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Nantucket Counterfeit
"Fans of traditional mysteries will welcome Axelrod's entertaining fifth outing for Nantucket police chief Henry Kennis…That Henry believes in an 'old school low-tech version of police work' allows the reader to readily follow the clues." ―Publishers Weekly
The fifth Henry Kennis mystery takes us into the closed, gossip-riddled, back-stabbing world of Nantucket's community theater.
Horst Refn, the widely disliked and resented Artistic Director of the Nantucket Theater Lab, has been found stuffed into the meat freezer in his basement. Most of the actors, all the technical crew, and quite a few of the Theater Lab Board members, whom Refn was scamming and blackmailing, are suspects in his murder. The island's Police Chief Henry Kennis has to pick his way through a social minefield as he searches for the killer.
At the same time, daughter's new boyfriend, football star Hector Cruz, has been accused of sexting her. Carrie knows the offending pictures didn't come from him, and Henry has to prove it before the boy gets suspended, which means probing into the family secrets of Hector's father, a firebrand agitprop playwright, who happens to be a prime suspect in Refn's murder.
Every story is a fiction, every identity proves false, and every statement a lie. The counterfeit bills found at the scene of the crime are the most obvious symbol of the deceptions and distractions that obscure the investigation. The truth lies buried in the past, in Refn's earlier crimes and the victims who came to Nantucket seeking revenge.
When the culprit has been revealed, the last masks torn off, and final murder foiled―live, on stage, during the opening night of Who Dun It, the eerily prescient opening drama of the Theater Lab Season―Jane says to Henry, "Is everything counterfeit?" He smiles. "Almost."
The fifth Henry Kennis mystery takes us into the closed, gossip-riddled, back-stabbing world of Nantucket's community theater.
Horst Refn, the widely disliked and resented Artistic Director of the Nantucket Theater Lab, has been found stuffed into the meat freezer in his basement. Most of the actors, all the technical crew, and quite a few of the Theater Lab Board members, whom Refn was scamming and blackmailing, are suspects in his murder. The island's Police Chief Henry Kennis has to pick his way through a social minefield as he searches for the killer.
At the same time, daughter's new boyfriend, football star Hector Cruz, has been accused of sexting her. Carrie knows the offending pictures didn't come from him, and Henry has to prove it before the boy gets suspended, which means probing into the family secrets of Hector's father, a firebrand agitprop playwright, who happens to be a prime suspect in Refn's murder.
Every story is a fiction, every identity proves false, and every statement a lie. The counterfeit bills found at the scene of the crime are the most obvious symbol of the deceptions and distractions that obscure the investigation. The truth lies buried in the past, in Refn's earlier crimes and the victims who came to Nantucket seeking revenge.
When the culprit has been revealed, the last masks torn off, and final murder foiled―live, on stage, during the opening night of Who Dun It, the eerily prescient opening drama of the Theater Lab Season―Jane says to Henry, "Is everything counterfeit?" He smiles. "Almost."
- GenresMystery
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
About the author
Steven Axelrod
12 books15 followersSteven Axelrod holds an MFA in writing from Vermont College of the Fine Arts and as a former Hollywood screenwriter is still a member of the Writers Guild of America. A father of two, he lives on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, where he paints houses and writes.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 30, 2018
With his dry wit and occasional tongue in cheek humor, Chief Kennis, the protagonist in Nantucket Counterfeit by Steven Axlerod takes us on his latest case of murder. This is the fifth in the series featuring Nantucket’s Chief of Police Henry Kennis and is filled with characters from the local theater company, wealthy Nantucket residents, and a few undocumented workers peppered throughout the mix. While it was my first book to read in the series, I did not feel it was necessary to read the previous ones to understand what was taking place. The murder was contained within the book and there were clues and red herrings sprinkled liberally throughout.
