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A Winsome Murder
A grisly murder in a pastoral Wisconsin town, Winsome Bay, proves to be only the opening act in a twisting, darkening series of gruesome deaths. Acclaimed already for his young adult fiction, actor/director/playwright James DeVita now debuts an addictive, adult thriller that takes us from Chicago’s underbelly to the Wisconsin woods. In this fast-paced novel we meet a gorgeous waitress with a haunted past, an author juggling a failing career and motherhood, and a hard-bitten detective with unexpected inspiration from William Shakespeare’s bloodiest plays—and nobody escapes the nightmare created by a psychotic killer of women.Best books for public & secondary school libraries from university presses, American Library AssociationOutstanding Achievement Award, Wisconsin Library Association (one of ten 2015 books chosen)“A page-turner from beginning to end. . . . Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections.”—Midwest Book Review“In addition to a unique detective, a wholly original story, and some literary flair, DeVita has filled these pages with timely and biting social commentary, which does much to add to the real feel of this creative whodunit.”—Chicago Book Review
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2015
8 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
James DeVita
22 books29 followersJames DeVita, a native of Long Island, NY, is an author and playwright. Along with his novels, The Silenced, A Winsome Murder and Blue, he has also written more than sixteen plays and adaptations of classics for young audiences. He is the resident playwright for First Stage Theater for Youth. His plays have been awarded the Distinguished Play Award by the American Alliance of Theater and Education; the Intellectual Freedom Award by the Council of Teachers of English/Language Arts; and he is a recipient of a Literature Fellowship for Fiction by the National Endowment for the Arts. James lives in Spring Green, Wisconsin with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
August 28, 2024
You'd think with a title like this and a setting in a town named Winsome, this might be a cozy mystery, but really, it's more of an anti-cozy. No darling, quirky characters (well Mangan is quirky, but not in a darling way) and very little humor; instead, grief, suffering and brutality abound (which makes sense in a book about murder, but it still hit me pretty hard).
I liked the detective and his partner a lot. I would read more mysteries with that team. I don't know if he plans to write more or not, but in the meantime I'll happily check out the young adult books he's written.
His descriptions are fresh and vivid. The first passage that I found striking was his description of Deborah Ellison's self discovery:
I knew this guy was a talented actor. Now I know he's a talented writer as well.
This is a well-written book, but brace yourself for darkness before you pick it up.
I liked the detective and his partner a lot. I would read more mysteries with that team. I don't know if he plans to write more or not, but in the meantime I'll happily check out the young adult books he's written.
His descriptions are fresh and vivid. The first passage that I found striking was his description of Deborah Ellison's self discovery:
So she knew, even then, that she was different. This difference walked before her like another person whom only she could see, leaving herself always trailing slightly behind. She wanted to catch up to her own self someday, to be the person in front of her, the person she'd been trying to pretend wasn't there.
I knew this guy was a talented actor. Now I know he's a talented writer as well.
This is a well-written book, but brace yourself for darkness before you pick it up.
June 12, 2015
A "winsome" murder? How is that possible, I wondered?
I revisited the definition of winsome after seeing the title of James DeVita's newest book. "Charming, sweetly attractive" the dictionary advised.
The title's mystery was solved within a few pages of "A Winsome Murder," when I discovered the setting was Winsome Bay, Wisconsin. It's a rather clever pun by the author.
Numerous interesting characters are introduced within the first several pages, and one wonders how all these seemingly different lives will intersect.
They do and the end result is murder. Serial murders, in fact.
My favorite character was the grizzled and put-upon, Mangan, who interestingly has a continuous stream of Shakespearean dialogue running through his head; sometimes it remains in his own head, sometimes he says it aloud, resulting in confused bystanders. It is an inventive and unique trait for a character, and one that DeVita employs with great success. (Not surprisingly at all, considering DeVita's many years and Shakespearean roles at American Players Theatre.)
As a Wisconsin native, I particularly enjoyed the local references to known entities as Culver's and Madison, as well as others. But that was a mere titillation, really, because the star of this book is the actual story and the quality of writing. DeVita's writing is sharp and riveting. His characters are so well drawn, I felt as though I could pick each out of a line up. The descriptions were so tantalizing at times that I had to stop reading and read them again out loud to my teen daughter. Two of my favorite examples are these passages:
"Sit, please, where you like," he said in a soft accent that, although pleasant, somehow conveyed the sense that he was a person never to screw around with, like one of those quiet neighbors you read about who work in their garages late at night carving tiny wooded Santas and are later discovered to have been guilty of genocide somewhere in the Balkans."
"They sported runway-worthy scowls and smoked cigarettes like they were inhaling sex."
A Winsome Murder succeeds as a riveting thriller, as I had to stay awake deep into the wee hours to reach the shocking conclusion and revelations. I hope that Mangan makes another appearance soon in a sequel.
I will be recommending this book to others...after my teen daughter finishes reading it.
I revisited the definition of winsome after seeing the title of James DeVita's newest book. "Charming, sweetly attractive" the dictionary advised.
The title's mystery was solved within a few pages of "A Winsome Murder," when I discovered the setting was Winsome Bay, Wisconsin. It's a rather clever pun by the author.
Numerous interesting characters are introduced within the first several pages, and one wonders how all these seemingly different lives will intersect.
They do and the end result is murder. Serial murders, in fact.
My favorite character was the grizzled and put-upon, Mangan, who interestingly has a continuous stream of Shakespearean dialogue running through his head; sometimes it remains in his own head, sometimes he says it aloud, resulting in confused bystanders. It is an inventive and unique trait for a character, and one that DeVita employs with great success. (Not surprisingly at all, considering DeVita's many years and Shakespearean roles at American Players Theatre.)
As a Wisconsin native, I particularly enjoyed the local references to known entities as Culver's and Madison, as well as others. But that was a mere titillation, really, because the star of this book is the actual story and the quality of writing. DeVita's writing is sharp and riveting. His characters are so well drawn, I felt as though I could pick each out of a line up. The descriptions were so tantalizing at times that I had to stop reading and read them again out loud to my teen daughter. Two of my favorite examples are these passages:
"Sit, please, where you like," he said in a soft accent that, although pleasant, somehow conveyed the sense that he was a person never to screw around with, like one of those quiet neighbors you read about who work in their garages late at night carving tiny wooded Santas and are later discovered to have been guilty of genocide somewhere in the Balkans."
"They sported runway-worthy scowls and smoked cigarettes like they were inhaling sex."
A Winsome Murder succeeds as a riveting thriller, as I had to stay awake deep into the wee hours to reach the shocking conclusion and revelations. I hope that Mangan makes another appearance soon in a sequel.
I will be recommending this book to others...after my teen daughter finishes reading it.
June 23, 2017
As a fan of Jim DeVita the actor, who is quite sure that he is a flawless performer, I have angst in expressing my opinion of this book. I fear that my expectations were unrealistic, I wanted his writing prowess to match that of his stage presence in his debut adult fiction work.
The story felt formulaic, some of it felt like it pandered to a Madison wi tendency to be politically correct. It's a quick read, his literary style is simplistic With a "trade book" feel. I've never seen him play a character as boring as his protagonist felt. I struggled with the temptation to "quit early" so I wouldn't have read enough to have an opinion, but felt compelled too see it through, in case it got better.
Jim is a pretty good playwright, one of the best comedic performers you find in Shaw, Wilde, and 20th century theater, and his Shakespearean work is flawless. So if you want Mr. DeVita's best work , don't buy a book, go watch him at American Players theater... you won't be disappointed.
The story felt formulaic, some of it felt like it pandered to a Madison wi tendency to be politically correct. It's a quick read, his literary style is simplistic With a "trade book" feel. I've never seen him play a character as boring as his protagonist felt. I struggled with the temptation to "quit early" so I wouldn't have read enough to have an opinion, but felt compelled too see it through, in case it got better.
Jim is a pretty good playwright, one of the best comedic performers you find in Shaw, Wilde, and 20th century theater, and his Shakespearean work is flawless. So if you want Mr. DeVita's best work , don't buy a book, go watch him at American Players theater... you won't be disappointed.
February 12, 2016
Read this for my book group. Have to say that I would not have picked this up if not for my book group. The author will be speaking at our library as part of our annual Book Festival this year, which is why it was picked. I was fairly unimpressed. I read a lot of mystery/detective novels and this one just didn't do it for me. It is a very short book (under 200 pages) and I just don't think the characters were fleshed out properly. The author is a Shakespeare aficionado, so the main detective had a quirk where he would throw out random lines from Shakespeare plays. It was confusing and something that I ended up skipping over when I saw it. Maybe if I were more versed on obscure Shakespeare plays it would have seemed more interesting. The book was a quick read and it did hold my attention til the end, however it wasn't enough. Good effort, but lacks the depth of character and plot that I would have liked.
October 7, 2016
This was a decent book. The "hook" was that the lead detective in the story recalled certain Shakespeare quotes as he investigated murders, which then helped him solve the crimes. I didn't pay much attention to these, and felt the book would have been just as interesting without the Shakespeare references. Was dismayed that the author didn't know the difference between hay and straw; there also seemed to be some procedural flaws when it came to the criminal investigations. Suspense was kept up until the end, and I wasn't able to guess who the culprit was until the latter part of the book. Would recommend to people who enjoy murder mysteries.
June 17, 2015
That was a suspenseful murder mystery with an interesting setting. It was a quick read that I enjoyed. But...
Being a Wisconsinite, I felt that the characterization of many of the Wisconsin characters was too country-bumpkinish. And the officers from Chicago felt a little like stereotypes. In fact, many of the minor characters seemed more nuanced than the main ones.
I wanted to love this book, but I only liked it. And that's okay. Maybe his next book will be improved.
Being a Wisconsinite, I felt that the characterization of many of the Wisconsin characters was too country-bumpkinish. And the officers from Chicago felt a little like stereotypes. In fact, many of the minor characters seemed more nuanced than the main ones.
I wanted to love this book, but I only liked it. And that's okay. Maybe his next book will be improved.
March 27, 2016
Well, I'm impressed. This was a surprise...a short, brutal, bloody, and page turning, maddeningly suspenseful crime story. No flashy, handsome heroes, no compellingly evil villains...just a gritty cop story, and a frantic race to stop the madness and deaths. And a lot of short, tragic lives ended by horrible violence meted out in a perfectly efficient manner by a murderer with the mind as broken as it was methodical.
December 30, 2015
A murder in Winsome Wisconsin!! Liked the premise, but the execution was lacking. Many, many characters in the story, but not a lot of development for any of them. Probably will not pick up another by this author.
August 27, 2024
Unfortunately, this book with an interesting premise falls flat on execution.
It does, to its publisher's credit, live up to the promise of its book flap, but midway through I had to just keep scanning or I would have filed as DNF.
On my own judgment, I would not have purchased this book, but it came recommended from the intelligent and compelling bookseller in Spring Green's Arcadia Books, also home to the theater of the author. She was a very good bookseller. She did not mislead me, but I read too much into her recommendation at my request for a hyperlocal author during my holiday and overindulged in this vacation purchase.
That's on me. My expectation was too high.
The thing is, Wisconsin as a setting and subject is so much more interesting than this book.
Despite its literary allusions mingled with genre trope -- which can in the right hands delight -- this book just did not do it for me. It hits a number of politically balanced notes even as it portrays sex and violence, but fails to actually provide a sense of immersion for the reader. We are never truly there. The sentences never really sing. The characters never really live.
