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Mud Season
"A riotous exploration of ambition, passion and greed." -Christopher Smith, theater critic, The Orange County Register
"A raucous satire of our times that is also an affecting study of family bonds and an acerbic tribute to the flawed, glorious, once-mighty dinosaur that was daily journalism." -Ana Menendez, critically acclaimed author of In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd and The Apartment
Mud Season tells the story of Woody Hackworth, a disgraced newspaper reporter and wannabe novelist. Resentful, bored, and looking for a way to get back at his ex-employer, Woody makes a fateful to write an environmental thriller and post chapters online as he goes.
His novel-in-progress gains traction in the gossipy snow-belt city of Icarus, New York, but not for reasons Woody wanted. His readers believe Woody is using his fiction to expose his in-laws and their successful family-owned construction business.
With each new post, Woody's domestic discord grows, but how can he stop now? He's almost famous.
Mud Season merrily wallows in the classic conflict between ambition and family, digs into the murky perils of online notoriety, and slings a comic-tragic elegy to the daily newspaper.
"A raucous satire of our times that is also an affecting study of family bonds and an acerbic tribute to the flawed, glorious, once-mighty dinosaur that was daily journalism." -Ana Menendez, critically acclaimed author of In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd and The Apartment
Mud Season tells the story of Woody Hackworth, a disgraced newspaper reporter and wannabe novelist. Resentful, bored, and looking for a way to get back at his ex-employer, Woody makes a fateful to write an environmental thriller and post chapters online as he goes.
His novel-in-progress gains traction in the gossipy snow-belt city of Icarus, New York, but not for reasons Woody wanted. His readers believe Woody is using his fiction to expose his in-laws and their successful family-owned construction business.
With each new post, Woody's domestic discord grows, but how can he stop now? He's almost famous.
Mud Season merrily wallows in the classic conflict between ambition and family, digs into the murky perils of online notoriety, and slings a comic-tragic elegy to the daily newspaper.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 2, 2025
Sprinkled with humor and little twists and turns, I enjoyed this debut book from Jeff Kramer.
March 18, 2025
They say life imitates art, but what happens when art imitates life? In Mud Season, the newest book about a book, main character Woody hits a little too close to home when his fiction novel which is „loosely“ based on his in-laws very successful and public company accuses them of a fictional crime. Sounds serious right? You’d be wrong. Main character Woody, may be named after Margaret Atwood, but he is anything but serious; he’s quirky, sarcastic, and often very funny. This novel will have you laughing out loud at parts and is a fun addition to the „books on books“ genre.
March 21, 2025
As a former journalist who is perpetually trying to write a novel, ‘Mud Season’ seemed too good to pass over while on the hunt for my next read.
Jeff Kramer’s debut novel is a hugely entertaining take on the ‘writer being a writer’ genre. Our main character, Atwood ‘Woody’ Hackworth has been let go from his journalism job on a local newspaper and decides that he’s going to take revenge (on everyone, even people who are good to him) in the form of a very close-to-the-bone novel.
Hiding within the argument of ‘it’s fiction’, he writes what he knows which is fine until he starts to serialise it online and, well, the mud starts slinging.
Woody’s sardonic humour and lofty aspirations make him an intriguing character – we should dislike him for his pig-headedness and obnoxious lamentations about his ‘Art’ and ‘The Process’, but he’s almost too hapless to truly dislike. There are all sorts of cultural nods in the novel – some intended, some maybe not.
Having just finished a book about ‘The Wire’, my mind was very tuned into the various commentary around the practice of journalism, and I thought Woody’s somewhat petulant decision on a new career felt like it was straight out of ‘American Beauty’.
The novel within the novel works extremely well, despite the very fine lines between truth and reality. Woody’s novel reads enough like a hard-boiled detective (or maybe slightly poached detective!) to clearly differentiate between Woody’s life and his fictional alter-ego Cus’s life.
I initially felt like the novel ended with a bit of a whimper, rather than a bang but, considering it a bit more, I think it worked well because, with the joint narratives, we got one over-the-top ending, and one more grounded in realism which, at the end of the day, is where Woody realises he needs to be.
As I say, as a writer and former journalist, I lapped up every word of this – I identified with so much of what he said about both professions and I did appreciate the commentary around the vagaries of each industry.
A thoroughly enjoyable, well realised novel, with some crackling dialogue, interesting characters, and a book within a book. What’s not to love when it’s done well?
My thanks to Koehler Books, via NetGalley for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Jeff Kramer’s debut novel is a hugely entertaining take on the ‘writer being a writer’ genre. Our main character, Atwood ‘Woody’ Hackworth has been let go from his journalism job on a local newspaper and decides that he’s going to take revenge (on everyone, even people who are good to him) in the form of a very close-to-the-bone novel.
Hiding within the argument of ‘it’s fiction’, he writes what he knows which is fine until he starts to serialise it online and, well, the mud starts slinging.
Woody’s sardonic humour and lofty aspirations make him an intriguing character – we should dislike him for his pig-headedness and obnoxious lamentations about his ‘Art’ and ‘The Process’, but he’s almost too hapless to truly dislike. There are all sorts of cultural nods in the novel – some intended, some maybe not.
Having just finished a book about ‘The Wire’, my mind was very tuned into the various commentary around the practice of journalism, and I thought Woody’s somewhat petulant decision on a new career felt like it was straight out of ‘American Beauty’.
The novel within the novel works extremely well, despite the very fine lines between truth and reality. Woody’s novel reads enough like a hard-boiled detective (or maybe slightly poached detective!) to clearly differentiate between Woody’s life and his fictional alter-ego Cus’s life.
I initially felt like the novel ended with a bit of a whimper, rather than a bang but, considering it a bit more, I think it worked well because, with the joint narratives, we got one over-the-top ending, and one more grounded in realism which, at the end of the day, is where Woody realises he needs to be.
As I say, as a writer and former journalist, I lapped up every word of this – I identified with so much of what he said about both professions and I did appreciate the commentary around the vagaries of each industry.
A thoroughly enjoyable, well realised novel, with some crackling dialogue, interesting characters, and a book within a book. What’s not to love when it’s done well?
My thanks to Koehler Books, via NetGalley for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2026
Mud Season by Jeff Kramer is a sharp, darkly comic satire that explores ambition, reputation, and the unstable boundaries between fiction and reality in the digital age. The novel follows Woody Hackworth, a disgraced journalist attempting to reinvent himself as a novelist, only to find his work spiraling into unintended consequences.
At the heart of the story is Woody’s decision to publish his environmental thriller in serialized form online, a choice that quickly transforms his creative project into a public spectacle. As readers interpret his fiction as thinly veiled exposé, personal and professional fallout begins to blur, escalating tensions within his family and community.
One of the novel’s strongest features is its timely commentary on media, authorship, and online virality. Kramer captures the fragile line between storytelling and perceived truth, showing how easily narrative intent can be reshaped by public interpretation. This makes the novel especially resonant in an era shaped by digital speculation and instant commentary.
Woody himself is a compellingly flawed protagonist ambitious, resentful, and increasingly trapped by the very attention he sought. His descent into unintended notoriety is both tragic and darkly humorous, grounding the novel’s satire in emotional realism.
The supporting themes of family conflict and the decline of traditional journalism add further depth, giving the novel a broader cultural and generational weight. The portrayal of a fading newspaper world serves as both backdrop and elegy, enriching the story’s tone.
Overall, Mud Season is an engaging and intelligent satire that balances humor with a cautionary look at ambition, reputation, and the unintended consequences of storytelling in a hyperconnected world.
At the heart of the story is Woody’s decision to publish his environmental thriller in serialized form online, a choice that quickly transforms his creative project into a public spectacle. As readers interpret his fiction as thinly veiled exposé, personal and professional fallout begins to blur, escalating tensions within his family and community.
One of the novel’s strongest features is its timely commentary on media, authorship, and online virality. Kramer captures the fragile line between storytelling and perceived truth, showing how easily narrative intent can be reshaped by public interpretation. This makes the novel especially resonant in an era shaped by digital speculation and instant commentary.
Woody himself is a compellingly flawed protagonist ambitious, resentful, and increasingly trapped by the very attention he sought. His descent into unintended notoriety is both tragic and darkly humorous, grounding the novel’s satire in emotional realism.
