Fever Tree

by Tim Applegate

When a handsome and mysterious stranger arrives in Crooked River, the town is consumed by rumors. Although a deeply private young man, Dieter befriends everyone from deckhands to shopkeepers. But what is he running from?

On the rebound from a disastrous relationship, Maggie Paterson falls in love with Dieter. As Dieter comes to care for Maggie, he confirms the details of his mysterious past with her: he's returning to Crooked River to escape tragedy and loss. But Dieter's secretive personality coupled with his burgeoning relationship with Maggie only inflame rumors throughout the town.

Teddy Mink, the area's notorious and dangerous drug lord, becomes convinced that Dieter's a narc. Maggie's recently estranged ex, who moonlights as a drug runner for Teddy, jealously works to convince the drug lord that Dieter must be handled, no matter the cost.

Dieter's guarded nature and shrouded past fuel the fatal events that unfold. From the moonlit beaches of Quintana Roo to the historic town of Crooked River, Florida, Fever Tree is a beautifully written story about grief and loss, but ultimately healing and finding your way again.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 2, 2016

About the author

Tim Applegate was born in Fort Benning, Georgia and grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana. In 1978 he obtained a B.A. degree in journalism and literature from Indiana University. Tim has lived in Boston, Sarasota, Florida, and for the last twenty-three years on two acres in the foothills of the coastal range of western Oregon. He is married and has two daughters. He grows wine grapes on his acreage, is an avid hiker, and travels extensively. Tim's poetry, essays, and short fiction have been published in The Florida Review, The South Dakota Review, Lake Effect, and many other literary journals. He is the author of the poetry collections At the End of Day (Traprock Books) and Blueprints (Turnstone Books of Oregon), the chapbook Drydock (and other poems) (Blue Cubicle Press), and the novels Fever Tree (Amberjack Publishing) and Flamingo Lane (forthcoming from Amberjack Publishing December 2018).

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laconic narration, multiple points of view, hauntingly evocative scenery, and a wealth of deeply flawed characters—all this and more characterize Fever Tree by Tim Applegate. The story is set against a background of drugs and poverty, moving from Mexico to Florida. The mysterious stranger in town tells nothing about himself, but his thoughts slowly reveal his past, and there’s a pleasing secret to his present waiting for the reader to find it out. Meanwhile darker characters house darker histories and secrets. Danger, like drugs, is the worm on the hook and the reader is compelled to see it through.

Swift point of view changes fit the story well, with characters unsure of any guiding hand but looking for a plan or a future. Like the drugs, the narration can be occasionally disorienting. But Fever Tree is a truly compelling story, with a writing style that reminds this reader of Kent Haruf’s Plainsong, a story arc that reveals both history and destination, and an ending that’s breathlessly satisfying and memorable.

Disclosure: I borrowed it from a friend.

[Pascal Vanenburg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Total snooze fest, veel meer kan ik er niet van maken. Applegate neemt uitgebreid de tijd om z’n personages neer te zetten en verwoordt het allemaal mooi, maar geeft me geen enkele reden om werkelijk geboeid te zijn door wie dan ook. De mysterieuze hoofdpersoon draagt duidelijk een geheim mee, maar het is volstrekt oninteressant wat dat dan is. Ondertussen vergeet Applegate het verhaal voort te bewegen. Zonde.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving from Quintana Roo, Mexico to Crooked River, FL., William “Billy” Dieter (former drug addict, depression,), quickly adapts to the town & starts to make many friends.
Teddy Mink (local drug lord) does not think very highly of this young man & is quite suspicious of him.
What the town folks don’t know is he is an author/writer of Jaguar Moon.
What were Colt Taylor (Maggie’s SO) & Dub Harmon up to?

Jackie Banks (gay) & Dieter loved to go swimming down at the Christopher Key beach area.
Maggie Paterson now kind of had the hots for Dieter.
Who is Dub Harmon?
What was Jimmy Santiago hired to do?

Warning: This book is for adults only & contains extreme violent or graphic adult content or profanity &/or sexually explicit scenarios. It may be offensive to some readers.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Goodreads; MakingConnections; Amberjack Publishing; ARC; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, edgy, and beautifully written. Tim Applegate has made a fantastic debut with this entertaining and thought-provoking novel.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Tim Applegate’s Fever Tree I wondered why I didn’t know about this author who has written such a lush crime novel. Atmosphere and character are everything to me when reading mystery, noir or suspense, and Applegate’s novel blends all three.

Fever Tree, besides being a literary gem with gorgeous writing, delivers a wicked, believable, suspenseful world where setting and character work in perfect harmony to deliver a story that I couldn’t stop reading. From the secretive and mysterious Dieter to the scary drug lord Teddy Mink (oh, that name!). From the romantic beaches of Quinana Roo to the squalid drug waterfront docks of Crooked River, Florida. The residents run from naive to paranoid. Dieter’s story transcends the normal mystery. The setting recalls noir small towns. The characters come fully alive. The mystery is accomplished and keeps you guessing. All this without a chase scene in sight. The atmosphere like much of rural Florida emits a lethargy and haunting depth. Rich imagery pulls us into Dieter’s story. Applegate uses multiple view points with aplomb. He’s also a master of sympathetic, flawed characters. Each scene comes alive and the entire novel creates a movie in your head. Add to this two love stories—one from the past, one building toward the future--hopefully. Wow.

I can’t wait to read the next installment of this trilogy.

[Gayle Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author gives the reader a variety of characters without loading you down with too much. You get a drug dealer (Teddy Mink), love (Maggie Paterson) and your protagonist, Dieter. What a mix! You as the reader get caught up in this story as the author pens his first novel. I liked that the story is written as chapters or more like scenes. I felt for Dieter and his dealing with a tragedy that occurred in his life. He has other troubles as well. When he arrives in Crooked River, he was a stranger and the people of the town weren't sure about him. The author will keep you guessing as to who Dieter really is. The people of Crooked River, Florida arent' sure either. Could he be dealing drugs in town? Or could we flip the sides? Could he be a narc? I felt he was a narc but as I turned the pages, I wasn't so sure. I liked the romance that starts to build when Maggie Paterson sees Dieter naked in the pond, without knowing him or that she would fall in love. What is Dieter really doing in Crooked River? Will Maggie and him fall in love? What will happen to the local Drug Lord? Written with a steady pace as you turn the pages, you won't be able to let go. You'll fall in love with the character, Dieter, no matter who he is and the ending may surprise you. This is book one of a three part series. Looking forward to book two soon.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Amberjack Publishing in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

[Suba Wijesinghe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Advanced Review Copy Provided By The Publisher Via NetGalley In Exchange For An Honest Review.

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Really Interesting & Enjoyable novel, Flowing Smoothly Between Family Struggles, Mistakes They Made & The Plaintive Memories They Experienced In Their Lives In The Past..... Lots Of Things. Absolutely Entertaining Novel!!!

[K Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fever Tree will transport you to Crooked River, and you won't want to leave!
Author Tim Applegate offers something for everyone in his debut novel. Mystery, love and suspense combined with vivid imagery of past and present. A group of well defined characters are at the center of this story. Applegate describes their thoughts, desires, and regrets with fluid pacing. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to the next installment of this trilogy. 

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fever Tree's story is told largely through its writing style. Poetry and prose blend together, as do dialogue and background. There's a stream of consciousness throughout that makes the reader work at times, but which ultimately helps the reader understand multiple perspectives, and which both softens and intensifies the undercurrents of sex, danger, and violence.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a true surprise. I enjoyed this book more than I thought it would. Written very well, beautiful imagery.

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally so good!!!! Unique, poetic and ironic. I adored this story and the creativity behind it.

[Kcin. · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 🌕🌕🌕🌘🌑

Most of the plot felt superfluous, as though pulpy intrigue and action was begrudgingly injected as a hook to keep reader interest in what was wanted by the author to be a more mundane study of character and place with a healthy dose of personal connection (maybe even self-insert) to the author. And so, develops so slow through the nostalgia that the protagonist doesn't even realize he's in any danger until the last few chapters. The novel is enjoyable if the reader can simply connect with its cast of characters (each with their own POV chapters which further slows the pace) and immerse in its setting (the dirty but enchanting US South of the 1970's) apart from anything happening, but this mileage may vary.

[Rachel Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with this book. The writing was beautiful, but that was maybe part of the problem - it seemed to be so descriptive that it took ages for anything to happen.

I found the 1970s setting interesting, but none of the characters really appealed to me, so despite the mystery hooking my interest a bit, ultimately I didn’t care enough about the characters to become immersed in the story.

[Dee Schwinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like books that don't use proper punctuation or sentence structure. That distracts me. I also thought the author took a long time to get to the point. There was the mystery element but I thought it took too long to unfold.

[Blane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zzzzzzzzz!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted Lives Intersect in a Small Florida Town

Maggie's life is falling apart. She lives with Cole and their son, Hunter, in Crooked River, Florida, but Cole is becoming increasingly violent. He works for Teddy Mink, the local drug lord, as a mule and is more and more caught up in the brutal side of the business.

Dieter comes to town. He's drifting. Taking a room at the rundown hotel, he wanders around the town making friends, but not giving away his secrets.

Maggie, Cole, and Dieter intersect in a drama that changes their lives.

If you enjoy character driven books with a southern background, you may like this book. Once you get into the novel the complex plot unfolds, but it's not an easy book to get into. Dieter is a very withdrawn character. We know he has secrets, but following him around for pages can become tedious.

Maggie's scenes are more action oriented, but, aside from the opening, it takes awhile to get to them. Cole, likewise, has scenes that push the action. Eventually, we do find out what is troubling Dieter, but it takes time.

Personally, I like to connect with the characters up front, particularly in a character driven novel. Because of Dieter's withdrawn personality, I found this difficult to do and when the plot takes time to develop, it's hard to stay with the book.

The writing is good and the descriptions of the small town are well done. However, I can't recommend this book unless you want a very leisurely start to a somewhat predictable plot.

I received this book from PR by the Book for this review.

[Debjani Ghosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 1978, Fever Tree by Tim Applegate is an engaging mystery tale that transfixed me till the end. Via vivid descriptions of people and scenery alike, Applegate transported me into the town of Crooked River. He uses every word aptly, hence, this novel doesn’t contain a single wasteful sentence. Although the pace of storytelling is languid, Applegate’s elegant writing kept the mystery alive. As a result, I wasn’t bored for even a second. Moreover, he portrays the supporting cast of inherently flawed characters as efficiently as the protagonist. No character seemed unnecessary. Everyone played his (or her) part in enriching the story which flows smoothly.

However, the problem is that Applegate’s gorgeous writing outshines the plot. While the evocative descriptions enamored me, I couldn’t feel the punch in the gut. Further, the climax was so poetically described that it lost its unexpected quality. So, while the novel delivers on the mystery quotient, the story did not leave a deep impression on me. I continued reading because I loved Applegate’s writing and wanted to see the enigma unravel. Fans of literary fiction who want a mystery weaved in with splendid writing can go for it. However, people seeking the thrill of a chase, or the sense of suspense from the word ‘go’ will not find this book stimulating.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mysterious stranger comes to town, and indeed, most of the mystery in Tim Applegate's first novel centers on the main character, Dieter. Who is he? Why does he choose to show up in Crooked River, Florida? Why does he behave as he does, showing conflicting sides of his personality? Some questions are eventually answered, but I continued questioning some of Dieter's actions, such as befriending strangers in a bar to protect another stranger. And why is he attracted to Maggie, whose initial impression must have been a ditzy, high-strung, angry redhead? Her character is puzzling too, as she turns out to be a well-rounded person, a loving mother, with arts and literary interests, but has made some bad life choices.

More than halfway through the book, drama and suspense pick up as drug lords become suspicious of Dieter's activities, and danger lurks.

There is some exemplary writing in this book, especially in the beautiful descriptions of Florida's natural areas. There is also writing that distracts due to shifts in p.o.v. or sudden jumps into memory or back story in the middle of an action scene.

The ending satisfies, although there remain some loose ends that could continue the story into a sequel. I look forward to "Fever Tree 2."

[Jypsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fever Tree is intriguing and mysterious. A stranger arrives in a small town. Who is he, and what is he hiding? Small towns can't function without the gossips hanging around, and there are plenty of those. As the story unfolds, a romantic relationship is thrown into the mix. In typical fashion, we find out who the stranger is and all is resolved. It's an average read, intriguing but not remarkable. Fans of mystery will enjoy. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.