One note that dissatisfies is the scattershot structure as we bounce from one head to another but do not land with our detective until we've been teased with so many points of view as to be seasick on a tilt-a-whirl. If all these characters truly sang from the page, I could have embraced the whirlwind, but life is short and there are other books to read and life to live. Thus the author's approach simply reads as flowing from an inexperienced hand (including -- aghast -- the trope of an author writing about a writer writing about the crime -- who is, perhaps appropriately, murdered herself). I suspect this book was published on the strength of the author's platform rather than its merit as a novel. The middlemen should not have let this one pass. That's the industry, but for this reader I was disappointed in the result. Sales do not equal quality.
It gets one star rather than two because counterintuitively, there actually is a great sketch here. But the book fails itself -- which is what makes my reader experience all the more dissatisfying. Reading this is like reading a simulacrum of a mystery novel. I've been there. I've written some rotten first drafts that did not deserve to be published, and I recognized that with the passage of time. And that's what this felt like to me: a draft that deserved to be edited, refined, cared for, kicked in the ass to be better than it began or reinvented into something with a life force of its own. It's that B- essay that you turned in and technically meets all the criteria of the assignment because you're smart enough, but exists as a forgettable exercise rather than a true accomplishment.
Read better.
It does, to its publisher's credit, live up to the promise of its book flap, but midway through I had to just keep scanning or I would have filed as DNF.
On my own judgment, I would not have purchased this book, but it came recommended from the intelligent and compelling bookseller in Spring Green's Arcadia Books, also home to the theater of the author. She was a very good bookseller. She did not mislead me, but I read too much into her recommendation at my request for a hyperlocal author during my holiday and overindulged in this vacation purchase.
That's on me. My expectation was too high.
The thing is, Wisconsin as a setting and subject is so much more interesting than this book.
Despite its literary allusions mingled with genre trope -- which can in the right hands delight -- this book just did not do it for me. It hits a number of politically balanced notes even as it portrays sex and violence, but fails to actually provide a sense of immersion for the reader. We are never truly there. The sentences never really sing. The characters never really live.
One note that dissatisfies is the scattershot structure as we bounce from one head to another but do not land with our detective until we've been teased with so many points of view as to be seasick on a tilt-a-whirl. If all these characters truly sang from the page, I could have embraced the whirlwind, but life is short and there are other books to read and life to live. Thus the author's approach simply reads as flowing from an inexperienced hand (including -- aghast -- the trope of an author writing about a writer writing about the crime -- who is, perhaps appropriately, murdered herself). I suspect this book was published on the strength of the author's platform rather than its merit as a novel. The middlemen should not have let this one pass. That's the industry, but for this reader I was disappointed in the result. Sales do not equal quality.
It gets one star rather than two because counterintuitively, there actually is a great sketch here. But the book fails itself -- which is what makes my reader experience all the more dissatisfying. Reading this is like reading a simulacrum of a mystery novel. I've been there. I've written some rotten first drafts that did not deserve to be published, and I recognized that with the passage of time. And that's what this felt like to me: a draft that deserved to be edited, refined, cared for, kicked in the ass to be better than it began or reinvented into something with a life force of its own. It's that B- essay that you turned in and technically meets all the criteria of the assignment because you're smart enough, but exists as a forgettable exercise rather than a true accomplishment.
Read better.
December 22, 2018
Mystery detective stories are not my favorite kind of read but I found this book compelling to read.
The style of not having chapters or breaks between change of scenes made it hard to put the book down as I needed to decide where to leave the story.
I enjoyed the literature quotes that kept on running to the head of the detective.
The style of not having chapters or breaks between change of scenes made it hard to put the book down as I needed to decide where to leave the story.
I enjoyed the literature quotes that kept on running to the head of the detective.
October 27, 2021
A little bit gruesome - but if you like crime /murder mystery stories - please read. Written by a local author / actor! The author is an amazing actor with American Players Theatre in Spring Green, WI!
August 31, 2023
James DeVita has a great writing style that is easy to read and follow along. I felt that maybe the book was slow at times, but the mystery kept intrigued all the way to the very end. The wisco roots are fun too!
April 25, 2018
This story moved along quickly, but it was full of murders! Although written well, the plot is a bit dark and gruesome.
December 14, 2019
I read this book in basically 2 days. It is an easy read. I also had a hard time putting it down. I really appreciated all the build up and back story provided. Highly recommend.
July 21, 2020
The writing was good, but I could not finish reading this book. For my taste, it was WAY over the top for gruesome violence.
May 11, 2021
DeVita's writing never disappoints. As a fan of Shakespeare and murder mysteries, this book was a GREAT read.
May 27, 2021
If you're looking for a face-paced murder mystery thriller with a dash of Shakespear, check out this book!
July 19, 2023
Excllent
October 9, 2023
He gets an extra star because he’s Jim DeVita, APT extraordinaire.
January 7, 2026
My favorite DeVita title. Makes every word count!
May 24, 2022
Had a hard time getting into it. Gruesome but good, interesting.
March 13, 2017
I have to admit that I read this book because Mr. DeVita is one of my favorite actors at American Players Theatre. And the Shakespeare quotes didn't disappoint.
I should have expected some murder by the title of the book, but there was a bit more than I expected.
I always enjoy reading books that are set in Wisconsin.
More, please!
I should have expected some murder by the title of the book, but there was a bit more than I expected.
I always enjoy reading books that are set in Wisconsin.
More, please!
June 24, 2015
DeVita delivers "a round unvarnish'd tale" in A Winsome Murder
Relentlessly suspenseful from beginning to end, A Winsome Murder delivers a gruesome tale of revenge. James DeVita, playwright, novelist, and an outstanding classical actor, has hit his stride with his most recent foray into the murder mystery genre with smart, multidimensional characters, pace and exquisite detail. In James Mangan, a Chicago-based detective, DeVita has created a hero for the contemporary reader. Although haunted by personal tragedy and flawed by uncontrollable rage, Mangan is an intelligent, thoughtful, creative detective with a wicked sense of humor and a love for literature. Mangan uses his intimate knowledge of Shakespeare's most primal stories of passion and revenge to suss out motive, find context in clues, and make sense of the seemingly random. A Winsome Murder is engaging, visceral, and has a thoroughly satisfying conclusion. I expect to see Detective James Mangan again and again.
Relentlessly suspenseful from beginning to end, A Winsome Murder delivers a gruesome tale of revenge. James DeVita, playwright, novelist, and an outstanding classical actor, has hit his stride with his most recent foray into the murder mystery genre with smart, multidimensional characters, pace and exquisite detail. In James Mangan, a Chicago-based detective, DeVita has created a hero for the contemporary reader. Although haunted by personal tragedy and flawed by uncontrollable rage, Mangan is an intelligent, thoughtful, creative detective with a wicked sense of humor and a love for literature. Mangan uses his intimate knowledge of Shakespeare's most primal stories of passion and revenge to suss out motive, find context in clues, and make sense of the seemingly random. A Winsome Murder is engaging, visceral, and has a thoroughly satisfying conclusion. I expect to see Detective James Mangan again and again.
December 28, 2015
I had to read this after seeing the author's name- James DeVita has been one of my favorite actors to see on stage at American Players Theater, a professional classical repertory theater hidden in the driftless area of northwest Wisconsin. His acting is almost flawless so I have to say I was a bit apprehensive about reading A Winsome Murder. I was rewarded by a lovely day on the porch absorbed in his characters and in his descriptions of the two main settings: Northwest WI and Chicago. The bonus was hearing his voice in my head reading along! No, it was not the perfect mystery and yes, the characters may have seemed a bit stereotypical and there was one major loose end but....I enjoyed it and intend to pass it on to my other mystery loving friends. If I am lucky, perhaps I will run into the author at the local indie bookstore in Spring Green, Acadia Books, and I can tell him myself that I am now a dual fan. I look forward to his next!
May 4, 2016
Very good detective story with a well thought out plot.
I got this book after having seen the author perform a 1-man stage performance (an interpretation of Shakespeare) at American Players Theater last fall. While some of his acting bothered me..the fact that he sounded just like Robin Williams..I was impressed overall with his stamina. 3 hours on stage with a continuous monologue. Exhausting would be an understatement. In any event, after reading in his bio that he has written books, I knew I wanted to check out his original writing and storytelling.
This is his first non-YA book and I was pleasantly surprised with his writing. I'm not sure what I was expecting (obviously not much) but he really impressed me. He's a great writer and very descriptive without being superfluous. I hope he continues to write but it seems he prefers to focus most of his attention and energy on his acting..which is just as remarkable.
I got this book after having seen the author perform a 1-man stage performance (an interpretation of Shakespeare) at American Players Theater last fall. While some of his acting bothered me..the fact that he sounded just like Robin Williams..I was impressed overall with his stamina. 3 hours on stage with a continuous monologue. Exhausting would be an understatement. In any event, after reading in his bio that he has written books, I knew I wanted to check out his original writing and storytelling.
This is his first non-YA book and I was pleasantly surprised with his writing. I'm not sure what I was expecting (obviously not much) but he really impressed me. He's a great writer and very descriptive without being superfluous. I hope he continues to write but it seems he prefers to focus most of his attention and energy on his acting..which is just as remarkable.
February 24, 2016
I bought this book when the author gave a presentation at our local public library. He is a well-known playwright, children's author and actor at the American Players' Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin. This is his first adult novel. Although I am not a crime fiction aficionado, I really enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were very interesting. The main detective channels quotes from Shakespeare (and Melville) in his mind to help focus his thinking during the solving of a crime. It is quite an unusual attribute, but somehow it makes the story work. I also thought the pacing of the story was excellent, and it kept me turning pages well into the night. I hope the author will continue the story of Detective Mangan in another book.
November 14, 2015
A fast paced murder mystery set in Wisconsin and Illinois. A young woman is brutally murdered and her body is dumped just outside her home town of Winsome Wisconsin, though she has not lived at home for a few years. An editor of a Chicago literary magazine receives a severed hand in the mail, and at first Detective Mangan believes it belongs to the woman found in Wisconsin, but it doesn't and the body count starts to rise and as Detective Mangan has Shakespearean verses dancing through his head as he knows the killing will continue until he can solve the case. There is an appendix of the Shakespeare verses and the plays they are from at the end of the novel.
January 16, 2016
Excellent book! This is one I would buy as a gift and say "you must read this". From the first paragraph the reader is drawn in and cannot stop reading. Alternating between different voices, the description and dialogue of Southern Wisconsin is amazing. One exception--the reference to large farm families seemed a bit dated; but I'll assume DeVita knows more than I do. Also, the final part of the book has a gun fight that read just a bit long for my preference. But still, wow, what a book. I thought I had it figured out, didn't, and was drawn in more. Looking forward to reading more of his work. And wondering, will this be a movie? It would be a great one if true to the book.
January 26, 2016
Excellent writing! High body count and a fair amount of violent descriptions. Recommended if you like reading about the darker side of small-town Wisconsin, and are okay with the tone/violence in things like Girl with a Dragon Tattoo and True Detective (although A Winsome Murder isn't as "twisted" as those examples). Great characters and sense of place. Very timely, with human trafficking, meth, etc tucked into a tightly wound (serial) murder mystery. Just don't get too attached to any of the main characters!
May 31, 2015
A fast-paced mystery. Not being a Shakespeare scholar, I was a bit nervous about reading a book in which the detective gets inspiration from the Shakespeare heard in his head. I needn't have worried, the thoughts/musing/inspirations are unintimidating and flow well with the story. There is an appendix at the end of the book detailing the source of each of the 179 Shakespeare (and Melville) lines.
This was a good book to read on a rainy Memorial Day weekend in Wisconsin.
This was a good book to read on a rainy Memorial Day weekend in Wisconsin.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews