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Northern Lakes Mystery #2
Spider Lake: A Northern Lakes Mystery
A missing federal agent, suitcases full of cash, a secluded cabin in the woods. Spider Lake is no longer the peaceful retreat John Cabrelli needs to recover from his gunshot wounds and start a new life. Knowing Cabrelli is a former law enforcement officer, the new chief of police recruits him to help untangle a string of strange events in the little town of Musky Falls. Cabrelli and a colorful team of local residents land in the center of a fast-paced action thriller with a surprise ending that's sure to make your head spin.
In his Northern Lakes Mystery Series, award-winning author, conservationist, and retired decorated law enforcement officer Jeff Nania weaves together stories that keep readers wondering who is on the right side of the law in the small town of Musky Falls. Figure Eight, the first book in the series, was a winner of the Midwest Book Awards. The series continues with Spider Lake, winner of the Midwest Book Awards, Independent Publisher Book Awards, and Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and Bough Cutter. Book four is expected in late 2022. John Sanford, C. J. Box, William Kent Krueger, Dana Stabenow, Louise Penny, and Victoria Houston fans love this mystery series set in Wisconsin's Northwoods.
In his Northern Lakes Mystery Series, award-winning author, conservationist, and retired decorated law enforcement officer Jeff Nania weaves together stories that keep readers wondering who is on the right side of the law in the small town of Musky Falls. Figure Eight, the first book in the series, was a winner of the Midwest Book Awards. The series continues with Spider Lake, winner of the Midwest Book Awards, Independent Publisher Book Awards, and Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and Bough Cutter. Book four is expected in late 2022. John Sanford, C. J. Box, William Kent Krueger, Dana Stabenow, Louise Penny, and Victoria Houston fans love this mystery series set in Wisconsin's Northwoods.
292 pages, Paperback
Published December 18, 2019
273 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Nania
5 books150 followersJeff Nania draws upon careers in law enforcement, conservation, and his passion for our natural resources to weave together his award-winning Northern Lakes Mysteries. Whether he’s cutting wood, sitting in a wetland, fishing muskies, or snorkeling Spider Lake for treasure, Jeff spends as much time as possible outdoors.
Get "Autumn: a short story" when you sign-up at: https://feetwetwriting.com/.
Get "Autumn: a short story" when you sign-up at: https://feetwetwriting.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
November 30, 2023
Do I recommend it? Eh, do you live in Wisconsin? Minnesota? Work for a rural police or sheriff department? Then 100%, because there is absolutely something to seeing the people you see in your life reflected in your entertainment. Representation matters, and if you are the kind of solitary hunting-fishing person that lives in a small town and wants a book where people talk a lot like the ones you hear around you, there's a good chance you'll find it here.
"The days of spring in the north country are a reward after what is often a winter of knee-deep snow and bone-chilling cold. While both the human and the non-hibernators of the wildlife world still go about their business during the winter, it is different. Whether you're dressed for it or not, chatting with people you see on the street when it is below zero is challenging and necessarily brief. Often when people part, they say, 'See you in the spring.'"
For the mystery readers, I have to say that the mystery felt somewhat unsatisfying. The protagonist remains obtuse in the beginning, never a good spot to start from. Progress feels a little deux ex machina more than any particular skill or perseverance. Overall pacing was uneven, with the first chapter devoted to recovery from events in the first book, the next chapter an isolated incident, and the actual case not beginning until chapter 5. Extreme detail is given to relatively insignificant quiet moments, but then leaves out further details that could add emotional impact to important scenes. Unsurprisingly, after hints dropped in book one and early in this book, a romance develops, but it could be the most awkward book romance I've read. The mystery itself somewhat evolves into a multi-agency , and while I thought it was sort of interesting to take it that direction, that change interrupts the flow of the mystery.
Actually, this book made me think a great deal what it must be like to try to write a book without a lot of experience. There's a difference, you know, between the language we use for speech, that we use for our professions, and that we use for our entertainment reading. The language in this book still feels a like Nania is developing his voice. He's most lyrical describing the wilderness and wildlife but when it comes to dialogue, his prose is wooden. And that is, no doubt, because he's writing it as he hears it. Are you aware of how boring people's words are? Hugely boring, because so much other information is conveyed elsewhere. But you can't transcribe that as your dialogue and call it done, because no matter what the realism, it won't flow well for the reader. One of those weirdnesses in our mental lives, I suppose. Case in point:
"The storage building was a pole barn. Six by six timbers made up the support frame that held up the roof twelve feet above us. Everything about it said sturdy.
'Nick built this thing to store stuff. He said the workshop was for working on things, not storing things. He wired it but there's no insulation or heat or anything. It's pretty much the way he intended to leave it. He had the whole thing built out of 6x6s because if we got a heavy snow some winter, he didn't want the place falling in. I don't think it would have. It's got a metal roof, and snow slides off when it gets too heavy. But there is a guy over on the Chippewa Flowage, Seamus Ruwall, who collects and restores old wooden boats. After a real heavy wet snow, his building caved in and smashed his boats up pretty good. That building was a 4x4 frame. It didn't hold up and had a shingle roof. The insurance company hired me to clean things up and see if the building could be repaired. After a couple weeks whacking away at it, they decided it was a total loss. We got the boats out, or what was left of them..."
Was that passage germane? Not really. Did it add anything to the story? I'd argue 'no,' beyond the first couple of sentences. The character voice didn't get any further fleshed out by the rest of the story. The story itself didn't add anything to the plot (although I waited to see if it would). It's one of those things that distinguishes a great writer--or even, perhaps a good one--from a more workman-like one.
I'll call it two and a half cheese curds, rounding up for the conservation ethic and the Wisconsin representation. Yeppers, those folks feel real.
"The days of spring in the north country are a reward after what is often a winter of knee-deep snow and bone-chilling cold. While both the human and the non-hibernators of the wildlife world still go about their business during the winter, it is different. Whether you're dressed for it or not, chatting with people you see on the street when it is below zero is challenging and necessarily brief. Often when people part, they say, 'See you in the spring.'"
For the mystery readers, I have to say that the mystery felt somewhat unsatisfying. The protagonist remains obtuse in the beginning, never a good spot to start from. Progress feels a little deux ex machina more than any particular skill or perseverance. Overall pacing was uneven, with the first chapter devoted to recovery from events in the first book, the next chapter an isolated incident, and the actual case not beginning until chapter 5. Extreme detail is given to relatively insignificant quiet moments, but then leaves out further details that could add emotional impact to important scenes. Unsurprisingly, after hints dropped in book one and early in this book, a romance develops, but it could be the most awkward book romance I've read. The mystery itself somewhat evolves into a multi-agency , and while I thought it was sort of interesting to take it that direction, that change interrupts the flow of the mystery.
Actually, this book made me think a great deal what it must be like to try to write a book without a lot of experience. There's a difference, you know, between the language we use for speech, that we use for our professions, and that we use for our entertainment reading. The language in this book still feels a like Nania is developing his voice. He's most lyrical describing the wilderness and wildlife but when it comes to dialogue, his prose is wooden. And that is, no doubt, because he's writing it as he hears it. Are you aware of how boring people's words are? Hugely boring, because so much other information is conveyed elsewhere. But you can't transcribe that as your dialogue and call it done, because no matter what the realism, it won't flow well for the reader. One of those weirdnesses in our mental lives, I suppose. Case in point:
"The storage building was a pole barn. Six by six timbers made up the support frame that held up the roof twelve feet above us. Everything about it said sturdy.
'Nick built this thing to store stuff. He said the workshop was for working on things, not storing things. He wired it but there's no insulation or heat or anything. It's pretty much the way he intended to leave it. He had the whole thing built out of 6x6s because if we got a heavy snow some winter, he didn't want the place falling in. I don't think it would have. It's got a metal roof, and snow slides off when it gets too heavy. But there is a guy over on the Chippewa Flowage, Seamus Ruwall, who collects and restores old wooden boats. After a real heavy wet snow, his building caved in and smashed his boats up pretty good. That building was a 4x4 frame. It didn't hold up and had a shingle roof. The insurance company hired me to clean things up and see if the building could be repaired. After a couple weeks whacking away at it, they decided it was a total loss. We got the boats out, or what was left of them..."
Was that passage germane? Not really. Did it add anything to the story? I'd argue 'no,' beyond the first couple of sentences. The character voice didn't get any further fleshed out by the rest of the story. The story itself didn't add anything to the plot (although I waited to see if it would). It's one of those things that distinguishes a great writer--or even, perhaps a good one--from a more workman-like one.
I'll call it two and a half cheese curds, rounding up for the conservation ethic and the Wisconsin representation. Yeppers, those folks feel real.
May 13, 2022
Fast talking, fast action. Good little ending.
December 21, 2021
Wow, this is another great book set in the northern part of USA. Spider Lake by Jeff Nania is the second book about my new favorite character John Cabrelli. The writing is wonderful and the character development is great, just as great as the setting in musky country. I'm not much of a fisher but I feel a need to be out on the lakes trying to catch a musky or two when I read these books. The mysteries is well constructed and the people involved is interesting. I am so hooked on this new author I found thanks to @this_is_edelweiss I also have to thank #LittleCreekPress and #FeetWetWriting for giving me these books for review purposes. I also must thank @jeffnania for making this stuff up. I stongly recommend everyone to try this serie.
February 3, 2022
I enjoyed the northern WI setting and the mystery, which became more and more complex as the story progressed. The pace is a little slow with a lot of references to weaponry and musky fishing as well as long passages about bird habitats (apparently a subject that the author holds dear to his heart). My biggest complaint was the stilted dialogue (ex: "I am really excited about our date Saturday night, John... I will be glad to fix the jeep at your place....I am so excited I can hardly speak!") Who talks like that?
April 21, 2024
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We are back in Musky Falls with former Madison cop John Cabrelli. He is still recovering from the gunshot wounds he suffered in Book 1, Figure Eight. There are many ramifications to what happened in that book including some crimes still under investigation. The new police chief asks for John’s help as he tries to wrap up all the loose ends and new crimes that may still arise. Soon several Musky Falls locals are involved and John learns how much Spider Lake, the quiet restful place of his youth, has changed, and not for the good.
John Cabrelli is a flawed human being and he knows it. A mistake made on the job turned him into a different man. He is less confident, has nightmares, second-guesses himself, and is unsure of the path his life is supposed to take. Right now he just wants to relax at the cabin on Spider Lake that he inherited from his Uncle Nick, but he now knows his uncle’s death was murder and he has to find the killer before he will be able to have any peace. The author has surrounded his main character with interesting friends, colleagues, and residents of the small Wisconsin town. They are all developing naturally and the dialogue rings true to me.
I enjoy how Mr. Nania brings the beauty of The Northwoods of Wisconsin alive. Fishing on Spider Lake or just sitting on the dock with a cup of coffee sounds delightful. Sadly it seems criminals find the place delightful too.
The mystery has a slow build as the investigations develop and more clues fall into place. I got caught up in the story because it wasn’t just about trying to find the killer. We observed John’s daily life, enjoying the lake, trying to figure out the women in his life, and welcoming a group of student bird watchers trying to document the rare Kirtland Warbler. That being said all those things were surrounded by events that drove the investigation forward by the chief of police, the sheriff, John, and another civilian because other than themselves, they trusted no one. The suspense became intense when a request to an old friend blew open the case in a huge way. Suddenly I was unable to put this book down. It grabbed me and I stayed up late to finish the book. An exciting ending had me on the edge of my seat. An epilogue tells us the aftermath and sets up readers for the next book.
I had purchased this series for my husband and he loved it and had been after me to read them. I am so happy that I listened to him. Figure Eight was a compelling read and I couldn’t wait to read Spider Lake and now I have devoured that. I have Bough Cutter screaming at me from my TBR stack. I hope to read and review it soon.
We are back in Musky Falls with former Madison cop John Cabrelli. He is still recovering from the gunshot wounds he suffered in Book 1, Figure Eight. There are many ramifications to what happened in that book including some crimes still under investigation. The new police chief asks for John’s help as he tries to wrap up all the loose ends and new crimes that may still arise. Soon several Musky Falls locals are involved and John learns how much Spider Lake, the quiet restful place of his youth, has changed, and not for the good.
John Cabrelli is a flawed human being and he knows it. A mistake made on the job turned him into a different man. He is less confident, has nightmares, second-guesses himself, and is unsure of the path his life is supposed to take. Right now he just wants to relax at the cabin on Spider Lake that he inherited from his Uncle Nick, but he now knows his uncle’s death was murder and he has to find the killer before he will be able to have any peace. The author has surrounded his main character with interesting friends, colleagues, and residents of the small Wisconsin town. They are all developing naturally and the dialogue rings true to me.
I enjoy how Mr. Nania brings the beauty of The Northwoods of Wisconsin alive. Fishing on Spider Lake or just sitting on the dock with a cup of coffee sounds delightful. Sadly it seems criminals find the place delightful too.
