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Dave Cubiak #2
Death at Gills Rock
After tracking a clever killer in Death Stalks Door County , park ranger and former Chicago homicide detective Dave Cubiak is elected Door County sheriff. His newest challenge arrives as spring brings not new life but tragic death to the isolated fishing village of Gills Rock. Three prominent World War II veterans who are about to be honored for their military heroics die from carbon monoxide poisoning during a weekly card game. Blame falls to a faulty heater but Cubiak puzzles over details. When one of the widows receives a message claiming the men “got what they deserved,” he realizes that there may be more to the deaths than a simple accident.
Investigating, Cubiak discovers that the men’s veneer of success and respectability hides a trail of lies and betrayal that stems from a single, desperate act of treachery and eventually spreads a web of deceit across the peninsula. In a dark, moody tale that spans more than half a century, Cubiak encounters a host of suspects with motives for murder. Amid broken dreams, corruption, and loss, he sorts out the truth. Death at Gills Rock is the second book in Patricia Skalka’s Dave Cubiak Door County Mystery series.
Investigating, Cubiak discovers that the men’s veneer of success and respectability hides a trail of lies and betrayal that stems from a single, desperate act of treachery and eventually spreads a web of deceit across the peninsula. In a dark, moody tale that spans more than half a century, Cubiak encounters a host of suspects with motives for murder. Amid broken dreams, corruption, and loss, he sorts out the truth. Death at Gills Rock is the second book in Patricia Skalka’s Dave Cubiak Door County Mystery series.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 2015
55 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
June 29, 2017
High-quality mystery writing from a skilled author. Tight plot, interesting characters, vivid scene setting, and a long list of murder suspects make this an excellent read for those who enjoy regional mysteries, especially fans of Door County, Wisconsin.
Dave Cubiak is a dark yet sympathetic protagonist who seems reluctant to be the Door County Sheriff, but still does his job judiciously, never forgetting that criminals are human too, and driven by the same emotions as everyone else, only at higher levels sometimes. He deals with his personal problems the best he can but is true to life in that he finds no simple solutions to those problems.
Dave Cubiak is a dark yet sympathetic protagonist who seems reluctant to be the Door County Sheriff, but still does his job judiciously, never forgetting that criminals are human too, and driven by the same emotions as everyone else, only at higher levels sometimes. He deals with his personal problems the best he can but is true to life in that he finds no simple solutions to those problems.
August 26, 2017
This is the first book I’ve read by Patricia Skalka, and I am encouraged to read more. I really like Dave Cubiak, with his laid-back and yet persistent manner of investigation. The characters are all like people we really know, the dialogue is real, and the circumstances and actions believable, yet unpredictable. The pacing is like Dave: a steady build that keeps the reader turning pages to the end.
February 12, 2018
Cubiak and Door County are meticulously chiseled in this page turner. Mystery, romance and murder all add up to a fast run for your money.
June 30, 2025
This is the second in the Dave Cubiak series. Altho reading them in order would be helpful with the background of some of the characters. I live in Door County and am familiar with the places talked about in the story. Slow paced but enjoyable. 3.5
October 17, 2015
As DEATH AT GILLS ROCK opens, Dave Cubiak, Door County, Wisconsin sheriff, is called to the scene of an apparent accidental death of three WWII heroes. The three are credited with trying to save their friend, a fourth Door County boy, during an Aleutian Island offensive. The legend goes that there was not enough room on the rescue boat they piloted, so they had to leave their buddy behind, although they were valiant in their efforts to bring him to safety. The three were just about to be recognized for their heroism when they were found dead in the game room of the most successful of the three successful veterans. When Cubiak arrives at the scene, he decides to investigate even though the initial determination is that all three died because of an accidental heater malfunction.
As he digs into the relationships surrounding the heroes, Cubiak wonders how three working class veterans happened to become so wealthy. The widows seem united in their support of their husbands, but other relatives (sons and grandsons) seem less enamored of the three. Cubiak's search for the truth leads him to question not only the accidental nature of the heroes' deaths, but also the heroism from the distant past with which they have been credited. If the mythology that has been built up around the dead men is put into question, then virtually everyone connected with the men has a motive for killing them. That is, if they were killed and did not just die accidentally.
Some readers will find the resolution of the mystery of the men's deaths unsatisfying, while others will find it appropriately obscured. But Cubiak's trip into the past should resonate with all. As he unearths the history of the purported war heroes, he revisits his own past. For those who did not read the first in the series, DEATH STALKS DOOR COUNTY, the author does a terrific job of providing Cubiak's background through his memories. In addition, Cubiak's introspection helps the reader get to know the character, providing depth that will carry into future books. The kind gentleness that Skalka helps us see in Cubiak as the sheriff cares for his adopted dog and her four newborn puppies adds a tender dimension to the book that balances the deaths at the heart of the mystery.
Door County is brought to life, both in the characters that populate the peninsula and in the descriptions of the locales. The reader is provided with a map that helps give context to Cubiak's investigation as well as to the isolation of the area. In the end, I will return to this series as much to learn what happens in Cubiak's life as to read about the complexities of his next investigation. Both aspects of Skalka's fully developed Door County add to the enjoyment of her book.
This review first appeared at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.
As he digs into the relationships surrounding the heroes, Cubiak wonders how three working class veterans happened to become so wealthy. The widows seem united in their support of their husbands, but other relatives (sons and grandsons) seem less enamored of the three. Cubiak's search for the truth leads him to question not only the accidental nature of the heroes' deaths, but also the heroism from the distant past with which they have been credited. If the mythology that has been built up around the dead men is put into question, then virtually everyone connected with the men has a motive for killing them. That is, if they were killed and did not just die accidentally.
Some readers will find the resolution of the mystery of the men's deaths unsatisfying, while others will find it appropriately obscured. But Cubiak's trip into the past should resonate with all. As he unearths the history of the purported war heroes, he revisits his own past. For those who did not read the first in the series, DEATH STALKS DOOR COUNTY, the author does a terrific job of providing Cubiak's background through his memories. In addition, Cubiak's introspection helps the reader get to know the character, providing depth that will carry into future books. The kind gentleness that Skalka helps us see in Cubiak as the sheriff cares for his adopted dog and her four newborn puppies adds a tender dimension to the book that balances the deaths at the heart of the mystery.
Door County is brought to life, both in the characters that populate the peninsula and in the descriptions of the locales. The reader is provided with a map that helps give context to Cubiak's investigation as well as to the isolation of the area. In the end, I will return to this series as much to learn what happens in Cubiak's life as to read about the complexities of his next investigation. Both aspects of Skalka's fully developed Door County add to the enjoyment of her book.
This review first appeared at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.
July 9, 2015
First off, I'm amazed I'm going to get this back in its have period without renewing it. Yay me!
Warning: spoilers ahead.
I was a bit disappointed by this. I understand the complexity of the mystery, but I really would have appreciated a more concrete, defined ending. Not that I'm opposed to ambiguity - I often prefer an ambiguous ending that lets you ponder. But I don't feel that this particular situation was an appropriate place for an unsolved case.
Regarding out main character, Dave Cubiak (how do you pronounce that anyway - like a hard k or with the s sound?), I feel like he's taking far too long to get past the death of his wife and daughter. Who knows, maybe by the next book (yes, I believe there will be another installment) he will have moved on. After all, the return of Cate seems to signal the beginning (perhaps picking up where they left off) of a new romance, and I'm sure that's a storyline that Ms. Skalka won't want to leave hanging.
Despite my slight disappointment with the resolution of the mystery, I eagerly await the next volume.
Warning: spoilers ahead.
I was a bit disappointed by this. I understand the complexity of the mystery, but I really would have appreciated a more concrete, defined ending. Not that I'm opposed to ambiguity - I often prefer an ambiguous ending that lets you ponder. But I don't feel that this particular situation was an appropriate place for an unsolved case.
Regarding out main character, Dave Cubiak (how do you pronounce that anyway - like a hard k or with the s sound?), I feel like he's taking far too long to get past the death of his wife and daughter. Who knows, maybe by the next book (yes, I believe there will be another installment) he will have moved on. After all, the return of Cate seems to signal the beginning (perhaps picking up where they left off) of a new romance, and I'm sure that's a storyline that Ms. Skalka won't want to leave hanging.
Despite my slight disappointment with the resolution of the mystery, I eagerly await the next volume.
September 17, 2023
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Door County, Wisconsin, (read while this reviewer was on vacation there) this novel reintroduces readers to Dave Cubiak, a former Chicago cop turned Door County sheriff. Cubiak's transition to the tranquil life of Door County is anything but smooth, and as the series progresses, his character continues to evolve.
Skalka weaves an intricate plot and vividly depicting the beauty of the Door County landscape as once again she creates the sense of place that is as much a character as any of the individuals in the story. Layering the narrative of interconnected characters and motives, Skalka pretty much keeps things moving along (if sometimes there is repetition) as Cubiak seeks justice while sifting through the motives and hidden agendas within the human natures of the ‘cast.’
There were some unlikely events such as an elderly woman holding off three men (albeit elderly ones) and the probable ages of the characters. If indeed the action took place in 2015, then the generation of WWII would have been about 90. To have that many people so robust and agile at that age seems unlikely. Added the next generation, born during the war, would have been in their 70s having high school aged children. Unfortunately, these issues were shown right off the bat and this reviewer could not follow the action logically as it was always in mind.
Skalka weaves an intricate plot and vividly depicting the beauty of the Door County landscape as once again she creates the sense of place that is as much a character as any of the individuals in the story. Layering the narrative of interconnected characters and motives, Skalka pretty much keeps things moving along (if sometimes there is repetition) as Cubiak seeks justice while sifting through the motives and hidden agendas within the human natures of the ‘cast.’
There were some unlikely events such as an elderly woman holding off three men (albeit elderly ones) and the probable ages of the characters. If indeed the action took place in 2015, then the generation of WWII would have been about 90. To have that many people so robust and agile at that age seems unlikely. Added the next generation, born during the war, would have been in their 70s having high school aged children. Unfortunately, these issues were shown right off the bat and this reviewer could not follow the action logically as it was always in mind.
January 15, 2018
In this book, Skalka has written a love affair with Door County as she portrays every nuanced lay of the land. We make our acquaintance to this place, the voice and character of the people by her keen ear and her vivid observation. And while we see the genuine nature of these people and the sheer marvel of their country, Skalka digs deep into social and community complexities that are as they say, stranger than fiction.
And Cubiak is back. In this book he has softened up around some previous raw edges. Now we see his quick sense of humor and his authentic penchant for true friendship. His hard wired integrity keeps his life uncluttered and and he tries to keep his life simple. Yet there is a wild ride brewing for him with murder running deep.
Skalka’s refined style and passion for knotty characterization, her innate storytelling and sense of wonder bring us another Cubiak mystery that reels with energy and invention.
The intricate undercurrent of both Cubiak’s layered identity and Skalka’s narrative gives these stories grist for thought long after the last page has been turned.
And Cubiak is back. In this book he has softened up around some previous raw edges. Now we see his quick sense of humor and his authentic penchant for true friendship. His hard wired integrity keeps his life uncluttered and and he tries to keep his life simple. Yet there is a wild ride brewing for him with murder running deep.
Skalka’s refined style and passion for knotty characterization, her innate storytelling and sense of wonder bring us another Cubiak mystery that reels with energy and invention.
The intricate undercurrent of both Cubiak’s layered identity and Skalka’s narrative gives these stories grist for thought long after the last page has been turned.
May 31, 2017
I liked this book better than the first in the series, and found the premise quite interesting and compelling. It had an unexpected angle, which added to the story. I didn't really like the way the plot concluded, though. It left things open-ended, and not in a particularly artful way. It wasn't a story that benefitted from the ambiguity, in my opinion. I also thought it was odd that Cubiak just picked and chose what elements of the law to enforce, and which people to pursue. Also odd was the idea of three different people attempting to kill these three men in the same way (maybe - considering the ambiguity). It feels like a Three Stooges murder mystery. Particularly convoluted were the scenes that may or may not have happened involving Ida. And, finally, if Patricia Skalka wants to write characters as Door County natives, she needs to not refer to Door County as "the northwoods". That right there is a big hint that she's from Chicago ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2020
Well balanced mystery novel. Neither too light nor too heavy. I bought this book at a local bookstore in Manitowoc on my way up to Gills Rock in 2019 but did not read it during my Door County vacay; I read it during the April 2020 COVID-19 stay-at-home period. I like the way Skalka treats Dave Cubiak, the sheriff-detective, in this story. He feels like a complete human character. The novel is not high on suspense, and early on there was some difficulty managing all the different character-suspects, but overall a satisfying set of story arcs set on Wisconsin's tourist peninsula. Weaves in a bit of local color without overwhelming the story and provides a decent progression of reveals in terms of the layers of the central mystery surrounding surrounding the death of three prominent men. Recommend as a great airplane, beach, or (until we get back to both) quarantine read.
May 21, 2017
Secrets, lies, cover-ups ... we must remind ourselves that images are what others want us to see, not necessarily the truth. When one lie leads to another things can get rather complicated and that's what newly appointed sheriff, Dave Cubiak stumbles upon in this awesome novel. A simple 'accident' starts unraveling the carefully spun cover-up that builds and impacts the tiny community of Gills Rock. The more that Cubiak prys away the layers of deceit, the more the skeletons begin to exit the closet so the healing may begin. Generations of lies leads the reader down the slippery slope of questioning why.
October 14, 2019
This is the second book in a series of Dave Cubiak mysteries set in Door County Wisconsin. This story takes place two years after the first book and Dave is now the Door County Sheriff. After three prominent businessmen are found dead around a poker table in a rural cabin, most figured they died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. While that was true, the rest of the story centers around how and why the accident could have happened. Family secrets in a small community where everyone knows everyone else makes this a fascinating story with quite a few surprises. The setting of Door County makes this especially fun to read for someone who has visited there for over fifty years.
June 1, 2020
I enjoyed Gills Rock a bit more than the first in the Dave Cubiak mystery series. The part I enjoyed in the first -- being able to identify locations mentioned - still existed in Gills Rock AND I thought the mystery hung together better. Three men died in what could have been an accident, but then a threatening note and some graffiti cause Dave to delve further into the stories of these three men. The list of suspects expands and narrows as he travels around the county interviewing folks who knew the three men. Interestingly, even at the end of the book, the reader is left to decide what REALLY happened.....
November 16, 2022
I chose this author and this series when I saw that the setting was Door County, WI. I am very fond of northern Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, so I was comfortable right away. Cubiak, the protagonist, left Chicago and headed north after the death of his wide and daughter in an auto accident. So, he is troubled and is looking for something in his life, making a good leading character. In this second book, he has been elected sheriff, and has a triple murder to solve. The author really involves the reader with all the characters, making you feel very present. The story is complex and well drawn. In the background is the lovely northern setting!
December 4, 2019
I like Patricia Skalka’s little Door County mysteries. Second one I have read now. Of course, I also love Door County, and the location is very nicely represented.
Her sheriff, Cubiak, is interesting, the plots have been decent, and I am thrilled that her protagonist does not get beat up and faced with death at the wrap-up of each mystery. ( That formula is so very tiresome).
I will read more!
Her sheriff, Cubiak, is interesting, the plots have been decent, and I am thrilled that her protagonist does not get beat up and faced with death at the wrap-up of each mystery. ( That formula is so very tiresome).
I will read more!
August 14, 2023
Another Door County murder mystery with Sheriff Cubiak. This one is s out three WW2 veterans who die of carbon monoxide poisoning or did they. Was it murder or was it a faulty heater. Twists and turns in a way where you are not sure. I really like the character and how he evolving in this series. Also the fact that I have done trips to Door County and know where these cities are makes it more interesting.
December 9, 2017
I Did Not See That One Coming
I have a special affinity for the setting in this series. Born and raised in Wisconsin, there's a nuance to the language in Patricia Skalka's work which rings true to the locale. It brings back warm memories. As far as plot twists go, this one is a doozy!
I have a special affinity for the setting in this series. Born and raised in Wisconsin, there's a nuance to the language in Patricia Skalka's work which rings true to the locale. It brings back warm memories. As far as plot twists go, this one is a doozy!
November 29, 2018
Chose Death at Gills Door solely on the basis of familiarity of locale and a mystery genre. Missed the first book in this series, though now that I've read #2 I'm looking forward to reading more of Patricia Skalka's books. It was an engaging read, a bit slow at times; though I did like meeting the Door County fictional Sheriff, Dave Cubiak. Loved the descriptive details of the Door.
January 7, 2020
I started reading these books after our trip to my brother-in-law's cabin in Door County. 3 prominent WWII veterans die in what looks like accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. In investigating some inconsistencies, Sheriff Dave Cubiak discovers that these men are not the paragons of virtue that they seem to be.
September 22, 2021
Because we've visited Door County, I can picture the activity and places. That's the fun part! Then there's Dave...I may have a little crush on him. That aside, my husband is the best readaloud person ever! (well, except for the guy who did a bunch of John Grisham's books on tape and CD...great regional Southern accent).
February 7, 2023
Wow! The only reason I picked this book up is because it’s set in Wisconsin (Door Penninsula), something I don’t see much as a Wisconsinite. This book really surprised me. It was really well written and totally holds its own against any of the big detective mystery series. I will definitely be reading the other books in this series.
December 20, 2023
When three lifelong World War II veterans are found dead in their "Rec Room," a cabin where they hold weekly card games, Sheriff Dave Kubiak must determine whether it was an accident or murder. The clues are few, but long-held secrets begin surfacing. Atmospheric, with an intricate plot that makes it hard to put down.
June 24, 2024
Truth will out...
This second of the Door County mysteries is as entertaining and easy to read as the first. The author’s narrative is easy to follow with enough local color and character development to keep you reading. Sheriff Cubiak is still dealing with his past as he tries to understand recent deaths with their roots hidden in the past. I am looking forward to number three.
This second of the Door County mysteries is as entertaining and easy to read as the first. The author’s narrative is easy to follow with enough local color and character development to keep you reading. Sheriff Cubiak is still dealing with his past as he tries to understand recent deaths with their roots hidden in the past. I am looking forward to number three.
August 16, 2024
This is book #2 (although the first of the series that I’ve read) of the Dave Cubiak Door County Mystery Series. The setting of Door County, WI is very familiar and well rendered. The mystery is interesting, Dave Cubiak is a believable, empathetic character, and the history Aleutian Islands during WWII was well researched.
June 9, 2017
A good read, especially if you are familiar with Door County. Her writing style is easy to read and kept me wanting to find out what was going on. There were some very good, unexpected twists that I did not see coming.
February 10, 2018
If you have spent any time in Door Co., you will know each and every spot that is included in this book! If you have ever lived in a small town, you will know the characters and understand how something like this could happen. A quick read, looking forward to reading #3.
September 19, 2018
3.5 stars One of the main reasons I liked this book was the setting of Door County. I may read more of her Door County mysteries. The central character was very likeable. The story was just "mysterious" enough but I don't think I ever figured out "who did it."
January 5, 2019
Another very complicated plot line from Skalka with a complicated back story. It was not easy to follow--not that that comment is negative. But the more Dave investigated, the more complex interlinking he found. I highly recommend it.
February 19, 2019
Death at Gills Rock is a very well plotted murder mystery taking place in Wisconsin's beloved Door County. I enjoyed it, while at the same time felt that the characters of the three murdered men could have been presented with greater moral complexity.
October 28, 2019
Nice to ready a mystery that's not a thriller - sound plot, no gore, well described characters that are true to life in Door County WI, part of a series but able to stand alone; depicts a very accurate locale snapshot, at least in non-tourist season!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews