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Lew Ferris #4
The Wolves Are Watching: A Lew Ferris Mystery
Sheriff Lew Ferris has a new partner in crime in the fourth installment in Victoria Houston’s atmospheric mystery series, perfect for fans of Marc Cameron and Nevada Barr.
It’s early September when a competitor in a high school fishing tournament is approached by a stranger who threatens him and his family in an attempt to blackmail him into throwing the first round of the tournament. The boy flees into the woods, where at night he sleeps with wolves watching him from the shadows.
When the boy’s father asks Lew’s deputy, Ray Pradt, for help finding his son as well as the man who threatened him, they’re thrown into a world of illegal betting that’s more dangerous than either could have imagined. Meanwhile, Lew Ferris learns that a couple who went on a wolf-watching trip has disappeared without a trace, right near an old log cabin that Ray remembers from his childhood.
Sheriff Lew Ferris finds herself challenged more than ever arms dealing, sports betting, blackmail, and wolves. Is she under threat from predators too?
It’s early September when a competitor in a high school fishing tournament is approached by a stranger who threatens him and his family in an attempt to blackmail him into throwing the first round of the tournament. The boy flees into the woods, where at night he sleeps with wolves watching him from the shadows.
When the boy’s father asks Lew’s deputy, Ray Pradt, for help finding his son as well as the man who threatened him, they’re thrown into a world of illegal betting that’s more dangerous than either could have imagined. Meanwhile, Lew Ferris learns that a couple who went on a wolf-watching trip has disappeared without a trace, right near an old log cabin that Ray remembers from his childhood.
Sheriff Lew Ferris finds herself challenged more than ever arms dealing, sports betting, blackmail, and wolves. Is she under threat from predators too?
- GenresMystery
Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
21 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Houston
36 books283 followersShe is the author of the Loon Lake Mystery Series -- DEAD ANGLER, DEAD CREEK, DEAD WATER, DEAD FRENZY, DEAD HOT MAMA, DEAD JITTERBUG, DEAD BOOGIE, DEAD MADONNA, DEAD HOT SHOT, DEAD RENEGADE. DEAD DECEIVER, DEAD TEASE, DEAD INSIDER, DEAD HUSTLER, DEAD RAPUNZEL, DEAD LOUDMOUTH, DEAD SPIDER, DEAD FIREFLY, DEAD BIG DAWG and WOLF HOLLOW in hardcover, trade paperback and as an eBook from Simon & Schuster. The mysteries are set in the Northwoods of Wisconsin against a background of fishing – fly fishing as well as fishing for muskie, bass, bluegill and walleyes.
Houston’s mystery series was featured in a story on the front page of The Wall Street Journal (January 20, 2004) and on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation with Neal Conan” (February 2, 2006). Both can be seen/heard on the website: www.victoriahouston.com.
She has also written or co-authored over seven non-fiction books. An award-winning author specializing in family issues, Houston’s non-fiction books include the highly recommended ALONE AFTER SCHOOL: A Self-Care Guide for Latchkey Children and Their Parents (Prentice Hall, 1985); the national bestseller, LOVING A YOUNGER MAN: How Women Are Finding and Enjoying a Better Relationship (Contemporary Books (1987); Pocket Books (1988); MAKING IT WORK: Finding the Time and Energy For Your Career, Marriage, Children and Self (Contemporary Books, 1990) -- which was published by Simon & Schuster's Fireside imprint in August 1991 as a trade paperback titled MAKING IT WORK: Creative Solutions For Balancing Your Career, Marriage, Children And Personal Life. Houston co-authored RESTORE YOURSELF: A Woman’s Guide to Reviving Her Libido and Passion for Life (The Berkley Publishing Group/2001) with Dr. James Simon, a Past President of the North American Menopause Society.
Houston’s mystery series was featured in a story on the front page of The Wall Street Journal (January 20, 2004) and on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation with Neal Conan” (February 2, 2006). Both can be seen/heard on the website: www.victoriahouston.com.