Following the path Chief Kennis takes is easy and completely believable, even when you both arrive at the wrong conclusion. The only thing that made me doubt the conclusion he first reached was how easy it was to get there, the clues were almost staring you in the face and as a seasoned reader of mystery novels the warning bells were ringing loud and clear that this was, indeed, too easy. Of course, like Chief Kennis, you realize there is a reason for why the clues are so obvious. They actually make for clever plotting that leaves you feeling as if you know the chief and the perpetrator even better than you thought you did. Armed with this knowledge, you readily make the u-turn necessary to insure the correct solution.
Pacing of the book was even and measured throughout the first 80% or so. Then, it really ramps up to the end with some unexpected twists and physical challenges. Just when you are beginning to fade from the rapid pace of the final chase, it’s over and you are returned to a kinder, gentler pace and closing activities on the part of the Chief and his family. The end gives you some sweet closure while leaving you wondering what the future holds for this family and the community the chief is sworn to protect.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased opinion. This review and these opinions are entirely my own.
Following the path Chief Kennis takes is easy and completely believable, even when you both arrive at the wrong conclusion. The only thing that made me doubt the conclusion he first reached was how easy it was to get there, the clues were almost staring you in the face and as a seasoned reader of mystery novels the warning bells were ringing loud and clear that this was, indeed, too easy. Of course, like Chief Kennis, you realize there is a reason for why the clues are so obvious. They actually make for clever plotting that leaves you feeling as if you know the chief and the perpetrator even better than you thought you did. Armed with this knowledge, you readily make the u-turn necessary to insure the correct solution.
Pacing of the book was even and measured throughout the first 80% or so. Then, it really ramps up to the end with some unexpected twists and physical challenges. Just when you are beginning to fade from the rapid pace of the final chase, it’s over and you are returned to a kinder, gentler pace and closing activities on the part of the Chief and his family. The end gives you some sweet closure while leaving you wondering what the future holds for this family and the community the chief is sworn to protect.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased opinion. This review and these opinions are entirely my own.
October 15, 2018
A multitude of suspects fills Nantucket Counterfeit, an enjoyable merging of a cozy setting with a police procedural.
Horst Refn is the Artistic Director of the Nantucket Theater Lab. He is a ladies man and a possible blackmailer. Worse, he is found face down in his basement’s chest freezer—frostbitten and dead by strangulation.
Nantucket’s police chief Henry Kennis has no shortage of suspects. Even his girlfriend, Jane Stiles, is identified as running away from the crime or could it be her lookalike, Marcia Stoddard. Both had motive and no alibi. Or it could be Donald Harcourt who found the body and verbally fought with the victim recently. Or even Joey Little who had texted Harcourt to meet him at the victim’s house. Refn was both screwing his wife and blackmailing him.
When the police chief discovers that the first play of the season, Who Dun It?, appears to be based on real people’s stories, he investigates and finds even more motives for murder.
Nantucket Counterfeit is a fun dive into the backbiting world of community theater. The characterizations are great. Despite many more suspects than the usual cozy, it was easy to keep them straight.
This is the fifth book in the Chief Kennis series but can easily be read as a stand-alone. Recommended to both cozy and police procedural fans, Nantucket Counterfeit gets 4 stars from me.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Horst Refn is the Artistic Director of the Nantucket Theater Lab. He is a ladies man and a possible blackmailer. Worse, he is found face down in his basement’s chest freezer—frostbitten and dead by strangulation.
Nantucket’s police chief Henry Kennis has no shortage of suspects. Even his girlfriend, Jane Stiles, is identified as running away from the crime or could it be her lookalike, Marcia Stoddard. Both had motive and no alibi. Or it could be Donald Harcourt who found the body and verbally fought with the victim recently. Or even Joey Little who had texted Harcourt to meet him at the victim’s house. Refn was both screwing his wife and blackmailing him.
When the police chief discovers that the first play of the season, Who Dun It?, appears to be based on real people’s stories, he investigates and finds even more motives for murder.
