Deadly Trespass

Mystery in Maine #1

by Sandra Neily

Winner: Mystery Writers of America McCloy Award. National finalist: Women’s Fiction Writers Association “Rising Star” contest.

Cassandra Patton Conover is about to become an outlaw. Searching for her wayward dog in Maine’s dense woods, she finds her best friend Shannon crushed under a tree. Then she finds tracks larger than any animal she knows and a mystery only wild animals can help her solve.

Before she can absorb the loss of her friend, Patton is hired to guide a surly reporter who suspects extinct wolves have returned to Maine, but the forest has too many agendas. A billionaire hopes wolves will become a save-the-forest strategy. A timber company plans to exterminate the pack. A game warden loyal to his Penobscot tribe, his attraction to Patton, and his law enforcement life, has too many tough choices, and a black ops mercenary rips open Patton’s wounded life so he can aim her at the wolves.

When gold wolf eyes issue a challenge at her tent door, Patton is drawn deeper into Shannon’s mysterious murder and the wolves’ fate. To find her friend’s killer, she must find and trust the pack. To save her dog, the wolves, and her own life, she must step outside the law, sacrifice her career, and embrace a wild world.

Genres: Mystery

422 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2017

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard book for me to get into and took longer than usual to read. There were too many characters, I felt like I needed a score sheet, never mind trying to figure out the good guys from the bad. Living in Maine, and having a camp on Moosehead, I was familiar with the landscape and issues. I liked the heroine, Patton and her newspaper sidekick, who was not an outdoorsy type. I like stories set in Maine, so will probably try another in the future.

[Ellen Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a book for review. Patton discovers her friend dead in the forest while searching for her dog (while trespassing). She has a history of being pro-environment and is hired to help prove that there are wolves in Maine despite what everyone insists. Patton begins to think that her friend’s death is tied to the coverup of wolves actually being back in Maine again which would stop land development.

As someone who lives in rural Vermont, I thoroughly enjoyed the way the author brings details of Maine wildlife to her story. I love the descriptions of their lives and habitats. I could tell that she truly has a deep connection to wildlife. Her ability to draw you into the story while educating you about the dangers of corporate greed made this story one I could not put down.

[Angela Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers Embark on a Vivid Journey to Maine. While I have never been to Maine, the author's writing style and detailed settings and scenes transported me there. The author's descriptions really serve to connect readers to her storyline and the environment surrounding her characters. While the book contains a great deal of descriptive text, readers will not feel bogged down by it. The author does a wonderful job blending just the right amount of details and descriptive text with dialogue and plot movement. I love it when a book takes my senses to a place that I have never been--and this book took me to Maine.

Deadly Trespass: A Mystery in Maine is Well Written and Perfectly Paced. Readers are never left confused or left to feel that a puzzle piece is being forced into place. The author creates a well rounded storyline and keeps the plot twists and clues very well placed and easy to follow. The book is not action packed--but, readers will never be bored as the author offers so much for them to learn and understand throughout the book.

Would I recommend Deadly Trespass: A Mystery in Maine? I have a background in environmental science and this book combined two of my great interests: protecting the environment and solving a mystery. I thought the book was very well written with a very well developed plot and satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy cozy mysteries and books written with a nice emphasis on the environment and the story's setting--this is a wonderful book for your reading list. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author or publisher for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.

[Gretchentobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Trespass is a great read. It is part-mystery, part-expose of the Maine logging industry and its two-face politics, part heroine myth. The descriptions of the outdoors are so real you can smell the pines. The book has a strong central female character who is fiesty, outspoken and brave. I just loved her as a character and loved how she used smarts and sassy eloquence to make her way through the story and solve the mystery. The book is filled with quirky characters with a recognizable ring to them. It has lots of excitement - you won't want to put it down- plus some good laughs. It's a great way to learn more about the woods, Maine's challenges with industry and the wolves. Reading it make me want to head into the woods and chuckle around the campfire with the central character, Patton. My vote's for the wolves and more books from Sandra Neily.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying

If only activism could succeed this well. This novel highlights the tight rope dance balancing cooperation with corporate interests to win miniscule progress for the environment. A well directed tale that compels you to keep reading.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read a paperback with the cover, not a kindle, but oh well. The mystery features a divorced and depressed Cassandra Patton, whose best friend has just been crushed by a tree and who has lost her job as a lobbyist for the environment. She's hired part-time to write electronic columns on the environment and mentor an eager, cynical, and voraciously hungry reporter, Ian, as they investigate whether there are now wolves in Maine or not. If there are, then that might spell the end of the a large lodge with golf courses and hiking trails that would despoil some of the remaining Maine wilderness. Cassandra is angry, determined, and resourceful, especially as she goes up against a huge corporation, Great Nations, which claims to be environmentally conscious, but only when it suits their bottom line. Cassandra and Ian are almost crushed by logs from a truck, then she is chased by hunting dogs and later caged up with captured wolves (one of the Great Nations people hopes she'll be killed by them, which will ruin her reputation and put her out of the way). Lots of great atmosphere.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set Maine, this somewhat reminds me of the books by Paul Doiron. Cassandra Patton Conover is a middle aged divorced woman, an ardent supporter of the preservation of the Maine woods and vocal advocate for them in the corridors and chambers of the Maine government. Living alone in simple cottage she has taken up the fight against a huge out of state lumber company and its plans to build a large housing and vacation resort at the expense of the timber land and the wildlife therein. She has to confront several factions in her fight including landowners, sportsmen, the government and some local cops. It was an interesting reads and paints a picture of the danger to our natural resources and wild lands from big money. A good read.

[Kait Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I didn't read this book, I devoured it. Hated every minute I was away from it.

I live in Maine, our wooded 167 acre backyard fronts property owned by a lumbering conglomerate. We have seen first-hand the rape of the forest, the clear-cutting in the name of forestry management, and the decline in wildlife. Sandra Neily has taken all of those elements and constructed a taut, tightly plotted, realistic novel that will keep you up late into the night and make you want to hold legislators and politicians accountable. Well done. Looking forward to reading the second book in this series.

Full disclosure - I received the e-version of this book in a random drawing.

[Sue Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra Neily is a new author for me and definitely one that I am looking forward to reading more of her books.

Deadly Trespass takes place in the woods of Maine. Cassandra has lost her dog in the forest and while searching for her dog she finds her friend dead. Even though it looks like an accident – a tree has fallen on her – she soon learns that is not the case. I don’t write spoilers – so I will stop here and just say that you really need to read this book and find out what happens. This is a well written book that will keep your interest from start to finish!!!

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, educating and entertaining.

I had no idea of the politics involved in our Conservation efforts and the complex ecology involved in returning wolves to the forests. The "Save the forest" scams set up to actually allow clear cutting and the bringing in of business and condos to old growth forests. Our ecology is being raped in the name of profit over and over. In this era of Trumpism, the destruction of our forests and their complex environment is even more vulnerable. The characters are real, the story both interesting and vital.

[Tina Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story for today's young people considering a career in Natural Resources and Wildlife Conservation!

This story is essentially a review of our natural resources as it pertains to investors and marketing strategy. It proves how this world is more interested in increasing net worth and destroying nature and it's resources than anything else. While many deride those that stand up for conservation and our resources, I genuinely applaud their dedication and strength. Excellent book, I highly recommend it.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solved and politics

This book is one of the most informative and interesting stories of the way the government works previously to make money and destroy the woods of the far northeast states.
Destroying the wild so animals won't have a safe area to live and thrive in is big business see at its evilest.
I am a wolf advocate and was saddened by some of the facts in this book but it is a well written tale.

[Annie M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was good and I really wanted it to be good overall. Maine/woods/wolves. What's not to love? The writing style for one. I kept having to reread some sentences. It just didn't flow. And I didn't really care too much about the characters. Cassandra and Moz didn't end up together in the end? So what? I didn't feel any fire. Meh. But Neily can write about wolves. There you get a sense of the animal, their personalities, the danger. That's what saved the book.

[teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating

I really.enjoyed the storyline of this book. My disappointment was following the dialogue. I felt.like I was dropped into each scenes without notice. Many of the descriptions of happenings were complicated by back thoughts or descriptions, I wasn't sure if.I was reading past or present tense.

[Sally Powers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Potential good story but the writing just didn't do it for me. Disjointed sequencing in the story sometimes made it difficult to follow. As a native, outdoor Mainer, I don't find the constant emphasis on bad smells and difficult nature experiences (dead moose parts) to match my experience. Sure it happens but not all the time. And too many metaphors which I found tiring.

[Terry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't do it!

The first few chapters were so confusing, I had to give up. Authors need to be careful that their writing doesn't make the reader feel like an outsider listening to an insider's jokes. It quickly becomes more work than it's worth. I live in rural Maine so this was particularly disappointing. I was looking forward to a wild walk in the woods.

[Pegboard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Trespass has a unique plot that not only educates the common layperson about the dangers facing the diminishing forests, while unfolding the mystery surrounding migrating wolves and the effects it has on developers.

Sandra Neily introduces us to Patton Conover, who has a way of stirring up trouble with the questions she asks and always being in places she isn’t welcome. Patton is hiding away in the Maine forests while healing from a broken marriage when her friend’s death pushes her to get back to moving among those she left behind in Washington D.C.

“The love of money is the root of all evil” has a new meaning when Patton finds Shannon crushed by a tree. Patton suspects it could be to hide the myth that wolves have taken up residency in the Main forests again. If wolves are back, then millions of dollars would be lost to developers. They begin to wonder if it wouldn’t be easier to kill off the wolves and Patton at the same time.

[Jennie Marvelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for all Mariners, environmentalists, and wolf-lovers!

A beautiful, and eloquently described setting, an intriguing story line, and characters I can get behind (especially Moz and Pock!) What a great read!

[J. Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic depiction of life in the backwoods of Maine woven into a heart-pounding mystery and stacked with some serious natural science and an environmental message. The staccato style makes this a fast read. I enjoyed it.

[linda rakestraw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This was a very interesting read. Some of it was difficult to read as an animal lover but I feel.it was true to life. I really enjoyed her relationship with Pock. And the wolves.

[Dianne Peace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope is a tender space

Woven through a good mystery, is a lot of information making it crystal clear that our wildlife is in extreme danger and most of us are not paying attention. We need a large army of Cassandras, Moz and more. I shudder for the future. A very good read.

[Nancy Heinrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conservation in Maine

A duel mystery to discover a murderer and to investigate "are there wolves living in Maine." Finding wolves would mean preservation of habitat vs destruction of said habitats for financial beneft. Well researched, however I found the first half drawn out.

[merhiella weeks Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

I used to live in Northern Maine and could relate to some of the back roads Pattern traveled . Enjoyed reading

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok for me was hoping for more I guess!

[Le Ann Haverty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read!

A good mystery that keeps you intrigued. Anyone that lives nature should be inspired to read this. Hard to put the book down!

[Jay Ma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author seems to structure sentences so that you have to constantly consider what she is trying to say. Tedious

[LibraryLady80 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an edge of your seat suspenseful murder mystery set in Maine, with characters of strong environmental opinions. Sandra Neily tackles the tug of war between human greed and the natural world combining the contemporary environmental issues with the murder of a young woman. Those who enjoy reading mysteries with a well researched and important message will find this book to be ideal. Deadly Trespass is the first book in a series of mysteries set in Maine by the author Sandra Neily.

[KSMcC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow; what a wild ride! This book has it all, including a Maine backwoods setting that I could see, hear, taste, smell, and touch. A well-plotted, well-crafted book, with characters to love and others to despise, and an ending that knocked me off my feet. Please, please tell me she's writing a sequel!

[Meredith Marple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up for a no-holds-barred, crash course on Maine. Deadly Trespass may be a work of fiction, but author Sandra Neily’s hard-earned first-hand knowledge of the state drives the tale.

