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Bad Axe County #1
Bad Axe County
Fifteen years ago, Heidi White’s parents were shot to death on their Bad Axe County farm. The police declared it a murder-suicide and closed the case. But that night, Heidi found the one clue she knew could lead to the truth—if only the investigators would listen.
Now Heidi White is Heidi Kick, wife of local baseball legend Harley Kick and mother of three small children. She’s also the interim sheriff in Bad Axe. Half the county wants Heidi elected but the other half will do anything to keep her out of law enforcement. And as a deadly ice storm makes it way to Bad Axe, tensions rise and long-buried secrets climb to the surface.
As freezing rain washes out roads and rivers flood their banks, Heidi finds herself on the trail of a missing teenaged girl. Clues lead her down twisted paths to backwoods stag parties, derelict dairy farms, and the local salvage yard—where the body of a different teenage girl has been carefully hidden for a decade.
As the storm rages on, Heidi realizes that someone is planting clues for her to find, leading her to some unpleasant truths that point to the local baseball team and a legendary game her husband pitched years ago. With a murder to solve, a missing girl to save, and a monster to bring to justice, Heidi is on the cusp of shaking her community to its core—and finding out what really happened the night her parents died.
Now Heidi White is Heidi Kick, wife of local baseball legend Harley Kick and mother of three small children. She’s also the interim sheriff in Bad Axe. Half the county wants Heidi elected but the other half will do anything to keep her out of law enforcement. And as a deadly ice storm makes it way to Bad Axe, tensions rise and long-buried secrets climb to the surface.
As freezing rain washes out roads and rivers flood their banks, Heidi finds herself on the trail of a missing teenaged girl. Clues lead her down twisted paths to backwoods stag parties, derelict dairy farms, and the local salvage yard—where the body of a different teenage girl has been carefully hidden for a decade.
As the storm rages on, Heidi realizes that someone is planting clues for her to find, leading her to some unpleasant truths that point to the local baseball team and a legendary game her husband pitched years ago. With a murder to solve, a missing girl to save, and a monster to bring to justice, Heidi is on the cusp of shaking her community to its core—and finding out what really happened the night her parents died.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2019
235 people are currently reading
1415 people want to read
About the author
John Galligan
15 books113 followersJohn Galligan,in addition to being a novelist and teacher, John has worked as a newspaper journalist, feature-film screenwriter, house painter, au pair, ESL teacher, cab driver, and freezer boy in a salmon cannery. He currently teaches writing at Madison Area Technical College, where his experience is enriched by students from every corner of the local and world community.
Series:
* Fly Fishing Mystery
Series:
* Fly Fishing Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
July 15, 2019
3.5 stars
There’s a new sheriff in town.
A former Dairy Queen becomes the first female Sheriff in a small Wisconsin town fueled by corruption.
Bad Axe County is a dark and atmospheric dual mystery that exposes a seedy crime network that involves sex trafficking, drugs, and murder.
Former Dairy Queen, Heidi Kick, becomes the interim Sheriff in Bad Axe County and many residents are not happy to see a woman in charge. When Heidi becomes suspicious of a man carting an underage girl around in van Bad Axe, her instincts let her know that there is something seriously wrong. At the same time, she is trying to solve the mystery of her parents' murder.
The narrative is told from multiple POV’s and there are a lot of competing storylines and characters to keep track of. I struggled to catch on in the beginning and had to read slowly, but once I fell into the rhythm of the narrative I had no problem.
The writing is raw, a little strange, uneven, and oftentimes choppy. At the same time, the mysteries are intriguing and the characters are unique. I would compare this book to season one of Fargo, not so much in the plot but in the way the characters speak, the atmosphere, and some other quirks. While I had some issues with the writing, I enjoyed this in the end.
Trigger Warning: Graphic sexual abuse
There’s a new sheriff in town.
A former Dairy Queen becomes the first female Sheriff in a small Wisconsin town fueled by corruption.
Bad Axe County is a dark and atmospheric dual mystery that exposes a seedy crime network that involves sex trafficking, drugs, and murder.
Former Dairy Queen, Heidi Kick, becomes the interim Sheriff in Bad Axe County and many residents are not happy to see a woman in charge. When Heidi becomes suspicious of a man carting an underage girl around in van Bad Axe, her instincts let her know that there is something seriously wrong. At the same time, she is trying to solve the mystery of her parents' murder.
The narrative is told from multiple POV’s and there are a lot of competing storylines and characters to keep track of. I struggled to catch on in the beginning and had to read slowly, but once I fell into the rhythm of the narrative I had no problem.
The writing is raw, a little strange, uneven, and oftentimes choppy. At the same time, the mysteries are intriguing and the characters are unique. I would compare this book to season one of Fargo, not so much in the plot but in the way the characters speak, the atmosphere, and some other quirks. While I had some issues with the writing, I enjoyed this in the end.
Trigger Warning: Graphic sexual abuse
July 11, 2019
Bad Axe County by John Galligan is a 2019 Atria Books publication.
A gritty, atmospheric crime story-
This is an ambitious mystery thriller which profiles the rural Wisconsin terrain as much as it does the characters, becoming an intricate part of the plot.
Heidi Kick was a small -town beauty queen when her life took a tragic turn. Her parents allegedly died as a result of a murder-suicide pact. Despite their financial downturn, which was believed to be the motive, Heidi never bought into that theory.
Now, after the local sheriff’s sudden demise, Heidi becomes interim sheriff. This doesn’t set well with the local good ole boys in the community at all. But Heidi is not totally without a support system, with one or two allies in the department helping her make logical decisions.
She does have to balance a marriage, and small children, along with her demanding, pressure -filled job. She’s holding her own, until an unexpected storm in the area triggers a series of events, revealing the dark, lurid underbelly of Bad Axe County.
Suddenly, the inexperienced, but determined sheriff is neck deep in corruption, human trafficking, sleazy private parties hosting underage girls, and a strange burglary. The deeper she scratches beneath the surface, troubling implications hit a little too close to home. Dark forces are working against Heidi, thwarting her at every turn. While working around the clock to locate a missing girl, Heidi fervently hopes to finally discover the truth about her parents.
I won’t lie- what initially caused me to give this book a closer look was the atmospheric cover art. The premise sounded intriguing enough, with the promise of a strong female lead, so I decided to take a chance on it.
However, I also must admit, in all honesty, the story wasn't quite what I was expecting. Although Heidi refuses to accept the official cause of death in her parent’s case, her obsession with uncovering the truth runs more in the background. More in the forefront, is Heidi’s ‘race against the clock’ mission to locate a missing girl without making any critical missteps.
The story starts off on an odd, unexpected note, emphasizing the character's quirks, as they pertain to the rural setting. The banter is light and good-natured, but the atmosphere suddenly shifts turning super dark, edgy, and suspenseful, with a no holds barred tendency towards violence. I immediately sensed it was time to fasten my seatbelt and hold on for dear life.
Unfortunately, there are several threads running at once, along with a large cast of characters, which, as I’ve stated countless times, rarely works out for me. Sure enough, I struggled to keep everything straight. I had to slow my reading down to a crawl and do a little re-reading on a few occasions, to be sure I was keeping everything and everyone straight. I can’t say I was a big fan of the execution, or the uneven flow, but at the end of the day, despite its messiness, all the threads eventually come together, and the book ends on a high note. So, as they say, a win is still a win, even if it’s an ugly one.
