Obsessions

Monona Quinn Mystery #4

by Marshall Cook

Monona Quinn and her husband Doug are taking a relaxing vacation in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Mo's enrolled in a writing workshop, and Doug's resolved to learn to fish. Naturally, it's the perfect time to solve another murder...

Pompous, self-important writer Fletcher Downs was supposed to be the writer-in-residence at the writing workshop; he was supposed to teach a classroom full of hopefuls how to write a great mystery--but he hadn't intended to teach by example. Now Fletcher's dead, and Mo (and the other students at the writing retreat) are faced with a real-life mystery. Who killed their teacher, and will the killer strike again?

Genres: Mystery

302 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

About the author

Marshall J. Cook taught for the University of Wisconsin-Madison for thirty years and often speaks at conferences nationwide. He has published several books on stress management and has even been a guest on Oprah to discuss the topic.
Marshall edits Extra Innings, an online newsletter for writers. He has authored thirty books and hundreds of magazine articles. Marshall holds his BA in creative writing and his MA in communications from Stanford University. He has been married to Ellen since 1968, and they have one son, Jeremiah. When not writing, Marshall likes to read, jog, lift weights, and talk back to the television (not all at the same time). He is a passionate minor league baseball fan, drives the back roads, and eats in small town cafes.

Reviews

[Chi Dubinski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Monona Quinn, editor of a small town weekly, attends a writers' conference in the Wisconsin northwoods. The writer-in-residence, a mystery author with a supersized ego, is murdered after the first day of the conference. Fourth in a series, but doesn't hold its own as a stand alone.

[Kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Obsessions, book 4 of the Monona Quinn mysteries, author Marshall Cook rebounds from the mediocrity of books 2 and 3 with engaging characters, a snapshot into life "up North", and, yes, a murder to solve. We meet the various students, teachers, and director of the summer writer's workshop as well as the local residents of the resort town that hosts the annual event. A few puzzles are presented but not all are solved as neatly as the murder. Of the four Monona Quinn mysteries I've read, only the first and this one rise to 3 star level. I don't know if Cook has enticed me into reading any further adventures of Mo Quinn.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Family oriented Murder? Well maybe. Found the book pedantic and the story hard to get moving. Monona Quinn is a North woods Mrs Marple type in trail runners.