Superior Moon

by Walker James

For Detective Alain Logan, it's hard enough to police the vast wilderness of northern Michigan without adding make-believe monsters to his list of troubles. It's true the first body found in the woods had part of her leg eaten, but the Upper Peninsula has black bears, even wolverines. It's a locale with all the problems of the real world--meth labs, budget cuts, winter like a toothache--and just happens to have myths that eat people. The huge tracks are harder for Alain to explain, not to mention the fang marks on the disemboweled priest. As far as Alain is concerned, a murderer is a murderer. These are his woods, his town, his gullible idiots, and no one is going to hurt them. It's his job to catch monsters whether they run on two legs or four, and he has to take care of this before his own damned nightmares about blood and dirt and darkness drive him to the loony bin.

242 pages, ebook

Published July 23, 2018

About the author

Walker James was raised by a family of particularly angry beavers in the Northwoods. After a heady stint in the fashion world, he returned to his birthplace to live off the land and tourists. He spends his days walking the woods, studying the geography of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and occasionally writing. (It's all lies, though, the stuff about the trees and incredible lakes and wild beauty. The UP looks like Detroit. It snows every other day and no one should ever go there.) SUPERIOR MOON is his first novel. The second novel in the Superior Cycle (because you have to name these kinds of things), SUPERIOR DEEP, will be released in 2026 barring a possible karaoke career breakout.

Walker James is also the pen name of Jim Walke, some guy who publishes hoity-toity literary short stories which no one reads.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always on the lookout for books set in the UP as I grew up there. I am mostly disappointed,as if the author had never actually been to the Upper Peninsula. This book was spot on and since I went to school in Marquette, it felt like home to me. The characters were interesting and I didn't have a clue that it was going to end that way. Good, strong writing.

I featured your book on my website. You can see it here https://authordianewallace.weebly.com...

[Ruthie Shippling · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic

this book was fantastic, and I could barely put it down when I couldn't see anymore. my heart pounded at times in my ears. hope he writes more books!


5 stars

[Leon Scheppink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm asuming this is the author's debut novel, as it's the only title under his name on Goodreads. It wasn't the book itself that have it away, because it was an absolute fantastic mix of horror, folklore, crime and dark humour.


The characters are interesting and really come to life. The dialogue is natural and the sense of detail is excellent: complete without overdoing it. Also, each chapter begins with a small, historical blurb from the paper 'The Palladium Superior', which was a charming idea (with some humerous entries as well).


The story had a wonderful build up and for me, was never predictable. Without giving too much away, the lore surrounding the subject was original and fascinating. Absolutely worthwhile.

[Melissa J White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but having lived much of my life in northern Michigan, I sometimes feel like those outside the UP view us as backward people. They are afraid to walk in the woods because something will get them! At night, we hear the wolves and coyotes and every once in a while they will walk in front of our house on Lake Michigan. They are beautiful creatures and have never bothered us. While I enjoyed it, I have never personally met anyone like the characters in the book in the central UP. Marquette is no longer a small town and is pretty darn civilized. I will take the book with a grain of salt and just enjoy the fiction of it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope to hear more for this author

This book is a super fun ride. As a Michigan native, and a UP enthusiast, I found the scenery familiar and delightful, the characters as rich as they come, and the story as wonderfully strange as the lore of the UP. Fans of Preston and Child's Prendergast novels will really love this story. The voice of this author is welcome and fresh, and I hope we hear more from him in whatever shape that takes.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually 4 1/2 stars.
I have bought werewolf horror novels, and a few have h=disappointed me. Superior Moon has been an enjoyable read, enough for me to read late Sunday night and reluctantly go to bed and to finish it last night. I enjoyed the characters, the UP area, and even about the take on the Rougarou werewolf legend. The only disappointment was the ending. Not sure I liked it, as could have had more added to it.

[Dianne Daunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Upper Peninsula of Michigan thriller

This was like nothing I have ever read before. The physical settings are well described. The humans and their interactions had my head spinning. I read quite a bit of fantasy, but never anything like this. I have to wonder what is real and what is imagined.
This quick read has given me lots to consider. Will look for other books by this author.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Mostly well written with only a few spots that were hard to follow. Since I just left the Munising area, it was easy to place myself in the woods and along the lakeshore. I guess i wasn't expecting this genre of book when i grabbed this at the coffee shop. Still it was fast paced and held my interest. it was pretty clear where a lot of it was headed so nothing was much of a mystery fast fun to read, especially if you are in the area, it might just make you look over your shoulder!

[Connie McCauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by a Yooper

Excellent story based on folklore. It was exciting to read about the familiar places and picture the story unfolding. Marquette, Munising, HMC, Holy Cross Cemetery, Dead River. It was like watching a movie in my mind.

[Sandra Vandeville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Werewolves

Didn't realize this book was about werewolves, which I don't usually care for but it was better than I thought it would be. I bought it because I live in the U.P. and wanted to support a U.P. author. By the end of the book I couldn't put it down.

[Mr. Dave Kessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid werewolf novel with a Northwoods bent. Enjoyed the unique lore and the detective story theme. Looking forward to this author's sophomore release.