The conclusion is gratifying, especially since Heidi Kick lives to fight another day. I liked Heidi’s character, as well as her sidekick, Denise. Those two made a great team. I wouldn’t mind stopping by Bad Axe County again someday. I think this rural, deceptively bucolic area of Wisconsin still has many secrets, and the feisty Heidi Kick knows just how to unravel them.
3.5 rounded up
A gritty, atmospheric crime story-
This is an ambitious mystery thriller which profiles the rural Wisconsin terrain as much as it does the characters, becoming an intricate part of the plot.
Heidi Kick was a small -town beauty queen when her life took a tragic turn. Her parents allegedly died as a result of a murder-suicide pact. Despite their financial downturn, which was believed to be the motive, Heidi never bought into that theory.
Now, after the local sheriff’s sudden demise, Heidi becomes interim sheriff. This doesn’t set well with the local good ole boys in the community at all. But Heidi is not totally without a support system, with one or two allies in the department helping her make logical decisions.
She does have to balance a marriage, and small children, along with her demanding, pressure -filled job. She’s holding her own, until an unexpected storm in the area triggers a series of events, revealing the dark, lurid underbelly of Bad Axe County.
Suddenly, the inexperienced, but determined sheriff is neck deep in corruption, human trafficking, sleazy private parties hosting underage girls, and a strange burglary. The deeper she scratches beneath the surface, troubling implications hit a little too close to home. Dark forces are working against Heidi, thwarting her at every turn. While working around the clock to locate a missing girl, Heidi fervently hopes to finally discover the truth about her parents.
I won’t lie- what initially caused me to give this book a closer look was the atmospheric cover art. The premise sounded intriguing enough, with the promise of a strong female lead, so I decided to take a chance on it.
However, I also must admit, in all honesty, the story wasn't quite what I was expecting. Although Heidi refuses to accept the official cause of death in her parent’s case, her obsession with uncovering the truth runs more in the background. More in the forefront, is Heidi’s ‘race against the clock’ mission to locate a missing girl without making any critical missteps.
The story starts off on an odd, unexpected note, emphasizing the character's quirks, as they pertain to the rural setting. The banter is light and good-natured, but the atmosphere suddenly shifts turning super dark, edgy, and suspenseful, with a no holds barred tendency towards violence. I immediately sensed it was time to fasten my seatbelt and hold on for dear life.
Unfortunately, there are several threads running at once, along with a large cast of characters, which, as I’ve stated countless times, rarely works out for me. Sure enough, I struggled to keep everything straight. I had to slow my reading down to a crawl and do a little re-reading on a few occasions, to be sure I was keeping everything and everyone straight. I can’t say I was a big fan of the execution, or the uneven flow, but at the end of the day, despite its messiness, all the threads eventually come together, and the book ends on a high note. So, as they say, a win is still a win, even if it’s an ugly one.
The conclusion is gratifying, especially since Heidi Kick lives to fight another day. I liked Heidi’s character, as well as her sidekick, Denise. Those two made a great team. I wouldn’t mind stopping by Bad Axe County again someday. I think this rural, deceptively bucolic area of Wisconsin still has many secrets, and the feisty Heidi Kick knows just how to unravel them.
3.5 rounded up
September 12, 2019
3.5 I never knew that rural Wisconsin had coulees and hollows, so I learned something new. Bad Axe County, fifteen years ago Holly was crowned the Dairy Queen, a day that started in triumph and ends in sorrow. It is the night she was informed that both her parents were dead in an apparent murder, suicide. She didn't believe it then and she doesn't believe it now.
Now, she is a wife, mother of three, and interim Sherrif of the country, though many are hoping her position won't last. This is a gritty, hard hitting story of a town that prices itself on its amateur baseball team, but it is also a town of long held secrets. Of men who think they are entitled, of corruption and drugs, human trafficking and of young girls who will do anything to belong.
The setting, the cold, the mud, the rain wraps itself around this story, permeates the search for answers and the desperate search for a young girl named Pepper. There are sleazy old men whose sins were covered up by a former corrupt sheriff. Also good people, Heidi who is determined to learn who killed her parents, but also to find the missing girl. Pepper herself, whose short life has been a tragedy but still maintains hope. Ambrose, whose baseball career was successful but comes home to take care of his I'll father and young sister. These are characters that are good and formidable, characters to root for.
The writing style took a little to get used to, it sometimes seemed jumbled but as I read on I got into screaming rythem and ended up cringing, but enjoying this very gritty read.
ARC from Edelweiss.
Now, she is a wife, mother of three, and interim Sherrif of the country, though many are hoping her position won't last. This is a gritty, hard hitting story of a town that prices itself on its amateur baseball team, but it is also a town of long held secrets. Of men who think they are entitled, of corruption and drugs, human trafficking and of young girls who will do anything to belong.
The setting, the cold, the mud, the rain wraps itself around this story, permeates the search for answers and the desperate search for a young girl named Pepper. There are sleazy old men whose sins were covered up by a former corrupt sheriff. Also good people, Heidi who is determined to learn who killed her parents, but also to find the missing girl. Pepper herself, whose short life has been a tragedy but still maintains hope. Ambrose, whose baseball career was successful but comes home to take care of his I'll father and young sister. These are characters that are good and formidable, characters to root for.
The writing style took a little to get used to, it sometimes seemed jumbled but as I read on I got into screaming rythem and ended up cringing, but enjoying this very gritty read.
ARC from Edelweiss.
June 5, 2019
3.5 stars, rounded up
The blurb for this book recommends it to readers who like Dennis Lehane or Megan Miranda. It reminded me much more of Lehane with its dark subject matter and horrible villains.
Heidi Kick is the interim sheriff in Bad Axe County, Wisconsin. She’s facing misogyny within her staff, a bad spring snow storm, sex trafficking and drug dealing. Oh, and she’s also trying to figure out the truth behind her parents’ supposed murder-suicide from 15 years before. AND what happened in 2012, the day of a badly lost baseball game with her now husband supposedly pitching. This is a dark, gritty novel. Lots of moving pieces to this one. Galligan does a decent job of portraying the place and characters, although some of the characters seem more caricature. I can’t say that it was a fabulous mystery, but it moves at a brisk pace and kept my interest.
My thanks to netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.
The blurb for this book recommends it to readers who like Dennis Lehane or Megan Miranda. It reminded me much more of Lehane with its dark subject matter and horrible villains.
Heidi Kick is the interim sheriff in Bad Axe County, Wisconsin. She’s facing misogyny within her staff, a bad spring snow storm, sex trafficking and drug dealing. Oh, and she’s also trying to figure out the truth behind her parents’ supposed murder-suicide from 15 years before. AND what happened in 2012, the day of a badly lost baseball game with her now husband supposedly pitching. This is a dark, gritty novel. Lots of moving pieces to this one. Galligan does a decent job of portraying the place and characters, although some of the characters seem more caricature. I can’t say that it was a fabulous mystery, but it moves at a brisk pace and kept my interest.
My thanks to netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.
June 6, 2021
This is dark, and intense crime thriller. Interim Sheriff Heidi Kick, former "Dairy Queen" of small Wisconsin town is investigating missing girls and the truth behind her parent's death that was ruled as murder-suicide some 15 years ago when she was 17. Heidi's husband, a local baseball legend also has a secret from twelve years before. There are other subplots and deranged characters that weave this novel into a gripping mystery. The pace is good and I like the fierce traits in Heidi.
