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Dave Matthews #1
Crossroads
A Flathead Valley Mystery
Kalispell, Montana attorney Dave Matthews is on a downhill slide. Blaming himself for the recent death of one of his closest friends, Dave is drinking heavily and generally avoiding his responsibilities when the brother of another close friend is charged in the murder of a prominent environmentalist. The victim, an attorney named Toby Martin, had recently filed suit on behalf of a group of environmentalists seeking to halt logging activity in the Kootenai National Forest in northwestern Montana. If successful, the suit would adversely affect many loggers, mill workers and others whose livelihoods depend on the logging activity. The suspect is Steve Helstrom, a mill worker who had fought with Martin the night before the killing. Reluctantly, Dave agrees to defend him.
The murder case thus plays out against the backdrop of the furious environmental battle that now rages in Montana and in much of the West. On one side are the loggers, miners and others who believe that they should be allowed to freely exploit the forests. Pitted against them are environmentalists, people connected with the tourism industry and others who want to conserve the forests and to severely limit logging and other such activities within them. As both the murder investigation and the environmental battle gain momentum, Dave struggles to solve the mystery of Toby Martin’s murder, to defuse an explosive environmental conflict, and to find some small measure of personal redemption for himself.
Kalispell, Montana attorney Dave Matthews is on a downhill slide. Blaming himself for the recent death of one of his closest friends, Dave is drinking heavily and generally avoiding his responsibilities when the brother of another close friend is charged in the murder of a prominent environmentalist. The victim, an attorney named Toby Martin, had recently filed suit on behalf of a group of environmentalists seeking to halt logging activity in the Kootenai National Forest in northwestern Montana. If successful, the suit would adversely affect many loggers, mill workers and others whose livelihoods depend on the logging activity. The suspect is Steve Helstrom, a mill worker who had fought with Martin the night before the killing. Reluctantly, Dave agrees to defend him.
The murder case thus plays out against the backdrop of the furious environmental battle that now rages in Montana and in much of the West. On one side are the loggers, miners and others who believe that they should be allowed to freely exploit the forests. Pitted against them are environmentalists, people connected with the tourism industry and others who want to conserve the forests and to severely limit logging and other such activities within them. As both the murder investigation and the environmental battle gain momentum, Dave struggles to solve the mystery of Toby Martin’s murder, to defuse an explosive environmental conflict, and to find some small measure of personal redemption for himself.
- GenresMystery
254 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2019
8 people are currently reading
1396 people want to read
About the author
James L. Thane
10 books7,071 followersJames L. Thane was born and raised in northwestern Montana and has worked as a janitor, a dry cleaner, an auto parts salesman, a sawyer, an ambulance driver and a college professor. While working as an historian, Thane wrote one non-fiction book and a number of magazine and journal articles. But he always loved reading crime fiction and so decided to take a crack at writing a suspense novel. The result was NO PLACE TO DIE, the first Sean Richardson novel. The next three, in order, are UNTIL DEATH, FATAL BLOW, and SOUTH OF THE DEUCE. Thane has also written two traditional mystery novels, CROSSROADS, which is set in Montana, and TYNDALL, which is set in South Dakota. He has also written two stand-alone thrillers, PICTURE ME GONE, which was released in 2022, and A SHOT TO THE HEART, which will be released on October 31, 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 28, 2020
3.5 stars
Attorney Dave Matthews blames himself for the death of his close friends. He's been drinking heavily and struggling with guilt when he is approached to represent Steve Helstrom who is accused of murdering Toby Martin. Mr. Martin is a prominent environmentalist seeking to stop logging activity in the Kootenai National Forest in Montana. The evidence points to Steven Helstrom. Earlier in the night, he was observed fighting with Martin and the murder weapon was found in the back of Steve's truck. The murder investigation is occurring while loggers and environmentalists are fighting an environmental battle - loggers and miners on one side, environmentalists on the other.
Believing his client to be innocent, Dave Matthews begins to look at other suspects and learns that there are secrets aplenty in that town. That there are people on both sides of the environmental battle with high stakes and reason to want Martin dead. But who killed him and why?
Crossroads is a "whodunit" with an attorney doing the investigative work trying to find anything which will prove his client is innocent. Dave Matthews is a likable character who pulls himself out of his rut and guilt in order to help Steve Helstrom. He has a laid-back approach. This is his investigation. If you are looking for a police procedural - this is not it. This is a quiet mystery that keeps things simple as Matthews searches for the truth.
There is nothing graphic in this book which will make it more appealing to a wider audience. There is a murder, but Thane does not give us a description of it. The reader just knows it occurred and what the murder weapon was. The plot is simple but tight. Thane keeps his cards close until the end when the reveal occurs. Nothing comes out of left field (I'm not a big fan of reveals that come out of nowhere) and yet, the reveal was still a surprise. Thane gives vivid descriptions of Montana and shares his personal times to the area in his Author's note.
Thank you to James L. Thane and Moonshine Cove Publishing who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Attorney Dave Matthews blames himself for the death of his close friends. He's been drinking heavily and struggling with guilt when he is approached to represent Steve Helstrom who is accused of murdering Toby Martin. Mr. Martin is a prominent environmentalist seeking to stop logging activity in the Kootenai National Forest in Montana. The evidence points to Steven Helstrom. Earlier in the night, he was observed fighting with Martin and the murder weapon was found in the back of Steve's truck. The murder investigation is occurring while loggers and environmentalists are fighting an environmental battle - loggers and miners on one side, environmentalists on the other.
Believing his client to be innocent, Dave Matthews begins to look at other suspects and learns that there are secrets aplenty in that town. That there are people on both sides of the environmental battle with high stakes and reason to want Martin dead. But who killed him and why?
Crossroads is a "whodunit" with an attorney doing the investigative work trying to find anything which will prove his client is innocent. Dave Matthews is a likable character who pulls himself out of his rut and guilt in order to help Steve Helstrom. He has a laid-back approach. This is his investigation. If you are looking for a police procedural - this is not it. This is a quiet mystery that keeps things simple as Matthews searches for the truth.
There is nothing graphic in this book which will make it more appealing to a wider audience. There is a murder, but Thane does not give us a description of it. The reader just knows it occurred and what the murder weapon was. The plot is simple but tight. Thane keeps his cards close until the end when the reveal occurs. Nothing comes out of left field (I'm not a big fan of reveals that come out of nowhere) and yet, the reveal was still a surprise. Thane gives vivid descriptions of Montana and shares his personal times to the area in his Author's note.
Thank you to James L. Thane and Moonshine Cove Publishing who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 16, 2021
3.5 stars
The glacial lake and mountain peaks of Flathead Valley, Montana are so enticing that wealthy people flock there to build homes and enjoy the great outdoors - just like longtime valley residents have been doing for generations.
Unfortunately, the beauty of Flathead Valley isn't matched by the atmosphere just now. Tensions are high between environmentalists who want to curtail logging in the Kootenai National Forest and people who rely on logging to support their families.
Militants on both sides of the issue depict their opponents in the most derogatory manner possible. Radical environmentalists claim the timber interests want to "clear-cut every last tree in the forest and to exterminate all of the animal species that depend on the forest habitat."
And logging proponents insist the 'enviros' are "misinformed tree-hugging elitists who care more about a handful of trees, birds, bears, and fish than they do about the men, women, children and communities whose livelihoods depend upon the timber industry."
It's in this climate that lawyer Toby Martin, a leader of the Northwestern Environmental Alliance - which filed a lawsuit to stop logging in the Kootenai National Forest - is bludgeoned to death with an axe handle.
Sheriff Chris Williamson quickly arrests Steve Helstrom, a sawmill worker who'd threatened to kill Toby during a fight at the Crossroads bar.
Moreover, Steve had the bloody murder weapon in the bed of his pickup truck. This seems like incontrovertible evidence, and Steve is locked up.
Attorney Dave Matthews, who has a solo practice in Kalispell, is recovering from an emotional trauma, drinking heavily, and NOT ready for a big case. However Steve's brother Bob Helstrom implores Dave to help, and the lawyer agrees to defend the suspect.
After talking to the arrestee, Dave believes Steve is innocent and sets out to uncover the real killer.
Dave's investigation consists largely of talking to people who might shed light on the murder. This includes Toby's fellow employees at the Northwestern Environmental Alliance; patrons of the Crossroads bar who saw Steve and Toby fighting; Toby's former girlfriend; Toby's brother; and locals who might have a grudge against Toby.
One of Toby's most vocal foes is an obnoxious newspaper editor named Kevin McKinney.
McKinney's weekly publication is a radical right-wing screed that blames the 'Eco-Fascists' for all the valley's problems. McKinney's paper screams that the "rights of all Americans are under assault by extremists posing as environmentalists who are waging war on the West to implement their Communistic views." McKinney is particularly critical of Toby Martin, who he labels a "traitor to his native state." Could one of McKinney's combative readers have killed Toby?
Dave also sets out to ascertain Steve Helstrom's state of mind and whereabouts on the day of the murder. This leads Dave to speak to Steve's buddy, who worked on a car with him that day; Steve's boss, who owns the sawmill where he works; and people who say Steve wouldn't hurt a fly unless he's drunk. Even then, Steve's supporters say, he would never KILL anyone.
When the lawsuit filed by the Northwestern Environmental Alliance results in a temporary halt to logging, all hell breaks loose in Flathead Valley and Missoula, where the Alliance has its headquarters. There are harsh words; threatening emails; raucous demonstrations; violent fights; fire-bombings; vandalism; etc.
Dave thinks some of this might tie in to Toby's killing, but Sheriff Chris Williamson doesn't necessarily agree.
In between working on Steve's case, Dave takes time to play tennis and golf with his buddies; dine on lasagna Bolognese in an Italian restaurant; munch on hamburgers and fries in his favorite pub; enjoy glasses of beer and wine; chat with pretty women (the book is chock full of good-looking gals 😊); go running; do legal work for other clients; reminisce about old girlfriends; recall the incident that traumatized him; and more.
All of Dave's digging around annoys some people, and there's trouble as he approaches the solution to the case.
I enjoyed the book, which has an engaging plot, picturesque descriptions of Montana, and interesting characters. I'd recommend the novel to fans of traditional mysteries.
Many thanks to James L. Thane for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
November 23, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to James L. Thane and Moonshine Cove Publishing, LLC, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
When James L. Thane approached me with the opportunity to read his latest book, I could not resist. A long-time friend of mine on Goodreads, I wanted to explore this other side of Thane through his own writing. Dave Matthews is a lawyer in the community of Flathead Lake, close to Kalispell, Montana. He’s had some struggles and personal struggles in the past, but leaps at the chance to help when his friend, Steve Helstrom, is accused of murder. It would seem that Toby Martin and Helstrom were seen fighting outside a bar the night before. A few hours later, Martin was found bludgeoned with an axe handle, conveniently found in the back of Helstrom’s pickup truck. Sure of his friend’s innocence, Dave does all he can to probe into the case, looking for alternate motives that others might have for killing Mr. Martin. The deeper he looks, the more possibilities that Dave finds, though few want to have their lives turned upside down. As this is Montana, Martin’s connection with the forestry industry cannot be ignored, placing a handful of environmentalists on a potential suspect list. With little time to lose, Dave pushes ahead and finds himself a target of some ire, which does not seem to bother him much. As the narrative reveals throughout, Dave Matthews has his own issues that require processing and some skeletons in his closet that appear eager to resurface. This may be Montana, but things are anything but bucolic in the back woods. A wonderfully crafted legal thriller that keeps the reader hooked until the final reveal. Recommended to those who need something a little different in the legal thriller genre, as well as those who want a quick read sure to leave them wanting more.
As I mentioned above, James Thane has been on my radar for a long time, though it is usually his reviews and comments upon which I have focussed. Able to read some of his own writing, I was highly impressed with his style and delivery. Setting the story in Montana, away from the glare of the big city, Thane forces the reader to move their attention to the details and developments found within the narrative. Dave Matthews is not only a great legal investigator, but also finds himself trying to keep his own life balanced. Thane offers a great deal of backstory within this piece, sketching out his protagonist effectively. With some romantic foibles in his recent rearview mirror, he suffers also with staying one step ahead of impending intoxication, which appears to be be salve of choice for the pain. Matthews’ grit to find answers and fight for justice serves as a key theme throughout the piece and allows the reader a personal glimpse into the man’s life, while his forward development occurs in the narrative. There are many others who help make the novel a great standalone, highlighting life in Montana, something that Thane’s own background surely helped shape when he developed all his characters. The story was strong, perhaps more so because it kept things simple and away from the chaos of large law firms and police forces. Thane does well to portray a legal thriller with bare-bone basics, perhaps a more effective approach than many of the books in his genre that I have read. I applaud Thane for his writing, using short chapters to propel the story forward. If his other novels are as easy to digest, I will certainly need to find them and continue enjoying this branch-off of a popular genre.
Kudos, Mr. Thane, for this wonderful novel. It was a pleasure to read and I cannot wait to get my hands on more, while I encourage others to do the same.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
When James L. Thane approached me with the opportunity to read his latest book, I could not resist. A long-time friend of mine on Goodreads, I wanted to explore this other side of Thane through his own writing. Dave Matthews is a lawyer in the community of Flathead Lake, close to Kalispell, Montana. He’s had some struggles and personal struggles in the past, but leaps at the chance to help when his friend, Steve Helstrom, is accused of murder. It would seem that Toby Martin and Helstrom were seen fighting outside a bar the night before. A few hours later, Martin was found bludgeoned with an axe handle, conveniently found in the back of Helstrom’s pickup truck. Sure of his friend’s innocence, Dave does all he can to probe into the case, looking for alternate motives that others might have for killing Mr. Martin. The deeper he looks, the more possibilities that Dave finds, though few want to have their lives turned upside down. As this is Montana, Martin’s connection with the forestry industry cannot be ignored, placing a handful of environmentalists on a potential suspect list. With little time to lose, Dave pushes ahead and finds himself a target of some ire, which does not seem to bother him much. As the narrative reveals throughout, Dave Matthews has his own issues that require processing and some skeletons in his closet that appear eager to resurface. This may be Montana, but things are anything but bucolic in the back woods. A wonderfully crafted legal thriller that keeps the reader hooked until the final reveal. Recommended to those who need something a little different in the legal thriller genre, as well as those who want a quick read sure to leave them wanting more.
As I mentioned above, James Thane has been on my radar for a long time, though it is usually his reviews and comments upon which I have focussed. Able to read some of his own writing, I was highly impressed with his style and delivery. Setting the story in Montana, away from the glare of the big city, Thane forces the reader to move their attention to the details and developments found within the narrative. Dave Matthews is not only a great legal investigator, but also finds himself trying to keep his own life balanced. Thane offers a great deal of backstory within this piece, sketching out his protagonist effectively. With some romantic foibles in his recent rearview mirror, he suffers also with staying one step ahead of impending intoxication, which appears to be be salve of choice for the pain. Matthews’ grit to find answers and fight for justice serves as a key theme throughout the piece and allows the reader a personal glimpse into the man’s life, while his forward development occurs in the narrative. There are many others who help make the novel a great standalone, highlighting life in Montana, something that Thane’s own background surely helped shape when he developed all his characters. The story was strong, perhaps more so because it kept things simple and away from the chaos of large law firms and police forces. Thane does well to portray a legal thriller with bare-bone basics, perhaps a more effective approach than many of the books in his genre that I have read. I applaud Thane for his writing, using short chapters to propel the story forward. If his other novels are as easy to digest, I will certainly need to find them and continue enjoying this branch-off of a popular genre.
Kudos, Mr. Thane, for this wonderful novel. It was a pleasure to read and I cannot wait to get my hands on more, while I encourage others to do the same.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
February 20, 2020
Life isn't going well for attorney Dave Mathhews. His past is haunting him, he's drinking too much & his latest case seems to be one he cannot win.
James L Thane brings a wealth of interesting characters vividly to life in this highly entertaining Montana set crime novel. It took just a few pages before I felt completely immersed in the world of small town murder & environmental conflict. This may be the very first story featuring Dave Matthews, but I certainly hope it won't be the last.
James L Thane brings a wealth of interesting characters vividly to life in this highly entertaining Montana set crime novel. It took just a few pages before I felt completely immersed in the world of small town murder & environmental conflict. This may be the very first story featuring Dave Matthews, but I certainly hope it won't be the last.
May 10, 2020
Although James Thane is on my friend list, he has never even mentioned his books, much less promoted them. The ones I've read, I bought myself.
I enjoyed this book a lot, more than previous ones I've read. There were several levels to enjoy. There's the descriptions of the place, which made me feel like I was there. I've spent a lot of time in my earlier days living in the Sierras and camping in places like Yosemite, so that's probably mostly what I visualized. Even if it's a lot different, it still was a good feeling.
Then, there are the people. There were a lot of people, good, bad, and in-between, and it was fun getting to know them and hearing their viewpoints. I liked the main character, Dave Matthews, a non-typical lawyer. He takes a case for a friend, and refuses to even talk about money. He felt they had enough to worry about already. He also helps out the people on the opposing side (not the prosecution, but the other side of the ongoing battle). He understands the issues, and through him and the other characters, we get a good understanding, too. The issues are important not only to them, but to everyone. It's the battle between the environmentalists and the exploiters, and how getting greedy can cause extreme measures to counter the greed. The mill wants to cut as many trees as possible, even though it's apparent that this will need to end soon, one way or another. They don't want to abide by earlier agreements to leave a percentage of old growth. In fact, they don't even bother to find out how much is there.
Caught between these two forces are the workers who depend on the mill for their livelihoods. They see the environmentalists as the enemy, wanting to take away their jobs and their town, unwilling to compromise. They are worried and don't even understand the bigger issues, or the fact that the town is actually doing quite well overall, just not the mill.
There was also some good legal issues that needed to be straightened out to make sure an innocent man didn't go to jail.
I hope there will be more books in this series. I'll look out for them, or others; I think his books are perhaps simply getting better, and that's why I liked this one best.
I enjoyed this book a lot, more than previous ones I've read. There were several levels to enjoy. There's the descriptions of the place, which made me feel like I was there. I've spent a lot of time in my earlier days living in the Sierras and camping in places like Yosemite, so that's probably mostly what I visualized. Even if it's a lot different, it still was a good feeling.
Then, there are the people. There were a lot of people, good, bad, and in-between, and it was fun getting to know them and hearing their viewpoints. I liked the main character, Dave Matthews, a non-typical lawyer. He takes a case for a friend, and refuses to even talk about money. He felt they had enough to worry about already. He also helps out the people on the opposing side (not the prosecution, but the other side of the ongoing battle). He understands the issues, and through him and the other characters, we get a good understanding, too. The issues are important not only to them, but to everyone. It's the battle between the environmentalists and the exploiters, and how getting greedy can cause extreme measures to counter the greed. The mill wants to cut as many trees as possible, even though it's apparent that this will need to end soon, one way or another. They don't want to abide by earlier agreements to leave a percentage of old growth. In fact, they don't even bother to find out how much is there.
Caught between these two forces are the workers who depend on the mill for their livelihoods. They see the environmentalists as the enemy, wanting to take away their jobs and their town, unwilling to compromise. They are worried and don't even understand the bigger issues, or the fact that the town is actually doing quite well overall, just not the mill.
There was also some good legal issues that needed to be straightened out to make sure an innocent man didn't go to jail.
I hope there will be more books in this series. I'll look out for them, or others; I think his books are perhaps simply getting better, and that's why I liked this one best.
January 13, 2020
"Crossroads", James Thane's latest, is an interesting take on the traditional 'whodunnit'. Its setting, a small but growing town in Montana near Glacier National Park, is beautiful, virtually everyone in town knows everyone else, and a political issue related to the environment is interwoven throughout.
The lead character, attorney Dave Matthews, is beating himself up for a situation in his personal life that is slowly exposed within the story. Steve, the brother of his friend, has been arrested for the murder of the leader of an environmental activist group and Dave decides to shake off his doldrums and provide legal help to the man after meeting with him and deciding he's innocent. Two points I found interesting is that Dave not only believes in Steve's innocence but is more interested in finding who actually did the murder and that he, as a defense attorney, seemingly does 90% of the investigatory work with the blessing of the law enforcement folks.
The environmental issue (logging vs. tourism is an oversimplification, but sort of covers it) and the supporters on both sides (and in the middle) are all over the plot. The murdered man was the leader of a pro-environment group, most of the suspects were either employed in logging or related industry, and complicating matters is the fact that there's a lot of fooling around going on in the valley and various extra-marital affairs provide another direction to investigate. Dave continues his dogged pursuit of the real killer as contention between the groups results in yet another killing, and eventually things wrap up in rather spectacular fashion.
The plot had some interesting twists and I liked the tension that the environmental issue brought into the story. The writing was fine, although many sections of dialogue were far too long. The characters were likable and realistic, and the fact that they were all familiar with one another provided another layer to the investigation that always had to be accounted for. All-in-all, a good start for another series by Mr. Thane.
The lead character, attorney Dave Matthews, is beating himself up for a situation in his personal life that is slowly exposed within the story. Steve, the brother of his friend, has been arrested for the murder of the leader of an environmental activist group and Dave decides to shake off his doldrums and provide legal help to the man after meeting with him and deciding he's innocent. Two points I found interesting is that Dave not only believes in Steve's innocence but is more interested in finding who actually did the murder and that he, as a defense attorney, seemingly does 90% of the investigatory work with the blessing of the law enforcement folks.
The environmental issue (logging vs. tourism is an oversimplification, but sort of covers it) and the supporters on both sides (and in the middle) are all over the plot. The murdered man was the leader of a pro-environment group, most of the suspects were either employed in logging or related industry, and complicating matters is the fact that there's a lot of fooling around going on in the valley and various extra-marital affairs provide another direction to investigate. Dave continues his dogged pursuit of the real killer as contention between the groups results in yet another killing, and eventually things wrap up in rather spectacular fashion.
The plot had some interesting twists and I liked the tension that the environmental issue brought into the story. The writing was fine, although many sections of dialogue were far too long. The characters were likable and realistic, and the fact that they were all familiar with one another provided another layer to the investigation that always had to be accounted for. All-in-all, a good start for another series by Mr. Thane.
July 25, 2023
I was thinking as James Thane describes a drink of bourbon that his writing goes down as smoothly as the fine drink he is describing. Sometimes it is hard to describe writing that flows - carries one along, invested in the story and the characters but that is the way Thane's writing seems.
This one takes place in Montana, previous stories have been in Arizona. His thoughts after the story about growing up on Flathead Lake reminds me much of my time on Lake Winnipesaukee as I grew up and the strong family relationships there so it was intensely affecting personally. Great job on the descriptions of the beautiful countryside where this story takes place.
Jim deserves a wider readership. Grab one of his and give it a go. I think you will be impressed.
As a side note, he writes some great Goodreads reviews, particularly about older crime series novels that has led me to some books and writers I would not have discovered.
This one takes place in Montana, previous stories have been in Arizona. His thoughts after the story about growing up on Flathead Lake reminds me much of my time on Lake Winnipesaukee as I grew up and the strong family relationships there so it was intensely affecting personally. Great job on the descriptions of the beautiful countryside where this story takes place.
Jim deserves a wider readership. Grab one of his and give it a go. I think you will be impressed.
As a side note, he writes some great Goodreads reviews, particularly about older crime series novels that has led me to some books and writers I would not have discovered.
March 22, 2020
Crossroads is a nice mystery set in the picturesque Northwest Montana featuring lawyer-author Dave Matthews. Steve, the brother of one of Dave's closest friends is arrested by another of his closest friends for murder. Dave, trying to recover from a recent personal tragedy and the consequent drunken life, is the one who has to solve the mystery and save an innocent. All this happens in the backdrop of a fierce battle between a group of environmentalists, of whom the murder victim is one of the leaders, and the lumber industry that the accused is part of.
The story has been told in a simple, straightforward manner that is easy to read. Being the start of a series, this book introduces a set of lead characters who will become more fleshed out as the series progresses. The mystery is built up by means of a number of characters having their own motives and opportunities to have committed the murder, and the ending is satisfactory.
However, I felt that there was something lacking in this novel, something that was in plentiful supply in the author's Detective Sean Richardson series. Those three books were gripping, with fast paced action and mounting tension that kept the pages turning. This one, though well plotted, sags at places, mainly due to the detailed description of every place Dave visits, every road he takes, every person he meets, and every piece of music he hears.
Having experienced the storytelling prowess of the author with his earlier series, my expectations were sky-high, and this book fell a bit short. I'm sure better ones are in the making and am looking forward to reading them.
The story has been told in a simple, straightforward manner that is easy to read. Being the start of a series, this book introduces a set of lead characters who will become more fleshed out as the series progresses. The mystery is built up by means of a number of characters having their own motives and opportunities to have committed the murder, and the ending is satisfactory.
However, I felt that there was something lacking in this novel, something that was in plentiful supply in the author's Detective Sean Richardson series. Those three books were gripping, with fast paced action and mounting tension that kept the pages turning. This one, though well plotted, sags at places, mainly due to the detailed description of every place Dave visits, every road he takes, every person he meets, and every piece of music he hears.
Having experienced the storytelling prowess of the author with his earlier series, my expectations were sky-high, and this book fell a bit short. I'm sure better ones are in the making and am looking forward to reading them.
May 4, 2020
I loved the setting for this novel, in the Flathead Valley in western Montana. I also really enjoyed how the author set his lead character, Dave Matthews, squarely in the middle of the controversy brewing between environmentalists who want to curtail the logging in that area, versus the loggers who depend on this industry for their livelihood. The reader learns of Dave's backstory as the story progresses, the love he lost, and the death he feels responsible for. All this is revealed as the story unwinds, an environmental activist is murdered, and a friend of Dave's, a local logger, is accused of the crime. Dave, an attorney, agrees to defend the accused, but is unsure of his innocence. The author is skilled at presenting all sides of these current issues in an objective manner, and presents Dave as someone who definitely does not see any easy answers.
James Thane has been a Goodreads friend for some time, and I always enjoy reading his thoughtful reviews. He has steered me toward several new series, and also reminded me of some I needed to get back to reading. I am now glad to have had the opportunity to now read his own fiction. I will be looking forward to the next in this series.
James Thane has been a Goodreads friend for some time, and I always enjoy reading his thoughtful reviews. He has steered me toward several new series, and also reminded me of some I needed to get back to reading. I am now glad to have had the opportunity to now read his own fiction. I will be looking forward to the next in this series.
October 31, 2023
Crossroads is the second James Thane novel I’ve had the pleasure of reading (No Place To DIe having been the first). I thoroughly enjoyed that first outing and therefore had no qualms about beginning another by this author. I had no idea of the differences in the two books/series, and must confess to preferring the first.
This novel, set in Thane’s native Montana, is really a combination of a murder mystery and a political exploration of the struggle between environmentalists and the logging & real estate development industries. At times, I felt as though the latter took up too much of the momentum created by the former, and became impatient to return to the investigatory efforts by the story’s central character, attorney Dave Mathews (not the musician, mind you). One of the story’s questionable elements involves the premise that the local sheriff, who happens to be pals with Mathews, relies on and encourages the lawyer to do a majority of the investigation. Sure, it’s his job to discover evidence and witnesses to help exonerate his client, another friend who’s been accused of the murder, but I found the close reliance by said sheriff a bit of a stretch.
Nevertheless, overlook that and some of the overdone emphasis on whether the “tree huggers” or the greedy developers are in the right, and you’ve got yourself a pretty entertaining mystery, with enough potential suspects to keep the reader guessing until the reveal. Mathews is a pleasant character and Thane clearly knows the territory, perhaps throwing in a nice mix of personal experience to blend with several characters, resulting in a solid 3.5, rounded up due to the welcome uptick in pace and tension in the latter portions of the book.
I re-read this in late October 2023. I actually enjoyed it more the 2nd time, as I have been catching up on this author’s recent novels. 4stars and a thumbs up!
This novel, set in Thane’s native Montana, is really a combination of a murder mystery and a political exploration of the struggle between environmentalists and the logging & real estate development industries. At times, I felt as though the latter took up too much of the momentum created by the former, and became impatient to return to the investigatory efforts by the story’s central character, attorney Dave Mathews (not the musician, mind you). One of the story’s questionable elements involves the premise that the local sheriff, who happens to be pals with Mathews, relies on and encourages the lawyer to do a majority of the investigation. Sure, it’s his job to discover evidence and witnesses to help exonerate his client, another friend who’s been accused of the murder, but I found the close reliance by said sheriff a bit of a stretch.
Nevertheless, overlook that and some of the overdone emphasis on whether the “tree huggers” or the greedy developers are in the right, and you’ve got yourself a pretty entertaining mystery, with enough potential suspects to keep the reader guessing until the reveal. Mathews is a pleasant character and Thane clearly knows the territory, perhaps throwing in a nice mix of personal experience to blend with several characters, resulting in a solid 3.5, rounded up due to the welcome uptick in pace and tension in the latter portions of the book.
I re-read this in late October 2023. I actually enjoyed it more the 2nd time, as I have been catching up on this author’s recent novels. 4stars and a thumbs up!
July 8, 2020
A very nice change of pace that I really enjoyed. The characters are well developed and interesting. I once met a young guy from Kalispell, Montana. He was very bright and energetic and he didn't laugh when I asked him where Kalispell was. He noticed that my understanding of the location of Kalispell was only marginally cleared up when he said it was in Montana - I had only a vague understanding of where Montana was. This is a murder story - a couple of murders even. Our hero is an attorney who is trying to defend his friend from a murder rap and help him by doing his own investigation. As the story unfolds I couldn't help thinking of some old the old Perry Mason episodes - I liked the attorney (a big improvement for me!) and rooted for him! I loved the characters he runs into - many are the local folks who populate the area. I hope there will be more stories with Dave the attorney and these characters. Two thumbs up!
October 25, 2021
I liked the two mysteries in one aspect of this book. The narrow minded characters were the type of personalities that, in reality, can make life miserable for those that see the big picture and their view on a topic like this, conservation and the environment. The language was rough but it fit those characters.
September 23, 2021
A murder mystery featuring a new Thane character, author-lawyer Dave Matthews. A good plot which moves quite slowly, filling in his backstory and describing the conflict between logging companies and the environmental lobby which appears to be the key motive.
July 9, 2021
Pretty good. I always liked a murder mystery. In this one we get three. Pick up a copy, I you'll like it as much as I did.
March 18, 2024
Pleasantly surprised! Loved this mystery and I thought it was very well developed, both characters, plot, dialogue, and local Kalispell political landscape.
January 27, 2020
Crossroads (2019) is James L. Thane's fourth crime novel, and the best of a very good bunch. His first three books centered on Sean Richardson, a Phoenix detective, and were straightforward police procedurals. This one is different. Thane has written an appealing character-centered tale of about his home state of Montana. It is less about the murders and more about the people who support or decry them.
Set in the Flathead Lake area of Montana, Crossroads opens with Dave Matthews, a local lawyer and a barfly, getting a late-night call from a friend named Bob Helstrom. The news is that Sherriff Chris Williamson has arrested Bob's brother, Steve, for the murder of Toby Martin, another local lawyer. Dave goes the Flathead County Justice Department in Creston, Montana, just north of Flathead Lake, to get the details from the Sherriff.
Apparently, the evening before, Steve and Toby had a barfight at the Crossroads. Steve's barfights are high frequency but low success events. Some think his success rate would be better if he accepted challenges from the ladies in the lounge; others disagree. This fight ended with little harm done, and all the parties went home for a nightcap.
But later that evening Toby was found on his lawn, beaten to death by an axe handle that was later found in Steve's truck. That was a clincher for Steve's arrest, and his threat to kill Toby during the fight was frosting on the cake. Steve is now in jail and Dave has become his lawyer.
The context for the fight, and for animosity between Steve and Toby, is destructive tension between two groups over the future of the Flathead Valley: as we know, there is no fighting as vicious as that within a family. On one side are Nimbys, the Not In My Back Yard residents whose families have lived in the area for generations, who want no change, and who typically make their living from logging and sawmill operations; Steve Helstrom is a vocal Nimby.
On the other side are newer-to-the state folks who want to halt large-scale logging to preserve the environment and/or to profit from the ripe opportunities for upscale residential development to serve summer residents and ; these are the "Enviros." Toby Martin, though a long-time resident, was leader of the Enviros.
A recent court decision in favor of the Enviros has put a temporary halt on logging, creating unemployment among loggers and sawmill employees and infuriating the Nimbys—its the match that lights the fire of discord. But is the logging dispute sufficient grounds for a murder charge against Steve? Obviously not—it's not even clear that the murder was politically motivated. To parse through all the Sturm und Drang> the Sheriff and Dave Matthews, in separate investigations, must dissect their neighbors, metaphorically speaking.
Thane is particularly good at describing this process: he gives us an X-Ray of life in Flathead Valley so complete that one thinks he is describing real people and events.
(As an aside, I've visited Flathead lake and a more beautiful and pristine spot can't be found. Go there while it's there.)
Set in the Flathead Lake area of Montana, Crossroads opens with Dave Matthews, a local lawyer and a barfly, getting a late-night call from a friend named Bob Helstrom. The news is that Sherriff Chris Williamson has arrested Bob's brother, Steve, for the murder of Toby Martin, another local lawyer. Dave goes the Flathead County Justice Department in Creston, Montana, just north of Flathead Lake, to get the details from the Sherriff.
Apparently, the evening before, Steve and Toby had a barfight at the Crossroads. Steve's barfights are high frequency but low success events. Some think his success rate would be better if he accepted challenges from the ladies in the lounge; others disagree. This fight ended with little harm done, and all the parties went home for a nightcap.
But later that evening Toby was found on his lawn, beaten to death by an axe handle that was later found in Steve's truck. That was a clincher for Steve's arrest, and his threat to kill Toby during the fight was frosting on the cake. Steve is now in jail and Dave has become his lawyer.
The context for the fight, and for animosity between Steve and Toby, is destructive tension between two groups over the future of the Flathead Valley: as we know, there is no fighting as vicious as that within a family. On one side are Nimbys, the Not In My Back Yard residents whose families have lived in the area for generations, who want no change, and who typically make their living from logging and sawmill operations; Steve Helstrom is a vocal Nimby.
On the other side are newer-to-the state folks who want to halt large-scale logging to preserve the environment and/or to profit from the ripe opportunities for upscale residential development to serve summer residents and ; these are the "Enviros." Toby Martin, though a long-time resident, was leader of the Enviros.
A recent court decision in favor of the Enviros has put a temporary halt on logging, creating unemployment among loggers and sawmill employees and infuriating the Nimbys—its the match that lights the fire of discord. But is the logging dispute sufficient grounds for a murder charge against Steve? Obviously not—it's not even clear that the murder was politically motivated. To parse through all the Sturm und Drang> the Sheriff and Dave Matthews, in separate investigations, must dissect their neighbors, metaphorically speaking.
Thane is particularly good at describing this process: he gives us an X-Ray of life in Flathead Valley so complete that one thinks he is describing real people and events.
(As an aside, I've visited Flathead lake and a more beautiful and pristine spot can't be found. Go there while it's there.)
December 26, 2019
Against a backdrop of one of the world’s most scenic places, James L. Thane takes the reader into the midst of a perfect storm of environmentalists, loggers, developers and a rag tag band of alleged patriots. Northwestern Montana, where the mountain views obscure an ugly underbelly of conflict that no tourist sees but is always there, just below the surface.
We take the plunge into this world with Thane as our able guide. Our tortured protagonist, Dave Matthews, has more than his share of demons and on top of his inner conflict drops a murder suspect in need of his help.
The victim, an environmental attorney named Toby Martin, is brutally murdered and thus begins a criminal investigation that reveals the players and their motives in a fight for dominance in the “Californication” of the Flathead Valley.
Thane unspools this tale deftly. We follow the investigation along with the ultimate revelation of Matthews’ inner demons. We come to understand the clashes among these various causes and what’s at stake for their proponents.
This is Thane’s first novel set in the Flathead Valley, some 80 miles southwest of Glacier National Park. His insight into the issues of economic growth and sustainability work as a stand-alone character in a novel that is rich with them.
We take the plunge into this world with Thane as our able guide. Our tortured protagonist, Dave Matthews, has more than his share of demons and on top of his inner conflict drops a murder suspect in need of his help.
The victim, an environmental attorney named Toby Martin, is brutally murdered and thus begins a criminal investigation that reveals the players and their motives in a fight for dominance in the “Californication” of the Flathead Valley.
Thane unspools this tale deftly. We follow the investigation along with the ultimate revelation of Matthews’ inner demons. We come to understand the clashes among these various causes and what’s at stake for their proponents.
This is Thane’s first novel set in the Flathead Valley, some 80 miles southwest of Glacier National Park. His insight into the issues of economic growth and sustainability work as a stand-alone character in a novel that is rich with them.
December 15, 2019
This novel was a big change from Thane’s previous delightful mysteries set in or around Scottsdale, AZ.
More than a Whodunit, Crossroads focused on the timber industry and the usage (or pillaging – depending on your stand) of national forests in Montana. Thane well exposed the extremists in both camps – the environmentalists and those concerned about the economy which was so dependent on that industry in that area. At times when reading it, I was wondering if his purpose was to write an allegory about the political climate in our nation, right now. In his book and in our nation right now, there seem to be only extremists. Moderates and those wishing to compromise for the good of all are pushed aside or annihilated in some fashion. It was the murder of a self proclaimed moderate which started the investigation which carried the who-dun-it part of the story forward.
There was also a lot of self seeking for personal gain spotlighted in the story. And then there was also a back story of tragedy in our hero’s life which just popped up from time to time in italics.
Thane is a wonderful story teller and a superb wordsmith. I hope that he will return to his previous settings and characters for future novels
More than a Whodunit, Crossroads focused on the timber industry and the usage (or pillaging – depending on your stand) of national forests in Montana. Thane well exposed the extremists in both camps – the environmentalists and those concerned about the economy which was so dependent on that industry in that area. At times when reading it, I was wondering if his purpose was to write an allegory about the political climate in our nation, right now. In his book and in our nation right now, there seem to be only extremists. Moderates and those wishing to compromise for the good of all are pushed aside or annihilated in some fashion. It was the murder of a self proclaimed moderate which started the investigation which carried the who-dun-it part of the story forward.
There was also a lot of self seeking for personal gain spotlighted in the story. And then there was also a back story of tragedy in our hero’s life which just popped up from time to time in italics.
Thane is a wonderful story teller and a superb wordsmith. I hope that he will return to his previous settings and characters for future novels
January 15, 2020
Crossroads, the fourth book by James L. Thane, is in some ways a departure from his first three. Instead of homicide Detective Sean Richardson, Thane moves away from urban Phoenix, AZ., and sets the book on Flathead Lake, in rural northwest Montana. The protagonist is lawyer Dave Matthews, whose intriguing backstory is intertwined with the plot. A friend of Dave's has been arrested for murder, and it's Dave's job to find out who really did it and why. The story is woven through a tense and very real controversy between the loggers who depend on harvesting old growth forest for their livelihoods, and the "Enviros" who want the old growth forests to be protected from logging.
Amidst this tension, Dave tries to ferret out the who and the why of the murder. Thane writes in a casual, intimate style even as the tension builds to its final conclusion.His depiction of a man facing his demons while finding the killer is tightly written and very believable. Well-drawn characters are one of many strengths in Thane's novels. Crossroads is an excellent read. I waited to start it until I had a lot of time because, as with his other three books, I knew I wouldn't want to put it down. I was right!
Amidst this tension, Dave tries to ferret out the who and the why of the murder. Thane writes in a casual, intimate style even as the tension builds to its final conclusion.His depiction of a man facing his demons while finding the killer is tightly written and very believable. Well-drawn characters are one of many strengths in Thane's novels. Crossroads is an excellent read. I waited to start it until I had a lot of time because, as with his other three books, I knew I wouldn't want to put it down. I was right!
May 31, 2020
Having been to the Flathead Valley I hoped to read this book set there. The author did justice to the place and the ongoing battle of progress vs status quo and economy vs environmental concerns. He presents a fair treatment of the proponents in each camp and manages to get his middle of the road stance on paper. The rancor and emotion that exists on both sides and the extremists that make compromise so difficult is well handled. Lots of bed hopping in that little town, too, so alibis are suspect as are loyalties but in the end the motives become clear and the murders are solved, as is the hero's romantic life.
If I have any real criticism it is the lack of any Native American presence in the story despite the large population in Montana and in that area. But then, when my daughter went to college in Bozeman, she was stunned to hear and see the treatment of the Natives by many locals. Prairie N is a common derogatory slur used in those parts. How sad. She was not surprised when I told her how that segment of the population was ignored. Still, Go Cats! And if you long to know about the Big Sky country this isn't a bad read. Kalispell is a disaster, however. Did not linger on the way to Glacier.
If I have any real criticism it is the lack of any Native American presence in the story despite the large population in Montana and in that area. But then, when my daughter went to college in Bozeman, she was stunned to hear and see the treatment of the Natives by many locals. Prairie N is a common derogatory slur used in those parts. How sad. She was not surprised when I told her how that segment of the population was ignored. Still, Go Cats! And if you long to know about the Big Sky country this isn't a bad read. Kalispell is a disaster, however. Did not linger on the way to Glacier.
December 30, 2019
Crossroads is set in the area of scenic Flathead Valley, Montana, where attorney Dave Matthews, agrees to defend murder suspect, Steve Helstrom whom he believes is innocent. Matthews is determined to uncover the real killer while in the crossfire between environmentalists who want to curtail logging in the Kootenai National Forest and the locals who rely on logging to support their families.
I recommend “Crossroads”, along with James L. Thane's other novels set in Phoenix, Arizona: “No Place to Die”, “Until Death” and “Fatal Blow” to fans of traditional mysteries. I purchased this book at a book signing in Phoenix, AZ.
I recommend “Crossroads”, along with James L. Thane's other novels set in Phoenix, Arizona: “No Place to Die”, “Until Death” and “Fatal Blow” to fans of traditional mysteries. I purchased this book at a book signing in Phoenix, AZ.
March 3, 2020
(3). Here I was, expecting another adventure with Sean Richardson, and a visit to Jim Thane's hometown breaks out. Nowhere Montana, and of course, lots is going on. Murder, mayhem, lots of cheating on spouses, bad memories, intrigue, eco terrorism and so much more (even a little golf and tennis). This is a fun, short contemporary ride that keeps pages moving. I sure enjoyed Dave Matthews (and we do have enough other music references in here to think that maybe that was on purpose) and his buddy Chris. I hope to visit them again soon. Good stuff.
December 15, 2019
Another great page turner from Thane
I wish there were more books by James Thane and hope he writes fast. After stumbling across his first a while back I’ve read each one as soon as it was released. He had a real knack for writing page turner crime thrillers and is up there with the best of them as far as I’m concerned.
If you enjoy Harlan Coben, Linwood Barclay etc. Give these a go, you won’t be dissapointed
I wish there were more books by James Thane and hope he writes fast. After stumbling across his first a while back I’ve read each one as soon as it was released. He had a real knack for writing page turner crime thrillers and is up there with the best of them as far as I’m concerned.
If you enjoy Harlan Coben, Linwood Barclay etc. Give these a go, you won’t be dissapointed
January 13, 2020
Great Read
Another great read from James Thane. Good plot and character building. The description of The Flatheads in Montana sounds so beautiful I am adding it to my bucket list.
Another great read from James Thane. Good plot and character building. The description of The Flatheads in Montana sounds so beautiful I am adding it to my bucket list.
August 2, 2022
Lost interest 3/4's way through
May 28, 2024
This was an engaging quick read. The Author's note in the end tells about his personal connection Kallispell, Montana which was even more interesting.
February 4, 2020
Deleted original review; folks, read it for yourselves. Plenty to enjoy here.
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