Both personally and professionally, Cassandra Patton Conover, the protagonist in Neily’s defiant debut mystery, challenges the world to take her on—person by person, group by group. In her fifties, Patton, as she prefers to be called, keeps painful memories (emotionally abusive marriage, Maine state lobbying career roadblocks) to herself as she dares others, friendly or hostile, to prove themselves. Patton may not be an easy presence, but she’s fully present, and the people who love her depend on her for that.

As the book opens, Patton justifies trespassing across a wealthy landowner’s acreage in order to reach a public-property river to go fishing with her Labrador retriever. The dog, however, quickly disappears, on the scent of something both unusual and well known. He has found the dead body of Patton’s best friend, Shannon Angeles.

Put on your safety goggles and start your engine. This author’s commitment to strong verbs and deep emotions (which she has worked to instill in me as a writing buddy) will propel you across the wildest of Maine’s terrain and into its coldest waters—in search of whispered wolves, possible murderers, odd bedfellows, greedy sons of bitches, and reasons for it all. Patton’s imagined conversations with animals, love for her daughter, and her own surprise at romantic feelings for her ex-husband’s best friend squash the isolation she seriously flirts with and tries to inflict on others.

Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist Ellen Glasgow once said, “[E]very great novel has broken many conventions. The greatest of all novels defies every formula.” While not defying every formula, there’s nothing formulaic about author Neily’s multilayered mystery that stunned this reader with graphic scenes of beauty and mayhem while immersing me (a mostly city gal) in Maine’s environment—natural and political.

At the start of this review, I used the word “defiant” to describe this eco mystery. Why? For one thing, it defies the reader to experience not only the beauty in our senses but also the squalor. Of her friend’s mangled body, Patton recalls, “Gray, pink-tinged fluid dripped from one ear, and one green eye stared at me the way she always stared at me when I didn’t have answers.” Also defiant is the prodding way the author gets her points across: “In two months ticks could suck ten gallons of blood from a moose calf and tilt its fate toward death… [I] tried to feel grateful for all species—even lowlife species like reporters and ticks.” Defiant is Patton herself, spitting back the pain that smacks her even as she perceives a dark humor in it.

In welcoming you to author Sandra Neily’s world, I must quote one of my favorite early paragraphs, when Patton is in a vehicle that has a dead moose tied to its roof: “Soft moose muzzle brushed my lips when I leaned into the truck’s cab. I pressed my weight into the animal’s neck, closed my eyes, and imagined him alive. Four hours ago he’d been knee deep in Tomhegan Bog, flesh rippling with urgency, nostrils squeezed back to suck in female-scented air. He must have heard the hunters stop and open their doors, but maybe a cow grazed upwind. While he swung his nose toward her, men stepped into the road and raised their rifles.”

[Wendy Weiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra Neily’s Deadly Trespass puts the reader deep in the wilds of Maine in a powerful, visceral way. Neily’s prose is vivid and beautifully crafted, her descriptions vibrant. Readers see, hear, feel, smell and taste the Maine Woods through the mind of her heroine/narrator, environmental warrior Cassandra Patton Conover. Patton is an inspiring protagonist, complex and multifaceted: strong, smart, competent and resourceful, yet tender and vulnerable at the same time. Patton’s deep love of the forest and the creatures that inhabit it is infectious; her passion to protect them from the ravages of corporate greed is compelling. The story is fleshed out with a cast of wonderfully quirky, eccentric human characters. The tale is further enriched by Neily’s sensitive portrayal of nonhuman characters—Patton’s endearing dog Pock and a family of wild wolves whom we get to know on an up-close-and-personal level. As a Registered Maine Guide, I’ve hiked and paddled many a mile through the settings of this novel, and I was impressed by the authentic feel of Neily’s writing. She captures both the nature and culture of the Maine Woods in a way that will leave readers eager to experience more. I’m looking forward to the next volume of Patton’s adventures…