The Fly Fishing Corpse

Max Addams Fly-Fishing Mystery #1

by David Leitz

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 1994

About the author

David Leitz grew up on a farm in Indiana and his love for the outdoors began in the woodlots and small ponds that surrounded his home. His love for writing began at about the same time and flourished along with painting at Syracuse University. An advertising agency copywriter and creative director in New York City, San Francisco and Boston for over thirty years, David has written and directed many famous award-winning ads and television commercials. He and his wife Frances live in a 250 year old farm house near the ocean on Massachusetts' north coast although David does much of his writing in a rustic little cabin a roll cast away from a trout stream in southern Vermont. He is the author of five Max Addams' novels as well as numerous award winning short stories.

Reviews

[Sarah Ehinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are into fly fishing this is an enjoyable story. It isn't overly complex with tons of twists and turns, but the author clearly knows fly fishing.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max Addams is a few years into his fly fishing ‘resort’ at Whitefork Lodge and the cost benefit analysis is still a bit challenging. He lands a $10,000 contract for 1 week to host a magazine cover shoot which will make a huge difference to his bottom line. The porn model and the production crew are characters. The producer Jane Ornstein is a particularly nasty person. She is also a skilled fly fisher and when she is found dead in the river, Max wonders if her death was truly an accident.

Readers who enjoy outdoor setting mysteries will enjoy Max, his cohorts, and even the film crew. This is a good start to a series.

Readalikes:
Keith McCafferty’s Martha Ettinger and Sean Stranahan mysteries; Victoria Houston’s Loon Lake fishing mysteries; Paul Doiron’s Mike Bowditch mysteries; T. Jefferson Parker – Hook, Line & Sinister (Anthol.); John Galligan – The Nail Knot; Josh Greenberg – Trout Water (memoir); Kathleen Hills – Past Imperfect.

Pace: Moderately paced
Character: Routine characterizations; likeable main characters
Identities: Vermonters
Storyline: Character-driven
Writing style: Engaging
Tone: Suspenseful
Mood: Basic mystery in a less likely setting
Frame: Small town Loon VT; Contemporary
Themes: Who and how did it

Red flags/Trigger warning: Lots of cigarette smoking