The supporting themes of family conflict and the decline of traditional journalism add further depth, giving the novel a broader cultural and generational weight. The portrayal of a fading newspaper world serves as both backdrop and elegy, enriching the story’s tone.
Overall, Mud Season is an engaging and intelligent satire that balances humor with a cautionary look at ambition, reputation, and the unintended consequences of storytelling in a hyperconnected world.
August 7, 2025
Mud Season by Jeff Kramer, Woody Ackerman was fired from his longtime position as a reporter for the Icarus blaze a year ago and since then has been trying to think of what to do with hisself. he decides to write a thriller about a mafia type family involved in illegal dumping thanks to an anonymous tip he got in the mail. The only problem is the resemblance it’s really close to home. Not only does the romantic lead in the serial Internet resemble arrival reporter who would he secretly crushes on but the family he writes about looks exactly like his wife’s. to make this the summary for the book is really discredits the novels awesome plot, sub plots and many lol moments. Especially when he goes and gets a minimum wage job at the car wash there are many hilarious events in this book his wife’s family owns multiple businesses in the contracting community and the company has won mini awards but is everything as it seems or is the unstoppable Woody on to something and the biggest question will he live long enough to finish the story. I read this book about a month ago and thought I reviewed it and when I was looking through finished books today I saw I didn’t review this one so there were something left out of my review I apologize it has been a minute. Just know if you love a book with that great 80s vibe mafia type business owners with lots of lol moment you will definitely enjoy this book I did it totally deserves five stars and probably more. #NedGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #JeffKramer, #MudSeason,
April 13, 2025
Mud Season is a hilarious commentary on family, fame, media, and “The Process”. Woodrow, — sorry, no —, Atwood Hackworth is a man with so much false confidence that, at times, I believed him to be a genius solely because he told me so. That ego, and the belief that he will finally receive the acclaim he deserves, is his main motivator for finishing a book that threatens to tear his family apart. The novel-in-a-novel ‘Fear as Mud’ (which is honestly riveting, in its OTT way) tells the story of respected investigative journalist Cus looking into a region-wide scandal that his in-laws are at the centre of…unfortunately some of the details are a little close to home and as Woody serialises the novel online connections are drawn by internet ‘sleuths’, people scorned by Dunn-Rite (Woody’s actual in-laws’ company), and just about everyone in town. The problem is, Dunn-Rite are entirely innocent — like ‘never hurt a fly’ levels of company ethics. Woody has to choose between his Art/Success and Family, and reaffirm that choice over and over again.
There was a satisfying resolution, still very true to Woody, true to the other characters, and the beautiful garbage he churns out in the last few pages ties a brilliant ribbon on the whole thing…I’d say it felt sudden but when I reflected it didn’t at all, Woody perhaps sensed that his novel wasn’t to be received as the hard-hitting Literature with a capital L that he’d hoped, or maybe it was just the touching moments of domesticity that played after swearing to put to book down.
I couldn’t always place the satirisation of media — was it an earnest comment on print journalism dying out? Was it a snide remark that ‘everybody’s a writer nowadays’? That publishers will buy and sell any garbage if they think it’ll make them money? Something from the multitude of “aaahhh” moments I had throughout? I felt SOMETHING, for sure, I just felt a little murky about what exactly it was — that’s a me problem, though.
I liked this book! I was a little slow with the first 40%, but then blasted through the rest…to be expected since I’d spent the week prior to reading this focusing on novellas, I suppose I was somewhat used to condensed and fast-paced when I started.
I read the author’s note and found out Jeff Kramer’s father-in-law ALSO worked in the construction business…brilliant
TLDR: this book is interesting, funny, and clever. Worth a readdddddd :)
P.S. PLEASE CAN WE GET THE COVER ART ON GOODREADS?!
This ARC was provided by NetGalley.
There was a satisfying resolution, still very true to Woody, true to the other characters, and the beautiful garbage he churns out in the last few pages ties a brilliant ribbon on the whole thing…I’d say it felt sudden but when I reflected it didn’t at all, Woody perhaps sensed that his novel wasn’t to be received as the hard-hitting Literature with a capital L that he’d hoped, or maybe it was just the touching moments of domesticity that played after swearing to put to book down.
I couldn’t always place the satirisation of media — was it an earnest comment on print journalism dying out? Was it a snide remark that ‘everybody’s a writer nowadays’? That publishers will buy and sell any garbage if they think it’ll make them money? Something from the multitude of “aaahhh” moments I had throughout? I felt SOMETHING, for sure, I just felt a little murky about what exactly it was — that’s a me problem, though.
I liked this book! I was a little slow with the first 40%, but then blasted through the rest…to be expected since I’d spent the week prior to reading this focusing on novellas, I suppose I was somewhat used to condensed and fast-paced when I started.
I read the author’s note and found out Jeff Kramer’s father-in-law ALSO worked in the construction business…brilliant
TLDR: this book is interesting, funny, and clever. Worth a readdddddd :)
P.S. PLEASE CAN WE GET THE COVER ART ON GOODREADS?!
This ARC was provided by NetGalley.
February 15, 2026
Thanks to Koehler Books and Netgalley for this eARC.
Kramer has a gift for dry, self-deprecating humor. He captures the specific "Yankee" stoicism of New England without falling into tired tropes.
You can practically feel the damp chill and smell the wet earth. His descriptions of the landscape aren't just window dressing; they dictate the mood of the entire narrative.
Whether it’s a failing relationship or a literal car stuck in a ditch, the feeling of being "stuck" is something Kramer navigates with a perfect balance of cynicism and hope.
Mud Season isn’t a fast-paced thriller, and it doesn't try to be. It’s a character-driven slow burn that rewards readers who appreciate nuance and a good laugh at the absurdity of the human condition. It’s a reminder that while the mud is inevitable, the thaw eventually follows.
A must-read for anyone who has ever felt like they were spinning their wheels. It’s gritty, honest, and quintessentially North Country.
Kramer has a gift for dry, self-deprecating humor. He captures the specific "Yankee" stoicism of New England without falling into tired tropes.
You can practically feel the damp chill and smell the wet earth. His descriptions of the landscape aren't just window dressing; they dictate the mood of the entire narrative.
Whether it’s a failing relationship or a literal car stuck in a ditch, the feeling of being "stuck" is something Kramer navigates with a perfect balance of cynicism and hope.
Mud Season isn’t a fast-paced thriller, and it doesn't try to be. It’s a character-driven slow burn that rewards readers who appreciate nuance and a good laugh at the absurdity of the human condition. It’s a reminder that while the mud is inevitable, the thaw eventually follows.
A must-read for anyone who has ever felt like they were spinning their wheels. It’s gritty, honest, and quintessentially North Country.
April 2, 2025
Jeff Kramer delivered the impossible, creating a hilarious book by combining topics including poisoned concrete, the glories of backwoods upstate New York life, marital foibles, car wash secrets and the death of newspapers.
The dean of upstate writers, Bill Kennedy, once said that all successful novels have a laugh on every page. Mud Season has at least two laughs on every page, sometimes three and more.
As a Pulitzer Prize winning investigations editor I must admit that Kramer made me simultaneously laugh and cry and the description of the final days of journalism.
The dean of upstate writers, Bill Kennedy, once said that all successful novels have a laugh on every page. Mud Season has at least two laughs on every page, sometimes three and more.
As a Pulitzer Prize winning investigations editor I must admit that Kramer made me simultaneously laugh and cry and the description of the final days of journalism.
April 11, 2025
“Moby Dick,” he murmurs, “can kiss my ass.” What a great last line! Loved the book. Aside from sussing out all the spots in the fictional Icarus that are actually my hometown of Syracuse, my favorite part was the fight scene with the book within a book fictional novelist Cus fighting off the local newspaper’s security guards. He was shown jumping up on empty desks in the newsroom—each desk identified as occupied by a former beat reporter—and neither the beat nor the reporters were part of the paper any longer.
April 9, 2025
Fun read!
Mud Season is a fun and fast moving read with a humorous story within a story.
Mr. Kramer utilizes his vast experience as a journalist to create a story that will keep you guessing at the outcome. I look forward to reading his next novel!
Mud Season is a fun and fast moving read with a humorous story within a story.
Mr. Kramer utilizes his vast experience as a journalist to create a story that will keep you guessing at the outcome. I look forward to reading his next novel!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews