had lived in relative peace for the last twenty years aided by geography and a lack of communication, which was no easy feat in the age of communication.' It's a taut family drama of the two of them not only reconciling over their own slightly less than amenable feelings towards each other, while also amending relationships that in their haste to get as far away as their past as possible, made their present one that they neither of them weren't too fond of, so that perhaps there may be a chance that their future may be a more promising one.
In the process of trying to track down who may be responsible for their older brother's death, Gabe and Liv slowly come to terms with their own personal grudges and views of one another, while also learning parts of their past that may have never known, but will affect the way they have lived entirely. It makes for a rather enlightening if not spirited read, as the writing switched between their perspectives quite easily. 👌🏻👌🏻 'Why did Gabe make her feel like an unstable, explosive compound that shouldn’t be jiggled or transported over bumpy ground?' You get a real sense of how very different and opinionated they are of each other - not so much bad blood, but begrudging one another over the way they treated each other. But in this unfortunate circumstances, the author allows them to bond and express their views honestly and candidly in a light that allows them to finally move on from the past and embrace who they are in the present. It's a challenging notion, considering the conflict they were caught up in, but it was a nice contrast of watching them fight it out, while also realizing that not everything has been what it seems in the Still Waters of their family resort. 😥
“Everyone thinks they know what they saw, but the truth is, people can’t be trusted as witnesses unless they’re trained properly.
See, everyone’s got a story going on in their head, and the brain interprets events to fit that story.”
Matt Goldman's latest novel tackles family and feuds caught up in a corporate scheme for the sake of power and the risks one takes for the price of freedom. Through family drama and closely valued relationships, the two siblings discover the importance of what their own lives have been and how much they shouldn't take for granted the life that they had been given. Losing their brother serves as the catalyst not only to seek out justice for his death, but to retrace the footsteps of their own pasts that they chose to ignore that led them on the off-beaten path of unhappiness and unfulfilled feeling. It reads - very honestly and sincere - one that feels familiar, but yet, very bittersweet and tragic at how the mystery is not only solved but resolved. 😥 'Just because we’re born with opportunity doesn’t mean we have everything handed to us. It just seems that way because we don’t revel in our struggles. We keep them behind closed doors where they belong.' True, justice was served and certain characters received their due comeuppances and Gabe and Liv were on the track to better opportunities that would make them marginally happier than the thirty+ years of their lives where life was meaningless and without purpose. But, the secret, itself made me sad; it made me sad not only for the victims of the secret, but the one carrying it and how much of a price their own life paid for harboring it this long. 🥺
I had some issues with the tone of the story, one which I've been finding a lot more prevalent in recent thrillers; maybe, I'm still very much old school, but the contrast between the deadpan humor and the seriousness of the situation didn't quite flow - right. I get that it's a chance to shed light on the personality of said character, but it didn't quite read well; especially, considering, the scene wouldn't quite follow up on said humor afterwards either. 🙂↔️ I didn't have any faults in the pacing, nor how the siblings' search for the truth unfolded, but I wish it could have been more of a challenge, rather than again - having limited cast that allows process of elimination to point fingers at the likely culprit. Which, when all was said and done, having the two of them play good cop, bad cop was an interesting choice, but I still kinda felt bad for the killer. Yes, they did murder someone with ill intentions, but to know what has been lost in the process - I wasn't very - yes, it was satisfying, but I just felt sorry for them. 😞
“You were like two people: a friend and an enemy. You could be so mean. So damn cruel. Maybe it’s true that I’m my own worst enemy… but I learned it from you.”
The characters were a well-rounded and interesting sort. From the siblings to their family relatives, to the associates each intent on gaining the upper hand - claiming the prized possession that was their family inheritance was nicely portrayed. 👍🏻👍🏻 I didn't have any issues with any of them as they each provided the necessary means to add reason and motive to the plot. While much of the resorts' activities aren't shed light on, we do get a sense of how deeply rooted the siblings' time has been in a place that makes up most of their memories. 'More like an emotional foundation. And not just for us. You want to raze a resort hundreds of thousands of people have come to for almost a century.' 😟 The groundskeeper, Ed, provided ample curiosity and secrecy that made their own search for the paths slightly more interesting. While some of the dialogue between the two siblings felt a bit jilted and strange at times, I do think that their dynamic was accurately portrayed. The jealousy, the uncertainty, the lack of empathy, followed up by guilty sympathy that felt believable to me - even their arguments felt warranted - despite the slightly off-kilter exchanges between the two.
For when I do take the ending into account - I realize how the title, itself does feel like a play on words. How their lives was very much like still water all this time, and it was only when a ripple formed did their lives finally pick up - that they both embraced a change and welcomed the chance to be different than who they've always been. And as much as still waters run deep does inadvertently reflect on certain characters' mannerisms in this story, it plays a deeper meaning in what true intentions had been shrouded in darkness for so long. Despite how it was a rather bittersweet ending, everyone who lost something - gained something more by the events that occurred. 'Please put a stop to whatever pushed you all apart, and let’s start pulling each other together. It’s too late for Mack, but it’s not too late for you.' 😢 The lives that had been struggling to find meaning were able to attain a level of happiness and peace that had eluded them for so very long. That, in itself is what made Mack's emails to them so very significant at how his death was able to open the doors for all those whose had remained closed for so very long. 🙏🏻
So, not exactly great, but not entirely a disappointment either. It is rather fast-paced and close-knit, while also reading like a laid-back mystery-thriller, one that has the elements of murder and mayhem to it, with the hints of danger and familial mysteries shrouded in a secretive history, but it just lacked a certain something to the writing for it to be more appealing for me to consider it a memorable read. 🤷🏻♀️
“Family is powerful. Powerful like the forces that bind an atom. That power can be beautiful when the bonding particles are rooted in love and honesty.
But when they’re rooted in lies and deceit and betrayal, a family’s power can be devastating. It is human nature, after all, to want what we don’t have…”
It's hard to entirely dislike either of the Irish twins - Gabe and Liv as they return home nearly twenty years later upon the startling death of their older brother Mack due to unforeseen circumstances. It makes it an even more necessary visit when they both receive mysterious emails from him, hinting that his death may have been a calculated murder, done by one who's still intent on making sure the two siblings don't figure out the truth that ties their past to their present and what may make their return home to their family resort a much more unfavorable one for all those involved. 😟 The three Ahlstrom siblings had lived in relative peace for the last twenty years aided by geography and a lack of communication, which was no easy feat in the age of communication.' It's a taut family drama of the two of them not only reconciling over their own slightly less than amenable feelings towards each other, while also amending relationships that in their haste to get as far away as their past as possible, made their present one that they neither of them weren't too fond of, so that perhaps there may be a chance that their future may be a more promising one.
In the process of trying to track down who may be responsible for their older brother's death, Gabe and Liv slowly come to terms with their own personal grudges and views of one another, while also learning parts of their past that may have never known, but will affect the way they have lived entirely. It makes for a rather enlightening if not spirited read, as the writing switched between their perspectives quite easily. 👌🏻👌🏻 'Why did Gabe make her feel like an unstable, explosive compound that shouldn’t be jiggled or transported over bumpy ground?' You get a real sense of how very different and opinionated they are of each other - not so much bad blood, but begrudging one another over the way they treated each other. But in this unfortunate circumstances, the author allows them to bond and express their views honestly and candidly in a light that allows them to finally move on from the past and embrace who they are in the present. It's a challenging notion, considering the conflict they were caught up in, but it was a nice contrast of watching them fight it out, while also realizing that not everything has been what it seems in the Still Waters of their family resort. 😥
“Everyone thinks they know what they saw, but the truth is, people can’t be trusted as witnesses unless they’re trained properly.
See, everyone’s got a story going on in their head, and the brain interprets events to fit that story.”
Matt Goldman's latest novel tackles family and feuds caught up in a corporate scheme for the sake of power and the risks one takes for the price of freedom. Through family drama and closely valued relationships, the two siblings discover the importance of what their own lives have been and how much they shouldn't take for granted the life that they had been given. Losing their brother serves as the catalyst not only to seek out justice for his death, but to retrace the footsteps of their own pasts that they chose to ignore that led them on the off-beaten path of unhappiness and unfulfilled feeling. It reads - very honestly and sincere - one that feels familiar, but yet, very bittersweet and tragic at how the mystery is not only solved but resolved. 😥 'Just because we’re born with opportunity doesn’t mean we have everything handed to us. It just seems that way because we don’t revel in our struggles. We keep them behind closed doors where they belong.' True, justice was served and certain characters received their due comeuppances and Gabe and Liv were on the track to better opportunities that would make them marginally happier than the thirty+ years of their lives where life was meaningless and without purpose. But, the secret, itself made me sad; it made me sad not only for the victims of the secret, but the one carrying it and how much of a price their own life paid for harboring it this long. 🥺
I had some issues with the tone of the story, one which I've been finding a lot more prevalent in recent thrillers; maybe, I'm still very much old school, but the contrast between the deadpan humor and the seriousness of the situation didn't quite flow - right. I get that it's a chance to shed light on the personality of said character, but it didn't quite read well; especially, considering, the scene wouldn't quite follow up on said humor afterwards either. 🙂↔️ I didn't have any faults in the pacing, nor how the siblings' search for the truth unfolded, but I wish it could have been more of a challenge, rather than again - having limited cast that allows process of elimination to point fingers at the likely culprit. Which, when all was said and done, having the two of them play good cop, bad cop was an interesting choice, but I still kinda felt bad for the killer. Yes, they did murder someone with ill intentions, but to know what has been lost in the process - I wasn't very - yes, it was satisfying, but I just felt sorry for them. 😞
“You were like two people: a friend and an enemy. You could be so mean. So damn cruel. Maybe it’s true that I’m my own worst enemy… but I learned it from you.”
The characters were a well-rounded and interesting sort. From the siblings to their family relatives, to the associates each intent on gaining the upper hand - claiming the prized possession that was their family inheritance was nicely portrayed. 👍🏻👍🏻 I didn't have any issues with any of them as they each provided the necessary means to add reason and motive to the plot. While much of the resorts' activities aren't shed light on, we do get a sense of how deeply rooted the siblings' time has been in a place that makes up most of their memories. 'More like an emotional foundation. And not just for us. You want to raze a resort hundreds of thousands of people have come to for almost a century.' 😟 The groundskeeper, Ed, provided ample curiosity and secrecy that made their own search for the paths slightly more interesting. While some of the dialogue between the two siblings felt a bit jilted and strange at times, I do think that their dynamic was accurately portrayed. The jealousy, the uncertainty, the lack of empathy, followed up by guilty sympathy that felt believable to me - even their arguments felt warranted - despite the slightly off-kilter exchanges between the two.
For when I do take the ending into account - I realize how the title, itself does feel like a play on words. How their lives was very much like still water all this time, and it was only when a ripple formed did their lives finally pick up - that they both embraced a change and welcomed the chance to be different than who they've always been. And as much as still waters run deep does inadvertently reflect on certain characters' mannerisms in this story, it plays a deeper meaning in what true intentions had been shrouded in darkness for so long. Despite how it was a rather bittersweet ending, everyone who lost something - gained something more by the events that occurred. 'Please put a stop to whatever pushed you all apart, and let’s start pulling each other together. It’s too late for Mack, but it’s not too late for you.' 😢 The lives that had been struggling to find meaning were able to attain a level of happiness and peace that had eluded them for so very long. That, in itself is what made Mack's emails to them so very significant at how his death was able to open the doors for all those whose had remained closed for so very long. 🙏🏻
So, not exactly great, but not entirely a disappointment either. It is rather fast-paced and close-knit, while also reading like a laid-back mystery-thriller, one that has the elements of murder and mayhem to it, with the hints of danger and familial mysteries shrouded in a secretive history, but it just lacked a certain something to the writing for it to be more appealing for me to consider it a memorable read. 🤷🏻♀️
July 4, 2024
Still Waters is now the second thriller I've read by Matt Goldman, and this one was again bubbling over with family drama!
An email from beyond the grave starts this book off, and suddenly estranged siblings Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom are forced into finding out what happened to their dead brother Mack. Threatening notes, a mysterious key, and an ornery old woman all add to the strains put on this small-town family. While the book has a dark undertone (though not menacingly so), the additional love story helps offset and counterbalance the ever-present suspense.
It's evident that Waters enjoys writing unlikable characters submerged in family drama, and what I enjoy most about his writing is the morally gray compass they live by! Additionally, his books are very cinematic with a panoramic view - his TV writer background clearly coming across!
The audiobook narrator often created unintentional pauses between some sentences in the same paragraph, at times leading me to believe the start of a new paragraph or chapter break was occurring. Although this didn't detract from my enjoyment in listening, these hesitations were not edited out.
All in all, the resort setting makes this a perfect thriller to take along on your next vacation!
Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.
An email from beyond the grave starts this book off, and suddenly estranged siblings Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom are forced into finding out what happened to their dead brother Mack. Threatening notes, a mysterious key, and an ornery old woman all add to the strains put on this small-town family. While the book has a dark undertone (though not menacingly so), the additional love story helps offset and counterbalance the ever-present suspense.
It's evident that Waters enjoys writing unlikable characters submerged in family drama, and what I enjoy most about his writing is the morally gray compass they live by! Additionally, his books are very cinematic with a panoramic view - his TV writer background clearly coming across!
The audiobook narrator often created unintentional pauses between some sentences in the same paragraph, at times leading me to believe the start of a new paragraph or chapter break was occurring. Although this didn't detract from my enjoyment in listening, these hesitations were not edited out.
All in all, the resort setting makes this a perfect thriller to take along on your next vacation!
Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.
April 11, 2024
I usually don’t read a lot of mysteries, but I picked up a free copy at PLA and I’m glad I did! It was the perfect length, easy to follow, and I could understand the characters and their motivations. I’ll be looking for Matt Goldman’s work in the future.
July 7, 2024
Another great read from Matt Goldman! Any book that makes me want to go to bed early to read deserves 5 stars. I loved the sibling dynamic in this one. And always enjoy the MN location, this time up North. I didn’t know who “did it” until the end. Gotta love the suspense.
October 1, 2024
This is the first book I’ve read by Matt Goldman and now I am a fan. Looking forward to reading more!
October 15, 2025
Didn’t do it for me. Least favorite of Goldman’s books so far. Characters were boring and one dimensional. No subtlety in the plot development. But alas, it was a fun enough story to keep me there.
October 16, 2024
Set in northern Minnesota, this book takes off from the first page and doesn't stop. Two distant siblings are forced to get together when their older brother dies unexpectedly. Then. They get a text from him after he is dead.
Clever plot devices, great setting details, and mysteries galore! Great read!
Clever plot devices, great setting details, and mysteries galore! Great read!
July 3, 2024
It was ok. A little “middle-schoolish” with the dialogue. This kind always drives me nuts.”Why is he being mean to me?” “She’s not being nice.” Etc., etc., etc..
April 28, 2024
Still Waters by Matt Goldman ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Liv and Gabe are estranged siblings but join together when their older brother dies. He told them if something happened to him, he was murdered. They both return to their family run resort for answers.
A good mystery that I got sucked in from then beginning. The pacing changed towards the middle when disputes about property and ownership became involved; just not my thing. I had a harder time staying invested then but I did like all the characters, especially the family drama so wanted to find out what happened.
“This isn’t a game. This isn’t a psychological exploration of why you’re more successful than I am. This is real.”
Still Waters comes out 5/21.
Liv and Gabe are estranged siblings but join together when their older brother dies. He told them if something happened to him, he was murdered. They both return to their family run resort for answers.
A good mystery that I got sucked in from then beginning. The pacing changed towards the middle when disputes about property and ownership became involved; just not my thing. I had a harder time staying invested then but I did like all the characters, especially the family drama so wanted to find out what happened.
“This isn’t a game. This isn’t a psychological exploration of why you’re more successful than I am. This is real.”
Still Waters comes out 5/21.
July 24, 2025
3.5. Estranged siblings begin to receive emails from their deceased brother after they travel to his funeral.
This book was not just a mystery but super messy and I loved the sibling dynamic and character depth while they were trying to solve it. Also loved this author’s Nils Shapiro series on audio!
This book was not just a mystery but super messy and I loved the sibling dynamic and character depth while they were trying to solve it. Also loved this author’s Nils Shapiro series on audio!
June 17, 2024
Loved the story of siblings and their conflicts and the twists and turns. 5/5 stars
May 27, 2024
From the start we have a weird vibe about this family, Liv seems nice but the siblings have no relation whatsoever which kinda sucks because family is all you’ve got on this earth sometimes. Gabe seems a money fanatic.
Liv and Gabe go back into the small town of Leech Lake to find out if Mack their brother was actually killed, the single town they know as home and the single place Mack warned them about not returning to, but when they read Mack’s message they already parked in Leech Lake. Mack was older and seriously I don’t know what to believe about this family but I’m not really rooting for them yet.
What’s interesting is why Mack was killed and not that he was, he told his wife before dying that the siblings don’t have the same father, well mainly him had a different father and now his siblings go in search of the truth. But the truth in a small town is never what it seems.
I love small town vibe thrillers but they always sadden me a lot, like
I love American small towns especially the thrillers that include them but they always make me sad ffs. How can there be so much corruption in a town where everyone knows everyone?
Just because you have money means you run everything including the police? Not to mention how corrupt the police is...
The funny thing is that now when I read this book I practically watch the series by my favorite author Joel Dicker, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair and again a small town that breaks the norm when it comes to abuse, beatings, corruption, crime.
And Still Waters was just as corrupt, there are a lot of characters I didn't like at all in this book and somehow seeing so much corruption I don't even wonder who is a criminal anymore because they all could be.
Overall, "Still Waters" is recommended for fans of mystery and thriller genres, especially those who enjoy stories that delve into family dynamics and the complexities of small-town life. Goldman's background as a playwright and television writer is evident in his sharp dialogue and well-paced plot, making this book a satisfying read.
Liv and Gabe go back into the small town of Leech Lake to find out if Mack their brother was actually killed, the single town they know as home and the single place Mack warned them about not returning to, but when they read Mack’s message they already parked in Leech Lake. Mack was older and seriously I don’t know what to believe about this family but I’m not really rooting for them yet.
What’s interesting is why Mack was killed and not that he was, he told his wife before dying that the siblings don’t have the same father, well mainly him had a different father and now his siblings go in search of the truth. But the truth in a small town is never what it seems.
I love small town vibe thrillers but they always sadden me a lot, like
I love American small towns especially the thrillers that include them but they always make me sad ffs. How can there be so much corruption in a town where everyone knows everyone?
Just because you have money means you run everything including the police? Not to mention how corrupt the police is...
The funny thing is that now when I read this book I practically watch the series by my favorite author Joel Dicker, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair and again a small town that breaks the norm when it comes to abuse, beatings, corruption, crime.
And Still Waters was just as corrupt, there are a lot of characters I didn't like at all in this book and somehow seeing so much corruption I don't even wonder who is a criminal anymore because they all could be.
Overall, "Still Waters" is recommended for fans of mystery and thriller genres, especially those who enjoy stories that delve into family dynamics and the complexities of small-town life. Goldman's background as a playwright and television writer is evident in his sharp dialogue and well-paced plot, making this book a satisfying read.
March 9, 2025
Another good one from what has become a favorite author.
May 19, 2024
If you love small town mysteries then this one is for you!
I loved the small town resort setting in this book - what better place for a murder mystery to take place than on the brink of spring in northern Minnesota?!
I loved the town traditions and the visiting of characters for the first time, but still feeling like they were people you've known your whole life!
This book is hugely a study on the sibling relationship and I loved exploring the intricacies of Liv and Gabe's estrangement and what elements were needed to bring them back together.
Publication Date: May 21
I loved the small town resort setting in this book - what better place for a murder mystery to take place than on the brink of spring in northern Minnesota?!
I loved the town traditions and the visiting of characters for the first time, but still feeling like they were people you've known your whole life!
This book is hugely a study on the sibling relationship and I loved exploring the intricacies of Liv and Gabe's estrangement and what elements were needed to bring them back together.
Publication Date: May 21
April 25, 2024
The Ahlstrom siblings have been estranged for 20 years. But they always get together for the big things: weddings, funerals, etc. When their older brother Mack dies and younger siblings Liv and Gabe get a strange timed email from him the next day, they end up heading back to their hometown and their family-run resort in Northern Minnesota to investigate what’s going on. It turns out not only has the town changed a great deal, but the family drama gets ramped up to 11. And it’s possible that all of these issues are what got their brother killed - and they could be next.
Matt Goldman is a terrific author, able to perfectly blend family stories and emotional drama with riveting mysteries and thrills. This book really showcases that, with the siblings working out their own issues and strained relationship, while coming together to solve the mystery of their brother’s death. It was really great.
I also did not see the ending coming! It was a great solution to the mystery, that really packed a punch, while allowing for plenty of twists and turns along the way.
And Liv and Gabe were both nice characters. I was rooting for them to work things out between themselves and in the various relationships in their lives. They were well-drawn and layered characters, who had issues but were worth rooting for. Their personal stories added depth to the overall story.
I highly recommend this book, and other books by Matt Goldman. He’s one of my favorite current writers!
Matt Goldman is a terrific author, able to perfectly blend family stories and emotional drama with riveting mysteries and thrills. This book really showcases that, with the siblings working out their own issues and strained relationship, while coming together to solve the mystery of their brother’s death. It was really great.
I also did not see the ending coming! It was a great solution to the mystery, that really packed a punch, while allowing for plenty of twists and turns along the way.
And Liv and Gabe were both nice characters. I was rooting for them to work things out between themselves and in the various relationships in their lives. They were well-drawn and layered characters, who had issues but were worth rooting for. Their personal stories added depth to the overall story.
I highly recommend this book, and other books by Matt Goldman. He’s one of my favorite current writers!
May 28, 2024
(2 1/2). I was turned on to Matt Goldman through the Nils Shapiro series. And although I don't think this story is up to quite that same level, it still is lots of fun. We have his usual Minnesota setting, and a myriad of interesting side characters. There is definitely a little too much sap but when it is interesting it stays that way. Twists and turns are frequent with the tiniest touch of violence and almost no sex. With those characteristics, the writing better be solid, and Goldman fills that bill. I will certainly be on the lookout for his next effort. Pretty good stuff.
May 20, 2024
After the death of their older brother, estranged siblings Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom return to the Northern Minnesota lake resort they grew up at. But they are getting warnings to leave. Their brother thought someone was trying to kill him, not there is a note on their door. When another person ends up dead, they decide to team up and figure it out. They are afraid that they could be next.
This may be a case where the audiobook narration negatively impacted my opinion of the overall book. I am not sure if the narrator, Helen Laser, was trying to force a Minnesotan accent or what. Sometimes it was fine. But especially male characters in dialogue were terrible. There is one mentally challenged character, but all of her male characters sounded like this.
As for the story itself, the dynamic between Liv and Gabe was weird. It made the story feel insincere. The overall premise was good. The execution- which I admitted could have been negatively impacted by the audio narration- was not as good.
I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
This may be a case where the audiobook narration negatively impacted my opinion of the overall book. I am not sure if the narrator, Helen Laser, was trying to force a Minnesotan accent or what. Sometimes it was fine. But especially male characters in dialogue were terrible. There is one mentally challenged character, but all of her male characters sounded like this.
As for the story itself, the dynamic between Liv and Gabe was weird. It made the story feel insincere. The overall premise was good. The execution- which I admitted could have been negatively impacted by the audio narration- was not as good.
I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2024
Goldman has become one of my favorite pleasures as a storyteller. His Nils Shapiro PI series is stunning. This book fell a bit off the mark for me; although, it still has some nice plotting, with twists I saw and did not see, a formidable Tone as Goldman’s Minnesota lake setting is superb as he describes the resort area, Leech Lake, and the climate, the décor of the resort and other homes, and the cornucopia of CHs. The CHs have their share of types which the author uses to great use as both red herrings and innovative imaginings. The two major CHs, “Irish Twins,” Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom are mourning their older brother Mack’s sudden death when they are suddenly thrust together to solve a conspiracy after many years of avoiding one another. The emotional reasons for their distance also includes their older brother and their past at their family’s lake resort. This is a journey worth taking on your own so I will not say more about the plot. There is an unevenness in the writing style in this book—more telling than showing especially with the siblings, and a departure in conversational style with Liv (yeah?) that I found jarring in the later half of the book as she took on more MN mannerisms. Not necessary. The dialogue is often very witty and the sibling’s involvement does seem organic as they wrestle with their collective and individual dilemmas. The handyman, sweet and kind Ed, is a contrast to the overly large and mean Judith and most of the laughs in this book come from and about her. I really enjoyed Goldman’s homage to lake living, his inclusion of nature details, like the flora, fauna descriptions and bird pairings. An interesting take on families for sure, and the motivation for the major culprit here was innovative. Goldman’s Carolina Moonset, another family mystery, is a better example of what he is capable of, and readalikes may be Jane Harper (Australian family/place); William Kent Krueger for the MN setting, Tone, and CH, and Shari Lapena’s Not a Happy Family. Red Flags: Violence; Animal violence; Vulgar language; Infidelity
April 24, 2024
Tor Publishing Group provided an early galley for review.
Goldman was another new author for me that I heard speak at a Mystery Writers Panel at PLA2024 early this month. His pitch to us for this one really grabbed my interest, so I wanted to check it out.
