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Woods Cop #9
Killing a Cold One
Every fall in northern Michigan brings a spate of dogman sightings. A radio DJ’s invention, the dogman was created as an attention-getting joke. But millions of Michiganders believe in angels and vampires, werewolves, Bigfoot . . . and the dogman. Late summer, the mutilated bodies of two Native American girls are found in a tent in a remote campground in the Huron Mountains. Grady Service, who wants nothing more than to return to patrolling his beloved Mosquito Wilderness, is called into the case. Strange animal tracks are found, mayhem ensues, a bloody trail of victims begins to accumulate, and the governor, in a political panic and on her way out of office, orders Grady to hunt down and eliminate the killer—be it man or beast.
From the author called “a master of his form” comes the ninth Grady Service Mystery, a chilling and action packed novel in which Joseph Heywood’s legendary wilderness detective must use all of his investigative knowledge, woodcraft, and tracking sills to sort fantasy from reality.
From the author called “a master of his form” comes the ninth Grady Service Mystery, a chilling and action packed novel in which Joseph Heywood’s legendary wilderness detective must use all of his investigative knowledge, woodcraft, and tracking sills to sort fantasy from reality.
441 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
98 people are currently reading
861 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Heywood
50 books189 followersSee also Joe T. Heywood
Joseph Heywood is the son of a career USAF officer. His dad was from Rhinecliff, New York on the Hudson River in Dutchess County, and his mother is from Mize, Mississippi in Sullivan County. His mother’s maiden name was Hegwood and she had only to change one letter to convert to her married name.
He is a 1961 graduate of Rudyard High School in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (Chippewa County). Played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track.
1965 graduate of Michigan State University (BA-Journalism). Joseph played on the Michigan State Lacrosse Club for three years, crease attack, tri-captain in 1965. He was in the last class of mandatory ROTC for land grant universities and predictably chose the Air Force.
In 1965, he married Sandra V. Heywood (1943-2002) of East Lansing. Five children, one dog. Widower.
1965-1970, USAF Instructor Navigator, KC-135 tanker, honorably discharged as captain. Vietnam veteran. Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Graduate studies, Western Michigan University, 1974-75, completed course work for MA in English Literature; no degree.
Joseph worked for The Upjohn Company [now Pfizer], 1970-2000, retiring as vice president for worldwide public relations.
He walks every day in all weather conditions, and have hunted and fished Michigan since 1958, mostly alone.
Joseph Heywood's Woods Cop mysteries are based on the lives of Upper Peninsula conservation officers, and for going on seven years has spent about one month a year on patrol with officers, in all kinds of weather, all times of day and under sundry conditions. He worked in all 15 Upper Peninsula Counties as well as in another 15-16 counties BTB (Below the Bridge).
In preparation for work with COs, he often hikes alone at night (flashlight for emergencies) using only ambient light. He has spent nights alone in jungles and on mountains. Has canoe-camped in Michigan, Missouri and Arkansas, over the years he has had one close encounter with a wolf (six feet away in tag alders on the Iron River), and with a cow elk and her calf (in Idaho). Too many close meetings with black bears to count, no injuries.
He loves to take photographs while walking, hiking and fishing, and use some of the pix for his paintings.
Joseph always carry a ruck with emergency equipment, compass, etc. even for short sorties on foot in the U.P. It’s too easy to get under cedars and old growth in an overcast and get hopelessly turned around. He does not use a GPS. "When it comes to lost in the woods there seem to be two categories of people: Them that have been and them that will be. Iron ore deposits can make compass navigation interesting…."
The Upper Peninsula is not just a setting and base for Joseph Heywood but serves as a character in many of his novels. "When I write, I try to take readers to places and events in the U.P. they might not have occasion to visit or experience on their own. For me, the U.P. is a natural jewel and I am always surprised by how little people from BTB know about it."
"The day we arrived in the U.P. to report to Kinross Air Force Base (later renamed Kincheloe, and since decommissioned) my mother cried as we drove up the several-mile two-lane to the front gate; looking at all the woods passing by, I had a feeling I was coming home."
Joseph Heywood is the son of a career USAF officer. His dad was from Rhinecliff, New York on the Hudson River in Dutchess County, and his mother is from Mize, Mississippi in Sullivan County. His mother’s maiden name was Hegwood and she had only to change one letter to convert to her married name.
He is a 1961 graduate of Rudyard High School in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (Chippewa County). Played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track.
1965 graduate of Michigan State University (BA-Journalism). Joseph played on the Michigan State Lacrosse Club for three years, crease attack, tri-captain in 1965. He was in the last class of mandatory ROTC for land grant universities and predictably chose the Air Force.
In 1965, he married Sandra V. Heywood (1943-2002) of East Lansing. Five children, one dog. Widower.
1965-1970, USAF Instructor Navigator, KC-135 tanker, honorably discharged as captain. Vietnam veteran. Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Graduate studies, Western Michigan University, 1974-75, completed course work for MA in English Literature; no degree.
Joseph worked for The Upjohn Company [now Pfizer], 1970-2000, retiring as vice president for worldwide public relations.
He walks every day in all weather conditions, and have hunted and fished Michigan since 1958, mostly alone.
Joseph Heywood's Woods Cop mysteries are based on the lives of Upper Peninsula conservation officers, and for going on seven years has spent about one month a year on patrol with officers, in all kinds of weather, all times of day and under sundry conditions. He worked in all 15 Upper Peninsula Counties as well as in another 15-16 counties BTB (Below the Bridge).
In preparation for work with COs, he often hikes alone at night (flashlight for emergencies) using only ambient light. He has spent nights alone in jungles and on mountains. Has canoe-camped in Michigan, Missouri and Arkansas, over the years he has had one close encounter with a wolf (six feet away in tag alders on the Iron River), and with a cow elk and her calf (in Idaho). Too many close meetings with black bears to count, no injuries.
He loves to take photographs while walking, hiking and fishing, and use some of the pix for his paintings.
Joseph always carry a ruck with emergency equipment, compass, etc. even for short sorties on foot in the U.P. It’s too easy to get under cedars and old growth in an overcast and get hopelessly turned around. He does not use a GPS. "When it comes to lost in the woods there seem to be two categories of people: Them that have been and them that will be. Iron ore deposits can make compass navigation interesting…."
The Upper Peninsula is not just a setting and base for Joseph Heywood but serves as a character in many of his novels. "When I write, I try to take readers to places and events in the U.P. they might not have occasion to visit or experience on their own. For me, the U.P. is a natural jewel and I am always surprised by how little people from BTB know about it."
"The day we arrived in the U.P. to report to Kinross Air Force Base (later renamed Kincheloe, and since decommissioned) my mother cried as we drove up the several-mile two-lane to the front gate; looking at all the woods passing by, I had a feeling I was coming home."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
April 4, 2023
In honor of my Michigan-born son-in-law, I decided to read another of these Woods Cop mysteries that are set in his home state. They feature "Woods Cop" Grady Service who patrols the Mosquito Wilderness area of that state. Though his official job is as a conservation officer, he always seems to get drawn into investigations of murders and that is the case once again in Killing a Cold One.
This one was a rather complicated story; moreover, there are a LOT of characters and I sometimes found it a bit difficult to keep them all straight. This was not made any easier by the author being inconsistent in the names that he used for them. Every character seemed to have at least three names and each of those names might be applied to him/her at different points in the narrative. Color me confused.
The story involved the violent killing and mutilation of two Native American girls. Their bodies were found in a tent in a remote area of the Huron Mountains and nearby there were strange, unidentified animal tracks. The governor of the state, nearing the end of her term in office, orders Grady to hunt down and kill the animal that made those tracks.
Is the creature a dogman? There are many in the area who believe that such an animal exists. There are also many who believe in Bigfoot, werewolves, vampires, and angels, but there haven't been any verified sightings of any of them either. Investigating what made the tracks and what might have killed the women takes Grady into some of the Upper Peninsula's harshest terrain.
In this book, we get to know Tuesday Friday (yes, that's actually the name the author gave her) who is a coworker and potential romantic interest of Grady's and we spend a lot of time with woodsman Limpy Allerdyce who speaks in what I'm guessing is the patois of the area which sometimes gave me pause when trying to figure out what he was saying.
It's interesting that I actually found Allerdyce a more likable and relatable character than Grady, who sometimes behaves like a bit of a jerk. But the two of them, along with Tuesday, do make a rather effective team and justice is served in the end.
This one was a rather complicated story; moreover, there are a LOT of characters and I sometimes found it a bit difficult to keep them all straight. This was not made any easier by the author being inconsistent in the names that he used for them. Every character seemed to have at least three names and each of those names might be applied to him/her at different points in the narrative. Color me confused.
The story involved the violent killing and mutilation of two Native American girls. Their bodies were found in a tent in a remote area of the Huron Mountains and nearby there were strange, unidentified animal tracks. The governor of the state, nearing the end of her term in office, orders Grady to hunt down and kill the animal that made those tracks.
Is the creature a dogman? There are many in the area who believe that such an animal exists. There are also many who believe in Bigfoot, werewolves, vampires, and angels, but there haven't been any verified sightings of any of them either. Investigating what made the tracks and what might have killed the women takes Grady into some of the Upper Peninsula's harshest terrain.
In this book, we get to know Tuesday Friday (yes, that's actually the name the author gave her) who is a coworker and potential romantic interest of Grady's and we spend a lot of time with woodsman Limpy Allerdyce who speaks in what I'm guessing is the patois of the area which sometimes gave me pause when trying to figure out what he was saying.
It's interesting that I actually found Allerdyce a more likable and relatable character than Grady, who sometimes behaves like a bit of a jerk. But the two of them, along with Tuesday, do make a rather effective team and justice is served in the end.
September 16, 2013
I received this book through a GoodReads give-away.
Grab a blanket... and a spreadsheet.
I like dark & complex stories. But every character in this book (except Nerf & Cat) has a 1st name, a last name and at least one nick-name...and all are used interchangably and without consistency. And there are a lot of characters in this book. It made for some slow reading (for me), trying to figure out who the author was writing about. Normally, the various names for a single character gel for me around 15 to 20% of the way into a book, but the characters kept coming into to story like a blizzard, so it was a constant effort (for me) keeping everyone straight in my mind.
Some of the characters seemed to have super powers (especially for their age).
Also, there was a lot of local dialect/idioms used in the telling of the story....without a glossary, I just had to guess at what they were saying from context. A small irritation. But not nearly as tough as James Doss's "internal chatter".
The story itself was a gory one and somewhat incredible. I don't mind gore (unless its in my kitchen) and there was lot of it, so pass on this book if you are at all squeamish. The tidbits of Indian lore throughout the book were interesting as were the war references. But there seemed to be no real focus. There was a lot of traveling as well...Arizona, Missouri, Wyoming, Wisconsin, etc. The story took place over a period of 5 to 6 months, but really??? That's a generous budget for a state conservation office (tho' the State Governor okayed it). Also somewhat incredible was the cooperation between all the various law enforcement offices (within the State, I know, the Governor ordered it), but throughout the upper mid-west and all the different Indian reservations visited? Really??
I'll stick with Joe Pickett in the future. Killing a Cold One just left me confused.
Grab a blanket... and a spreadsheet.
I like dark & complex stories. But every character in this book (except Nerf & Cat) has a 1st name, a last name and at least one nick-name...and all are used interchangably and without consistency. And there are a lot of characters in this book. It made for some slow reading (for me), trying to figure out who the author was writing about. Normally, the various names for a single character gel for me around 15 to 20% of the way into a book, but the characters kept coming into to story like a blizzard, so it was a constant effort (for me) keeping everyone straight in my mind.
Some of the characters seemed to have super powers (especially for their age).
Also, there was a lot of local dialect/idioms used in the telling of the story....without a glossary, I just had to guess at what they were saying from context. A small irritation. But not nearly as tough as James Doss's "internal chatter".
The story itself was a gory one and somewhat incredible. I don't mind gore (unless its in my kitchen) and there was lot of it, so pass on this book if you are at all squeamish. The tidbits of Indian lore throughout the book were interesting as were the war references. But there seemed to be no real focus. There was a lot of traveling as well...Arizona, Missouri, Wyoming, Wisconsin, etc. The story took place over a period of 5 to 6 months, but really??? That's a generous budget for a state conservation office (tho' the State Governor okayed it). Also somewhat incredible was the cooperation between all the various law enforcement offices (within the State, I know, the Governor ordered it), but throughout the upper mid-west and all the different Indian reservations visited? Really??
I'll stick with Joe Pickett in the future. Killing a Cold One just left me confused.
March 20, 2019
A great read as always with Heywood. This book gives the reader a good incite to the job our C O’s are asked to.
August 10, 2016
This is the 9th book in the series, so if you've never read a "woodscop mystery" this isn't the place to start - there is history with the characters that would be lost on a reader just jumping into the series.
March 12, 2014
This wasn't as good as previous books in the series. Although the story was good, it dragged out a bit and the ending was sudden/anti-climatic. I'm still shaking my head over a few missing details.
April 1, 2018
Good story with all the usual strange people that inhabit this part of Michigan. A little too long and drawn out for me, but I stuck with it. Although the people living there, their environment, eccentricities and even strange speech patterns are all no doubt accurate, it does take some time to get used to it.
I have read all the Woods Cops books in order and I think that is necessary and more enjoyable for sure. You really get to know the recurring characters. I love Allerdyce (even while still trying to figure out what the heck he's saying) and you learn a lot more about him in this book. I really, really miss Nance and Walter and wish that book had never happened!! I'm warming up to Friday, although I really don't see her as a good match for Grady.
The story was a bit all over the place but intriguing. However, I did find the ending forced, just to give it an extra little 'twist' when you thought it was a wrap. I think I would have preferred ending before this unnecessary twist but writers just like to get in that final little surprise and "aha" moment don't they? ;-)
This is a great series (start from the beginning) and I will be picking up the next one for sure. The only book I did not like and the only one I did not finish was "Death Roe". That was a big miss for me.
I have read all the Woods Cops books in order and I think that is necessary and more enjoyable for sure. You really get to know the recurring characters. I love Allerdyce (even while still trying to figure out what the heck he's saying) and you learn a lot more about him in this book. I really, really miss Nance and Walter and wish that book had never happened!! I'm warming up to Friday, although I really don't see her as a good match for Grady.
The story was a bit all over the place but intriguing. However, I did find the ending forced, just to give it an extra little 'twist' when you thought it was a wrap. I think I would have preferred ending before this unnecessary twist but writers just like to get in that final little surprise and "aha" moment don't they? ;-)
This is a great series (start from the beginning) and I will be picking up the next one for sure. The only book I did not like and the only one I did not finish was "Death Roe". That was a big miss for me.
October 19, 2024
I have been bemoaning that there were no more Woods Cop novels; a series that I've loved. And lo; what did I find by looking at the book list for Mr. Heywood? THIS BOOK! And I'm glad I did. It was as good as any in the series. And there are three more to be read. (You can picture me gleefully rubbing my hands together with a visage of maniacal anticipation towards reading these books.)
We have the usual characters; Grady, Tuesday Friday (any relation to Joe?) and a platoon of secondary characters of other woods cops, cops and former cops. And Limpy, who is never secondary. If you don't know who Limpy is and you like cop stories, outdoors stories and relationship stories then you need to READ THE BOOK!
Though typical of the Woods Cop stories in many ways this one goes above and beyond in several ways. Grady has a horrible conundrum to deal with and he needs all the help he can get.
We have the usual characters; Grady, Tuesday Friday (any relation to Joe?) and a platoon of secondary characters of other woods cops, cops and former cops. And Limpy, who is never secondary. If you don't know who Limpy is and you like cop stories, outdoors stories and relationship stories then you need to READ THE BOOK!
Though typical of the Woods Cop stories in many ways this one goes above and beyond in several ways. Grady has a horrible conundrum to deal with and he needs all the help he can get.
August 28, 2018
Yet another excellent book by Joseph Heywood..#9 in his Woods Cop series. What started as Grady Service finding out about people missing body parts like a head or hands missing from dead bodies - to actually finding the murderer. Along the way, I met some amazing characters like Limpy Allerdyce, Grady's cat and dog, Tree, and many others to count. After Limpy been a criminal for most of the books I have read so far, this one is certainly the most outstanding one - where Limpy gets pardoned from all his crimes in the past because he helped Grady along with other cops and game wardens take down the murderer.
April 21, 2020
I LOVE these stories! There's always something going on keeping you intrigued with what will happen next. This particular story was one of my favorites. I don't like the finding the bodies parts of the story, so I skim over the details, but gratefully, the author focuses more on solving the crimes than the details of how the victims were murdered. This one kept you guessing straight to the end!
I get a little lost with all the names and the military jargon towards the end. But overall, this was an excellent wilderness adventure from start to finish!
I get a little lost with all the names and the military jargon towards the end. But overall, this was an excellent wilderness adventure from start to finish!
July 20, 2017
I only gave it a three but that might not be fair. It seems that events this time of year did not allow a concentrated reading effort. Similar to early reviews of him - the number and names of the characters sometimes were challenging. It might help if I knew also had better familiarity with the geography of the UP of Michigan
September 30, 2018
I love The Woods Cop series. I love the U.P. This novel is a little more convoluted than some of the others in this series, but Heywood’s novels tend to be complex and informative. And they are always entertaining! I would recommend this series for any one who loves Michigan and especially the Upper Pennisula.
May 31, 2021
Limpy was the star of this show. He was far more interesting than Grady this time. Grady was just kind of a jerk to everyone. I wish the author would always use the same name for his characters. Sometimes it's Noonen and sometimes Suit. Sometime it's Tuesday and sometimes Friday. It is annoying and tedious.
February 16, 2020
Another Woods Cop Mystery that is good but I like the other stories better. The start of this one was negative and it took a while to get into the story. The second half was much better. Nice change for some of the characters from previous stories.
August 6, 2025
I’ve read them all in order and this is my favorite so far. It’s got Tree Noonan Allerdyce Indian mythology Grady’s dad stories. Don’t even care about the plot just character interactions. And a grandstander gets his mouth shut
Loved it. More!
Loved it. More!
March 25, 2017
A series of gruesome murders are fueling dogman and Windigo stories. The leading contenders are a wolf hybrid, a russian spy or a military killer who's assumed a pastors identity. I struggled to get a bead on the plot. Grady heads up a special task force with Limpy, Tree and Blue Suit Noonan to put an end to the killing. The characters on the task force and the wilderness are classic Woods Cop.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2018
Cold One
Intriguing round of clues and hunches that finally lead to murderer who commits gruesome crimes in the U. P. New form of wolf appears.
Intriguing round of clues and hunches that finally lead to murderer who commits gruesome crimes in the U. P. New form of wolf appears.
December 30, 2018
Good continuation in this series. The ending wrapped up a bit too quickly, but overall an enjoyable read.
April 16, 2020
Could've been about a third shorter in length.
May 7, 2021
Complex characters, Michigan upper peninsula setting, and crazy cold murders
March 15, 2022
Worst one of the series, story line was ridiculous
Read
August 22, 2024DNF
September 13, 2024
I enjoyed the storyline and scene descriptions….maybe a bit long and too many names to keep straight!
March 4, 2025
The weird names in the book were distracting to me. It did get better as the story progressed!
September 30, 2016
Interesting plot. A good read.
September 21, 2013
This was a Goodreads First Reads book that I won.
I also DNF'd this.
Now, what I did read was surprisingly entertaining, fast paced, and addictive, even for someone who doesn't regularly read mysteries. I found the Native American aspect fascinating, being part Native American myself (like, a very small part Native American, but still I have Native American blood). I also loved the legend of the dogman. That made it a bit more interesting, though I would've like to have the dogman and Native American legends go even deeper and make the story more complex.
Why did I only give it 3 stars and not finish? I didn't feel like I cared enough for the story and the victims (I'm not saying I'm a heartless bitch who doesn't give a shit about murder victims, but in this story, I would've liked a reason for them to be unforgettable, their faces (well, once they were ID'd since they were found headless) haunting and their own stories toying with emotions. I just felt like they were just....there.). I understand that kinda contradicts what I said in the previous paragraph, but I just felt it was lacking. I loved, like i said, the dogman legend. However, there was not enough exposure to the issue. It, as well as the victims, were just there, no emotion or true suspense (and maybe this wasn't supposed to be that kind of book). I almost half expected for the book to go all Scooby Doo on my ass and have some freak dressed up in a "dogman" costume, terrorizing and killing people. It would be Scooby Doo for adults.
So, basically, what I found entertaining was the crime-solving these people were doing, and it was truly entertaining, funny, and the characters were interesting. But I just couldn't become engaged in the story. Does that all make sense?
By page 80 or 90 something, I just couldn't go further, at least at this point in time. Maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance? Maybe I needed to read the first 8 books? I do I think this was the wrong book at the wrong time.
I also DNF'd this.
Now, what I did read was surprisingly entertaining, fast paced, and addictive, even for someone who doesn't regularly read mysteries. I found the Native American aspect fascinating, being part Native American myself (like, a very small part Native American, but still I have Native American blood). I also loved the legend of the dogman. That made it a bit more interesting, though I would've like to have the dogman and Native American legends go even deeper and make the story more complex.
Why did I only give it 3 stars and not finish? I didn't feel like I cared enough for the story and the victims (I'm not saying I'm a heartless bitch who doesn't give a shit about murder victims, but in this story, I would've liked a reason for them to be unforgettable, their faces (well, once they were ID'd since they were found headless) haunting and their own stories toying with emotions. I just felt like they were just....there.). I understand that kinda contradicts what I said in the previous paragraph, but I just felt it was lacking. I loved, like i said, the dogman legend. However, there was not enough exposure to the issue. It, as well as the victims, were just there, no emotion or true suspense (and maybe this wasn't supposed to be that kind of book). I almost half expected for the book to go all Scooby Doo on my ass and have some freak dressed up in a "dogman" costume, terrorizing and killing people. It would be Scooby Doo for adults.
So, basically, what I found entertaining was the crime-solving these people were doing, and it was truly entertaining, funny, and the characters were interesting. But I just couldn't become engaged in the story. Does that all make sense?
By page 80 or 90 something, I just couldn't go further, at least at this point in time. Maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance? Maybe I needed to read the first 8 books? I do I think this was the wrong book at the wrong time.
November 3, 2014
Mutilated bodies of Native Americans are being discovered in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula at an alarming rate. Who or what is killing them is not immediately apparent. There are rumors that the murders are the work of a dogman, the U.P. version of a werewolf, and there were some extraordinarily large wolf tracks found near one of the bodies…. All of this gets Michigan Conservation Officer Grady Service and his grlfriend homicide detective Tuesday Friday both actively seeking elucidation. They find lots of evidence but not the kind that quickly points to a solution. Everything about this case seems distorted and means following multiple leads no matter how bizarre. Every lead only brought more questions and most of the people who did seem to know something were unwilling to share their knowledge. Only by combining relentless dedication with logic and intuition are Service and Friday able to rise above the many problems inherent in this case and find a solution.
I found the many examples of U.P. dialect in the dialog to be some of the most engaging parts of this book. For example, “Two more day wind make howler, We wait ‘er oot, eh? No bloody ‘urry. I t’ink he hunker tight.”. (pg. 417) or “Fill water bottle wit’ white gas, make maltoshop contrail, pinhole in bottom, drop bottle down stovepipe.” (pg.439) Wonderful distortions that are little puzzles all in themselves. KILLING A COLD ONE is one very quirky mystery. A little too odd for my taste, though it did rally at the end.
I found the many examples of U.P. dialect in the dialog to be some of the most engaging parts of this book. For example, “Two more day wind make howler, We wait ‘er oot, eh? No bloody ‘urry. I t’ink he hunker tight.”. (pg. 417) or “Fill water bottle wit’ white gas, make maltoshop contrail, pinhole in bottom, drop bottle down stovepipe.” (pg.439) Wonderful distortions that are little puzzles all in themselves. KILLING A COLD ONE is one very quirky mystery. A little too odd for my taste, though it did rally at the end.
November 18, 2013
#9 in the Woods Cop series. The legendary "Dogman" is being blamed for the macabre deaths of Indians on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The governor, reacting to bad publicity, orders Conservation Officer Grady Service to assemble a team and eliminate the problem. Grady unwillingly tackles the problem with the unlikely team of veteran poacher 'Limpy' Allerdyce and retired Detroit detectives Luticious Treebone and 'Bluesuit' Noonen. An exceptional manhunt ensues complete with entertaining descriptions of some of the 'Yooper" characters and dialect of the U.P. Unfortunately, the super-wolf sub-plot builds up to an unsustainable premise and a limp finish. Overall, a worthwhile read and series fans won't be disappointed.
Woods Cop series - Every fall in northern Michigan brings a spate of dogman sightings. The dogman was created as an attention-getting joke. But millions of Michiganders believe in angels and vampires, werewolves, Bigfoot . . . and the dogman. Late summer, the horribly mutilated bodies of two Native American girls are found in a tent in a remote campground in the Huron Mountains. Grady Service, who wants nothing more than to return to patrolling his beloved Mosquito Wilderness, is called into the case. Strange animal tracks are found, mayhem ensues, a bloody trail of victims begins to accumulate, and the governor, in a political panic, and on her way out of office, orders Grady to hunt down and eliminate the killer--on her office's dime.
Woods Cop series - Every fall in northern Michigan brings a spate of dogman sightings. The dogman was created as an attention-getting joke. But millions of Michiganders believe in angels and vampires, werewolves, Bigfoot . . . and the dogman. Late summer, the horribly mutilated bodies of two Native American girls are found in a tent in a remote campground in the Huron Mountains. Grady Service, who wants nothing more than to return to patrolling his beloved Mosquito Wilderness, is called into the case. Strange animal tracks are found, mayhem ensues, a bloody trail of victims begins to accumulate, and the governor, in a political panic, and on her way out of office, orders Grady to hunt down and eliminate the killer--on her office's dime.
April 8, 2016
l would actually give this book 2.5 stars. I liked it at times and was irritated at times. The main character, Grady Service, is a woods cop (game warden) in the Upper Peninsula area of Michigan, a region I know nothing about. Lots of wilderness and Indian reservations and numerous Indian tribes reside in this region. The first irritant was the names of the characters in the book...for example, the female detective and significant other of Grady Service is named Tuesday Friday. And it goes on from there. The second irritant was the local dialect which reads like a Cajun dialect from Louisiana. It just doesn't seem to fit the region but I could be wrong. There is also a lot of cop lingo and local lingo that is not explained although this may be because this is the 9th book in this series and the explanations may appear in earlier editions. The third irritant is that the book jumps around to so many locals in the region that I couldn't really picture or get a feel for the setting. I felt very disoriented at times. The characters were varied and interesting but there were a lot of characters which was sometimes confusing. The plot contains multiple gruesome murders and many red herrings that take you from possible serial killers to dire wolves to windingos to Vietnam and to the Catholic church. It did keep my interest enough to read to the end.
January 16, 2016
There were definitely some positives about this novel. Reading about the area I live in and seeing the names & places that are part of my daily routine is cool. The plot, about a DNR officer and his policewoman girlfriend investigating a series of brutal murders, is complex and intriguing. However, the negatives are a bit glaring and made it difficult to continue reading until the plot picked up pace and smoothed the rough edges a bit. First, a good editing is called for. To refer to victims as vicks just jars the senses. Generally vics is short for victims and vicks is that stuff you rub on your chest when you're sick. There were a number of other spelling issues including one so stupendous that I thought he was actually using a word that I'd never heard of. (One of the characters is a local trapper who mangles the English language as a matter of course. His word choices are usually clear though.) Secondly, there are a number of characters, all of which have one or more names that are used interchangeably. Many of the names are so odd that they break your reading concentration, the character of Tuesday Friday being the worst. Finally, while the mystery of the murders is intriguing, it drags on too long, with too many murders and an anticlimactic capture of the killer.
November 5, 2013
I have read all of the Woods Cop mysteries (as well as a number of his other books) and often find myself getting bored with an author or the books getting formulaic, but I can't say that about Heywood's mysteries. I like books set in real locations that you can look up on the map (Jo Nesbo, Elmore Leonard, Stieg Larson, L Frank Baum (kidding) and Heywood's romps across the upper peninsula of Michigan and every-so-often excursions out of state add a reality to his stories. Haven't even talked about his creating page turners and they are; I usually can't put them down and knock them out in a couple of days. Enjoy.
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