November Rain

Carl Houseman #6

by Donald Harstad

Carl Houseman, the deputy sheriff of rural Nation County, Iowa, leaves home to enter the world of international intrigue in the sixth in Donald Harstad's critically acclaimed series.

Houseman's daughter, Jane, has been studying abroad in the UK. When her best friend Emma Schiller has been kidnapped, Houseman, desperate to protect his daughter and help her friend, accepts Scotland Yard's invitation to take him on as a consultant.

Emma's trail leads to the door of her former professor—and ex-lover—Dr. Robert Northwood, whose impassioned activism on behalf of a pair of Muslim political prisoners has landed him unwittingly in cahoots with a cadre of dangerous individuals. It seems like a simple hoax, except that if Houseman doesn't track down the professor's co-conspirators, the consequences will be anything but simple—and the harm that will result could be global in Harstad's gripping new installment in his outstanding series.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Police, Crime, Procedural

306 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Donald Harstad is a twenty-six-year veteran of the Clayton County Sheriff's Department in northeastern Iowa, and the author of the acclaimed novels Eleven Days and Known Dead. A former deputy sheriff, Harstad lives with his wife, Mary, in Elkader, Iowa. (From Random House website.)

Reviews

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all of Harstad’s books and liked them immensely. (full disclosure: Harstad was the chief deputy sheriff in an Iowa county close by, and I had invited him to speak at the college regarding immigration issues quite a few years ago; he’s a delightful man.) This one I had postponed reading because I shy away from books where the protagonist is transported to a foreign country and immediately seems to know his way around the culture solving crimes right and left. Michael Connelly (I’m a big fan) did this with Bosch in Nine Dragons, which was dreadful. I should not have worried, for Harstad creates a very plausible relationship between New Scotland Yard and the deputy's presence. It all makes sense and Houseman doesn't tear around trampling on the locals or their customs. 

Anyway, Carl Houseman is conned by the Sheriff and other locals into traveling to England from Iowa to see what he might be able to find out about the disappearance of Emma Schiller. Thanks to interspersed chapters detailing what is happening to Emma, we know she has been kidnapped, although the precise reason is unclear. Except that after she has been taped with a message, she is to be killed. 

I was disappointed to see that Harstad's editors did not do him justice. There are a couple total non-sequitors and errors any competent copy editor would have found. In one case they leave his daughters past midnight only to arrive back at the hotel by 10 pm. 

 I hope Harstad gets back to writing and returns us to northeastern Iowa.

[Curt R · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first Harstad book I have read. The story was interesting but I give it the low rating due to all the editing issues that distracted from it. There were many typos, places where the character names where not correct, inconsistencies on how characters referred to things, and timing issues. If this book had been thoroughly gone through before publishing I would have given it a much better rating but the errors throughout were too frustrating.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so sorry to report that even though I LOVED his first 5 novels, this one was not even in the same realm...his last book was released in 2003 and they were all set in rural Iowa, he was solving murders and they were very enjoyable. He must have decided to branch out and had his main character travel to the UK to look into a local girl's disappearance. I DID NOT enjoy all the talk and story line involving terrorists and radical suicide bombers...had Mr Harstad NOT written this, I would not have continued past the first few chapters...but I was hopeful through most of it that it might redeem itself and I might be able to say I loved this one as well, but unfortunately no. I regret buying this one, but I suppose I will get it signed if he ever ventures back to Decorah. I have his other 5 all signed from his last trip here. IF you loved his last 5, don't expect this one to be the same.

[Colene Chebuhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked on author Donald Harstad after reading his first book, Eleven Days, in a series about Carl Houseman a deputy sheriff in rural Iowa. November Rain is the sixth in the series and I do hope it isn't Harstad's last book. In November Rain Houseman steps out of his box and travels to the UK to assist Scotland Yard as a consultant in solving the mystery of his daughter's roommate's disappearance. Harstad's ability to insert humor in the most devastating circumstances is remarkable.

[Danell DeBacker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Donald Harstad and have read all of his books. They are down to earth, relatable crime novels, especially for a reader from the same area of Iowa the majority of the stores are set in. November Rain was a little less believable. Who is really going to send a small town Deputy Sherriff to London to keep tabs on New Scotland Yard? Is New Scotland Yard really going to let said small town Deputy Sherriff within a mile of their investigation.

The story does provide plenty of good, ol' Carl Houseman, tied in with some timely "ripped from the headlines" style concerns. Concerns that would rarely be found in rural Iowa (which they were in a previous novel, so time to move that plot to different shores). I was missing Hester Gorse this go around. They managed to get the local County Attorney to tag along so why not a Iowa Bureau of Investigation agent?

