Hell and High Water

Maeve Malloy Mystery #3

by Keenan Powell

Alaskan attorney Maeve Malloy isn’t sure she’s cut out to be a lawyer anymore. She takes a kitchen job at a remote lodge, hiding her past from her new friends. Just as a storm rolls in, a tourist is murdered. With no escape or rescue in sight, the police ask Maeve to investigate. Her cover is blown and her new friends aren’t so friendly anymore. To find the killer, she must expose their deepest secrets, sort lies from truth, love from hate, and the innocent from the guilty.

Continuing to build after a strong start, Powell turns her beady eye and compassionate heart towards the corrosive nature of old secrets and the dangers of reckoning with the truth at last. Maeve Molloy's third outing is atmospheric, gritty and completely satisfying. - CATRIONA McPHERSON, multi-award-winning author of STRANGERS AT THE GATE

HELL OR HIGH WATER is part closed room mystery, part wilderness adventure, and part hard-boiled reluctant hero. World-weary Maeve Malloy must uncover a killer from a handful of suspects and avoid becoming a rampaging bear's next meal. Keenan Powell is at the top of her game! - Matt Coyle, author of the Anthony Award winning Rick Cahill series

Nuanced characters and an edgy atmosphere in Hell and High Water will keep you up way past your bedtime. - J.D. Allen Author of the Sin City Investigation Series

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

282 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2020

About the author

Lefty, Agatha, and Silver Falchion nominated author of DEADLY SOLUTION.

Keenan Powell's first publication included illustrations in Dungeons and Dragons, 1st edition, while in high school. Art seemed to be an impractical pursuit – she wasn’t an heiress, didn’t have the disposition to marry well, and hated teaching – so she went to law school instead. The day after graduation, she moved to Alaska. As a young pup, she provided criminal defense representation in a variety of cases spanning from the infamous federal walrus round-up case to murder.
Her first book, Deadly Solution, was nominated for an Agatha, a Lefty and short-listed for a Silver Falchion award. It also won first place in the Alaska Professional Communicators Contest and third place in the National Federation of Press Women Communication Contest. Her second book, Hemlock Needle, won first place in the Alaska Professional Communicators Contest and second place in the National Federation of Press Women Communication Contest
In addition to writing the Maeve Malloy series, she has published a number of short stories including The Banshee of Adams, Mass. which short-listed for the Al Blanchard award. She currently writes a legal column, Ipso Facto, for the Sisters in Crime Guppy section newsletter, First Draft. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Historical Novel Society. Currently, she is blogging with Miss Demeanors.

Reviews

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating:

4.5

Favorite Quotes:

His shaggy eyebrows lifted briefly, came together, wiggled, and then settled back down. They looked like caterpillars trying to escape.

Mother Superior used to say if you connected the dots on Maeve’s face, they’d spell “Erin Go Bragh.”

She surveyed the room. One narcissistic tourist with an inebriated husband, a couple of nuns, a crazy old biker chick, a New Age woman, also drunk, her pot-smoking husband, and an awkward botanist. No one normal. Just her luck.

He didn’t trust nuns. What a strange Catholic thing, women cutting off their hair, giving up sex, wearing ugly clothes. He’d seen them in flocks back in Chicago and never thought he’d have one in his home, much less as an in-law. Back when he hooked up with Bernie, Iggy wasn’t a nun, she was a cop. He wasn’t sure which was worse.

Nothing he fixed worked right afterward. He didn’t talk much. At first, Roger wondered if that was because he was stoned all the time; lately, he’d suspected it was because Lester knew he was an idiot and didn’t want anyone noticing.

My Review:

Slowly unwinding, perceptively written, and shrewdly paced - this tautly written mystery held my attention and kept me on edge and guessing throughout perusal. Packed with a bracingly odd assortment of alcoholic personalities, mostly within one extended family unit, the fatally faulty characters’ development was brutally and insightfully observant and occasionally amusing in their descriptions. These were not people most of us would invite into our homes for an enjoyable dinner party, or really, for any sane reason.

Hidden glints of levity were cleverly and unexpectedly sprinkled in to balance out the constant familial tension as well as the diabolical and heinous nature of the background issues. The histories of crimes were handled sensitively and thoughtfully despite being dishearteningly realistic and wretchedly relevant to the world we live in. This was my introduction to Ms. Keenan Powell and her uniquely flawed yet keenly intelligent, Mauve Malloy, Alaskan based J.D. Esquire. And while this is the third in the series and although I’m sure I would also enjoy reading the first two books and would have possibly gotten a bit more out of the tale if I had, this installment has the strong legs of a mogul skier and can easily stand on its own.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Hell and High Water was an interesting, slow-burn murder mystery reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel. I haven’t read a closed room mystery in a while and really enjoyed this one! I didn’t realize this was book 3 of a series but I think it was fine to read as a standalone novel. One issue I had was the small underlying romantic plotline, which just felt distracting and unnecessary. However, it probably fits more when you read the rest of the series. I liked Maeve as a complex character, despite the alcoholism as a plot device. Why does every thriller/mystery seem to now have an alcoholic main character or detective (although I suppose in this case she was recovering)? Anyway, I think the strongest part of this book was the overall concept itself, which was intriguing with a few good twists among the cast of characters. Thank you so much to TLC Book Tours and Level Best Books for my gifted copy!

[Ellen Byron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous mystery

Gripping mystery and a great addition to a compelling series. I highly recommend this book and the entire series. it's great stuff.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maeve Malloy has served out her suspension from the bar, but she's not sure she wants to go back to practicing law. She applies for a job as a dishwasher at a remote lodge and finds herself in the middle of a murder. Complicating the search for clues is a large, angry bear, pelting down rain and furious winds, plus no way to access the island until after the storm. Among the suspects are two nuns, the hardened lodge manager, the hippie owner and her pothead husband and a botanist who was invited to lecture. But there's more to this group of guests than meets the idea. Very Agatha Christie-like gathering of intriguing characters. Keenan Powell has outdone herself with this entry in the series.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maeve Malloy gets suspended from her law practice. She is not sure she wants to still be a lawyer. So she takes a job as a dishwasher at a remote lodge. A family reunion is taking place. A former priest who molested children was also invited. A change to get atonement for his sins. A bad storm comes up and takes out cell phone service and power. A generator gets electric restored. A body of one of the guests is found stabbed to death. The police cannot get to the lodge so Maeve is asked to investigate. A really good murder mystery that will keep you guessing.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally intriguing. Maeve is a lawyer but not sure what she wants to do with her life. Keeps a low profile but when there’s a murder, gets right back in. Keeps you gripped until the end.

[BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun closed-room mystery! I really enjoy these types of stories. I like the close quarters of the characters and the seclusion of the setting. This one had a great location, and the author did a great job of fitting in both separation from society, and natural elements of the surrounding location!

Hell and High Water is the third book in the series Maeve Malloy Mystery, but if you haven’t read the others in the series, you won’t be lost. I felt like this one works fine as a stand-alone. I think we miss out just a little on getting to know Maeve, but overall, it’s not an issue if this is the first book.

The main character, Maeve, has decided she may not want to be a lawyer any longer, so she decides to take a job as a dishwasher in a remote location. She ends up smack-dab in the middle of a murder mystery, which is pretty much NOT what she was looking for.

I really enjoyed the location for Hell and High Water. I liked the storm that stops them from being able to get away from the area. It created a dark atmosphere as the story progresses too.

There are quite a variety of characters, and I liked the splash of color they provided. Maeve seems like a character that I would like to see more from, so I am excited that there are other books in the series. I’m not wild about alcoholic characters, it’s something I feel like I see a lot, however, it worked okay for this story. I liked that she’s recovering, and I felt like that added a redeeming quality to her.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I loved the atmosphere and the characters. It kept me guessing right up until the end!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Maeve Malloy thriller! My favorite so far. In this third book about the Alaskan attorney, Maeve Malloy, she is not sure the law is for her any longer. So, she takes a kitchen job in a lodge on Fox Island. Soon, she finds herself in the middle of a murder scene. Excellent writing, great action and suspense. Awesome characters, watch out for a hippie, a pothead, a botanist, and the nuns! Don't forget the bears in this remote setting! 5 Stars

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaskan attorney Maeve Malloy isn’t sure she’s cut out to be a lawyer. All she wants is to be treated like everyone else. Hiding her past, she takes a kitchen job at a remote lodge while she sorts out her life. The day after she lands at Fox Island, a
tourist is killed and a rampaging bear has trapped her and the lodge's guests inside.
The locals cops can’t get to the lodge because of a storm so they ask Maeve for help. Her cover is blown and she’s thrown back into investigating the who, why, and wherefore of the murder before a killer among them can strike again.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Heather W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell and High Water is the third book in the "A Maeve Malloy Mystery" series and is a great addition to this series.

I really enjoyed this book and found the characters to be well developed and intelligent. The storyline is well written and compelling, keeping me on the edge of my seat as Maeve tries to solve a murder in the middle of a storm. This book is fast-paced and has murder, danger, action, suspense, and intrigue.

