Muskie Falls

Frank Yakabuski #4

by Ron Corbett

Frank Yakabuski Mystery Series Book 4 by Edgar®-nominated author Ron Corbett.

Have you ever looked into the eyes of a cold-blooded killer?

In this throw-back mystery, Frank Yakabuski is on his first case. High on the Northern Divide, in the mill town of Muskie Falls, a man loved by no one has been murdered behind a run-down hotel. The cops soon have four good suspects, men who were with the murdered man the night he was beaten to death, and likely know what happened.

But to the cop’s surprise, and growing frustration, none of the men will talk. Threats, promises, old-fashioned police grilling by a seasoned inspector, nothing gets the men to tell what they know.

As the investigation stalls, a killer with a vendetta against Yakabuski is on his way to Muskie Falls. He’s the one who started the investigation, the one who brought the young Yakabuski to the attention of the inspector. And he’s the deadly predator who will end the investigation, in a shocking confrontation that will leave the murder unsolved.

For twenty-one years. Until the reason the four good suspects never talked is finally revealed, in a final, heart-breaking plot twist that will leave you thinking and wondering about a place called Muskie Falls for days to come.

Take a return trip to the Northern Divide, where the villains are as out-of-scale as the rivers and the fish, and tough men always seem to find a way to surprise you. A classic noir tale that will keep you guessing to the final page. Yak is back.
Get MUSKIE FALLS, the fourth book in the FRANK YAKABAKUSKI MYSTERY SERIES, a dark northern noir thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover.

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Genres: Mystery

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2023

About the author

Ron Corbett is the author of the Danny Barrett thrillers (published by Berkley) considered “ … a dynamite new series debut … ” by the (New York Times Book Review). Ron is also the Edgar® and Arthur Ellis® nominated author of the Frank Yakabuski mystery series. Set on the Northern Divide, the Yakabuski series has been called “Truly captivating” (Publishers Weekly) “Soulful” (Kirkus Reviews) and “A series with a long life ahead.” (Globe and Mail).

A former radio host and newspaper columnist, Ron’s first book of fiction was Ragged Lake, the debut novel in the Frank Yakabuski mystery series, and an Edgar Award nominee for Best Original Paperback.

The father of four, Ron is married to award-winning photo-journalist Julie Oliver and still lives in his hometown of Ottawa, Canada, where he writes the Yakabuski stories from the study of a century-old house, “not far from a good river.”

Reviews

[A.M. Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first novel in Ron Corbett’s Detective Yakabuski series, Ragged Lake, revealed that Corbett was a born storyteller. With Muskie Falls, the fourth novel in the series, his story-telling virtuosity becomes even clearer. Muskie Falls is equal parts riveting mystery and stylistic tour-de-force. The plot unfolds on the fictionalized Northern Divide, an unforgettable locale, perfectly rendered. If you’re looking for a mystery delivered with nuanced authenticity and the rip-roaring drive of a northern river, look no further.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spare but effective language, clever phrases and similes.
An unsolved murder linked to two other murders, making it somewhat challenging to follow at times.
Action takes place somewhere in north central Ontario but annoyingly Corbett doesn’t supply enough clues to guess where, exactly? I find that an unnecessary tease. Why not just place the setting in a real location and then make the necessary disclaimers?
Spends perhaps too much time interviewing the suspects, perhaps necessary to demonstrate why the murder remained unsolved, but became a bit tedious.
Still, a page turner.

Corbett is a Canadian writer from Ottawa and deserves readers. I’m going to give another of his books a go.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Yakabuski regales a reporter with the story about the first murder case he worked on, before he was a detective and how it was unsolved. He starts from the beginning and after, 21 years later, he thinks he knows who did it.
I love this character and I have no idea why. It might just be the setting of the novels or the pace of the story or just everything. So happy to be able to read them via Kindle Unlimited.

[Jean-Francois Delorme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, seemed a bit slower than his other books, a bit of a neat storytelling aspect to it. Very nicely wrapped up and had that feel good ending you wanted.

Another good Yak mystery!

[Brad Beattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Mr.Corbett for another amazing novel .

[Roger Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good story. I managed to figure out who the murderer was, but, like the detectives, I could not figure out how. An overall easy, light, but good read.

[Sass Amundsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Atmospheric, compelling.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Canadian setting.

[Jackie Martello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Book! Every bit as good as the first book in the series and definitely my favorite. I guessed the ending kinda early but no matter. Loved the ending! Ron Corbett is a great writer!

[Zguba Salemenska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery. Very atmospheric.

[Po · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nicely done story that comes together in a very poignant way at the end. Corbett can write and he's a fine story teller.