November Rain one was not the best from Harstad, but I am going to chalk some of that up to poor editing. I know that his original publisher closed up shop leaving some manuscripts blowing in the wind. I believe that this was one of them. There were some obvious errors in both spelling, grammar, etc., but also in the story continuity. However, you know what he is getting at and it doesn't leave gaps in the story so you can overlook them.

[Dan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carl Houseman, the deputy sheriff of rural Nation County, Iowa, leaves home to enter the world of international intrigue in the sixth in Donald Harstad's critically acclaimed series.

Houseman's daughter, Jane, has been studying abroad in the UK. When her best friend Emma Schiller has been kidnapped, Houseman, desperate to protect his daughter and help her friend, accepts Scotland Yard's invitation to take him on as a consultant.

Emma's trail leads to the door of her former professor--and ex-lover--Dr. Robert Northwood, whose impassioned activism on behalf of a pair of Muslim political prisoners has landed him unwittingly in cahoots with a cadre of dangerous individuals. It seems like a simple hoax, except that if Houseman doesn't track down the professor's co-conspirators, the consequences will be anything but simple--and the harm that will result could be global

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad to visit Carl Houseman again, and while I'm not sure this is quite the page turner that I'm used to in this series, it's getting a four. It was fun to see Carl out of his usual Iowa backdrop, unofficially solving a crime in London. The two kidnappers/terrorists were interesting characters--one never wants to feel sympathetic towards that type, but the more humane of the two offered an opportunity for insight into someone who got in way over his head. It was a long time coming, and a good read.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of Donald Harstad's books are really good, this one is as well. That being said, I agree with another poster that the editing was non-existent. It was a bit distracting. Houseman, the awesome deputy sheriff that he is, seems to be able to somehow do a little bit of time traveling, arriving at the tube to find it closed at midnight, then go back to the hotel, get called immediately back out and then arrive at another destination also at midnight. Still entertaining though.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I very rarely do this, but I had to DNF this one at page 138. There were too many typos and misused punctuation. I couldn’t handle how a lot of the characters had multiple names (they were terrorists with names and code names). Made it too many people to keep straight. And the dialogue felt clunky. Wasn’t keeping my interest and I have other books on my TBR list to read!

[Jennifer]

It started off a little weird--why is a writer of police procedurals in rural Iowa writing about a professor in London? But once Carl Houseman came on scene, it was just as enjoyable as the rest of his books. I hope he writes more.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good getaway read for a vacation get-a-way - Both the genre and the story. I was a different 'trip' for Carl Houseman.

[Sandy Carmichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good international murder mystery; I enjoyed the solving between USA and England; plus main character is from Iowa---me, too.

[Susanfxtrt Engle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting - can't stop reading

The humor and plot just get better and better in the Deputy Sheriff's life. The trip to England was very exciting!

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ despite all the editing issues.

[Jim Mcmanus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harstad moves his character to London very well, very good thriller.

[Jon Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved previous Harstad books, but this one wasn't up to par.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The setup chapters made me think I was not going to like this, but once Deputy Houseman was on the scene, I quite enjoyed it. I must say, though, that it was the worst-proofread book I've ever borrowed from a library, and even earlier in the publishing process, there was inadequate copy-editing, as "waved" and "waving" (referring to the gesture) were spelled as though they were forms of "waive" throughout the book.

[Mary Davidsaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harstad has taken his brand of police procedural and pushed it past the boundaries of a small Midwestern county. Instead of the bad guys visiting Iowa, the seasoned deputy sheriff visits UK terrorists in London proper. Without his usual cast of characters for backup, Carl Houseman must rely on MI5 and the Metropolitan police to help with his mission and protect his family. When the dust settles, Carl and the new versions of Mrs. Peel and Mr. Steed have the situation under control.

[Jon Koebrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. I have enjoyed all of Harstad's books but this may be the best. This book builds suspense well to the end, creates memorable, interesting characters and captures the way Midwesterners actually think. The only disappointment is that I have now read all of Harstad's book. He has proudly represented Iowa with his books. Highly recommended reading.

[Debbie Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Carl Houseman never disappoints brilliant story griped from start to finish would highly recommend please please put all of this author's other book on kindle you want be able to put them down

[Bonnie Dykhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not read this author or series before and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Joan Husmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I liked his previous books, I just couldn't get into this one. Ended up reading two beginning chapters, two middle chapters, and the end.

[Curt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Harstad's novels, my only real complaint was the many spelling and grammatical errors in my copy. Proof reading anyone.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review submitted to Suspense Magazine.

[David B. Haugen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Hero

After discovering Donald Harstad, I feel as though I have gotten to know Carl quite well. It helps that I grew up in a small Iowa town like Maitland. Harstad's characters seem to come alive on the page. I look forward to more of Carl's exploits.