This is my first book with a Wisconsin setting. I've been keeping track of the fifty states, a personal challenge. Never thought that Bad Axe County is my WI! My GR friend Bill is right. I have read another book that sets in WI earlier this year. The Breaker. Thank you so much Bill!
Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for my digital copy.
Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for my digital copy.
July 11, 2019
Bad Axe County is an engrossing mystery that captivates from the very start! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Heidi White’s parents were murdered on their farm several years ago, and while it was ruled a murder-suicide, Heidi found a clue to what may have happened, but no one would listen to her.
Heidi is now a mom and married to Harley, a famous baseball player. She’s also the new interim sheriff. While some in the county are big fans of hers, others are quite the opposite.
A devastating ice storm brings tension and causes secrets to come out. Heidi is searching for a missing teenage girl when she finds the body of another one who’s been hidden for number of years.
Heidi begins to realize these clues are carefully placed with her in mind. Signs begin to point to the local baseball team and a special game that happened years ago. Heidi is determined to find the truth no matter the cost.
Bad Axe County has a bleak, dark tone. I loved the atmosphere, and Heidi is a strong, complex main character. There are a few plot lines to follow and piece together. Heidi’s attempts to solve crimes kept me rapt, and the tension never waned.
If you enjoy dark, gritty thrillers, don’t miss Bad Axe County. You’ll be pulled in to Heidi’s story and helping her on the sidelines as she searches for her parents’ killer.
I’ll be waiting on Galligan’s next book. Bad Axe County pulled on all my emotions and kept me on edge, just how I like my mystery/thrillers.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Heidi White’s parents were murdered on their farm several years ago, and while it was ruled a murder-suicide, Heidi found a clue to what may have happened, but no one would listen to her.
Heidi is now a mom and married to Harley, a famous baseball player. She’s also the new interim sheriff. While some in the county are big fans of hers, others are quite the opposite.
A devastating ice storm brings tension and causes secrets to come out. Heidi is searching for a missing teenage girl when she finds the body of another one who’s been hidden for number of years.
Heidi begins to realize these clues are carefully placed with her in mind. Signs begin to point to the local baseball team and a special game that happened years ago. Heidi is determined to find the truth no matter the cost.
Bad Axe County has a bleak, dark tone. I loved the atmosphere, and Heidi is a strong, complex main character. There are a few plot lines to follow and piece together. Heidi’s attempts to solve crimes kept me rapt, and the tension never waned.
If you enjoy dark, gritty thrillers, don’t miss Bad Axe County. You’ll be pulled in to Heidi’s story and helping her on the sidelines as she searches for her parents’ killer.
I’ll be waiting on Galligan’s next book. Bad Axe County pulled on all my emotions and kept me on edge, just how I like my mystery/thrillers.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
June 22, 2019
If Bad Axe County really existed, I'd never go near it. And based on the characters in this story (which, BTW, there were far too many of for my aging brain to keep straight), I'm happy to not live anywhere near any of these downright detestable folks. That's not to say the book isn't well-written; it is - and no doubt many readers will love it. But I disliked the people and places so much that it was hard to work up much enthusiasm for the plot.
Heidi Kick is the new interim sheriff in Bad Axe County, Wisconsin - the first female in what's clearly old-boy territory. She's married to Harley, who in his younger days was a star baseball player (and who is the only character in this story who has redeeming social value, IMHO). More than a decade earlier, Heidi's parents were found dead on their farm, and the police ruled it a murder-suicide. Heidi never believed that, though, and has tried ever since to figure out what really happened to them.
She's also got a job to do, though much of it seems to be an uphill battle against the seedy folks in the backwoods county who don't want her to do it. So bad is the situation that she's not even totally sure she'll run for the upcoming election that, should she somehow win, would give her a more permanent status.
As a real storm brews, a storm of another sort pops up in the local library involving an unidentified man, a young girl and a years-earlier baseball game that nobody - including Heidi's husband - want to talk about. That, in turn, leads to Heidi's learning about secret "stag parties" attended by all sorts of locals and an assortment of young girls, not all of whom were there of their own volition (think: human trafficking). One, in fact, has been missing ever since the party that followed that secretive baseball game; now, Heidi fears that the girl in the library may be another unwilling victim (one who, hopefully, she can save).
The nasty weather and roiling rivers take their toll as Heidi investigates up and down very run-down properties like a salvage yard and a restaurant/bar, both of which are operated by characters even a mother couldn't love. Can Heidi find the missing girl before it's too late? Will she learn whose hand really killed her parents? And will her marriage survive the secrets her husband has been keeping from her? All are questions that aren't for me to reveal; you'll just have to read it for yourself. Do so only, I might add, if you don't mind graphic language and really, really rough guys and gals (the language does fit the characters, but even though that usually doesn't bother me much, in this case it made me like them all even less).
Bottom line? While I appreciate the quality of the writing, this one is just too dark and gritty for me. In other words, I got through it intact, but I admit I'm now looking forward to diving into a cozy mystery (and if you know my opinion on those, you know that speaks volumes). Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
Heidi Kick is the new interim sheriff in Bad Axe County, Wisconsin - the first female in what's clearly old-boy territory. She's married to Harley, who in his younger days was a star baseball player (and who is the only character in this story who has redeeming social value, IMHO). More than a decade earlier, Heidi's parents were found dead on their farm, and the police ruled it a murder-suicide. Heidi never believed that, though, and has tried ever since to figure out what really happened to them.
She's also got a job to do, though much of it seems to be an uphill battle against the seedy folks in the backwoods county who don't want her to do it. So bad is the situation that she's not even totally sure she'll run for the upcoming election that, should she somehow win, would give her a more permanent status.
As a real storm brews, a storm of another sort pops up in the local library involving an unidentified man, a young girl and a years-earlier baseball game that nobody - including Heidi's husband - want to talk about. That, in turn, leads to Heidi's learning about secret "stag parties" attended by all sorts of locals and an assortment of young girls, not all of whom were there of their own volition (think: human trafficking). One, in fact, has been missing ever since the party that followed that secretive baseball game; now, Heidi fears that the girl in the library may be another unwilling victim (one who, hopefully, she can save).
The nasty weather and roiling rivers take their toll as Heidi investigates up and down very run-down properties like a salvage yard and a restaurant/bar, both of which are operated by characters even a mother couldn't love. Can Heidi find the missing girl before it's too late? Will she learn whose hand really killed her parents? And will her marriage survive the secrets her husband has been keeping from her? All are questions that aren't for me to reveal; you'll just have to read it for yourself. Do so only, I might add, if you don't mind graphic language and really, really rough guys and gals (the language does fit the characters, but even though that usually doesn't bother me much, in this case it made me like them all even less).
Bottom line? While I appreciate the quality of the writing, this one is just too dark and gritty for me. In other words, I got through it intact, but I admit I'm now looking forward to diving into a cozy mystery (and if you know my opinion on those, you know that speaks volumes). Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
June 11, 2019
I thank NetGalley, author John Galligan, and also AtriaMysteryBus for a digital copy and a free ARC of the Book! I really enjoyed this dark, intense thriller taking place in a small country town. The new interim police chief, Heidi Kick faces many on her staff who do not want her there and work against her, bad spring weather, sex trafficking and drugs, to name a few problems that face her immediately! This is in Bad Axe County, a town she grew up next to, serving that area as the Wisconsin Dairy Queen one fateful summer. When she was serving at an event her manager receives a call that Heidi's parents have been murdered!! So she enters her job with many events swirling in her mind...
There are several plots that intertwine seamlessly,with characters so well-developed you can feel their breath on you. The narrative is packed with explicit scenes in which you feel yourself, afraid one minute, totally pissed off the next!! Heidi tries to solve several cases at once, including her parent's murder from 15 years ago, stretching her mind and capabilities.
This is an intriguing read for all who like mysteries and thrillers!!!
I write my review from my honest feelings and thoughts after reading this wonderful , dark adventure!
There are several plots that intertwine seamlessly,with characters so well-developed you can feel their breath on you. The narrative is packed with explicit scenes in which you feel yourself, afraid one minute, totally pissed off the next!! Heidi tries to solve several cases at once, including her parent's murder from 15 years ago, stretching her mind and capabilities.
This is an intriguing read for all who like mysteries and thrillers!!!
I write my review from my honest feelings and thoughts after reading this wonderful , dark adventure!
January 5, 2022
I live in Wisconsin and am not happy about the way this author portrayed the residents of Bad Axe County (now Vernon County). The situations and places he describes of not-too-bright drug addicts living in shacks and old trailers with farm junk in the yards, generations of a family living in poor conditions are few and far between.
When you travel this county, you will see small towns and large towns. There are beautiful sprawling fields and crops and dairy herds. There are quaint villages and large well-maintained farm houses. La Crosse has three colleges and the Mayo Clinic hospital and Gundersen Health Center.
The concept of crime and poverty is well told, but the story is scattered in thoughts and difficult to read. The only reason I finished this book was because I thought it would get better, but it didn't.
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
-Mary
When you travel this county, you will see small towns and large towns. There are beautiful sprawling fields and crops and dairy herds. There are quaint villages and large well-maintained farm houses. La Crosse has three colleges and the Mayo Clinic hospital and Gundersen Health Center.
The concept of crime and poverty is well told, but the story is scattered in thoughts and difficult to read. The only reason I finished this book was because I thought it would get better, but it didn't.
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
-Mary
June 13, 2019
Not the mystery I was expecting on who killed the parents of interim sheriff, Heidi Kick, fifteen years ago, but more of a sad story of life and death in rural Bad Axe county, Wisconsin. Started out good, but lost me with too many characters and storylines that left me rushing to get to the end.
September 29, 2022
Heidi Kick was once the reigning Dairy Queen of Wisconsin - until her parents where shot to death on their farm fifteen years ago. She refuses to accept the murder-suicide theory the police used to promptly close the case; she even has a clue that could lead to the truth.
Now Heidi is the wife of a local baseball legend, mother of three small kids, and the interim sheriff in Bad Axe County. While half the town wants Heidi elected to clean up the dirty dealings in the county, the other half are willing to do anything to be rid of her.
An ice storm is on the way and as law enforcement prepares, long-buried secrets are seeing the light for the first time. As Heidi tracks a missing teenaged girl in serious danger, clues lead her to discover a dark side of Bad Axe she’s never experienced that involve local baseball, a game her husband pitched years ago, and a murder.
I was surprised by how much I loved this book and am thrilled to see that it’s a series! The atmosphere of Bad Axe is gritty and Heidi is a likable and believable investigator that I rooted for as she uncovered layers of corruption in her town. I look forward to reading her next case!
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review. Bad Axe County was originally released July 9, 2019.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
Now Heidi is the wife of a local baseball legend, mother of three small kids, and the interim sheriff in Bad Axe County. While half the town wants Heidi elected to clean up the dirty dealings in the county, the other half are willing to do anything to be rid of her.
An ice storm is on the way and as law enforcement prepares, long-buried secrets are seeing the light for the first time. As Heidi tracks a missing teenaged girl in serious danger, clues lead her to discover a dark side of Bad Axe she’s never experienced that involve local baseball, a game her husband pitched years ago, and a murder.
I was surprised by how much I loved this book and am thrilled to see that it’s a series! The atmosphere of Bad Axe is gritty and Heidi is a likable and believable investigator that I rooted for as she uncovered layers of corruption in her town. I look forward to reading her next case!
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review. Bad Axe County was originally released July 9, 2019.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
July 9, 2019
Heidi Kick’s parents were killed fifteen years ago. The police said it was a murder/suicide incident but Heidi has never believed that. She’s still looking to solve the mystery of her parents’ deaths. Heidi is now acting as Interim Sheriff of Bad Axe County. While people think she’s doing a great job and want her to take over as fulltime Sheriff, there are many others who will do anything to stop that from happening. There’s now a missing girl that Heidi is investigating, who most likely has been caught up in a sex-trafficking ring. She’s also led to information of the disappearance of another young girl four years ago and is determined to find her, even if finding more about that disappearance implicates her husband, Harley. All of that while facing a dangerous ice storm that’s headed their way and trying to find time for her husband and three children is a heavy burden for Heidi to carry.
This is a dark, gritty, intense, violent book dealing with some of the cruelest characters I’ve ever read. At times, I thought, “No, this really isn’t my type of book at all”. But then there was Heidi, the former Dairy Queen, in all of her brokenness and I had to love it and keep reading. She was the heart of this book and made it an excellent one. Bad Axe County was one horrible place to live and even Heidi often questioned why she would want to raise her children there. The author is adept at character development and his depiction of the hard side of the human heart. I absolutely raced through the final chapters. I chose this book to read because one of my favorite authors, William Kent Krueger, said it was a dark, beauty of a book and he was right.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
This is a dark, gritty, intense, violent book dealing with some of the cruelest characters I’ve ever read. At times, I thought, “No, this really isn’t my type of book at all”. But then there was Heidi, the former Dairy Queen, in all of her brokenness and I had to love it and keep reading. She was the heart of this book and made it an excellent one. Bad Axe County was one horrible place to live and even Heidi often questioned why she would want to raise her children there. The author is adept at character development and his depiction of the hard side of the human heart. I absolutely raced through the final chapters. I chose this book to read because one of my favorite authors, William Kent Krueger, said it was a dark, beauty of a book and he was right.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 24, 2021
Book one in this gritty, atmospheric and dark crime thriller series. The book got me hooked from the beginning and the story is well plotted and perfectly paced. Heidi Kick is such a strong and interesting character that I really need more of. I will definitely read the other books in the series and I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to the author, Atria Books and NetGalley for this copy.
Thanks to the author, Atria Books and NetGalley for this copy.
September 24, 2019
Somehow or other, and I just can't put my finger on why- this book was not AT ALL what I expected it to be.
The writing is at least 3.5 stars, yet to my cognition? In conversations and in jumps between scenes, I often had to read, reread, read again- because it's nearly dialect or such quip talking that I just don't get the 'gist. Which, for me, made this a much longer and harder degree of read than most fiction of this genre that I come across. A new author for me and this gets me into the "type" of genre question.
I had strong inclination that I was being introduced to a series who-dun-it type of lady Sheriff, Heidi Kick. The one who was formerly The Dairy Queen. And what I got was something along a raunchy, crudity, bleak depth of amorality scale that I just wasn't anticipating at all. Possibly when I see Lehane in a trailer next time, I will take more heed?
And I don't mean to set you off against this book, but honestly- it does hold some gross and more than on 2 or 3 occasions lengths of torture, physical abuse, pure animal nature anger act outs against sex slaves (young girls bought and sold by men/ truckers/ etc.). So be warned. It's not middle of the road generic "new Sheriff in town" fare.