The mystery has a slow build as the investigations develop and more clues fall into place. I got caught up in the story because it wasn’t just about trying to find the killer. We observed John’s daily life, enjoying the lake, trying to figure out the women in his life, and welcoming a group of student bird watchers trying to document the rare Kirtland Warbler. That being said all those things were surrounded by events that drove the investigation forward by the chief of police, the sheriff, John, and another civilian because other than themselves, they trusted no one. The suspense became intense when a request to an old friend blew open the case in a huge way. Suddenly I was unable to put this book down. It grabbed me and I stayed up late to finish the book. An exciting ending had me on the edge of my seat. An epilogue tells us the aftermath and sets up readers for the next book.
I had purchased this series for my husband and he loved it and had been after me to read them. I am so happy that I listened to him. Figure Eight was a compelling read and I couldn’t wait to read Spider Lake and now I have devoured that. I have Bough Cutter screaming at me from my TBR stack. I hope to read and review it soon.
April 4, 2022
The atmosphere, setting and surroundings are as much a character in this book as are the people. That is what draws me to this author. I love his books, the series and wonderfully written details throughout the book.
July 31, 2021
This is the second in the Northern Lakes Series which takes place in Wisconsin's Northwoods. It continues where the first book, "Figure 8" left off. The suspense and action ramps up in this novel as does the body count.
John Cabrelli, is now the appointed sheriff of the county. He replaces the the previous sheriff, who barely survived a shoot out that occurred at the end of the first book. He continues to search for his Uncle's killer as he does his daily policing duties. John is a very likeable, relatable character. Most of the major characters from the first book are here as well. I enjoyed encountering them again, especially Julie and "Bear.
The antagonist is a supremely dangerous, hired assassin. He has a tragic backstory which helps to humanize him to some extent.
I love the setting, and the depiction of the hardy, small town people. They are very independent with a great sense of community.
I will gladly follow up with the last book in this series.
John Cabrelli, is now the appointed sheriff of the county. He replaces the the previous sheriff, who barely survived a shoot out that occurred at the end of the first book. He continues to search for his Uncle's killer as he does his daily policing duties. John is a very likeable, relatable character. Most of the major characters from the first book are here as well. I enjoyed encountering them again, especially Julie and "Bear.
The antagonist is a supremely dangerous, hired assassin. He has a tragic backstory which helps to humanize him to some extent.
I love the setting, and the depiction of the hardy, small town people. They are very independent with a great sense of community.
I will gladly follow up with the last book in this series.
July 2, 2020
Refreshing mystery. I enjoy different settings...and the north woods of Wisconsin is a new venue.
July 8, 2024
This series is a nice easy read, with enjoyable plots and a lovely tribute to northern Wisconsin.
October 28, 2024
5 Stars. Book two outdid the first. John and company were even better. The mystery started in the first seems to be wrapped up. Things are looking up in the world created by Mr. Nania. I can’t wait to see where he takes us next. Bring it on Sheriff!Bring it on, Musky Falls.
August 5, 2021
Really enjoyed this book. Very interesting likeable main characters. Loved the descriptions of northern Wisconsin- an area I love
May 24, 2022
I didn't enjoy this second in series as much as the first one. It didn't keep my attention as well and I found it slightly unbelievable at times.
July 20, 2020
I've made it a point to read mysteries written by Wisconsin authors, especially if they feature the northwoods. Spider Lake is the second book featuring law enforcement officer John Cabrelli, but it was the first story to become available through WPLC/Overdrive, so it was my first exposure to Jeff Nania's writing. Despite being the second novel, I was able to catch up on carry-over details from the first and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In real life, Jeff Nania has worked in law enforcement and also in the environmental field. Both his police background and his love for Wisconsin's wonderful natural resources show through in this book. Main character John Cabrelli's love interest Julie played a somewhat secondary role in this tale, but I am hoping she will return in future books and perhaps play a stronger role. She seems to be quite interesting. I do believe she played a bigger role in the first book, so I will need to backtrack and read that one to learn more about her. Not sure why I enjoy reading crime stories set in the very same northwoods that I go to in order to find peace and relaxation, but I will be adding Jeff Nania to other authors like Victoria Houston.