Right out of the gate, I like his writing style. He combines his Emmy-award winning comedic rhythms with a clear Midwest charm to pull the reader right into the narrative. It certainly worked on me. Of course, it helps that the plot has an interesting hook to drag you in as well. The relationship between the siblings and the whole small town homecoming vibe really hit the mark for me. I could completely relate on both of these elements.
I found myself quickly engaged with the mysterious circumstances in which Liv and Gave find themselves in the center. The pacing and structure kept me motivated to read "just one more chapter", taking me along to a satisfying resolution.
Goldman was another new author for me that I heard speak at a Mystery Writers Panel at PLA2024 early this month. His pitch to us for this one really grabbed my interest, so I wanted to check it out.
Right out of the gate, I like his writing style. He combines his Emmy-award winning comedic rhythms with a clear Midwest charm to pull the reader right into the narrative. It certainly worked on me. Of course, it helps that the plot has an interesting hook to drag you in as well. The relationship between the siblings and the whole small town homecoming vibe really hit the mark for me. I could completely relate on both of these elements.
I found myself quickly engaged with the mysterious circumstances in which Liv and Gave find themselves in the center. The pacing and structure kept me motivated to read "just one more chapter", taking me along to a satisfying resolution.
June 5, 2024
Found this as a”Lucky Day” book at my library. Any book that features my home state of Minnesota gets three stars no matter what! This murder mystery had some good “keep ya guessing” moments.
Liv and Gabe are sort of estranged siblings who grew up at a lake resort on Leech Lake, but after their parents died they left and don’t speak much anymore. When their older brother mysteriously dies, they are forced back together to reckon with what they remember about their past. They come back to the resort to discover multiple secrets.
I liked the plot and the characters - the only thing that niggled the back of my mind was the motive… it felt a little stretched and I had to draw a bit of a family tree to figure out how everyone was connected.
I’ll read more of this author- very quick read!
Liv and Gabe are sort of estranged siblings who grew up at a lake resort on Leech Lake, but after their parents died they left and don’t speak much anymore. When their older brother mysteriously dies, they are forced back together to reckon with what they remember about their past. They come back to the resort to discover multiple secrets.
I liked the plot and the characters - the only thing that niggled the back of my mind was the motive… it felt a little stretched and I had to draw a bit of a family tree to figure out how everyone was connected.
I’ll read more of this author- very quick read!
September 28, 2024
Two estranged siblings, Liv and Gabe, receive word that their older brother Mack has died. Shortly after learning of his death they both receive an email from Mack saying, "If you're reading this email I'm dead. I know this will sound strange but someone has been trying to kill me." The family owned a resort in northern Minnesota, now currently owned and managed by their father's brother. Gabe and Liv return to the family's resort on Leech Lake for a memorial service for Mack and learn that the family has a lot of dark secrets, and Gabe and Liv are now in the killer's sights.
I did guess the main twist midway through, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book regardless. I always enjoy a book set in Minnesota and Goldman's series set in the Twin Cities featuring former St. Paul police detective Nils Shapiro is among my favorites.
I did guess the main twist midway through, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book regardless. I always enjoy a book set in Minnesota and Goldman's series set in the Twin Cities featuring former St. Paul police detective Nils Shapiro is among my favorites.
February 17, 2025
Five minutes after estranged siblings Gabe and Liv were informed that their older brother was dead, they each received an email. "If you’re reading this email, I am dead. I know this will sound strange, but someone has been trying to kill me." This shocking opening to an intricate murder mystery sets the siblings on a journey that just may heal their relationship, or destroy it forever. Matt Goldman has plotted a twisty murder mystery anchored by an even "twistier" family drama (perhaps a little more convoluted than necessary for believability.) A fun read, especially if you love the idea of family run resorts in the north woods.
May 22, 2025
A suspenseful mystery set in a family lake resort in Minnesota. A sister and brother find out their older brother died unexpectedly, then receive a posthumous email from him the next day, saying he was murdered! They each fly back to MN, where they grew up and begin to uncover family secrets and unravel the circumstances of their brother's death. Lots of suspense and great on audio! I talk more about the novel in this video starting at 10:21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gteNo...
June 9, 2024
Probably a 3.5 but the northern MN lake setting bumped it up for me❤️
October 12, 2024
3.5 stars. I read this in preparation to see the author at WI festival. The story moved quickly, and it was an easy read. It was a "who dunnit" and I wasn't surprised.
March 16, 2025
Good plot just a little slow
April 18, 2025
3.5 stars
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