The locale becomes the star, IMHO. And as I've been to and in Wisconsin numerous times in 5 or 6 different decades- I'm sure I know what a coulee looks like, but this part of WI- to natives/ residing knowledge? Not so much. But I sure know the Wisconsin Rapids area and everything South and East of that too- so I was fairly SHOCKED at the ambiance here. It felt far more like a holler feud in the Smokies or the Ozarks. The tempo of the speech did too.
This cores around a hugely corrupt police and good ole boys set of groupings with long (4 years ago)dark secrets of various cabals' pay backs. Even the nicest people in the book (like Harley, her husband) are frankly, to me they are, amoral or at least skating alone on the brink of some kind of sensual high risk euphoria tolerance or something. No church goers or any of those breakfast at 7, lunch at 12, dinner at 6 kind of people. Even the kids are eating overcooked cheese wheel macaroni at intervals between corn dogs.
It's GRIT. The whole book is GRIT. So as well complicated and complex is the excellent plotting (and I think also so very possible and real) beyond the writing locale "feel" ambiance falling close to a 5 star level, I still can't round it up. Because honestly a few of these situational base group sort of "acceptance" aspects and every third page of English wordings just made me literally gag. I actually skipped the ending of one chapter. Poor Peppergrass- I just couldn't take it; what was being done to her almost as "rote"!! Little of description is omitted. This doesn't "pan away" from the worst as more lyrical types of fiction absolutely do. It's medical/ biological base minutia description of perp action.
It's not an author I will return too, but it's a book that holds characters you will remember. Not only the new temporary Sheriff either. Denise, Olaf the Handsome, and Angus especially. Not at all an easy read in the amount of characters. There are at least 24 in this book that you will need to recall in detail, IMHO. And as a form mention too- there are too many plot lines and crossovers in this book to follow in the kinds of sequence "window" skips given. That alone brought it down an entire star.
Most will give this a 4. It's just too flat out gross for me on at least 3 different planes. Very foul language and meanness, being two of them. What kept me reading, I have to mention, was the baseball. The "coming up" and AAA aspects- all 5 star in this book.
The writing is at least 3.5 stars, yet to my cognition? In conversations and in jumps between scenes, I often had to read, reread, read again- because it's nearly dialect or such quip talking that I just don't get the 'gist. Which, for me, made this a much longer and harder degree of read than most fiction of this genre that I come across. A new author for me and this gets me into the "type" of genre question.
I had strong inclination that I was being introduced to a series who-dun-it type of lady Sheriff, Heidi Kick. The one who was formerly The Dairy Queen. And what I got was something along a raunchy, crudity, bleak depth of amorality scale that I just wasn't anticipating at all. Possibly when I see Lehane in a trailer next time, I will take more heed?
And I don't mean to set you off against this book, but honestly- it does hold some gross and more than on 2 or 3 occasions lengths of torture, physical abuse, pure animal nature anger act outs against sex slaves (young girls bought and sold by men/ truckers/ etc.). So be warned. It's not middle of the road generic "new Sheriff in town" fare.
The locale becomes the star, IMHO. And as I've been to and in Wisconsin numerous times in 5 or 6 different decades- I'm sure I know what a coulee looks like, but this part of WI- to natives/ residing knowledge? Not so much. But I sure know the Wisconsin Rapids area and everything South and East of that too- so I was fairly SHOCKED at the ambiance here. It felt far more like a holler feud in the Smokies or the Ozarks. The tempo of the speech did too.
This cores around a hugely corrupt police and good ole boys set of groupings with long (4 years ago)dark secrets of various cabals' pay backs. Even the nicest people in the book (like Harley, her husband) are frankly, to me they are, amoral or at least skating alone on the brink of some kind of sensual high risk euphoria tolerance or something. No church goers or any of those breakfast at 7, lunch at 12, dinner at 6 kind of people. Even the kids are eating overcooked cheese wheel macaroni at intervals between corn dogs.
It's GRIT. The whole book is GRIT. So as well complicated and complex is the excellent plotting (and I think also so very possible and real) beyond the writing locale "feel" ambiance falling close to a 5 star level, I still can't round it up. Because honestly a few of these situational base group sort of "acceptance" aspects and every third page of English wordings just made me literally gag. I actually skipped the ending of one chapter. Poor Peppergrass- I just couldn't take it; what was being done to her almost as "rote"!! Little of description is omitted. This doesn't "pan away" from the worst as more lyrical types of fiction absolutely do. It's medical/ biological base minutia description of perp action.
It's not an author I will return too, but it's a book that holds characters you will remember. Not only the new temporary Sheriff either. Denise, Olaf the Handsome, and Angus especially. Not at all an easy read in the amount of characters. There are at least 24 in this book that you will need to recall in detail, IMHO. And as a form mention too- there are too many plot lines and crossovers in this book to follow in the kinds of sequence "window" skips given. That alone brought it down an entire star.
Most will give this a 4. It's just too flat out gross for me on at least 3 different planes. Very foul language and meanness, being two of them. What kept me reading, I have to mention, was the baseball. The "coming up" and AAA aspects- all 5 star in this book.
February 18, 2021
So this is book 1 of this series and I now need to read the next books!
The book is dark, gritty and just the kind of crime novel you can get lost in.
Fair warning: the book is not kind to any character, but the women seem to be treated especially badly. The book isn't anti-women at all - in fact the women, ill-treated or not, are by far the strongest characters in the book.
It's an uncomfortable read, but it's one you can't look away from.
Time for the next book for me!
The book is dark, gritty and just the kind of crime novel you can get lost in.
Fair warning: the book is not kind to any character, but the women seem to be treated especially badly. The book isn't anti-women at all - in fact the women, ill-treated or not, are by far the strongest characters in the book.
It's an uncomfortable read, but it's one you can't look away from.
Time for the next book for me!
January 25, 2020
Bad Axe Country is one of those books that I hoped would be really dark, thrilling and engrossing. In the end, it managed to be just another book about a woman with a dark and sad past that seeks the truth. And, frankly, I've read better ones. However, I did want to find out the truth about what happened to Heidi's parents and if she would save the young missing girl. Not to mention what happened all those years ago when another girl went missing. And, is Heidi's husband involved...?
I both read and listened to Bad Axe County and both ways worked fine. It's not one of the best books I've read, but it was good for the moment. I read a lot of thrillers so I might be a bit picky nowadays. Also, one of the reasons that I found myself not that engaged with the story was that Heidi just didn't rock my boat. I do love tough female sheriffs, but I never felt that I connected with her. So, would a read the follow-up book Dead Man Dancing? Yes, I would probably do so because the writing wasn't bad and the story did entertain me although my lack of connection to the Heidi and all the rest characters. And, I want to see if the next book would do the trick for me.
I both read and listened to Bad Axe County and both ways worked fine. It's not one of the best books I've read, but it was good for the moment. I read a lot of thrillers so I might be a bit picky nowadays. Also, one of the reasons that I found myself not that engaged with the story was that Heidi just didn't rock my boat. I do love tough female sheriffs, but I never felt that I connected with her. So, would a read the follow-up book Dead Man Dancing? Yes, I would probably do so because the writing wasn't bad and the story did entertain me although my lack of connection to the Heidi and all the rest characters. And, I want to see if the next book would do the trick for me.
September 7, 2020
Newly appointed interim sheriff Heidi Kick has to put up with the good ole boys in her department. She's looking for a missing girl who is in a bad situation. Plus, she's determined to solve the death of her parents years ago.
Heidi is not just anybody...she's a coulee farm girl, a former Miss Wisconsin Dairy Queen. She has roped farm animals and raced barrels. She is strong from milking dairy cows. As interim sheriff, she is one busy woman. She has 3 kids under age 5, many of her deputies laugh at her, a rain and ice storm is coming, people are trying to kill her and yet, she still doesn't give up. The county is full of corruption, sex trafficking, and stripper parties which the previous sheriff and his administration ignored. That's all about to change.
This is the type of book I like - gritty with a strong female lead. Aside from Heidi, I liked Deputy Yttri, AKA Olaf the Handsome, Deputy Rhino, and night dispatcher Denise. Glad they were helping on the side of truth and justice. The next book in this series is already at the library and it's at the top of my list.
Heidi is not just anybody...she's a coulee farm girl, a former Miss Wisconsin Dairy Queen. She has roped farm animals and raced barrels. She is strong from milking dairy cows. As interim sheriff, she is one busy woman. She has 3 kids under age 5, many of her deputies laugh at her, a rain and ice storm is coming, people are trying to kill her and yet, she still doesn't give up. The county is full of corruption, sex trafficking, and stripper parties which the previous sheriff and his administration ignored. That's all about to change.
This is the type of book I like - gritty with a strong female lead. Aside from Heidi, I liked Deputy Yttri, AKA Olaf the Handsome, Deputy Rhino, and night dispatcher Denise. Glad they were helping on the side of truth and justice. The next book in this series is already at the library and it's at the top of my list.
January 2, 2022
Firstly, any woman can tell that it is written by a man. Secondly, if the coulee regions of Wisconsin are as awful as depicted in this book, I hope never to have the misfortune of visiting. As described by the author, it must be the most misogynistic place on earth.
The entire book takes place over only two or three days, which seems impossible and causes a bit of confusion for the reader. The characters have no depth; even though the author lets the reader into their thoughts, the reader feels no empathy. They seem stunted, in terms of human development.
And what's with the odd names?
The entire book takes place over only two or three days, which seems impossible and causes a bit of confusion for the reader. The characters have no depth; even though the author lets the reader into their thoughts, the reader feels no empathy. They seem stunted, in terms of human development.
And what's with the odd names?
July 13, 2019
There are those who wish interim sheriff Heidi Kick would stay home and make “easy cheesy recipes.” They aren’t used to a woman sheriff in Bad Axe County. Her detractors refer to Heidi Kick as “Dairy Queen.” It’s not an endearment. The nickname is often accompanied by a choice word that begins with the letter f.
This is scruffy Wisconsin, home to “tiny hard-luck farms, the cinder-block taverns at the junctions, the dusty milk truck on evening rounds, the Amish buggies clip-clopping on the shoulder, the gas stations pushing cheese curds and lottery tickets.”
Heidi Kick could use some luck. She is a thirtyish mother of three.” She wears a “beige cow pie of a hat” and she’s on day number seventeen of her interim gig. She recognizes the urge to take matters into her own hands.
Heidi Kick has ample motivation. The overriding issue? When Heidi Kick was a teenager, Heidi’s parents were shot to death on their farm. The police declared it murder-suicide. Heidi knows the cops got it wrong—they discounted her claim that the family’s real gun was missing along with a whole box of Whiz-Bang bullets.
Now she’s married to baseball legend Harley Kick and the usual clutter of cop concerns gets heavily complicated with the search for one missing teenage girl and then the discovery of the body of another.
Copies of Bad Axe County likely will not be sold in spiffy displays on the receptionist counters across The Badger State. No picturesque lakes or pastoral dairy farms here. (See that country noir cover.) John Galligan swoops into the dark coulees along the river. He finds squalid junk yards. He finds sex traffickers, meth heads, black market gun dealers, and otherwise regular Wisconsinites keeping very dark secrets.
Galligan introduces us to a raft of characters, but this is Heidi Kick’s story. Once she draws a bead, watch out. Nothing comes easy-cheesy. It's hard not to think of Gloria Burgle, the cop in the third season of the FX series “Fargo,” but I say there’s plenty of room out there for smart female cops with deep internal landscapes who toil in the Upper Midwest (sign me up!). And Kick springs from the prose of the masterful Galligan, who knows how to get a story moving.
If you’ve read Galligan’s excellent and highly underrated fly-fishing mysteries, featuring antihero trout bum Ned “The Dog” Oglivie, who is frequently buzzed on vodka and Tang, it’s fun to see Galligan work with a straight-up, hard-nosed cop who will dive in, quite literally, when the time comes. (It’s very hard to imagine Galligan writing a book without water around. One character in Bad Axe County is exonerated because he “don’t even lie about fishing.” And more than once Heidi Kick finds herself drenched in the drink.)
Bad Axe County has all the appearances of a rough-and-tumble mystery-thriller, but it’s also a strong tale about missing young girls (and the stupid, entitled men who prey on them). Interim sheriff Kick, who struggles to balance her career with family matters, is the right person to bring a truckload of empathy.
Sheriff Kick is scrolling through computer postings of missing girls, which include digital rendering of what the children might look like today. “The computer projections broke her heart, how the technology gave these girls futures, tracked them into lives they had never lived. The software seemed so sensitive and accurate that even personality traits revealed in the original picture evolved with digital precision. A real girl looked at the camera with a cold hint of suspicion at age fourteen. Ten years later, the bloated rage beneath her defeat seemed stirringly real.”
Long may Sheriff Kick run. The latest Galligan offering is one bad axe book.
This is scruffy Wisconsin, home to “tiny hard-luck farms, the cinder-block taverns at the junctions, the dusty milk truck on evening rounds, the Amish buggies clip-clopping on the shoulder, the gas stations pushing cheese curds and lottery tickets.”
Heidi Kick could use some luck. She is a thirtyish mother of three.” She wears a “beige cow pie of a hat” and she’s on day number seventeen of her interim gig. She recognizes the urge to take matters into her own hands.
Heidi Kick has ample motivation. The overriding issue? When Heidi Kick was a teenager, Heidi’s parents were shot to death on their farm. The police declared it murder-suicide. Heidi knows the cops got it wrong—they discounted her claim that the family’s real gun was missing along with a whole box of Whiz-Bang bullets.
Now she’s married to baseball legend Harley Kick and the usual clutter of cop concerns gets heavily complicated with the search for one missing teenage girl and then the discovery of the body of another.
Copies of Bad Axe County likely will not be sold in spiffy displays on the receptionist counters across The Badger State. No picturesque lakes or pastoral dairy farms here. (See that country noir cover.) John Galligan swoops into the dark coulees along the river. He finds squalid junk yards. He finds sex traffickers, meth heads, black market gun dealers, and otherwise regular Wisconsinites keeping very dark secrets.
Galligan introduces us to a raft of characters, but this is Heidi Kick’s story. Once she draws a bead, watch out. Nothing comes easy-cheesy. It's hard not to think of Gloria Burgle, the cop in the third season of the FX series “Fargo,” but I say there’s plenty of room out there for smart female cops with deep internal landscapes who toil in the Upper Midwest (sign me up!). And Kick springs from the prose of the masterful Galligan, who knows how to get a story moving.
If you’ve read Galligan’s excellent and highly underrated fly-fishing mysteries, featuring antihero trout bum Ned “The Dog” Oglivie, who is frequently buzzed on vodka and Tang, it’s fun to see Galligan work with a straight-up, hard-nosed cop who will dive in, quite literally, when the time comes. (It’s very hard to imagine Galligan writing a book without water around. One character in Bad Axe County is exonerated because he “don’t even lie about fishing.” And more than once Heidi Kick finds herself drenched in the drink.)
Bad Axe County has all the appearances of a rough-and-tumble mystery-thriller, but it’s also a strong tale about missing young girls (and the stupid, entitled men who prey on them). Interim sheriff Kick, who struggles to balance her career with family matters, is the right person to bring a truckload of empathy.
Sheriff Kick is scrolling through computer postings of missing girls, which include digital rendering of what the children might look like today. “The computer projections broke her heart, how the technology gave these girls futures, tracked them into lives they had never lived. The software seemed so sensitive and accurate that even personality traits revealed in the original picture evolved with digital precision. A real girl looked at the camera with a cold hint of suspicion at age fourteen. Ten years later, the bloated rage beneath her defeat seemed stirringly real.”
Long may Sheriff Kick run. The latest Galligan offering is one bad axe book.
May 19, 2021
Sheriff Heidi Kick is a tough, resourceful protagonist battling a variety of bad guys in rural Wisconsin. I liked the "Dairy Queen" !
May 12, 2019
This novel grabbed me from the onset much the same way Lehane’s or Burke’s do. It is set in Bad Axe, Wisconsin, and the protagonist is Heidi White Kick who is the first female Sheriff in this rural area. When she was a teenager her parents died and were deemed to have been a murder and suicide. Being a farm kid and knowing her family well, Heidi never believed this. She is now dealing with a missing girl, sex trafficking, drugs and a colorful and often amusing cast of miscreants who continue to refer to her as the Dairy Queen for a beauty contest she won shortly before her parents death. Her team, as a general rule, have no respect for her because of her gender and some are in competition with her to become Sheriff. She also has a husband she is uncertain about who coaches the local baseball team and three young children. Life is not easy for Heidi and her ability to cope and overcome obstacles is noteworthy. Thanks to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC for an honest review.
May 5, 2020
I'm not sure how to describe this book. In my opinion:
* I didn't like any of the characters - I couldn't believe in them, nor root for them. They all seemed to leed such sad, corrupt, and depressing lives.
* I'm not into baseball so the team rivalry aspect of the book didn't add anything for me.
* I hated that male characters called the Sheriff "Dairy Queen" - it was used in such a derogatory fashion, the lack of respect was very noticeable.
* Women were treaded as objects.
* Harley (husband) seemed like an unnecessary character - he had such a background role and seemed unsupportive of his wife.
* I felt like I was under a dark cloud while reading this book - it was hard to find the positive feelings of the story or cheer for the successful conclusion of the story.
* I didn't like any of the characters - I couldn't believe in them, nor root for them. They all seemed to leed such sad, corrupt, and depressing lives.
* I'm not into baseball so the team rivalry aspect of the book didn't add anything for me.
* I hated that male characters called the Sheriff "Dairy Queen" - it was used in such a derogatory fashion, the lack of respect was very noticeable.
* Women were treaded as objects.
* Harley (husband) seemed like an unnecessary character - he had such a background role and seemed unsupportive of his wife.
* I felt like I was under a dark cloud while reading this book - it was hard to find the positive feelings of the story or cheer for the successful conclusion of the story.
July 5, 2021
So last week I joined some college friends at a rented cabin near Richland Center, Wisconsin, for a couple of days (which is about 75 minutes NW of Madison for those of you playing at home). We went into Spring Green one day and stopped at Arcadia Books for coffee and some browsing. I saw a display for the upcoming release of John Galligan’s mystery novel, Bad Moon Rising, that included a stack of his earlier books and thought, “Hmmm. I could use a new series.” So, I picked up a copy of Bad Axe County. Five days later, I am all in and ready to track down Book 2.
Though Galligan wrote a series of fly-fishing-themed mysteries, this is the debut of a new series featuring Sheriff Heidi Kick. Actually, as the novel opens, Heidi is interim Sheriff, taking the place of recently deceased Sheriff, Ray Gibbs, who turns out to have been both incompetent and corrupt. She has been in this unique position, the only female sheriff in Wisconsin, for 53 days and is still trying to decide whether to put her hat in the ring and run for the office. Currently half the county wants her to, and the other half is busy coming up with disgusting social media posts about her former status as Wisconsin’s 2004 Miss Dairy Queen (it’s now 2016).
Heidi has no illusions about the male dominated world she is stomping around in, especially as she has to navigate working with (and being the boss of) Chief Deputy Elvin “Boog” Lund, who as a 30-year veteran of the force, seems to have had his hands in all the same pies as his former boss. However, Sheriff Kick’s recent arrest and take down of a double-murder suspect has awakened some unwanted memories of her parents’ death twelve years before. She is suddenly unsure of her ability to be professional in her role as interim sheriff, let alone fulfil that role permanently. Meanwhile, a recipe for disaster is heading her way—a spring storm that threatens to both freeze and flood the area—while a number of events, both legal and illegal are happening. An underage woman may be in danger, a missing woman’s body will be found, and a longtime sex trafficking ring will be revealed. This is rural Wisconsin at its grittiest and most meth-filled but also its most compelling.
This book had me at two scenes in the opening chapters. The first describes Sheriff Kick feeding the family geese and using them to try out the worst sexist jokes she can think of—to prepare herself for the day:
“Attention, please.”
Sixteen pairs of black beady eyes looked up, less shoving and nipping, orderly for geese.
“Okay . . .let’s see . . . so why is going to Subway for a sandwich like seeing a prostitute?”
She rattled the pitcher of of corn. They were all ears.
“You pay a stranger to do your wife’s job.”
This raised a mostly goosey murmur. Queen Gertrude nipped Cordelia. Squash Blossom tried to flap an end run behind the sheriff to the corn. She raised the pitcher higher. “Not good enough? Remember you’re just practice cows, so don’t get cocky. Do any of you smart asses know why you should never lie to a woman who has both PMS and GPS?”
They waited for it.
“Because that woman is a bitch . . . and she will find you.”
The second is the description of Lund:
He finally joined the meeting, lumbering away from the pot at the back of the room, managing three, not four, foam cups of bad coffee. He smiled as he passed her, retracting his lower lip to show ground-down incisors, a look she knew well, having grown up around aging male livestock with treacherous intent. Her dad’s last stud bull, Samson, came to mind.
Sheriff Heidi Kick has demons to fight, kids to raise, and maybe a police department to run. However, after my first outing with her and an interesting cast of supporting characters (love Denise, the night-shift dispatcher!!!), I’m eager to see where things go.
Thanks to Arcadia Books for introducing me to a new series!
Though Galligan wrote a series of fly-fishing-themed mysteries, this is the debut of a new series featuring Sheriff Heidi Kick. Actually, as the novel opens, Heidi is interim Sheriff, taking the place of recently deceased Sheriff, Ray Gibbs, who turns out to have been both incompetent and corrupt. She has been in this unique position, the only female sheriff in Wisconsin, for 53 days and is still trying to decide whether to put her hat in the ring and run for the office. Currently half the county wants her to, and the other half is busy coming up with disgusting social media posts about her former status as Wisconsin’s 2004 Miss Dairy Queen (it’s now 2016).
Heidi has no illusions about the male dominated world she is stomping around in, especially as she has to navigate working with (and being the boss of) Chief Deputy Elvin “Boog” Lund, who as a 30-year veteran of the force, seems to have had his hands in all the same pies as his former boss. However, Sheriff Kick’s recent arrest and take down of a double-murder suspect has awakened some unwanted memories of her parents’ death twelve years before. She is suddenly unsure of her ability to be professional in her role as interim sheriff, let alone fulfil that role permanently. Meanwhile, a recipe for disaster is heading her way—a spring storm that threatens to both freeze and flood the area—while a number of events, both legal and illegal are happening. An underage woman may be in danger, a missing woman’s body will be found, and a longtime sex trafficking ring will be revealed. This is rural Wisconsin at its grittiest and most meth-filled but also its most compelling.
This book had me at two scenes in the opening chapters. The first describes Sheriff Kick feeding the family geese and using them to try out the worst sexist jokes she can think of—to prepare herself for the day:
“Attention, please.”
Sixteen pairs of black beady eyes looked up, less shoving and nipping, orderly for geese.
“Okay . . .let’s see . . . so why is going to Subway for a sandwich like seeing a prostitute?”
She rattled the pitcher of of corn. They were all ears.
“You pay a stranger to do your wife’s job.”
This raised a mostly goosey murmur. Queen Gertrude nipped Cordelia. Squash Blossom tried to flap an end run behind the sheriff to the corn. She raised the pitcher higher. “Not good enough? Remember you’re just practice cows, so don’t get cocky. Do any of you smart asses know why you should never lie to a woman who has both PMS and GPS?”
They waited for it.
“Because that woman is a bitch . . . and she will find you.”
The second is the description of Lund:
He finally joined the meeting, lumbering away from the pot at the back of the room, managing three, not four, foam cups of bad coffee. He smiled as he passed her, retracting his lower lip to show ground-down incisors, a look she knew well, having grown up around aging male livestock with treacherous intent. Her dad’s last stud bull, Samson, came to mind.
Sheriff Heidi Kick has demons to fight, kids to raise, and maybe a police department to run. However, after my first outing with her and an interesting cast of supporting characters (love Denise, the night-shift dispatcher!!!), I’m eager to see where things go.
Thanks to Arcadia Books for introducing me to a new series!
June 11, 2021
I am late in reading this but I just recently got it. Bad Axe County is the first book in a series with the same name. It revolves around Sheriff Heidi Kick and is written by John Galligan. This is a mystery in many levels as Heidi is searching for a missing girl and at the same time is trying to find out who murdered her parents. I am not sure I like this book but that's me. I found to much stuff that bothered me and I'm not sure I will read anymore of these. I still found it well written and I am a sucker for small town stories. I must thank @netgalley and @atriabooks for giving me this copy and #JohnGalligan for writing it.
June 22, 2021
The book was a great read that seemed to combine Sanford and the Coen brothers sense of humor and language from our area. And sigh...people do talk like that. I like books that highlight the strength of women and Heidi sure had it. I also loved Denise!
July 3, 2021
Intriguing story, avidly interested throughout. Profanity and too intimately described sexual situations (most illegal, I.e., children). Raw and, often, brazen characterizations but it was not possible (despite these drawbacks) to stop reading.
July 10, 2019
Check out this fresh crime-story premise: Heidi Kick (a name bred for crime fiction), wife of local baseball legend Harley (of course!) Kick, is the first female sheriff of Bad Axe County, WI. Her job is to deal with – and hey, perhaps even stop - corruption, meth dealers, and prostitution. And of course she does. Where else would such a trifecta occur other than in Bad Axe County?
Bad Axe County by John Galligan is a mid-western sprawl of a tale. The premise is crimes-blues fun. The plot direct and raw. Galligan’s execution is as rough as the harsh mid-western landscape. You have to work through his structure. And this isn’t a good exercise like when trying to dig into a Michael Chabon paragraph-long sentence for context. Rather, this is a slog in determining possession and location.
Bad Axe County, both in story and location, is dark and creepy. The prostitution is not anonymous ladies-of-the-night pedaling their wares on forlorn johns, rather, the real and vile sex trafficking of minors. The villains aren’t trippy yokels with hillbilly nicknames and comic-book fiendishness. They are violent, disturbed creatures. Well, except for S’more, who completely satisfies the former’s checkbox.
Heidi goes on her one-woman campaign in high ‘80s cop-film style to bring law and order to Bad Axe. And her pursuit is a worthwhile one as the mystery does get deeper, involved, and yes, interesting. Galligan goes all out and in doing so, presents too much. On top of the missing girls, the murdered girls, the baseball mystery (Yes, a baseball plot! Something all crime fiction needs more of!), and the political in-fighting, Heidi is also trying to solve her parent’s murder. The result of which comes as a near-convenient coda that could have been worked as its own separate story.
Bad Axe County, WI might be as fictitious as Gotham, but the settings and dealings are all too real for desired escapism fiction. And what in the name of Curly Lambeau is a “coulee”?
Thanks to Atria Books for the advance edition. I am looking forward to future offerings.
Check out this review and others @ Joe's!
Bad Axe County by John Galligan is a mid-western sprawl of a tale. The premise is crimes-blues fun. The plot direct and raw. Galligan’s execution is as rough as the harsh mid-western landscape. You have to work through his structure. And this isn’t a good exercise like when trying to dig into a Michael Chabon paragraph-long sentence for context. Rather, this is a slog in determining possession and location.
Bad Axe County, both in story and location, is dark and creepy. The prostitution is not anonymous ladies-of-the-night pedaling their wares on forlorn johns, rather, the real and vile sex trafficking of minors. The villains aren’t trippy yokels with hillbilly nicknames and comic-book fiendishness. They are violent, disturbed creatures. Well, except for S’more, who completely satisfies the former’s checkbox.
Heidi goes on her one-woman campaign in high ‘80s cop-film style to bring law and order to Bad Axe. And her pursuit is a worthwhile one as the mystery does get deeper, involved, and yes, interesting. Galligan goes all out and in doing so, presents too much. On top of the missing girls, the murdered girls, the baseball mystery (Yes, a baseball plot! Something all crime fiction needs more of!), and the political in-fighting, Heidi is also trying to solve her parent’s murder. The result of which comes as a near-convenient coda that could have been worked as its own separate story.
Bad Axe County, WI might be as fictitious as Gotham, but the settings and dealings are all too real for desired escapism fiction. And what in the name of Curly Lambeau is a “coulee”?
Thanks to Atria Books for the advance edition. I am looking forward to future offerings.
Check out this review and others @ Joe's!
April 22, 2019
Rural grit lit set in Wisconsin where a county's first female sheriff faces corruption, misogyny, her own tragic past and a cast of comical but repulsive criminal miscreants. There's enough here for thriller/suspense/crime readers to hope to see the Dairy Queen again.
dnf
December 17, 2019DNF at page 7.
August 17, 2021
Hard to top this if you feel the need for a gritty, violent and breathlessly fast-paced crime novel -- it'll take me a while to recover from this one. Set in the rural "Dells" of contemporary Wisconsin, this one features a host of truly repellent misogynist men, one determined female "Acting County Sheriff" named Heidi Kick who has a painful past and a reckless disregard for rules, her kick-ass night dispatcher Denise (who steals the story for me in many ways), and an abused and trafficked teenager named Pepper Greengrass who saves herself with jaw-dropping pluck and determination. [Hard not to compare this to drivel like Lori Foster's recent "No Holding Back" which gives us her usual handsome hunk of a hero who only wants to protect his woman when faced with the evils of sex trafficking. Which of these tales might be closer to reality I wonder? Would that none of it existed in the world.]
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