January 25, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was another great read in the John Cabrelli series. In this one former cop John Cabrelli has to deal with Eastern European criminals in northern Wisconsin. People are going to die and now that I finished with this one I’m going on to book number three immediately.
This was another great read in the John Cabrelli series. In this one former cop John Cabrelli has to deal with Eastern European criminals in northern Wisconsin. People are going to die and now that I finished with this one I’m going on to book number three immediately.
November 3, 2020
The suspense in Spider Lake, the second northern lakes mystery by Jeff Nania, made me want to finish it to get all the answers and also made me hope it would never end! The familiar landscape, northwoods traditions and way of life, the love of the beautiful lakes and wildlife are all so much a part of my entire life and seeing it portrayed in these books brings up loads of great memories and dreams of more days spent in the north. Of course, now I might wonder what just might be going on right under our noses! ;-)
December 31, 2019
Book two in this series ramps up the tension and momentum the author firmly established in “Figure Eight,” book one in the series. Nania (again) weaves a plot that is both believable and complex, reflecting real-world scenarios where bad guys ply their criminal trade wherever they can. I love the juxtaposition of what appears to be the serene and calm Northwoods of Wisconsin with a violent criminal enterprise where murder is just the side effect of doing business. Nania has a winner with this series because he’s given us a multifaceted main character in John Cabrelli. He is likable and relatable with imperfections that are understandable given what we know of his past. Writing both the continuing plot line of Cabrelli’s life within the action of each book’s story is a challenge for series writers, and Nania has mastered this balance. Cannot wait for the next book!
December 29, 2019
In his second John Cabrelli Mystery novel, Spider Lake, Jeff continues to impress me with his ability to weave a plot with plenty of intrigue and action. Mix in beautiful Northern Wisconsin and the romance angle and it makes for a very entertaining read that gains momentum and is hard to put down. As a matter of fact, I finished the second half of the book in one afternoon. Keep them coming!
September 8, 2020
Great mystery set in the bucolic setting of Northern Michigan.
April 12, 2022
Oh noooooooo! The first book wasn't too bad. Enough that I thought I'd explore the second in this trilogy, but it was so much worse. Many are the same characters, but truly, most are idiots. John is pretty dense when it comes to women, and the relationship I thought might be "romantic" is, kind of, but isn't. Ugh. I do like that the central character John does recognize he's not perfect, and doesn't always do the right think. For that I'd up the rating to 2.5. I will probably read the third and last of this series, just to see if the story can redeem itself, but this is by far a horrible second installment to the first book.
March 4, 2023
Jeff Nania has the art of describing the North Country rural idyll of Wisconsin, then jumping heading into a thriller that has all the impact of that genre. In less than 300 pages, be also incorporates a love story and a (relatively) happy ending.
He achieves this by use of appropriate and not over worked language, with an obvious love & knowledge of the setting.
A previous life in Law Enforcement helps those parts to be credible and factual.
Bringing all this together in an engaging, thrilling and satisfying story, is a skill.
Can’t wait for number 3 and hopefully (??) more.
Ultimately unchallenging, but immensely pleasurable.
He achieves this by use of appropriate and not over worked language, with an obvious love & knowledge of the setting.
A previous life in Law Enforcement helps those parts to be credible and factual.
Bringing all this together in an engaging, thrilling and satisfying story, is a skill.
Can’t wait for number 3 and hopefully (??) more.
Ultimately unchallenging, but immensely pleasurable.
December 4, 2020
I've been looking forward to this book since reading Figure Eight and I wasn't disappointed. John continues to investigate the death of his uncle and in the process discovers a big time criminal operation in the north woods of WI. Not knowing who they can trust John, the sheriff and the chief of police enlist a few men they trust and take on the criminals. Bear is back to assist his friend John. Fast paced, well written by someone who knows the north woods of WI
November 18, 2021
This is the first novel I read by Jeff Nania. I live on a lake in Northern Wisconsin and his descriptions of the environment and small town life are pretty accurate. His crime tale is interesting and the area has had its share of scammers and small time crooks taking advantage of the "stump jumpers" who inhabit the area. I wish I liked the book but the writing is just too dead, lacking humor, heart and life. I finished the novel and for that it's worth 3 stars.
February 4, 2023
I love mystery books where you swear you have met the characters.
In Spider Lake Jeff Banks has done it again. The 2nd book in the Northern Lakes Mysteries builds on Figure Eights fantastic beginning and takes it to another level of character development and I for one can not wait to see what they do in the third installment Bough Cutter. I am sure it is going to be just what I need to continue my return to love of reading!~Mysteries are a Marvel
In Spider Lake Jeff Banks has done it again. The 2nd book in the Northern Lakes Mysteries builds on Figure Eights fantastic beginning and takes it to another level of character development and I for one can not wait to see what they do in the third installment Bough Cutter. I am sure it is going to be just what I need to continue my return to love of reading!~Mysteries are a Marvel
February 16, 2021
Average type of mystery, to me more like a police style teach-the-public-how-it’s-done pseudo-manual and too wordy on legal aspects.
Overall though it kept my interest and I liked the feel of Wisconsin (yep, born there) so an average ‘ole 3 star rating.
Overall though it kept my interest and I liked the feel of Wisconsin (yep, born there) so an average ‘ole 3 star rating.
July 20, 2023
I really liked the first book in this series (Figure 8), and am happy to see it continued.
Spider Lake is a god read. The story is complex enough to keep me interested and wanting to know what happens next, but not riddled with red herrings and blind alleys. There is also a very good balance between the crime/action and character development aspects of the story. I read a lot in crime and spy novels. In series, I do like to see the characters grow and change over time, and the first two books suggest that this approach will continue.
I did notice that some reviews commented on the style of the dialogue (I think one person suggested it might be a little stilted). I’ll just add that I spent the first half of my life in Wisconsin (and I’m not young) and the dialogue /conversation style seemed right to me for a lot of the rural areas there. Perhaps the dialogue had the characters including an extra dose of explanation compared to a “natural” conversation, but of course they are advancing a story. Anyway, either you like it or you don’t (or don’t really notice one way or another). Me, I kind of like it - and as I think about it now, I also like the unspoken sense of respect and civility that seems to underlie many of those interactions.
Disclosure: I listened to a draft of the audiobook version of Spider Lake (provided free of charge, but, no, I don’t know the author nor the publisher. Receipt of access to the audio download came as a surprise). I did buy Figure 8 myself, and would have bought the Spider Lake audio had I not been offered a draft).
Regarding the audio performance, was happy to find that the narration avoided my two pet peeves: very slow reading pace (the mind does wander), and nonexistent or poorly done character voices (necessary for keeping track of who is speaking when not reading from a printed page). I hope future books in the series will be out in audio soon, as there are two more already published in print.
Spider Lake is a god read. The story is complex enough to keep me interested and wanting to know what happens next, but not riddled with red herrings and blind alleys. There is also a very good balance between the crime/action and character development aspects of the story. I read a lot in crime and spy novels. In series, I do like to see the characters grow and change over time, and the first two books suggest that this approach will continue.
I did notice that some reviews commented on the style of the dialogue (I think one person suggested it might be a little stilted). I’ll just add that I spent the first half of my life in Wisconsin (and I’m not young) and the dialogue /conversation style seemed right to me for a lot of the rural areas there. Perhaps the dialogue had the characters including an extra dose of explanation compared to a “natural” conversation, but of course they are advancing a story. Anyway, either you like it or you don’t (or don’t really notice one way or another). Me, I kind of like it - and as I think about it now, I also like the unspoken sense of respect and civility that seems to underlie many of those interactions.
Disclosure: I listened to a draft of the audiobook version of Spider Lake (provided free of charge, but, no, I don’t know the author nor the publisher. Receipt of access to the audio download came as a surprise). I did buy Figure 8 myself, and would have bought the Spider Lake audio had I not been offered a draft).
Regarding the audio performance, was happy to find that the narration avoided my two pet peeves: very slow reading pace (the mind does wander), and nonexistent or poorly done character voices (necessary for keeping track of who is speaking when not reading from a printed page). I hope future books in the series will be out in audio soon, as there are two more already published in print.
November 11, 2020
"Spider Lake" is the second book in Wisconsin author Jeff Nania's Northern Lakes Mystery series and did not disappoint! First in the series was "Figure 8" after what a northern Wisconsin fisherman does with his Muskie lure at the end of a cast and retrieve right before he or she pulls the lure back up out of the water and back into the boat, giving a killer Muskie one last chance to attack the lure. It's this kind of extra detail that the author skillfully bring to his work. Characters are all genuine in this hypothetical Northern Wisconsin lake community; and least you think all rural folk are naive, uneducated and unskilled people, the reader will quickly see how their sense of community brings them and their abilities and skills all together to fight something even bigger than local drug problems and miscellaneous minor crimes. If you believe right concurs wrong, that love win, that special needs students are worth fighting for and Kirkland Warblers are important to mankind, then this is a must read for you. But read books in order, as this is shaping up to be a series with people you will come to love and know, even with all their problems and sometimes shortcomings, like your own family. And you'll want to canoe the clear waters of Northern Wisconsin in a hand-crafter birch canoe.