She has also written or co-authored over seven non-fiction books. An award-winning author specializing in family issues, Houston’s non-fiction books include the highly recommended ALONE AFTER SCHOOL: A Self-Care Guide for Latchkey Children and Their Parents (Prentice Hall, 1985); the national bestseller, LOVING A YOUNGER MAN: How Women Are Finding and Enjoying a Better Relationship (Contemporary Books (1987); Pocket Books (1988); MAKING IT WORK: Finding the Time and Energy For Your Career, Marriage, Children and Self (Contemporary Books, 1990) -- which was published by Simon & Schuster's Fireside imprint in August 1991 as a trade paperback titled MAKING IT WORK: Creative Solutions For Balancing Your Career, Marriage, Children And Personal Life. Houston co-authored RESTORE YOURSELF: A Woman’s Guide to Reviving Her Libido and Passion for Life (The Berkley Publishing Group/2001) with Dr. James Simon, a Past President of the North American Menopause Society.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 21, 2026
I am a sucker for small town mysteries and The Wolves Are Watching by Victoria Houston is just that. It starts with a missing pair of wolf watchers and someone that puts pressure on a fishing competition trying to win some illegal betting. Soon it's so much more. We have good food, fishing, murder and illegal gun selling all in this small community. Will Lew Ferris get to the bottom of all this or not? Well I recommend that you read the book because I will not tell you. This is the fourth book in the Lew Ferris series that is the continuation of the Loon Lake Mysteries by the same author. I found the earlier books better but these are still entertaining. Great setting and marvelous characters.
March 14, 2026
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Sheriff Lew Ferris has her hands full in The Wolves are Watching. Wisconsin’s wolf population remains healthy and secure in the state, and people come from far and wide to see them in the wild.
A high school fishing tournament brings out the worst in some people. The event could award the winning team with a large sum of money, but someone else wants to win a large sum of their own. They don’t want to leave the payoff to chance either. They try to blackmail one of the contestants by threatening his family unless he agrees to throw the first round. Upset, the young man spends the night in the woods with the wolves watching him nearby.
In the meantime, Lew is notified about a couple who disappeared during a wolf-watching event. She is going to need a lot of help searching the woods if she has any chance of finding the avid wolf watchers. Her friend and deputy Ray Pradt is involved in both cases. She also requests help from the “Wausau boys”. When they find a stash of illegal guns during their search, they have to call in the FBI.
Will Lew be able to find the couple? Will she be able to catch the blackmailer? Will she be able to shut down the flow of illegal guns and put those responsible behind bars?
Ms. Houston has created a wonderful cast of characters for this series, and they are still going strong in the 23rd installment (4th with this publisher). Flyfishing is the theme that runs through the series. Lew Ferris is not only an expert but also teaches others the right techniques, and barters her lessons to get the help she needs to solve her cases. Her significant other, Doc Osbourne, still learns new things from her. Their relationship is so warm and comforting. Ray Pradt has his own set of skills, and in this book, we were reminded about how he acquired those skills. Bruce Peters, a talented forensic scientist out of Wausau, remains a reliable ally and is always willing to help when Lew calls, especially if they have time to fish. New development, a female has now joined his team, so they are no longer the “Wausau boys”. It truly is like visiting old friends every time I open up a book in this series.
This story is particularly well-constructed, offering a compelling and suspenseful plot that keeps the reader engaged. The progress of the case relies on traditional investigative work, which adds authenticity and satisfaction to the narrative. An old friend of Lew’s plays a crucial role, helping to connect important clues and drive the investigation forward.
The story includes several tense moments, culminating in an unexpected takedown that adds excitement and surprise. A meeting that gathers all the law enforcement officials around the conference table is a highlight, as they collectively review the evidence and discuss the case. While one question remains unresolved at this point, it is addressed just a few pages later. The book concludes with a heartwarming moment that left me with a smile on my face and provided an uplifting ending to the story.
The Wolves Are Watching is filled with appealing characters and a mystery you can sink your teeth into set in the beautiful North Woods of Wisconsin. As I mentioned in other reviews, like Lew, my grandfather was the one who took me fishing as a child. Every time Lew steps into that stream in her waders with her rod and reel, I can easily envision my grandfather a bit upstream, taking it all in. Each book in this series has brought back wonderful memories.
While this is a long-running series, the author does an excellent job making new readers feel right at home. You can cast your line into any book and totally enjoy it.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC.
Sheriff Lew Ferris has her hands full in The Wolves are Watching. Wisconsin’s wolf population remains healthy and secure in the state, and people come from far and wide to see them in the wild.
A high school fishing tournament brings out the worst in some people. The event could award the winning team with a large sum of money, but someone else wants to win a large sum of their own. They don’t want to leave the payoff to chance either. They try to blackmail one of the contestants by threatening his family unless he agrees to throw the first round. Upset, the young man spends the night in the woods with the wolves watching him nearby.
In the meantime, Lew is notified about a couple who disappeared during a wolf-watching event. She is going to need a lot of help searching the woods if she has any chance of finding the avid wolf watchers. Her friend and deputy Ray Pradt is involved in both cases. She also requests help from the “Wausau boys”. When they find a stash of illegal guns during their search, they have to call in the FBI.
Will Lew be able to find the couple? Will she be able to catch the blackmailer? Will she be able to shut down the flow of illegal guns and put those responsible behind bars?
Ms. Houston has created a wonderful cast of characters for this series, and they are still going strong in the 23rd installment (4th with this publisher). Flyfishing is the theme that runs through the series. Lew Ferris is not only an expert but also teaches others the right techniques, and barters her lessons to get the help she needs to solve her cases. Her significant other, Doc Osbourne, still learns new things from her. Their relationship is so warm and comforting. Ray Pradt has his own set of skills, and in this book, we were reminded about how he acquired those skills. Bruce Peters, a talented forensic scientist out of Wausau, remains a reliable ally and is always willing to help when Lew calls, especially if they have time to fish. New development, a female has now joined his team, so they are no longer the “Wausau boys”. It truly is like visiting old friends every time I open up a book in this series.
This story is particularly well-constructed, offering a compelling and suspenseful plot that keeps the reader engaged. The progress of the case relies on traditional investigative work, which adds authenticity and satisfaction to the narrative. An old friend of Lew’s plays a crucial role, helping to connect important clues and drive the investigation forward.
The story includes several tense moments, culminating in an unexpected takedown that adds excitement and surprise. A meeting that gathers all the law enforcement officials around the conference table is a highlight, as they collectively review the evidence and discuss the case. While one question remains unresolved at this point, it is addressed just a few pages later. The book concludes with a heartwarming moment that left me with a smile on my face and provided an uplifting ending to the story.
The Wolves Are Watching is filled with appealing characters and a mystery you can sink your teeth into set in the beautiful North Woods of Wisconsin. As I mentioned in other reviews, like Lew, my grandfather was the one who took me fishing as a child. Every time Lew steps into that stream in her waders with her rod and reel, I can easily envision my grandfather a bit upstream, taking it all in. Each book in this series has brought back wonderful memories.
While this is a long-running series, the author does an excellent job making new readers feel right at home. You can cast your line into any book and totally enjoy it.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I forget about these books in between reads, but I’m a fan. Whenever I pick one up I’m always drawn in by a great read, and what’s better than that? Lew - or Llewellyn - Ferris is the sheriff of Loon Lake, Wisconsin, and she’s an avid fisherwoman, something that’s woven through all the books. She’s been dating the town dentist for awhile, sharing a cozy trading off houses relationship with him. Doc also enjoys fly fishing. So far, so cozy, but these books aren’t quite cozy though they have many, many cozy elements to them.
As the book opens we meet a couple who are avid “wolf watchers” – wolves have returned to Wisconsin and their group sets up in different places just to watch and photograph them. Unfortunately, the male half of the couple is a domineering know it all, and he’s been bullying his wife for most of their marriage. The bullying appears to carry over to the wolf watching group. He gets in a dispute with one of them and leaves in a huff, taking his wife. Very unfortunately, the couple disappear.
That’s where Sheriff Lew comes in. She’s called in to the search, and she asks a good friend of hers, Ray (also her deputy), to help her with tracking, which he’s exceptional at. She gets the team in action and Ray is tragically successful in his search. Meanwhile, the police also find a stash of illegal guns. The guns assume center stage for most of the book, but it seems the guns and the couple’s accidental discovery of them are probably connected.
Ray has another problem: he coaches a fishing team and one of his students has been approached to fudge his results to provide a successful sports bet. The man approaching him has threatened the boy, who is terrified. Lew and Ray handle this part of things but the sports betting lurks at the fringes of the story.
It’s not too complicated of a plot, just complicated enough, and what’s outstanding and enjoyable about Huston’s books are the array of characters and the community she creates around them. I don’t know if Loon Lake is real or not but it sure feels real, and so does Lew herself, who is a woman comfortable with herself but not so unbelievably perfect that you can’t, as a reader, relate to her.
The mystery part of the book is suspenseful and gripping. The set up for the solution is extremely well done, and the relationships surrounding the perpetrator are well drawn. There are different clever bits of detection and some believably ordinary police work that ultimately solve the crime. Lew works well with the FBI and state agencies she needs to call in and I enjoyed all the fly fishing parts, even though I have never fished in my life. Expertise of any kind is always interesting. As a reader, you also feel as though you’ve made a virtual visit to Loon Lake. This is a really well done series.
As the book opens we meet a couple who are avid “wolf watchers” – wolves have returned to Wisconsin and their group sets up in different places just to watch and photograph them. Unfortunately, the male half of the couple is a domineering know it all, and he’s been bullying his wife for most of their marriage. The bullying appears to carry over to the wolf watching group. He gets in a dispute with one of them and leaves in a huff, taking his wife. Very unfortunately, the couple disappear.
That’s where Sheriff Lew comes in. She’s called in to the search, and she asks a good friend of hers, Ray (also her deputy), to help her with tracking, which he’s exceptional at. She gets the team in action and Ray is tragically successful in his search. Meanwhile, the police also find a stash of illegal guns. The guns assume center stage for most of the book, but it seems the guns and the couple’s accidental discovery of them are probably connected.
Ray has another problem: he coaches a fishing team and one of his students has been approached to fudge his results to provide a successful sports bet. The man approaching him has threatened the boy, who is terrified. Lew and Ray handle this part of things but the sports betting lurks at the fringes of the story.
It’s not too complicated of a plot, just complicated enough, and what’s outstanding and enjoyable about Huston’s books are the array of characters and the community she creates around them. I don’t know if Loon Lake is real or not but it sure feels real, and so does Lew herself, who is a woman comfortable with herself but not so unbelievably perfect that you can’t, as a reader, relate to her.
The mystery part of the book is suspenseful and gripping. The set up for the solution is extremely well done, and the relationships surrounding the perpetrator are well drawn. There are different clever bits of detection and some believably ordinary police work that ultimately solve the crime. Lew works well with the FBI and state agencies she needs to call in and I enjoyed all the fly fishing parts, even though I have never fished in my life. Expertise of any kind is always interesting. As a reader, you also feel as though you’ve made a virtual visit to Loon Lake. This is a really well done series.
March 14, 2026
★★☆☆☆ (2 stars)
The Wolves Are Watching by Victoria Houston is the fourth book in the Lew Ferris mystery series, set in the wilderness of Wisconsin’s Northwoods. While the premise had potential—with wolves, missing people, and illegal betting—the story ultimately didn’t work for me.
The novel begins when a teenager competing in a high school fishing tournament is approached by a stranger who threatens him and his family, attempting to blackmail him into throwing the first round of the competition. Terrified, the boy flees into the woods, where he spends nights hiding while wolves watch from the shadows. When the boy’s father asks Deputy Ray Pradt for help finding his son and the man who threatened him, the investigation uncovers a dangerous world of illegal betting and blackmail. At the same time, Sheriff Lew Ferris is dealing with a separate mystery involving a couple who vanished while on a wolf-watching trip near an old cabin Ray remembers from his childhood.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the premise. One of my biggest frustrations was realising partway through that this is not a standalone novel. It’s the fourth book in the Lew Ferris series and connected to the long-running Loon Lake mysteries, yet this wasn’t made especially clear. There’s a lot of history between the characters, and I often felt like I’d been dropped into the middle of ongoing storylines without enough context.
The writing itself also had some distracting issues. Random pieces of backstory are inserted throughout the book that don’t feel necessary and interrupt the flow of the story. There were also small but noticeable errors—such as using parameter instead of perimeter—that pulled me out of the narrative. The occasional paragraph written from the perspective of a wolf was another strange choice that felt jarring rather than atmospheric.
I also struggled with the characters. Some of them—John in particular—were incredibly frustrating, and I never fully connected with the cast. By the end, I found myself having to push through just to finish the book.
Despite an interesting concept involving wilderness survival, wolves, and crime in a small community, the pacing and storytelling didn’t quite come together for me.
Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.
The Wolves Are Watching by Victoria Houston is the fourth book in the Lew Ferris mystery series, set in the wilderness of Wisconsin’s Northwoods. While the premise had potential—with wolves, missing people, and illegal betting—the story ultimately didn’t work for me.
The novel begins when a teenager competing in a high school fishing tournament is approached by a stranger who threatens him and his family, attempting to blackmail him into throwing the first round of the competition. Terrified, the boy flees into the woods, where he spends nights hiding while wolves watch from the shadows. When the boy’s father asks Deputy Ray Pradt for help finding his son and the man who threatened him, the investigation uncovers a dangerous world of illegal betting and blackmail. At the same time, Sheriff Lew Ferris is dealing with a separate mystery involving a couple who vanished while on a wolf-watching trip near an old cabin Ray remembers from his childhood.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the premise. One of my biggest frustrations was realising partway through that this is not a standalone novel. It’s the fourth book in the Lew Ferris series and connected to the long-running Loon Lake mysteries, yet this wasn’t made especially clear. There’s a lot of history between the characters, and I often felt like I’d been dropped into the middle of ongoing storylines without enough context.
The writing itself also had some distracting issues. Random pieces of backstory are inserted throughout the book that don’t feel necessary and interrupt the flow of the story. There were also small but noticeable errors—such as using parameter instead of perimeter—that pulled me out of the narrative. The occasional paragraph written from the perspective of a wolf was another strange choice that felt jarring rather than atmospheric.
I also struggled with the characters. Some of them—John in particular—were incredibly frustrating, and I never fully connected with the cast. By the end, I found myself having to push through just to finish the book.
Despite an interesting concept involving wilderness survival, wolves, and crime in a small community, the pacing and storytelling didn’t quite come together for me.
Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Wolves Are Watching by Victoria Houston is a highly recommended cozy mystery set in the Northern Wisconsin woods which follows a murder investigation, illegal betting, arms dealing, and some fly fishing. This is the fourth book in the Lew Ferris series following Wolf Hollow, Hidden in the Pines, and At the Edge of the Woods. It can be enjoyed as a standalone novel but reading the previous books in the series does provide more background information.
Sheriff Lew Ferris, of McBride County and the Loon Lake area of northern Wisconsin, receives a call from the state patrol who think a couple of missing wolf watchers, the McKenzies, may be in her area. Lew quickly calls part time deputy Ray Pradt, an excellent tracker and fishing guide, to assist in the search. Ray agrees, but also brings to Lew's attention the information that a man is trying to blackmail one of the students he is coaching to throw the first round of a state high school fishing tournament.
When assessing the situation, Ray is sure he knows the area where the missing wolf watchers would likely go. During the search he finds an old log cabin which has recently been fixed up and is now full of crates of high-powered weapons. Lew puts the cabin under surveillance hoping to catch the illegal gun runners and now has three cases to investigate.
This is another well-written, fast-paced, and fun addition to the ongoing mystery series. All the books include an investigation of possibly interlocking crimes, involve outdoor activity, and will include fly fishing at some point. The wolves in this outing are a distraction as the humans are much more dangerous predators. Dentist Doc Osborne, along with Dani and other known characters, are back and make an appearance during the investigations.
The Wolves Are Watching is a great addition to the series where the books are entertaining, short, and can be quickly read as the mysteries are all straightforward, investigated logically, and not full of complications. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Sheriff Lew Ferris, of McBride County and the Loon Lake area of northern Wisconsin, receives a call from the state patrol who think a couple of missing wolf watchers, the McKenzies, may be in her area. Lew quickly calls part time deputy Ray Pradt, an excellent tracker and fishing guide, to assist in the search. Ray agrees, but also brings to Lew's attention the information that a man is trying to blackmail one of the students he is coaching to throw the first round of a state high school fishing tournament.
When assessing the situation, Ray is sure he knows the area where the missing wolf watchers would likely go. During the search he finds an old log cabin which has recently been fixed up and is now full of crates of high-powered weapons. Lew puts the cabin under surveillance hoping to catch the illegal gun runners and now has three cases to investigate.
This is another well-written, fast-paced, and fun addition to the ongoing mystery series. All the books include an investigation of possibly interlocking crimes, involve outdoor activity, and will include fly fishing at some point. The wolves in this outing are a distraction as the humans are much more dangerous predators. Dentist Doc Osborne, along with Dani and other known characters, are back and make an appearance during the investigations.
The Wolves Are Watching is a great addition to the series where the books are entertaining, short, and can be quickly read as the mysteries are all straightforward, investigated logically, and not full of complications. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
April 19, 2026
The characters are terrific. It's like fishing with old friends. So on that alone, I give it a 4-star rating. If I had just picked this book up not knowing the series, I'd have given it 2-stars and thought it was self-published or AI.
I have an issue with the copy editing and the amount of repetition. As for the copy editing: the bodies are in a virgin forest--never logged by the logger-baron owner, but later we are told that Lew & Ray Pradt are using a relic road/trail 'left over from when the woods were logged in the late 1800s'. I thought these woods were never logged? Also, at the beginning of Chapter 12 when Lew was with the grieving son, we begin with her trying to relax with Doc. Then calling him on phone from her vehicle. Where is Lew here? Near the crime scene; at home with Doc; or driving to her office from the crime scene? Plus there are a few more instances where the last name of the baddies is spelled 2 different ways. These kinds of things drive me crazy.
And even though it is a short, fast read, there is so much repeating of the details that if they were eliminated, it would probably be considered a novella.
That said, I love this series. I love the characters. I love the settings. So I can let these things go, but I sure hope going forward Victoria Houston and her publisher's editors will work a bit harder to keep the quality of this wonderful series in tact.
Oh, and as an old muskie fisherman and a former member of Muskies, Inc., I was appalled that the high school teams competing in the tournament were allowed to keep their fish. Muskies should always be catch-and-release. Uggh!
I have an issue with the copy editing and the amount of repetition. As for the copy editing: the bodies are in a virgin forest--never logged by the logger-baron owner, but later we are told that Lew & Ray Pradt are using a relic road/trail 'left over from when the woods were logged in the late 1800s'. I thought these woods were never logged? Also, at the beginning of Chapter 12 when Lew was with the grieving son, we begin with her trying to relax with Doc. Then calling him on phone from her vehicle. Where is Lew here? Near the crime scene; at home with Doc; or driving to her office from the crime scene? Plus there are a few more instances where the last name of the baddies is spelled 2 different ways. These kinds of things drive me crazy.
And even though it is a short, fast read, there is so much repeating of the details that if they were eliminated, it would probably be considered a novella.
That said, I love this series. I love the characters. I love the settings. So I can let these things go, but I sure hope going forward Victoria Houston and her publisher's editors will work a bit harder to keep the quality of this wonderful series in tact.
Oh, and as an old muskie fisherman and a former member of Muskies, Inc., I was appalled that the high school teams competing in the tournament were allowed to keep their fish. Muskies should always be catch-and-release. Uggh!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The fourth mystery starring Sheriff Lew Ferris takes place in early September. A competitor in a high school fishing tournament is approached by someone who wants him to cheat. A man and woman who are wolf watchers disappear. And an old cabin in a protected area has been fixed up and is being used for illegal arms.
Lew is assisted by her investigator Ray Pradt who is a coach for the fishing team and an excellent guide and tracker. He's the one who brings Lew to the old cabin and he's the one who discovers the wolf watching couple's bodies buried in a shallow grave.
The illegal arms have Lew calling in the Feds who set up a sting at the cabin which is blown by a cop who needed to use the outhouse in the early hours. Clues seem to indicate that all three cases are connected and all clues also lead to a family that used to be prominent in the area.
The story is told from multiple viewpoints which gradually come together as Lew and her cohorts work on solving the case.
I enjoyed this story which stars a fly-fishing sheriff who is a whole lot smarter than the crooks believe.
Lew is assisted by her investigator Ray Pradt who is a coach for the fishing team and an excellent guide and tracker. He's the one who brings Lew to the old cabin and he's the one who discovers the wolf watching couple's bodies buried in a shallow grave.
The illegal arms have Lew calling in the Feds who set up a sting at the cabin which is blown by a cop who needed to use the outhouse in the early hours. Clues seem to indicate that all three cases are connected and all clues also lead to a family that used to be prominent in the area.
The story is told from multiple viewpoints which gradually come together as Lew and her cohorts work on solving the case.
I enjoyed this story which stars a fly-fishing sheriff who is a whole lot smarter than the crooks believe.
March 8, 2026
Always looking forward to what’s next
I have read each and every book in the Loon Lake and Lew Ferris mystery series. I am from Wisconsin and enjoy the north woods. I love the characters developed through the series. Now I just need to wait patiently for the next book to be released.
I have read each and every book in the Loon Lake and Lew Ferris mystery series. I am from Wisconsin and enjoy the north woods. I love the characters developed through the series. Now I just need to wait patiently for the next book to be released.
March 29, 2026
A gutsy main character, great supporting team.
MC is a female county sheriff in Wisconsin. I love a good cast of characters, and indication of new people and plot development for the next book. Ok to read as a standalone, but I recommend going back after to the earlier books.
MC is a female county sheriff in Wisconsin. I love a good cast of characters, and indication of new people and plot development for the next book. Ok to read as a standalone, but I recommend going back after to the earlier books.
April 26, 2026
Again a very enjoyable read, and a vicarious trip to the Northwoods. Multi-level story with several sub-plots, with interesting characters, introduction of some new ones, and a nice surprise at the end. I like the fishing info also. Looking forward to the next one.
February 24, 2026
Great Read
Well I got the book yesterday an finished it this morning. How have to wait a year for us next one.
Well I got the book yesterday an finished it this morning. How have to wait a year for us next one.
March 3, 2026
Victoria Houston’s books are all fun reads of mysteries in the Northwoods! I always look forward to her next book!
March 8, 2026
Great story, love both of the series with Lew, Doc and Ray, great characters. I especially like the way this one ended and a hoping for more...
Read
March 10, 2026Members of a wolf watching group discover a group of illegal gun sellers and are murdered
March 12, 2026
This one read more like a throwback to the early Loon Lakes books.
March 17, 2026
Love Victoria’s books! Born and raised in Rhinelander and love her writing about the north woods!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews