Dead of November: A Novel of Lake Superior

by Craig A. Brockman

SELECTED AS A 2021 U.P. NOTABLE
"Spellbinding..." "A must read" "Great U.P. Thriller"

Ghosts of those drowned and never recovered are swarming from Lake Superior. But they are not there to haunt the living. They are fleeing something far more sinister.

Adam is a psychologist who returns to resolve his grief over his wife who drowned in the Lake's hungry waters. Soon he is embroiled in a bizarre world of Native legend and the supernatural. From a hermit’s cabin to a rambling old inn, from a Native fishing boat to a haunted research vessel, from forests to ancient pictographs that lie on restless shores, the drum beat quickens. A young, enigmatic native woman will become the key to protecting Adam from a twisted medicine man and unraveling a nefarious scheme.

“Dead of November embroils readers in a suspenseful, lake-churning tale of a power-hungry medicine man, an ancient Ojibwe legend, and the healing that comes with forgiveness. Brockman has a sure hit on his hands with this spellbinding yarn.”— Tyler R. Tichelaar, award-winning author of Haunted Marquette

Genres: Fiction

301 pages, Paperback

Published February 22, 2020

About the author

CRAIG A. BROCKMAN lived for nearly 20 years near the shores of Lake Superior while working for the Indian Health Service and Lake Superior State University.

He still loves to take advantage of all that this amazing peninsula has to offer. In 2017 an article in the Ontonagon Herald chronicled the final 140-mile leg of his meandering 450-mile hike across the entire U.P. from the Drummond Island Ferry Dock in DeTour Village to a sandbar at the mouth of the Montreal River on the Wisconsin border. 

Currently Craig lives with his wife in Tecumseh, Michigan.

Reviews

[Robert burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

People claim that they are seeing ghosts walking from the waters of Lake Superior. Psychologist Adam Knowles is ask by friends to come back Sault Sainte Marie to help find out what is happening, could it be mass hysteria, or could it be true. Adam has his own problems returning to the area after leaving when his Ojibwe wife was lost in Lake Superior years before.
I enjoyed this first novel by Craig Brockman, he has seamlessly woven a novel about paranormal activity, Native American lore, and history into a very readable novel.

[L.B. Stimson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild and Rugged Supernatural Thriller

I purchased and read this book based on a recommendation as I was specifically searching for a book with a supernatural/gothic feel set in the Lake Superior region. This book was an unexpected delight. While Brockman definitely understands Gothic-styled prose, I enjoyed the added supernatural elements wrapped within Native Peoples’ lore.

Brockman’s familiarity with the region is an added benefit because the descriptive writing brings you to the wild and rugged region of the Great Lakes. The book’s storyline revolves around the backdrop of supernatural happenings but is also character-driven. The characters (save for one) are all likable and well-developed.

Readers who enjoy the supernatural, gothic horror, ghost stories, and folklore will more than likely find this book an unexpected delightful read.

[Craig Brockman · Rating 5 out of 5]

MALICIOUS RATERS. Sorry. It is disgusting to rate your own book, but despite fervent pleas and documentation, Goodreads will not deal with malicious raters the way Amazon has. I have NO problem whatsoever if a genuine reader wants to rate my book a one ⭐️ after reading it. But this “Eric” account has delivered over 100 mostly malicious ratings a week—who else has recently read and rated over 9359 books? Please contact Goodreads to again report this malicious rater found in my ratings—it is the only one ⭐️. Not for me, for the integrity of the process and for the authors we love. I will pull my books and account from Goodreads and urge others to do the same if this is not dealt with equitably and soon.

Eric
9359 ratings | 0 reviews
avg rating: 2.16
Eric's profile data is set to private.

[Cardmaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghosts of those drowned and never recovered are swarming from Lake Superior. But they are not there to haunt the living. They are fleeing something far more sinister.

Adam is a psychologist who returns to resolve his grief over his wife who drowned in the Lake's hungry waters. Soon he is embroiled in a bizarre world of Native legend and the supernatural. From a hermit’s cabin to a rambling old inn, from a Native fishing boat to a haunted research vessel, from forests to ancient pictographs that lie on restless shores, the drum beat quickens. A young, enigmatic native woman will become the key to protecting Adam from a twisted medicine man and unraveling a nefarious scheme.


This was a wonderful story of Lake Superior. I liked the way it was told but I felt the ending came upon us a little too hurried. It was all wrapped up a little too easily for me. I object to the description "horror" for this book. There was nothing for me that made it a horror book. The creature in the lake doesn't qualify and neither do the numerous ghosts. Still a very good book.

The only reason I dropped from a five star to a four star was because of the above notes and also because of the misspellings and the multiple use of the descriptor "Trans-Canadian Highway". The highway does not cover Canadians. It covers Canada. I'm Canadian, born and bred, and have travelled from Newfoundland to British Columbia. I've never heard any Canadian say Trans-Canadian Highway. We drive on the Trans-Canada Highway. :)

For the author's (and his numerous proof-readers), the past tense for "to shine" is "shone", not "shown". That wrong word was used several times in the story and every time, it jolted me out of the story and back to my living room.

[Naomi Chae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead of November is cozy ghost read, perfect for the cold winter months. I wished I could curl up in front of a fireplace while reading this book. It’s not too fast or too slow - it takes its time while drawing you in. Everything was explained with great imagery, and I just wanted to know what was going to happen next. I honestly could read a whole book just about the inn and the infirmary! I enjoyed the mix of science and supernatural explaining what was happening with the lake.The story was a lot more complex than I expected. This book reminded me how much I like ghost books!

[Jodi W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mighty Superior

I don't think I would have found this book if it wasn't for the author posting on one of the UP Facebook pages telling of his work. I really enjoyed reading it. growing up in the UP and hearing different stories about the mighty Lake Superior made it really come alive.
Mr. Brockman I really hope you'll give us another book in the future, how about the Keweenaw area :)

[Kathaleen A. Gregorich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story...a MUST read

What a mixture of describing the various phases of Lake Superior and the land bordering it as a back ground to this weaving tale of Native American culture and beliefs, integrated with the Upper Peninsula socket with friend ( old and new), evil want of power and money and ghosts! This book is marvelously written with its twists and turns! Unto volume two!

[Matthew Hellman]

If Dean Koontz was a little less wordy, and he wrote about Michigan's Upper Peninsula, I bet it'd be a lot like this. Good, unique characters thrown into a devolving, confusing mess that they have to confront and survive. Great story.

Technically, it was extremely clean. I don't recall seeing even one typo! Very well edited.

[Whitney Schwanebeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read- I enjoyed all the Native American references as I am not that familiar with stories about them.
Book was very detailed, I felt as though I could picture myself in Upper Michigan as the story was happening. A surprise ending for sure !!

[Noah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brockman's novel, despite its flaws, is an engaging and compelling read. Blending indigenous spirituality and history with contemporary politics, psychiatry, and mystery makes this book an enjoyable (if sometimes a bit under-edited) read. I look forward to seeing what else he writes.

[Gail Johnson, Ph.D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything about water, First Nations, and Northeastern America, I love it. My favorite part: "The science, Lake Superior is dimictic, meaning it turns over or mixes twice a year: once in spring, and then again in fall when the water temperature hovers around thirty-nine degrees." (P. 160)

[Rob Fink · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start by a new author. Kept to a story by changed it up enough to make you want to keep turning pages. Loved the built in history of an area and Lake Superior.

[Betty Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

It took a few chapters to really hook me but then I couldn't put it down. Suspenseful and well written.

[Diana Dugina]

I just loved this book! Excellent storytelling!

[John Ulferts · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging, eerie tale of Lake Superior and the Northwoods. At times, it can be a bit hard to follow, but, all in all, a worthwhile read.