October 2, 2020
Spider Lake, by Jeff Nania, aptly offers the dichotomy between the quiet, simply beauty of life in Wisconsin’s NorthWoods and the vicious wickedness of the organized crime world in this riveting thrill ride. If you became acquainted with retired officer John Cabrelli in book one of the Northern Lakes Mystery Series, Figure Eight, you’ll come to know and understand him well in this second book. In spite of Cabrelli’s rugged and reticent ways, I think you’ll come to admire John as I have, and look upon him as a genuine friend you’ll want to keep in touch with. Nania depicts the natural world of woods and waters to remind the reader that it is these special places that are worth preserving, and that outside forces bent on destroying what is good in life, must be eradicated. Cabrelli is the hero we need right now --- a man who fights the good fight and risks his own life to rid the world of traffickers and murderers.
August 14, 2021
An enjoyable crime story (if there is such a thing) set in the north woods of Wisconsin on Spider Lake. If you hang around north woods old timers, much of what he writes about will be familiar; the fishing lures to the boats and vehicles and even how things get done in the country.
I have no idea what was in the author’s mind when he wrote Spider Lake but there seems to an underlying message about the power of local law enforcement and not discounting their instincts (they know the community and territory) and ability to rally for an unusual large scale case.
Jeff has had an interesting path to becoming a writer; law enforcement, conservation efforts and children’s programs. He’s a writer with just enough flair to suit me but not too much. I wish I had started with his first book however I will backup and read it next.
I have no idea what was in the author’s mind when he wrote Spider Lake but there seems to an underlying message about the power of local law enforcement and not discounting their instincts (they know the community and territory) and ability to rally for an unusual large scale case.
Jeff has had an interesting path to becoming a writer; law enforcement, conservation efforts and children’s programs. He’s a writer with just enough flair to suit me but not too much. I wish I had started with his first book however I will backup and read it next.
March 25, 2022
Jeff Nania has done it again with a successful sequel to Figure Eight, the primary work of the Northern Lakes Mystery Series.
We explored John Cabrelli's life a little more outside of law enforcement and how the career continues to draw and rope those back in so those who answer the call to serve can never quite leave. Nania dutifully describes the interworking's of law enforcement within a rural agency and across jurisdictions making a cop novel not the least bit cringe-worthy to read.
I wish Nania would add a strong female lead that is not rooted in caring for others i.e. Julie Carlson, the wives of Chief Bork or JJ Malone; or turning them into a victim i.e. the deceased female FBI agent. He does have a Lois as Chief Bork's secretary and Liz in charge of the best forensics team called in by Bear so he isn't completely lost on strong female characters in law enforcement.
We explored John Cabrelli's life a little more outside of law enforcement and how the career continues to draw and rope those back in so those who answer the call to serve can never quite leave. Nania dutifully describes the interworking's of law enforcement within a rural agency and across jurisdictions making a cop novel not the least bit cringe-worthy to read.
I wish Nania would add a strong female lead that is not rooted in caring for others i.e. Julie Carlson, the wives of Chief Bork or JJ Malone; or turning them into a victim i.e. the deceased female FBI agent. He does have a Lois as Chief Bork's secretary and Liz in charge of the best forensics team called in by Bear so he isn't completely lost on strong female characters in law enforcement.
August 17, 2024
I was fortunate to win this book in a mystery package from Blackbirds Writers. The first 4 of the Northern Lakes Mysteries by Jeff Nania was part of the prize. This is the second. I enjoyed gettinng to know the characters and local in the first book and this one carried on. The writer is a former police officer and native of the area. This book concerned John Cabrelli, a retired dective, further working on the death of his uncle, who left him the property where he now resides. Follows is a very detailed procedural in a lovely area. The only problem I had was trying to keep all the characters straight! Overall it is a pretty fast story that holds your attention. The best part - it is like a solved police case and wraps up all the loose ends!!!! Looking forward to the next installment.
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