Nantucket Counterfeit is a fun dive into the backbiting world of community theater. The characterizations are great. Despite many more suspects than the usual cozy, it was easy to keep them straight.
This is the fifth book in the Chief Kennis series but can easily be read as a stand-alone. Recommended to both cozy and police procedural fans, Nantucket Counterfeit gets 4 stars from me.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2018
Nantucket Counterfeit, is a murder mystery where we follow Police Chief Henry Kennis in his fifth Nantucket murder investigation this time involving the local Community Theatre. Kennis, a former LAPD detective, is an intuitive investigator who has found his niche solving crimes in the darker side of the otherwise quiet surroundings of beautiful Nantucket Island. Nantucket Counterfeit is Steven Axelrod’s fifth installment in his Nantucket series of murder mystery novels.
Horst Refn the artistic director in the Nantucket Community Theatre is murdered and shoved into a freezer face first. It looks like quite a violent confrontation and many people dislike Refn enough to bring his life to such a violent end. Several of the suspects, however, are members of the rich elite of Nantucket and they are reluctant to tell Police Chief Kennis anything. It turns out that although victim was far from popular, he was in fact much worse than Kennis imagined.
The author Steven Axelrod is an entertaining writer and the book is very humorous. I particularly like the exchanges Chief Kennis has with his girlfriend. Many of the self-deprecating comments he makes are particularly funny.
The one complaint I have about the book is all the lengthy asides that are interjected for no reason. For example when Kennis discovers a clue about the murder he says: “It reminded me of the night I figured out Joe Arbogast was sleeping with my ex-wife.” He then goes on for 11 e-reader pages about Arbogast before he gets back to the point! There are many asides like this in the book. I find these very distracting and although they are often funny they are too frequent and for me they make the style cumbersome. Overall I would give it 3 on 5.
I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Horst Refn the artistic director in the Nantucket Community Theatre is murdered and shoved into a freezer face first. It looks like quite a violent confrontation and many people dislike Refn enough to bring his life to such a violent end. Several of the suspects, however, are members of the rich elite of Nantucket and they are reluctant to tell Police Chief Kennis anything. It turns out that although victim was far from popular, he was in fact much worse than Kennis imagined.
The author Steven Axelrod is an entertaining writer and the book is very humorous. I particularly like the exchanges Chief Kennis has with his girlfriend. Many of the self-deprecating comments he makes are particularly funny.
The one complaint I have about the book is all the lengthy asides that are interjected for no reason. For example when Kennis discovers a clue about the murder he says: “It reminded me of the night I figured out Joe Arbogast was sleeping with my ex-wife.” He then goes on for 11 e-reader pages about Arbogast before he gets back to the point! There are many asides like this in the book. I find these very distracting and although they are often funny they are too frequent and for me they make the style cumbersome. Overall I would give it 3 on 5.
I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
November 26, 2018
When the body of Horst Refn, the Artistic Director of the Nantucket Theater Lab whose main claim to fame might be “most despicable man about town,” was found stuffed in his basement freezer, no one was particularly surprised. In fact, the suspects nearly had to take a number at police headquarters. Police Chief Henry Kennis is acquainted with him because Henry’s girlfriend, a successful mystery writer, is active in the arts community. She, in fact, is one of the many suspects because she is identified by a local resident as running from the scene of the crime.
Small-town little theater, especially in a tight-knit group where everybody knows everybody and their business, is rife with gossip: who sleeps with who, who got star billing and why, whose off-off-Broadway script might be selected for production, and other petty jealousies. If one were cynical, one might wonder why it took so long for somebody to finally relieve Nantucket of its Artistic Director, whose reputation as a blackmailer, philanderer and womanizer was notorious. Ironically, the current play now in rehearsal is entitled “Who Dun It” and was written by a local wannabe playwright. The second act curtain will fall as a primary character, a prominent local judge, is poisoned.
A retired LAPD detective, Henry fled the crime-ridden streets of La La Land a few years ago for the peace and quiet of the sleepy little island resort town off the Northeast coast. He is still thought of as a “washashore” by the year-round residents, comprised mostly of tradesmen and shopkeepers who keep the place running. Those who put down roots find it as close to living in a foreign country as you can get without having to apply for a new passport. Nantucket is frequented seasonally by the old guard, ultra-wealthy owners of the coastline palatial mansions and summer vacationers.
Henry is now top gun of the local constabulary charged with keeping law and order. By now, he is on a first-name basis with nearly everyone on the island, but it doesn’t take him long to realize that crime is crime no matter where or who you are. It actually may seem worse as you are increasingly accepted as a townie, because you are more than likely acquainted with the victims and even the perps. In this case, he learns that everything in Refn’s world is counterfeit --- names, identities, relationships and millions of dollars in offshore cash.
NANTUCKET COUNTERFEIT, the fifth installment in Steven Axelrod’s delightful series, is a tasty little cozy, delivered with humor and witty dialogue, and featuring a beguiling cast of characters. Even if you've never been involved in little theater, you will be entertained as Henry tries to sort out “Who Dun It” from the clues that pile up like flotsam and jetsam after high tide.
Reviewed by Roz Shea
Small-town little theater, especially in a tight-knit group where everybody knows everybody and their business, is rife with gossip: who sleeps with who, who got star billing and why, whose off-off-Broadway script might be selected for production, and other petty jealousies. If one were cynical, one might wonder why it took so long for somebody to finally relieve Nantucket of its Artistic Director, whose reputation as a blackmailer, philanderer and womanizer was notorious. Ironically, the current play now in rehearsal is entitled “Who Dun It” and was written by a local wannabe playwright. The second act curtain will fall as a primary character, a prominent local judge, is poisoned.
A retired LAPD detective, Henry fled the crime-ridden streets of La La Land a few years ago for the peace and quiet of the sleepy little island resort town off the Northeast coast. He is still thought of as a “washashore” by the year-round residents, comprised mostly of tradesmen and shopkeepers who keep the place running. Those who put down roots find it as close to living in a foreign country as you can get without having to apply for a new passport. Nantucket is frequented seasonally by the old guard, ultra-wealthy owners of the coastline palatial mansions and summer vacationers.
Henry is now top gun of the local constabulary charged with keeping law and order. By now, he is on a first-name basis with nearly everyone on the island, but it doesn’t take him long to realize that crime is crime no matter where or who you are. It actually may seem worse as you are increasingly accepted as a townie, because you are more than likely acquainted with the victims and even the perps. In this case, he learns that everything in Refn’s world is counterfeit --- names, identities, relationships and millions of dollars in offshore cash.
NANTUCKET COUNTERFEIT, the fifth installment in Steven Axelrod’s delightful series, is a tasty little cozy, delivered with humor and witty dialogue, and featuring a beguiling cast of characters. Even if you've never been involved in little theater, you will be entertained as Henry tries to sort out “Who Dun It” from the clues that pile up like flotsam and jetsam after high tide.
Reviewed by Roz Shea
October 31, 2018
This is a chatty murder mystery set in the present-day summer resort of Nantucket Island, which is off the NE coast of the US. Horst Refn, the head of the town's community summer theatre is killed in spectacular fashion, he's strangled and stuffed into a freezer. Nantucket's Chief of Police Henry Kennis has the job of finding who did it. The story is told like a "ride along" with Henry as he goes about checking the alibis of numerous suspects. It turns out that in his pre-Nantucket days, Refn was a serial con man, blackmailer, and money launderer who left behind a trail of vengeful victims. Since arriving on Nantucket he has made even more enemies, some of them among the rich summer residents of the community. Henry manages find the killer, after a few false starts caused by him believing some lies told to him. The conclusion is dramatic with Henry's survival being at risk.
Henry is likeable. He's an attractive protagonist and a good narrator. While he is a transplanted Californian and former Los Angeles policeman, he's not the dried out alcoholic that often is found in stories about big-city cops moving to small towns. Rather than rely on technical wizardry, his sleuthing is done through hard work and paying attention to the clues. He's got some good cops on his force too.
This book is one of a series of Chief Kennis novels and the only one of the five that I have read. It's easily read as a standalone; there's no complicated backstory about Henry that you need to remember although there's a cast of recurring characters. Nantucket plays a big role in the story too. It's the local colour of a resort town catering to rich people who keep to themselves, rarely mingling with "the locals". Of course its those locals who do the mundane chores like mowing the lawns, waiting on tables and driving taxis. Then there's the Bulgarian Brothers who become Henry's confidential informants!
A good entertaining book and recommended.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for providing a copy of the eBook. The views expressed are my own.
Henry is likeable. He's an attractive protagonist and a good narrator. While he is a transplanted Californian and former Los Angeles policeman, he's not the dried out alcoholic that often is found in stories about big-city cops moving to small towns. Rather than rely on technical wizardry, his sleuthing is done through hard work and paying attention to the clues. He's got some good cops on his force too.
This book is one of a series of Chief Kennis novels and the only one of the five that I have read. It's easily read as a standalone; there's no complicated backstory about Henry that you need to remember although there's a cast of recurring characters. Nantucket plays a big role in the story too. It's the local colour of a resort town catering to rich people who keep to themselves, rarely mingling with "the locals". Of course its those locals who do the mundane chores like mowing the lawns, waiting on tables and driving taxis. Then there's the Bulgarian Brothers who become Henry's confidential informants!
A good entertaining book and recommended.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for providing a copy of the eBook. The views expressed are my own.
October 29, 2018
The book is a cross between a cozy mystery and a police procedural. Henry Kennis, Police Chief of Nantucket, is trying to solve the murder of Horst Refn, Artistic Director of the Nantucket Theater Lab. The crime follows the plot of the play the Theater Lab is working on, so of course, the author of the play is a person of interest. But the suspects are numerous, almost everyone who knew or worked with Refn. It appears he’s been scamming half the island. Even Kennis’s girlfriend Jane is identified by a witness as leaving the scene of the crime.
Kennis is a likable, easygoing detective who leads us down several wrong paths before landing the killer. The story is told with wit and warmth, and the setting of Nantucket takes me back to my visits to the island (although it seems a lot more crowded than 30 or so years ago).
Definitely a fun read.
Kennis is a likable, easygoing detective who leads us down several wrong paths before landing the killer. The story is told with wit and warmth, and the setting of Nantucket takes me back to my visits to the island (although it seems a lot more crowded than 30 or so years ago).
Definitely a fun read.
October 9, 2018
Henry Kennis is sort of the odd man out on Nantucket where he's the Chief of Police. Neither fish or fowl but always a detective, this time out he's dealing with the murder of the much disliked Horst Refn, Artistic Director of the theater lab. I'm not usually a fan of little theater based mysteries but this one was different because of Kennis and also because of the side plots involving his daughter. Carrie has caused Henry agigta in the past but this time she's not the one who is in trouble, it's her boyfriend Hector. The mystery of who killed Horst is well done (as always there are a number of suspects) and there's subtle commentary on class and privilege. Thanks to edelweiss for the ARC. This is part of a series but it's fine as a standalone.
October 12, 2018
Maddeningly good, and Henry the police chief is wicked smart even if he has to revisit some things to get them right.
I can't think of it as a spoiler to tell that the true architect of the murder has mastered the art of misdirection.
The characters are incredibly well portrayed, and I fumbled along with Henry trying to settle on the real murderer despite all of the red herrings and plot twists. Excellent read!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
I can't think of it as a spoiler to tell that the true architect of the murder has mastered the art of misdirection.
The characters are incredibly well portrayed, and I fumbled along with Henry trying to settle on the real murderer despite all of the red herrings and plot twists. Excellent read!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
October 16, 2022
The first half of this book seemed like it was written by the Democratic National Committee. Well, at least you get to hear if all the things that sheriff Henry Kennis hates; rich people, republican presidents, millionaires, ICE, billionaires, tax credits, and so on. I guess the part where he is described as a “candy ass liberal” was well set up earlier in the book. Then eventually he focuses on the crime and eventually gets the murderer, after a few plot twists.
November 2, 2018
Police procedural told with an underlying dry wit and sense of humor. Lead character is Nantucket Island Police Chief Henry Kennis. This is his fifth outing and is an enjoyable read with a challenging mystery.
November 12, 2018
Never read one of Axelrod's books but I will read another. He is a literate and knowledgeable writer who knows how to draw a character and a scene, provide interesting tidbits about literature and theater as well as how to plot a twist. Good mystery reading.
February 9, 2019
Very enjoyable, keeps you guessing until the end.😉
Read
June 25, 2019ok, a bit too much local color
August 20, 2019
Very Entertaining.
November 24, 2024
I would have enjoyed this more if I had read the books that came before this one. There were too many suspects and when the actual killer was revealed it came out of nowhere.
February 20, 2025
I was not sure at first but I am glad I stuck with it. Twisty story and fun characters.
Read
August 31, 2018Life imitating art…imitating life
Chief Henry Kennis heads up the Nantucket Police Department after leaving the Los Angeles PD behind and heading East for a quieter life. But murder is everywhere and Nantucket is no exception.
Summer season has started and the Theater Lab is putting on a play that turns out to be written based on real-life events. When the head of the Theater Lab is found murdered, the show must go on. As the NPD investigates, it appears that the Play’s author may be the killer and the actors are acting out not only past, but future events. Are the characters in jeopardy? Can Kennis identify the murdered and stop them before they strike again?
This plot is a great who dun it and keeps you guessing for awhile. A good read, especially if you want to make Summer last a little longer now that Fall has arrived.
Chief Henry Kennis heads up the Nantucket Police Department after leaving the Los Angeles PD behind and heading East for a quieter life. But murder is everywhere and Nantucket is no exception.
Summer season has started and the Theater Lab is putting on a play that turns out to be written based on real-life events. When the head of the Theater Lab is found murdered, the show must go on. As the NPD investigates, it appears that the Play’s author may be the killer and the actors are acting out not only past, but future events. Are the characters in jeopardy? Can Kennis identify the murdered and stop them before they strike again?
This plot is a great who dun it and keeps you guessing for awhile. A good read, especially if you want to make Summer last a little longer now that Fall has arrived.
September 11, 2018
Who doesn’t love a classic Who Dun it? Set on Nantucket, this mystery has a little bit of everything: murder, false identity, hidden pasts and dramatic characters.
A bit complicated at times to follow all of the characters and “asides” but overall, if you love a mystery and the setting of Nantucket, you’ll enjoy this story.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
A bit complicated at times to follow all of the characters and “asides” but overall, if you love a mystery and the setting of Nantucket, you’ll enjoy this story.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
September 27, 2018
It's the first book I read in this series and will surely read others.
I loved the plot, a classical whodunit, the cast of characters and the setting.
It was entertaining and fascinating, keeping me guessing till the end.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this ARC
I loved the plot, a classical whodunit, the cast of characters and the setting.
It was entertaining and fascinating, keeping me guessing till the end.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this ARC
Read
February 5, 2019Nantucket Police Chief Henry Kenny’s finds not everything her hears from the residents is true. When hated artistic director of the island’s community theater is found dead - stuffed in a deep freezer, Henry investigates to find out who hated Horst Refn the most. Life begins to imitate Art when the plot of the latest production resembles what is happening in real time
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews