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The Glass Eel
In this captivating debut thriller, struggling divorcée Jeanette King becomes embroiled in the world of black market smuggling when she discovers her ex-husband’s cache of baby eels.
Caterpillar Island is off the central coast of Maine, on the way to the beloved vacationland of lobster bakes and quaint fried clam shacks, kayaking and country houses. At night, though, by the light of a headlamp, the island is alive with cash, guns, international trade wars, and baby eels. Across the surrounding coastline, oxy addicts, trailer park residents, Wabanaki Natives, and out-of-work construction workers dip their nets in the creeks to catch elvers—two-inch-long baby eels that fetch $3000 from unscrupulous smugglers.
Into this dark and often dangerous world falls Jeanette King, a middle-aged divorcée who has, up to this moment, been earning her living holding down three jobs, most importantly as a shucker and packager of local crab meat. As Jeanette gets drawn, at first unwillingly, into a fast-moving story of risk and sometimes violent consequences which seem to revolve around her ex-husband, she enlists the aid of close confederates—a local policeman and an Indigenous activist. An ensuing procession of colorful townies, unexpected plot twists, and dangerous outsiders creates an entertaining, enlightening tale of what happens in the underbelly of a business that is both uncontrolled and environmentally dangerous.
Caterpillar Island is off the central coast of Maine, on the way to the beloved vacationland of lobster bakes and quaint fried clam shacks, kayaking and country houses. At night, though, by the light of a headlamp, the island is alive with cash, guns, international trade wars, and baby eels. Across the surrounding coastline, oxy addicts, trailer park residents, Wabanaki Natives, and out-of-work construction workers dip their nets in the creeks to catch elvers—two-inch-long baby eels that fetch $3000 from unscrupulous smugglers.
Into this dark and often dangerous world falls Jeanette King, a middle-aged divorcée who has, up to this moment, been earning her living holding down three jobs, most importantly as a shucker and packager of local crab meat. As Jeanette gets drawn, at first unwillingly, into a fast-moving story of risk and sometimes violent consequences which seem to revolve around her ex-husband, she enlists the aid of close confederates—a local policeman and an Indigenous activist. An ensuing procession of colorful townies, unexpected plot twists, and dangerous outsiders creates an entertaining, enlightening tale of what happens in the underbelly of a business that is both uncontrolled and environmentally dangerous.
364 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2025
52 people are currently reading
1646 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 17, 2025
4.5
#ad much love for my copy @wunderbookspr #partner
THE GLASS EEL
< @joshviertel >
Available Now
Crime | Thriller
“Men don’t understand…They think a house is someplace you sleep, someplace you eat. Women don't see it that way…a house is a fortress to be guarded. It's the definition of who I am. The walls, the wallpaper, every chair and table, every dinner plate, the hooked rugs—it's not to be violated. I am my house,” (p. 30).
Jeanette King is recently divorced forging her own way through life now. Her cancer is in remission and life is okay these days. She lives on Caterpillar Island in Maine and runs a crab-shack. It’s her own slice of heaven, until one night when that all changes.
I loved this book. Obviously living near Bangor, Maine I loved this book even more. What a perfect setting for this book. Off the coast of Maine, Jeanette is living the life until she’s pulled into something that so over her head it’ll be hard to find her way out now.
Memorable
The 3 M’s: monthlies, menopause, morgue 😂
Fish with balls
But there’s one part of water living that she doesn’t know much about: eel fishing. But it’s a business that brings in the big bucks - along with some unsavory characters. Because at nighttime this island changes before the residents’ eyes. There’s a dark underbelly to this island, and now, she finds herself going up against these guys.
I love a badass female main character and Viertel writes one perfectly.
This is a solid crime thriller and I devoured. The writing is phenomenal and plot keeps you engaged throughout. While this was my first time reading this author, it won’t be my last. This book was wild and full of suspense.
I couldn’t put this book down. Would make an excellent TV series.
So buckle up because this one escalates quickly. A compulsive read.
TWs:
Loss of a child
Drugs and Alcohol
Drunk driving / causing death
Violence
Corruption
#wunderbookspr #theglasseel #crimethrillerbooks
#ad much love for my copy @wunderbookspr #partner
THE GLASS EEL
< @joshviertel >
Available Now
Crime | Thriller
“Men don’t understand…They think a house is someplace you sleep, someplace you eat. Women don't see it that way…a house is a fortress to be guarded. It's the definition of who I am. The walls, the wallpaper, every chair and table, every dinner plate, the hooked rugs—it's not to be violated. I am my house,” (p. 30).
Jeanette King is recently divorced forging her own way through life now. Her cancer is in remission and life is okay these days. She lives on Caterpillar Island in Maine and runs a crab-shack. It’s her own slice of heaven, until one night when that all changes.
I loved this book. Obviously living near Bangor, Maine I loved this book even more. What a perfect setting for this book. Off the coast of Maine, Jeanette is living the life until she’s pulled into something that so over her head it’ll be hard to find her way out now.
Memorable
The 3 M’s: monthlies, menopause, morgue 😂
Fish with balls
But there’s one part of water living that she doesn’t know much about: eel fishing. But it’s a business that brings in the big bucks - along with some unsavory characters. Because at nighttime this island changes before the residents’ eyes. There’s a dark underbelly to this island, and now, she finds herself going up against these guys.
I love a badass female main character and Viertel writes one perfectly.
This is a solid crime thriller and I devoured. The writing is phenomenal and plot keeps you engaged throughout. While this was my first time reading this author, it won’t be my last. This book was wild and full of suspense.
I couldn’t put this book down. Would make an excellent TV series.
So buckle up because this one escalates quickly. A compulsive read.
TWs:
Loss of a child
Drugs and Alcohol
Drunk driving / causing death
Violence
Corruption
#wunderbookspr #theglasseel #crimethrillerbooks
October 17, 2025
Eels, smugglers, corrupt governor, oxy addicts and a divorced crab lady are the focus of this fine novel set on a small island off the coast of Maine. The deeper you get into this intricately detailed story, the more intense it gets. Highly recommended tale of a close-knit community, one that, despite its many faults, truly cares for one another.
September 3, 2025
I'm giving The Glass Eel a 3.5 but am rounding up to four.
The following is an abridged review. The full length version can be found on my site www.readinghasruinedmylife.com
Thank you to Wunderkind PR and The Mysterious Press for sending me an advanced copy of The Glass Eel. They aren't paying me for my review, they just sent me the book for free. All thoughts, feelings, and opinions on the title are mine alone.
There are a lot of topics in this book that may be triggering to some. The Glass Eel has mentions of child death, death caused by drunk driving, drug and alcohol addiction, and animal cruelty. There is a lot going on in this thriller so I do suggest looking up other content warnings if there is something you are worried about as I may have missed some topics.
Overall, I found The Glass Eel to be very good at times, but at other times I did find myself dissociating in the middle of chapters. Let's start with the positives. There is so much beautiful, and often times gritty, imagery. The imagery is 100% the best part of this book and what kept me reading. The descriptions, especially the nature descriptions, are beautiful and vivid. Did I really need to read a chapter from the point of view of an eel or lobster from the time they were born to when they either were captured and killed or captured and ate a body? No, these little bonus chapters realistically don’t need to be added, but the prose is just so beautiful that their inclusion feels absolutely necessary. J.J. Viertel truly did an impressive job with the nature imagery.
The Glass Eel does suffer from something close to Too Many Characters Syndrome. While most of the main characters are easy to remember and differentiate, the minor characters can blend together. I’m specifically talking about some of the villains, some of the higher ups in the poaching ring to be exact. One would think these characters would be easy to remember and differentiate as they’re the villains after all, the main villains for that matter, but I could not tell you the difference between some of these men. I do believe it's because these men are virtually the same. They’re all wealthy, semi-powerful men being driven forward by corporate greed. While that’s definitely the villain one would expect in a story like this, they are all the same man. Because I didn’t know which villain was which at times, I had a hard time following along, grew bored, and would often dissociate in the middle of a chapter. Not even beautiful nature imagery could save me from mindlessly flipping pages.
If I’m being honest, I didn’t know if I was going to like The Glass Eel when I first picked up the book. It's really not a book I would pick up on my own. But I was pleasantly surprised with what I found! I did not anticipate an environmental political thriller combined with the historic and present day treatment of indigenous people, drug and alcohol addiction, and class issues to mix as well as they did. Truthfully, I thought some of the topics would be pushed to the back-burner and forgotten about or left as a half-baked idea to make the book look deep on paper but meaningless when it came to execution. Everything was actually discussed and woven into the story without being forced in.
Yes, the read had its faults, but overall the story was engrossing. Had I been able to differentiate between some of the villains more than I did, I dare say this read would have been fantastic. I do have to dock some points from it as I did dissociate in the middle of chapters quite a few times. This read is far from perfect, but it surprised me with the quality of writing and the story at large.
Thank you once again to The Mysterious Press and Wunderkind PR for sending me a copy of The Glass Eel. It means a lot to me when someone wants to send me books. Thank you, thank you!
Again, the full length version of my review can be found on my site www.readinghasruinedmylife.com. I post new reviews there every Wednesday at noon EST.
The following is an abridged review. The full length version can be found on my site www.readinghasruinedmylife.com
Thank you to Wunderkind PR and The Mysterious Press for sending me an advanced copy of The Glass Eel. They aren't paying me for my review, they just sent me the book for free. All thoughts, feelings, and opinions on the title are mine alone.
There are a lot of topics in this book that may be triggering to some. The Glass Eel has mentions of child death, death caused by drunk driving, drug and alcohol addiction, and animal cruelty. There is a lot going on in this thriller so I do suggest looking up other content warnings if there is something you are worried about as I may have missed some topics.
Overall, I found The Glass Eel to be very good at times, but at other times I did find myself dissociating in the middle of chapters. Let's start with the positives. There is so much beautiful, and often times gritty, imagery. The imagery is 100% the best part of this book and what kept me reading. The descriptions, especially the nature descriptions, are beautiful and vivid. Did I really need to read a chapter from the point of view of an eel or lobster from the time they were born to when they either were captured and killed or captured and ate a body? No, these little bonus chapters realistically don’t need to be added, but the prose is just so beautiful that their inclusion feels absolutely necessary. J.J. Viertel truly did an impressive job with the nature imagery.
The Glass Eel does suffer from something close to Too Many Characters Syndrome. While most of the main characters are easy to remember and differentiate, the minor characters can blend together. I’m specifically talking about some of the villains, some of the higher ups in the poaching ring to be exact. One would think these characters would be easy to remember and differentiate as they’re the villains after all, the main villains for that matter, but I could not tell you the difference between some of these men. I do believe it's because these men are virtually the same. They’re all wealthy, semi-powerful men being driven forward by corporate greed. While that’s definitely the villain one would expect in a story like this, they are all the same man. Because I didn’t know which villain was which at times, I had a hard time following along, grew bored, and would often dissociate in the middle of a chapter. Not even beautiful nature imagery could save me from mindlessly flipping pages.
If I’m being honest, I didn’t know if I was going to like The Glass Eel when I first picked up the book. It's really not a book I would pick up on my own. But I was pleasantly surprised with what I found! I did not anticipate an environmental political thriller combined with the historic and present day treatment of indigenous people, drug and alcohol addiction, and class issues to mix as well as they did. Truthfully, I thought some of the topics would be pushed to the back-burner and forgotten about or left as a half-baked idea to make the book look deep on paper but meaningless when it came to execution. Everything was actually discussed and woven into the story without being forced in.
Yes, the read had its faults, but overall the story was engrossing. Had I been able to differentiate between some of the villains more than I did, I dare say this read would have been fantastic. I do have to dock some points from it as I did dissociate in the middle of chapters quite a few times. This read is far from perfect, but it surprised me with the quality of writing and the story at large.
Thank you once again to The Mysterious Press and Wunderkind PR for sending me a copy of The Glass Eel. It means a lot to me when someone wants to send me books. Thank you, thank you!
Again, the full length version of my review can be found on my site www.readinghasruinedmylife.com. I post new reviews there every Wednesday at noon EST.
August 29, 2025
okay wow wow wow, full review coming soon. Author Q&A coming soon!
my blog - https://beccahughes96.wixsite.com/bec...
This book is RICH in setting, characters, philosophy, mystery, nature, everything! Anything this book touches on, it does well.
Am I a sucker for a bit of Maine fiction? YES. I have a friend who lives in Maine, and I've been there twice in the last couple of years, and I've loved it. The Maine references to specific brands, drinks, and supermarkets had me totally hooked.
Aside from that, this is an incredibly well-written thriller. From the father-son duo, Jack and Josh Viertel, comes writing that is beautiful and feels almost like reading poetry rather than a mystery thriller.
We meet Jeanette King, whose ex-husband, Simon, seems to be in a sticky situation and is nowhere to be found. They live on Caterpillar Island off of Maine (not sure if it's real) and, like many of the locals, make their living from fishing, crab picking, and generally living off the sea and the 'vacationers' or people 'from away'. As a crab picker and seller herself, and with her ex-husband being a fisherman, Jeanette is familiar with the trade. So, when she finds 'the Jeanette', Simon's boat, floating without anyone on it and a hold full of glass eels, she knows something fishy is going on (sorry).
Jeanette has experienced tragedy and heartache, is barely scraping by working three jobs, but is always willing to stand up for people and try to do what's right. There is so much included in these 350ish pages. The author duo includes fascinating and considered commentary on Indigenous people and specifically their claims to, or more accurately, stewardship of, the land and sea. The novel explores the idea of the land stolen from the Indigenous people (namely Passamaquoddy people), and the continuation of this theme as second-home owners buy up property in Maine, pricing out a lot of locals. (What can we really expect from a state whose motto is Vacationland!) The story finishes on thought-provoking and touching sentiments about individuals' rightful place in the world.
One of the final lines in the book reads: ‘As the eel wove into the sea it would not be possible to distinguish the extent to which its progress was owed to its own exertion or to the current.’ OH, so we're talking about fate, destiny, and the point of life...just the small, casual topics.
The author duo writes these incredible macro chapters that focus on a crab, s lobster, and an eel. They again feel poetic and allegorical. To me, they felt like buffers between parts 1, 2, and 3. This is an astonishing debut novel, and the authors have clearly already mastered the art of 'show, don't tell', as demonstrated both through the sea creature hyper zoomed in chapters, and the description of mysterious figures before we're introduced to them. Never are we told 'there was a tall evil man', but we're shown how he treats the crab, his outward showing of spite and rage, and his lack of respect for nature.
The authors skilfully include a chapter that really stands out. It focuses on two characters we have never met before, and we don't meet them again. At first, we have no context for their place in the story or who they are. There are only a few pages to paint their picture and weave them into the narrative, but they become a vital, humorous, and quite gory plot device that I thought about long after finishing the book.
The narrative provides organised crime, murder, forensics, backstories, heartbreak, humour (Keith is totally hilarious), and an exploration of the essence of being human. The characters have such depth and are so realised that I can only assume the authors drew on real people in their lives to write them.
I need this book adapted into a series immediately. Directors can get in touch with me. I already have the cast planned out:
Jeanette - Carrie-Anne Moss
Simon - Mel Gibson
Joe - Barry Keoghan
Jesse - Omar Metwally
I could actually go on talking about this novel forever. Keep your eyes peeled for an author Q&A coming soon!
my blog - https://beccahughes96.wixsite.com/bec...
This book is RICH in setting, characters, philosophy, mystery, nature, everything! Anything this book touches on, it does well.
Am I a sucker for a bit of Maine fiction? YES. I have a friend who lives in Maine, and I've been there twice in the last couple of years, and I've loved it. The Maine references to specific brands, drinks, and supermarkets had me totally hooked.
Aside from that, this is an incredibly well-written thriller. From the father-son duo, Jack and Josh Viertel, comes writing that is beautiful and feels almost like reading poetry rather than a mystery thriller.
We meet Jeanette King, whose ex-husband, Simon, seems to be in a sticky situation and is nowhere to be found. They live on Caterpillar Island off of Maine (not sure if it's real) and, like many of the locals, make their living from fishing, crab picking, and generally living off the sea and the 'vacationers' or people 'from away'. As a crab picker and seller herself, and with her ex-husband being a fisherman, Jeanette is familiar with the trade. So, when she finds 'the Jeanette', Simon's boat, floating without anyone on it and a hold full of glass eels, she knows something fishy is going on (sorry).
Jeanette has experienced tragedy and heartache, is barely scraping by working three jobs, but is always willing to stand up for people and try to do what's right. There is so much included in these 350ish pages. The author duo includes fascinating and considered commentary on Indigenous people and specifically their claims to, or more accurately, stewardship of, the land and sea. The novel explores the idea of the land stolen from the Indigenous people (namely Passamaquoddy people), and the continuation of this theme as second-home owners buy up property in Maine, pricing out a lot of locals. (What can we really expect from a state whose motto is Vacationland!) The story finishes on thought-provoking and touching sentiments about individuals' rightful place in the world.
One of the final lines in the book reads: ‘As the eel wove into the sea it would not be possible to distinguish the extent to which its progress was owed to its own exertion or to the current.’ OH, so we're talking about fate, destiny, and the point of life...just the small, casual topics.
The author duo writes these incredible macro chapters that focus on a crab, s lobster, and an eel. They again feel poetic and allegorical. To me, they felt like buffers between parts 1, 2, and 3. This is an astonishing debut novel, and the authors have clearly already mastered the art of 'show, don't tell', as demonstrated both through the sea creature hyper zoomed in chapters, and the description of mysterious figures before we're introduced to them. Never are we told 'there was a tall evil man', but we're shown how he treats the crab, his outward showing of spite and rage, and his lack of respect for nature.
The authors skilfully include a chapter that really stands out. It focuses on two characters we have never met before, and we don't meet them again. At first, we have no context for their place in the story or who they are. There are only a few pages to paint their picture and weave them into the narrative, but they become a vital, humorous, and quite gory plot device that I thought about long after finishing the book.
The narrative provides organised crime, murder, forensics, backstories, heartbreak, humour (Keith is totally hilarious), and an exploration of the essence of being human. The characters have such depth and are so realised that I can only assume the authors drew on real people in their lives to write them.
I need this book adapted into a series immediately. Directors can get in touch with me. I already have the cast planned out:
Jeanette - Carrie-Anne Moss
Simon - Mel Gibson
Joe - Barry Keoghan
Jesse - Omar Metwally
I could actually go on talking about this novel forever. Keep your eyes peeled for an author Q&A coming soon!
November 30, 2025
A great crime thriller set in Maine about trapping and selling glass eels. If there is money to be made, there will be crime. I liked the strong women characters and their relationships. Alternate chapters about the glass eels life cycles were very interesting. Very violent.
September 25, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC
In The Glass Eel, J.J. Viertel (the father-son duo Jack and Josh Viertel) deliver a debut thriller that’s as murky and mesmerizing as the tidal creeks of Caterpillar Island, Maine, where the story unfolds. This is not your typical coastal mystery. It’s a tale steeped in ecological noir, where the stakes are as slippery as the baby eels (elvers) that drive the black-market economy and the moral ambiguity of its characters.
Caterpillar Island is fog-drenched, economically frayed, and pulsing with illicit activity after dark. The Viertels conjure a vivid sense of place, where lobster shacks and kayak rentals by day give way to poachers and oxy addicts by night. The imagery is gritty and lyrical, with nature rendered not as a backdrop but as a battleground. There’s even a chapter from the perspective of the eels themselves—a bold, surreal touch that deepens the novel’s ecological conscience.
Jeanette King, a crab-picker and cancer survivor, is thrust into a criminal underworld when she discovers her ex-husband’s stash of elvers—worth thousands per pound on the international market. What begins as a personal mystery—where is Simon, and why did he leave behind a tackle box full of cash?—quickly escalates into a broader investigation involving corrupt politicians, sabotaged delivery trucks, and a dead body floating in the marsh.
The plot is propulsive but layered, with Jeanette teaming up with a local cop and an Indigenous activist to unravel the eel-poaching ring. The pacing is brisk, though occasionally crowded with minor characters whose roles blur in the fog of intrigue.
What sets The Glass Eel apart is its refusal to paint villains in broad strokes. The poachers aren’t faceless criminals; they’re desperate locals, retirees, and addicts, each with a backstory and a rationale. The Viertels explore the tension between survival and sustainability, personal grief and communal responsibility. Jeanette’s journey is not just about solving a mystery—it’s about reclaiming agency in a world that’s slipping through her fingers like the eels she never meant to catch.
Jeanette is a compelling protagonist—resilient, haunted, and refreshingly unglamorous. Her emotional arc is grounded in loss, but her grit keeps the narrative from wallowing. Supporting characters, especially the activist and the cop, add texture, though some of the higher-ups in the crime ring feel underdeveloped.
The Glass Eel is an atmospheric, morally tangled thriller that dives deep into the undercurrents of coastal life and ecological exploitation. It’s a story about slippery truths—personal, political, and environmental—and the cost of dredging them up. If you’re drawn to thrillers with a conscience and a strong sense of place, this one’s worth netting.
In The Glass Eel, J.J. Viertel (the father-son duo Jack and Josh Viertel) deliver a debut thriller that’s as murky and mesmerizing as the tidal creeks of Caterpillar Island, Maine, where the story unfolds. This is not your typical coastal mystery. It’s a tale steeped in ecological noir, where the stakes are as slippery as the baby eels (elvers) that drive the black-market economy and the moral ambiguity of its characters.
Caterpillar Island is fog-drenched, economically frayed, and pulsing with illicit activity after dark. The Viertels conjure a vivid sense of place, where lobster shacks and kayak rentals by day give way to poachers and oxy addicts by night. The imagery is gritty and lyrical, with nature rendered not as a backdrop but as a battleground. There’s even a chapter from the perspective of the eels themselves—a bold, surreal touch that deepens the novel’s ecological conscience.
Jeanette King, a crab-picker and cancer survivor, is thrust into a criminal underworld when she discovers her ex-husband’s stash of elvers—worth thousands per pound on the international market. What begins as a personal mystery—where is Simon, and why did he leave behind a tackle box full of cash?—quickly escalates into a broader investigation involving corrupt politicians, sabotaged delivery trucks, and a dead body floating in the marsh.
The plot is propulsive but layered, with Jeanette teaming up with a local cop and an Indigenous activist to unravel the eel-poaching ring. The pacing is brisk, though occasionally crowded with minor characters whose roles blur in the fog of intrigue.
What sets The Glass Eel apart is its refusal to paint villains in broad strokes. The poachers aren’t faceless criminals; they’re desperate locals, retirees, and addicts, each with a backstory and a rationale. The Viertels explore the tension between survival and sustainability, personal grief and communal responsibility. Jeanette’s journey is not just about solving a mystery—it’s about reclaiming agency in a world that’s slipping through her fingers like the eels she never meant to catch.
Jeanette is a compelling protagonist—resilient, haunted, and refreshingly unglamorous. Her emotional arc is grounded in loss, but her grit keeps the narrative from wallowing. Supporting characters, especially the activist and the cop, add texture, though some of the higher-ups in the crime ring feel underdeveloped.
The Glass Eel is an atmospheric, morally tangled thriller that dives deep into the undercurrents of coastal life and ecological exploitation. It’s a story about slippery truths—personal, political, and environmental—and the cost of dredging them up. If you’re drawn to thrillers with a conscience and a strong sense of place, this one’s worth netting.
August 19, 2025
I received a copy of the ARC of this book from the publisher, The Mysterious Press in exchange for an unbiased review on behalf of Rosie’s Review Team. I thank the publisher and Wunderkind PR firm for this opportunity. It comes out in September and you should have it on your list to read, for sure.
The book was quite enjoyable and even educational. I didn’t know one thing about eel migration and spawning nor did I know about how they are harvested or transported for sale. The father/Son writing team clearly are well-acquainted with the process as well as the state of Maine.
But don’t think this is some boring tale about fisheries and eels. It’s a downright interesting mystery and thriller of a novel.
There are a few chapters from the point of view of sea creatures which add to the atmosphere of the story. It’s not like they’re anthropomorphic, but more like we, the readers, are included in the biosphere of the ocean and currents and how they interact with sea life. I thought it was a pretty cool concept that added richness to the story.
Jeanette, the main protagonist, is a woman with strength and conviction. She’s brave to the point of irrationality in some places, but I never felt like she was “too stupid to live” like sometimes happens in novels. She was sensible and bright and one steady-nerved person. She didn’t hesitate to move into danger when she needed to be strong and unafraid.
The other characters in the story who were her friends and close comrades were all well-written and fully realized. I liked all of them and they each added an important element to the story telling. It’s always a good read when the protagonist’s allies are also people the reader can root for and like. This reader is very much someone who needs to care about the characters to full enjoy a story. This writing team delivers that and more.
The bad guys were also well developed and each were a different brand of evil. None were caricatures which is always a good thing.
The story is intriguing and very nicely plotted and laid out.
Environmental issues play a part as well as the treatment of indigenous people in the state historically, as well as in the modern era. The authors didn’t bang the reader over the head with any of those things, though. They seamlessly wove those issues into the tale.
The action was fast and the suspects many and varied.
I truly enjoyed this book and hope to see more from these writers. It was a quick read. Filled with action, great plot points and a satisfying ending.
Five stars
The book was quite enjoyable and even educational. I didn’t know one thing about eel migration and spawning nor did I know about how they are harvested or transported for sale. The father/Son writing team clearly are well-acquainted with the process as well as the state of Maine.
But don’t think this is some boring tale about fisheries and eels. It’s a downright interesting mystery and thriller of a novel.
There are a few chapters from the point of view of sea creatures which add to the atmosphere of the story. It’s not like they’re anthropomorphic, but more like we, the readers, are included in the biosphere of the ocean and currents and how they interact with sea life. I thought it was a pretty cool concept that added richness to the story.
Jeanette, the main protagonist, is a woman with strength and conviction. She’s brave to the point of irrationality in some places, but I never felt like she was “too stupid to live” like sometimes happens in novels. She was sensible and bright and one steady-nerved person. She didn’t hesitate to move into danger when she needed to be strong and unafraid.
The other characters in the story who were her friends and close comrades were all well-written and fully realized. I liked all of them and they each added an important element to the story telling. It’s always a good read when the protagonist’s allies are also people the reader can root for and like. This reader is very much someone who needs to care about the characters to full enjoy a story. This writing team delivers that and more.
The bad guys were also well developed and each were a different brand of evil. None were caricatures which is always a good thing.
The story is intriguing and very nicely plotted and laid out.
Environmental issues play a part as well as the treatment of indigenous people in the state historically, as well as in the modern era. The authors didn’t bang the reader over the head with any of those things, though. They seamlessly wove those issues into the tale.
The action was fast and the suspects many and varied.
I truly enjoyed this book and hope to see more from these writers. It was a quick read. Filled with action, great plot points and a satisfying ending.
Five stars
August 6, 2025
If you thought baby eels couldn’t fuel a high-stakes crime story this book will change your mind!
Set on Caterpillar Island off the postcard perfect coast of Maine this story flips the idyllic Vacationland image on its head. Sure, there are fried clams and lobster rolls, but there’s also a black market eel trade that’s worth thousands, a community teetering on economic collapse, and a network of desperate, complicated people trying to survive.
Enter Jeanette King, a middle-aged crab shucker juggling three jobs and barely scraping by. She’s not your typical heroine, and that’s exactly what makes her unforgettable. When trouble linked to her ex-husband pulls her into the seedy world of elver smuggling, she doesn’t go full action hero, she gets smart, scrappy, and pulls in backup: a local cop with his own demons and a Wabanaki activist with deep roots and deeper convictions.
Viertel’s writing is raw and empathetic, blending crime, environmental politics, and rural American struggles into something that’s as character-driven as it is plot-tight. The world feels real from the quiet rage of communities forgotten by the system to the cold splash of river water in the dead of night as someone risks everything for one more net of eels.
💥What hits hard!
▫️Jeanette: resilient, grounded, a total standout in a genre that often overlooks women like her
▫️The setting: moody, alive, and pulsing with tension
▫️The themes: exploitation, environmental damage, and the blurred lines of legality when survival is on the line
Overall it is a gritty, smart, and often surprising read that balances suspense with heart. If you love crime stories that dig into the why just as much as the what, this one's worth picking up!
⚡️Thank you Mysterious Press and J.J. Viertel for sharing this book with me!
Set on Caterpillar Island off the postcard perfect coast of Maine this story flips the idyllic Vacationland image on its head. Sure, there are fried clams and lobster rolls, but there’s also a black market eel trade that’s worth thousands, a community teetering on economic collapse, and a network of desperate, complicated people trying to survive.
Enter Jeanette King, a middle-aged crab shucker juggling three jobs and barely scraping by. She’s not your typical heroine, and that’s exactly what makes her unforgettable. When trouble linked to her ex-husband pulls her into the seedy world of elver smuggling, she doesn’t go full action hero, she gets smart, scrappy, and pulls in backup: a local cop with his own demons and a Wabanaki activist with deep roots and deeper convictions.
Viertel’s writing is raw and empathetic, blending crime, environmental politics, and rural American struggles into something that’s as character-driven as it is plot-tight. The world feels real from the quiet rage of communities forgotten by the system to the cold splash of river water in the dead of night as someone risks everything for one more net of eels.
💥What hits hard!
▫️Jeanette: resilient, grounded, a total standout in a genre that often overlooks women like her
▫️The setting: moody, alive, and pulsing with tension
▫️The themes: exploitation, environmental damage, and the blurred lines of legality when survival is on the line
Overall it is a gritty, smart, and often surprising read that balances suspense with heart. If you love crime stories that dig into the why just as much as the what, this one's worth picking up!
⚡️Thank you Mysterious Press and J.J. Viertel for sharing this book with me!
August 24, 2025
Set on Caterpillar Island, Maine, The Glass Eel is wonderfully atmospheric. I got a real sense of what the vacationer sees...lobster shacks, beaches, pretty houses...but also the underbelly the locals live such as crime, drug abuse and working for a pittance. The clear distinction rolled out a fascinating backdrop and juxtaposition for this intriguing novel. Tradition, culture and environment also play key roles. So do the sea creatures' precarious lives of survival which paints an excellent allegory.
Divorced middle-aged Jeanette picks crab for export. Her job is tedious and dull but she has to earn a living. When her husband's deserted boat is discovered, the drama ramps up which is a big deal for a small fishing town. The issue of elver legalities pops up, a business as dark and deep as the ocean. These glass eels fetch an astronomical amount of money and, as we know, money drives a lot of people to desperation. Politicians and business people grease palms. Murder sheds new light on various problems and the little vacation spot sees red.
The sense of place is beautifully descriptive, so vivid I could taste the salty air, smell the crabs, see the silvery elvers and feel the swirling tension. That there are perspectives of animals may sound odd but it isn't. They add an indefinable insight which is seamlessly sewn into the fabric of the lives of people and animals, friend and foe at the same time. Another quality which riveted me is the wonderful characterization, especially of Jeanette. The writing itself is unique, too. If you crave originality, this is for you.
Divorced middle-aged Jeanette picks crab for export. Her job is tedious and dull but she has to earn a living. When her husband's deserted boat is discovered, the drama ramps up which is a big deal for a small fishing town. The issue of elver legalities pops up, a business as dark and deep as the ocean. These glass eels fetch an astronomical amount of money and, as we know, money drives a lot of people to desperation. Politicians and business people grease palms. Murder sheds new light on various problems and the little vacation spot sees red.
The sense of place is beautifully descriptive, so vivid I could taste the salty air, smell the crabs, see the silvery elvers and feel the swirling tension. That there are perspectives of animals may sound odd but it isn't. They add an indefinable insight which is seamlessly sewn into the fabric of the lives of people and animals, friend and foe at the same time. Another quality which riveted me is the wonderful characterization, especially of Jeanette. The writing itself is unique, too. If you crave originality, this is for you.
September 6, 2025
Thank you to Wunderkind PR for the free book!
Rating: 4/5 stars
Jeanette King is unwittingly pulled into a dangerous conspiracy involving eel fishing when she begins to search for her missing ex-husband.
This was a really fascinating and captivating literary thriller, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The writing was cinematic and atmospheric, I felt fully immersed in the world and as though I could visualize all of the action perfectly. A particular strength of this book is the characters—I liked Jeanette a lot and thought the characters in general had a lot of depth. There are also so many “butterfly effect” moments where different came together in really unique and unexpected ways (the squirrel chapter!) and I really appreciated this nuanced handling of the plot!
For a book with serious (and sometimes quite grim) subject matter, THE GLASS EEL also has hilarious moments, and Jeanette in particular is a character full of wit and dry humor. I loved the way this underlying absurdist comedic tone pervaded the novel, and it kept me interested and engaged throughout!
CW: Murder/death, including significant animal death/cruelty; torture; injury; chronic illness; mentions of child death; mentions of cancer; mentions of infidelity
Rating: 4/5 stars
Jeanette King is unwittingly pulled into a dangerous conspiracy involving eel fishing when she begins to search for her missing ex-husband.
This was a really fascinating and captivating literary thriller, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The writing was cinematic and atmospheric, I felt fully immersed in the world and as though I could visualize all of the action perfectly. A particular strength of this book is the characters—I liked Jeanette a lot and thought the characters in general had a lot of depth. There are also so many “butterfly effect” moments where different came together in really unique and unexpected ways (the squirrel chapter!) and I really appreciated this nuanced handling of the plot!
For a book with serious (and sometimes quite grim) subject matter, THE GLASS EEL also has hilarious moments, and Jeanette in particular is a character full of wit and dry humor. I loved the way this underlying absurdist comedic tone pervaded the novel, and it kept me interested and engaged throughout!
CW: Murder/death, including significant animal death/cruelty; torture; injury; chronic illness; mentions of child death; mentions of cancer; mentions of infidelity
September 7, 2025
Glass Eel peeked my interest given the setting was the coast of Maine. Having gotten my MBA at the University of Maine (Orono), I really enjoy stories set in Maine (especially the coast).
The Glass Eel was a crazy story with so many twists, it ended up being a "can't put it down and I just need to read one more chapter" kind of book. Loved the characters Jeanette, Jesse and Toland. They got themselves right in the middle of an illegal glass eel ring and were trying to figure out who the really bad guys behind it were. Turned out there were several. Jeanette's ex-husband was a pawn in the scheme, which is how she stumbled into it all.
The book had so pretty gruesome details, but not over the top and nothing that kept me awake at night. There were a lot of back stories, characters and twists in the book. There were easy to keep track of and follow along as it was really well written.
I also really liked the chapters sprinkled in about the crab and the eel. They weave themselves through the story and it was a perfect fit.
I can't believe this is J.J. Viertel's (father and son) book but they need to write a lot of more them.
The Glass Eel was a crazy story with so many twists, it ended up being a "can't put it down and I just need to read one more chapter" kind of book. Loved the characters Jeanette, Jesse and Toland. They got themselves right in the middle of an illegal glass eel ring and were trying to figure out who the really bad guys behind it were. Turned out there were several. Jeanette's ex-husband was a pawn in the scheme, which is how she stumbled into it all.
The book had so pretty gruesome details, but not over the top and nothing that kept me awake at night. There were a lot of back stories, characters and twists in the book. There were easy to keep track of and follow along as it was really well written.
I also really liked the chapters sprinkled in about the crab and the eel. They weave themselves through the story and it was a perfect fit.
I can't believe this is J.J. Viertel's (father and son) book but they need to write a lot of more them.
September 21, 2025
Thank you @wunderbookspr and @mysteriouspress for the #gifted book. THE GLASS EEL is the debut thriller by father and son writing team Jack and Josh Viertel.
In this gripping debut thriller, struggling divorcée Jeanette King becomes embroiled in a criminal ring when she discovers her ex-husband’s cache of baby eels.
THE GLASS EEL is a character driven story told in short chapters. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and at times I confused the villains in this story. There are chapters that moved at a slow pace and I found myself losing interest in the characters and skimming a few paragraphs. The story was well plotted and the main characters had depth. The writing is atmospheric and I could visualize the scenes as they played out. There are chapters in the POV of the eel and the lobster that told the story of their lives from birth to capture that blended well with the story.
I learned a lot about elders (baby eels) their migration and the process from capture to transportation. This is more than a political crime thriller. It is also about the environment, the treatment of indigenous people, and social class.
In this gripping debut thriller, struggling divorcée Jeanette King becomes embroiled in a criminal ring when she discovers her ex-husband’s cache of baby eels.
THE GLASS EEL is a character driven story told in short chapters. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and at times I confused the villains in this story. There are chapters that moved at a slow pace and I found myself losing interest in the characters and skimming a few paragraphs. The story was well plotted and the main characters had depth. The writing is atmospheric and I could visualize the scenes as they played out. There are chapters in the POV of the eel and the lobster that told the story of their lives from birth to capture that blended well with the story.
I learned a lot about elders (baby eels) their migration and the process from capture to transportation. This is more than a political crime thriller. It is also about the environment, the treatment of indigenous people, and social class.
September 10, 2025
Talk about learning something new while trying to solve a mystery. I did not know anything about eel migration or that they attract a high price value. Yet, when I learned why they were harvested, it actually makes sense the high price value.
Jeanette shows great determination. Once she has her sights set on something, she does not give up until she has solved the mystery. Even when she ran into some close calls a few times, she did not let the situations keep her down for long. A surprise favorite of mine is Jesse. There was something about him that I just liked. He is a little rough around the edges but someone that you can count on as well.
As I was engaged in the storyline and the characters, I did find this book to be a quick read. The plot was not given away too early. A good mystery read.
Jeanette shows great determination. Once she has her sights set on something, she does not give up until she has solved the mystery. Even when she ran into some close calls a few times, she did not let the situations keep her down for long. A surprise favorite of mine is Jesse. There was something about him that I just liked. He is a little rough around the edges but someone that you can count on as well.
As I was engaged in the storyline and the characters, I did find this book to be a quick read. The plot was not given away too early. A good mystery read.
November 5, 2025
Familiar with coastal Maine from a vacationer's experience, I loved the quiet scene setting within intricate natural ecosystems, exposing the hidden world and pragmatic intentions of the inhabiting fauna. From main characters to minor players, the no-nonsense flavor of the local denizens was impactful and genuine without devolving into over-the-top caricature, encompassing personalities and quirks that I can only assume were inspired by real-life people and encounters. As the mystery surrounding the elvers trade devolves into black market dealings, international conspiracy, dirty politics, and murder, you find yourself, just like the protagonist, eager to continue pulling the thread to uncover the extent of the corruption and confront injustice with action.
October 1, 2025
On Caterpillar Island off the coast of Maine, Jeanette King makes a living selling crabmeat to expensive restaurants on the east coast. One evening, she comes upon her ex-husband Simon's boat, which seems to have been involved in a dubious activity--illegally catching eels. When someone Jeanette knew well is murdered, she decides to get to the bottom of what's really going on. With the help of local activist Jesse Ed Davis and cop Toland Bates (whom Jeanette has known since he was a child), she attempts to make things right and see justice served. Readalikes include The Trouble Up North and The Distant Dead.
October 22, 2025
This is just the kind of anti-blockbuster book that I love. Think of it like an Indie film that would be the star attraction of a local festival. A lovely, heartfelt work of art and mystery but maybe not for the masses. Such is the charm of The Glass Eel. It’s hyperlocal - Mid Coast Maine island community - and bursting at the seams with atmosphere and quirky, authentic Mainiacs. The nicest twist in this semi-twisty mystery actually was the natural history underlaying the glass eel/elver fishery. Fascinating. Who knew.
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October 9, 2025This crime novel moves slowly and is more focused on the setting and characters than on the thriller plot. Interesting as a picture of rural coastal Maine, but the writing is spare. Readers looking for a gritty, fishy view of the "real" Maine will enjoy this. Those looking for breakneck plotting may want to look elsewhere.
November 1, 2025
Maniac Book
I love a tail about coastal living, fishing, tides and cooky people.
This one did not disappoint.
Funny, witty, interesting and, yes, educating.
I enjoyed the mystery, the character development and the plot.
I recommend this for a beach vacation.
I love a tail about coastal living, fishing, tides and cooky people.
This one did not disappoint.
Funny, witty, interesting and, yes, educating.
I enjoyed the mystery, the character development and the plot.
I recommend this for a beach vacation.
December 1, 2025
Really enjoyable. Did not want to put it down so much that I used my cell phone flashlight to read it in the dark in a taxi, despite the fact that I know that makes me car sick. If that's not a compelling novel, what is?
July 19, 2025
A most excellent crime novel. Some fascinating information about elvers. (No ... nothing to do with elves.) Some very good, very dry humor. And a fine cast of characters.
September 18, 2025
Kept me engaged the whole time and really enjoyed the characters. Ending was a bit lackluster.
September 26, 2025
I received my copy of this book from the publisher, so have posted my review online with Amazon. Very readable, good characters, maybe 4.25 or 4.5.
September 27, 2025
9/26/2025 3.5 stars. Interesting but not compelling. Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.
September 27, 2025
Major focus on the business of the sale of eels as a business wrapped up in a mystery novel.
November 2, 2025
It ain't literature, but it was clever and entertaining as hell!
November 4, 2025
Seems like a screenplay? Plenty of cliches about Maine, and it got a little convoluted about 2/3 of the way thru, but readable.
December 1, 2025
What a great story. The writing was a little uneven. This was my favorite line: "What's a food processor?" "It's some kind of a blender for summer people."
December 13, 2025
3.5. It was pretty good!
December 18, 2025
Interesting learning about the eel trade.
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