I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maeve, disillusioned with her career in Law, takes on a new persona as a kitchen helper. After meeting the guest at The Fox Island Lodge witch she is now a summer employee, she finds a colorful array of companions. Who doesn't love Sister Mary Ignatius, who goes by the moniker, "Sister Iggy." The show starts now as Maeve tries to unravel a murder among the disheveled crew.

Keenan Powell has given Maeve a personality that is shades of Agatha Cristie's Miss Marple. Now you're in Hell and High Water. Enjoy the outcome!

[Ashley Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had so many twists and turns. Just when I had something figured out, I found myself questioning if what I had previously thought was correct. After finishing this book, I immediately wanted to read a sequel.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maeve Molley is a lawyer in Alaska who has been suspended from practicing for three months. Now that the three months have come and gone, Maeve is not sure that she wants to continue to practice the law. Instead she takes a job at a resort on an Alaskan island as a dishwasher to give her time to think. A murder occurs on the first evening of her new job. With wild weather rolling in, everyone is trapped on the island together. The police put Maeve in charge of the investigation as they can’t get to the island. As she starts to piece it all together, a picture of retribution starts to form. Who is the murderer and why?

Hell and High Water is an engaging mystery for this time of year. I was intrigued by the mystery, setting, and the characters and couldn’t stop reading. Part of why I was pulled in right away was a mother thinking about her young son, Danny and how he liked to dress as Batman. My son Danny was also a good-natured small boy that loved to dress as Batman. Danny’s story takes a turn south and intersects with the Catholic abuse crisis. I was horrified as a mother and as a Catholic. I do wish though there would have been time to explore more of the mother’s story. She placed a lot of blame rightly on the priest, but it sounds like poor Danny had a rough childhood with a drunken, neglectful mother that was maybe a prostitute. This set Danny up as a perfect victim for the priest. This part of the story is set up at the start of the novel and then you learn more about Danny’s fate and the priest’s role as the story progresses. I liked the honest look into how the priest abuse cycle affected so many throughout time. It made me really sad and I’m still thinking about it.

Maeve is an interesting character. She is not a perfect person, and I liked her journey. This is the third novel in the series and the first I’ve read. I’ll admit that there was another part of the story that didn’t quite click with me as this was my first book to read. There is an investigator named Tom that has worked with Maeve in the past. He spends the entire novel trying to get to her to help her out and confess his love. Unfortunately, when you first meet him, he is having a one-night stand with someone else and a series of unfortunate not very believable events occur. I think I could have deleted his entire storyline. If you are a series reader, this probably would mean much more to you.

Overall, Hell and High Water is an intriguing mystery set in Alaska. I especially enjoyed that the mystery kept me guessing until the end. I love being surprised. I want to read the first two books in this series.

Book Source: Review Copy from Level Best Books as part of the TLC Book Tour. Thank-you!

This review was originally posted on my blog at:
https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2020...

[Jessica Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first introduction to the Maeve Malloy series and I must say I am very intrigued with this character and what else is in store for her!

Maeve Malloy’s time being suspended from practicing law is complete, but she doesn’t know if she wants to go back to practicing. During this time, she takes a job working in the kitchen at a secluded lodge in the Alaskan wilderness. Within the first twenty-four hours of landing at Fox Island, a tourist is killed, and a wild bear has everyone trapped in the lodge. A storm is moving into the island and prevents the authorities from coming to help find the killer. Maeve is asked to help gather information and dives back into investigating mode. She uses her skills to find a killer before someone else ends up dead.

This was my first introduction to Maeve Malloy and this series. One of the best aspects of the book is even though it isn’t the first in the series, I was able to follow the story without feeling totally lost. Now, had I read the others, I might be saying you need to read them before reading this one, but I didn’t feel lost and was able to enjoy the story.

The beginning started a little slow but picked up and kept me intrigued with a few twists by the end I really enjoyed. Maeve is a fun, realistic character. She is trying to decide what direction she needs to head in life and just when she thinks being a lawyer and investigating isn’t for her, she is thrown into an investigation that could ultimately save her life. I loved the fact that Maeve is portrayed as real, flawed, confused and trying to figure out where she needs to go next in life. That is real life, that is what we all go through and seeing this character trying to figure it all out was very well written.

Being secluded up in the Alaskan Wilderness was a great setting for this story, I was chilled to the bone with each new crisis the characters had to face. At first you see a very eclectic group of characters brought together, but as the story progresses it makes perfect sense why they are there and how it all came about. There are a few moments that seemed forced; Tom for one, but maybe if I had read the others in the series his actions wouldn’t have seemed out of place. I recommend this to fans that enjoy a good mystery with twists and turns up to the very end. A little bit of harsh language and mature content make it unsuitable for younger readers but that isn’t the intended audience either.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize that this was book 3 of a series until I started it. I didn't have any problems reading it as a standalone but I think the dynamics of the main character would have been easier to understand if I had read the first two books. I have just ordered them because I enjoyed getting to know Maeve who was a real multi-faceted and interesting main character and I'd like to know more about her back ground.

Maeve is an attorney in Alaska who doesn't think she wants to be a lawyer any longer. She decides to spend the summer working in the kitchen at remote lodge in Alaska. The people who run the lodge seem a bit strange and just as a huge storm is moving in, one of the guests is murdered. The police can't get to the island because of the storm and ask Maeve to investigate. With her cover blown, the owners and other guests are immediately suspicious of her. She must work to find the killer, sort the lies from the truth and the innocent from the guilty.

The novel is a quick read because you won't be able to put it down once you've started. There are several major surprises scattered throughout the book and I never saw them coming! Not only does the book have a murder and lots of suspicious characters but there is also a bear who seems to be intent to do harm to the humans on the island. For me, the bear was almost more frightening than the murderer.

This was a wonderful well written mystery and I'm looking forward to reading the first two books in the series.

[Cathy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell and High Water is a gripping murder mystery and I absolutely loved it! Keenan Powell set the scene for an epic showdown and she didn't disappoint.

I've not read either of the first two Maeve Malloy Mysteries, but I think I will now. Maeve is such an interesting character; cool, calm, collected, and in control of dangerous situations. After taking a job at a remote Alaskan lodge in an attempt to leave her life in law behind, Maeve unwittingly stumbles on an explosive family drama that spans decades. And when one of the family members turns up dead, seemingly murdered, Maeve takes on the task of figuring out who the murderer is.

For me, one of the highlights of this book was how well Powell developed each of the characters. There is a small group of central characters, who we get to know extremely well, as well as a couple of periphery characters. I think the reason this book is so compelling is the fact that you get to know the background of each of the characters, we find out where they come from, their familial and emotional history, and why they've come to this remote lodge in Alaska. By the time you've learnt about each of the characters, you can empathise with most of them and understand their motives and actions.

This is a thoroughly gripping book, I found myself really involved in the story and trying to figure out who the murderer was before it was revealed at the end. It was a great read! I'd recommend this book if you're into shows like Criminal Minds or CSI Las Vegas. An absolutely enthralling book!

[L.C. Rooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell and High Water is in the great tradition of locked room mysteries. Set in a remote lodge on an Alaskan island during a raging storm, the story is kept perking along by a diverse and fascinating array of characters, a rampaging bear, and a confounding murder. The protagonist, Maeve Malloy, is a suspended attorney and recovering alcoholic who's taken a job working in the lodge's kitchen while she tries to figure out what's next for her. As a favor to an acquaintance on the local police force, Maeve agrees to hold things together at the lodge until the cops can make their way safely across the bay when the storm abates. The odd couple who own the lodge, a former priest, a couple of nuns, and the other guests--and their surprising connections to one another--will keep you turning the pages of this whodunnit long into the night.

[Sara Strand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technically you can read this as a stand-alone, which I did because I haven't read books one or two, but I think you can really get more from it if you read them in order. If you can't, it's OK, but there was quite a bit of character development of Maeve in those earlier books that might be helpful when you read this one.

I really enjoyed this one, I loved they mystery, and the setting added the dreary/spooky/whodunnit feel to the story. I also really liked Maeve despite the fact she is a greatly flawed character, but I think her kind of mid-life crisis is something we all feel at some point.

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a great locked door mystery this book is for you. Great red herrings, wonderful characterization, and a memorable setting sets this book apart from your average mystery. I highly recommend this book and this author.

[Nancy Timmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an edge-of-your-seat story! “Hell and High Water” was a book that had me saying, “What can possibly happen next?” I gripped the pages as I yelled. Whew! Even though it was a slow start, the story did turn into a great mystery and thriller. I loved the array of characters; each making the story complete, including a troublesome bear!

Maeve Malloy is taking a break from being a lawyer. She just wants to get away from it all, so she takes a kitchen job at a remote lodge in Alaska. Well, to her surprise things just don't pan out like she imagined, when there is a murder, a torrential storm and a bear prowls around the lodge.

This is my first book by Keenan Powell. She is an excellent writer. “Hell and High Water” is her third book in the Maeve Malloy Mystery series but it can be read as a stand-alone. If you're a fan of Agatha Christie, you will definitely enjoy reading this series.

~This book was given to me through a giveaway in exchange for a fair and honest review.~

[Reb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in the ending. It came to a conclusion but felt rushed & too many things were left in limbo.

[Rory Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book.... A twisted tale that keeps you fully engaged! I fully recommend it!!!!!