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Piper Blackwell #1
The Dead of Winter: A Piper Blackwell Mystery
In a deceptively peaceful county, a murderer hides in plain sight...
Fifty-eight minutes into her first day on the job, twenty-three-year-old Sheriff Piper Blackwell is faced with a grisly murder-the victim artfully posed amid decorations on his lawn. Drawing on former military training, Piper must prove herself worthy of the sheriff's badge, and that won't be easy.
Chief Deputy Oren Rosenberg, Piper's opponent in the recent election, doesn't like her and wants her to fail. She doesn't like him either, but she needs Oren to help catch the killer before another victim is discovered. Too late!
As Piper leads the manhunt, another crisis hits close to home. Her father, the previous sheriff, is fighting for his life, and she is torn between family and duty. Facing personal and professional threats, Piper has to weather a raging storm, keep the sheriff's department from crumbling around her, and reel in a killer during the most brutal winter sleepy Spencer County, Indiana, has experienced.
Fifty-eight minutes into her first day on the job, twenty-three-year-old Sheriff Piper Blackwell is faced with a grisly murder-the victim artfully posed amid decorations on his lawn. Drawing on former military training, Piper must prove herself worthy of the sheriff's badge, and that won't be easy.
Chief Deputy Oren Rosenberg, Piper's opponent in the recent election, doesn't like her and wants her to fail. She doesn't like him either, but she needs Oren to help catch the killer before another victim is discovered. Too late!
As Piper leads the manhunt, another crisis hits close to home. Her father, the previous sheriff, is fighting for his life, and she is torn between family and duty. Facing personal and professional threats, Piper has to weather a raging storm, keep the sheriff's department from crumbling around her, and reel in a killer during the most brutal winter sleepy Spencer County, Indiana, has experienced.
284 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2016
100 people are currently reading
573 people want to read
About the author
Jean Rabe
220 books156 followersWhen I am not writing, I toss tennis balls to my cadre of dogs. My house is filled with books and dogs, you can smell both when you walk in the front door. It's a good smell.
I have 36 published novels and am currently writing in the mystery genre. My latest mystery, The Dead of Winter, was a finalist for the Claymore Award and is the first in the Piper Blackwell series.
I live in a tiny town in the middle of Illinois that has a Dollar General, a pizza place with exceedingly slow service, a veterinarian (good thing, eh?), and train tracks...lots of train tracks.
I have 36 published novels and am currently writing in the mystery genre. My latest mystery, The Dead of Winter, was a finalist for the Claymore Award and is the first in the Piper Blackwell series.
I live in a tiny town in the middle of Illinois that has a Dollar General, a pizza place with exceedingly slow service, a veterinarian (good thing, eh?), and train tracks...lots of train tracks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 21, 2021
Twenty-three years old and a sheriff. The first day on the job and Piper Blackwell is faced with a brutal murder. Five years with the military left her with grit so she is more than ready to deal with this job. Meanwhile, her father was the previous sheriff, and had to resign due to health issues. Piper hopes she lives up the badge. There is someone that tries to get into Piper's way, and that is Chief Deputy Oren Rosenburg. He lost the election for the sheriff and is not happy about it, even getting in the way of the investigation. Piper strives to remain focused, especially with her concern for her ailing father. She does her best to find the killer.
What a way to introduce a new series and a new main character. Piper is a wonderful example that proves that youth does not always weigh against experience and wisdom. In fact, her age fades into the background as she digs deeper in the case at hand. Sadly, the murder is only the first one Piper is working on, as the killer strikes more than once.
I had the opportunty to listen to this excellent story as it was delightfuly narrated by Catherine Wenglowski. In fact, I was able to listen to all three books in the series. This was sort of like binge watching a television series. I sat back and listened to these great stories, even though the seriousness of murder was the focus.
What a way to introduce a new series and a new main character. Piper is a wonderful example that proves that youth does not always weigh against experience and wisdom. In fact, her age fades into the background as she digs deeper in the case at hand. Sadly, the murder is only the first one Piper is working on, as the killer strikes more than once.
I had the opportunty to listen to this excellent story as it was delightfuly narrated by Catherine Wenglowski. In fact, I was able to listen to all three books in the series. This was sort of like binge watching a television series. I sat back and listened to these great stories, even though the seriousness of murder was the focus.
June 21, 2023
Charming, pacey little read. A bevy of editing errors made it clunky in parts. But terrific characters, and an endearing setting. And a writer who knows how to write.
Pleasure to read.
Pleasure to read.
November 21, 2016
The Times Square Ball has dropped in New York, viewed on televisions throughout Spencer County, Indiana. The well-wishing "Happy New Years!" are still reverberating throughout Spencer County. The sheriff receives a phone call. And fifty-eight minutes into her first, and possibly only, term as sheriff of Spencer County—it's murder....
Read the rest of my review here: http://stevenpaulleivasthisnthat.blog...
Read the rest of my review here: http://stevenpaulleivasthisnthat.blog...
December 22, 2021
It's Sheriff Piper Blackwell's first day on the job, and it starts with a murder. Many of her colleagues have doubts if she can handle it because of her young age, but Piper throws herself into the investigation. As the body count increases, Piper is torn between her duty and wanting to be there for her sick father. The winter weather is as brutal as the case. Yet can Piper solve the murders before she is a victim herself?
This is a nicely written crime mystery taking place in a small town in southern Indiana. It has a cozy mystery feel, but a darker overtone rather than a lighter one. It was fascinating how the killer set up the murder scenes, and there were lots of red herrings with the twists and turns of the plot. I didn't figure it out, and I loved how it all came together. Piper is an admirable young woman. She returned home leaving a promising military career behind to take care of her father who has cancer. She's doing her best to prove herself worthy of being the sheriff, but she isn't getting all the support she needs. Lots of tensions in the police department, especially with Chief Deputy Oren Rosenberg who lost the last election to her.
I live in south-central Indiana, and the author really nailed Midwestern small town life. Bravo!
This is a nicely written crime mystery taking place in a small town in southern Indiana. It has a cozy mystery feel, but a darker overtone rather than a lighter one. It was fascinating how the killer set up the murder scenes, and there were lots of red herrings with the twists and turns of the plot. I didn't figure it out, and I loved how it all came together. Piper is an admirable young woman. She returned home leaving a promising military career behind to take care of her father who has cancer. She's doing her best to prove herself worthy of being the sheriff, but she isn't getting all the support she needs. Lots of tensions in the police department, especially with Chief Deputy Oren Rosenberg who lost the last election to her.
I live in south-central Indiana, and the author really nailed Midwestern small town life. Bravo!
July 15, 2018
I had some difficulty writing a review for Jean Rabe's first Piper Blackwell mystery because she and I have been friends for a long time. But after reading this book, I can't help myself. Jean has written everything from fantasy to non-fiction, including true crime and newspaper articles--but in this mystery, she has truly found her voice. Her experience as a newspaper bureau chief who reported on plenty of crimes makes her backgrounds feel natural. She has done her research with police procedure. And she has a zany feel for some of her secondary characters that makes discovering them fun. The tension isn't only because of a serial killer in a small town, but also in the police department itself as Piper, female and all of 23 years old, wins election to the position of small-town sheriff over older and more experienced men. And the pacing is just plain good: stumbling where clues are being collected, and tremendously fast as soon as those clues begin to make sense. Jean has been waiting and planning to write this book for quite a few years: I am happy she did. Worth reading; a fast read.
September 25, 2020
An excellent book; a good plot, believable characters (some of whom make stupid mistakes, just like the rest of us), close calls where people don't manage to escape in some miraculous fashion, while at the same time having smart, intelligent people who manage to figure things out - overall a great read.
I look forward to more books in the series.
I look forward to more books in the series.
September 5, 2017
I am impressed with my high school bandmate's writing! This is a taut, Midwestern police mystery with well-drawn characters. Hard to put down! Glad Jean is continuing the Piper series!
May 19, 2024
I have been reading this series out of order but it is an excellent series. The characters are great!
November 4, 2016
“The Dead of Winter (A Piper Blackwell Mystery)” is the first novel in a new mystery series from Jean Rabe. This is apparently her first foray in writing mystery novels after writing so many best-selling fantasy and science fiction novels. The novel introduces a battle-hardened young, twenty-three year old female Military Police sergeant who has left the service to care for her ailing father, who has recently left the position of Sheriff in a rural county in the United States. She runs for the position of sheriff and wins, off her last name.
The novel skips all this backstory and jumps right into her first day on the job. A murder has occurred; the second in a decade in the county. The novel begins an intricate tale of the conflict with senior members of her police force - who refuse to accept a young inexperienced woman as their sheriff - and the horrors of what quickly becomes the Christmas Card Killer: a serial killer of all things for the new sheriff.
The telling of the story is very well done. The characters are interesting and fully flushed out. The dialogue is engaging and flows naturally. More than once I found myself with a satisfied smile on my face listening to Piper lay it out. It is a simple and refreshing story and I think like me, readers will be engrossed. That merits five stars without a doubt. I think Jean Rabe has found a niche she can flex her creativity in.
As an author, myself, I found this novel to be an interesting start to a series. I’m looking forward to the upcoming sequel “Dead of Night” to read more of Piper and her challenges as the new sheriff in town. I'm glad I bought it and even more happier to have a new tale in my head to reflect on.
The novel skips all this backstory and jumps right into her first day on the job. A murder has occurred; the second in a decade in the county. The novel begins an intricate tale of the conflict with senior members of her police force - who refuse to accept a young inexperienced woman as their sheriff - and the horrors of what quickly becomes the Christmas Card Killer: a serial killer of all things for the new sheriff.
The telling of the story is very well done. The characters are interesting and fully flushed out. The dialogue is engaging and flows naturally. More than once I found myself with a satisfied smile on my face listening to Piper lay it out. It is a simple and refreshing story and I think like me, readers will be engrossed. That merits five stars without a doubt. I think Jean Rabe has found a niche she can flex her creativity in.
As an author, myself, I found this novel to be an interesting start to a series. I’m looking forward to the upcoming sequel “Dead of Night” to read more of Piper and her challenges as the new sheriff in town. I'm glad I bought it and even more happier to have a new tale in my head to reflect on.
July 26, 2019
Overall: 3/5 Stars
Characters: 2.5/5 Stars
Believability: 2.5/5 Stars
Personal Opinion: 3.5/5 Stars
The bones of this story was good, but that was pulled down drastically by the characters. When your characters represent every stereotype of the small town, small minded, ignorant and egotistical police officer ever known, you've made it nearly impossible to enjoy the story beyond those characters.
I wasn't a huge fan of the somewhat stilted and choppy writing style, especially when it got applied to the dialog. It made most of the characters voices sound exactly the same. The number of characters that had the same weird habit of repeating themselves, and not just phrases, but individual words back to back, amped up that feeling of sameness.
I did enjoy the ending of this, but that was mostly because you finally get to see Piper with a spine and lose the bland, wet noodle feel she'd had through the rest of the book. Even with the ending being a bit better than the rest, this was just an okay read.
Characters: 2.5/5 Stars
Believability: 2.5/5 Stars
Personal Opinion: 3.5/5 Stars
The bones of this story was good, but that was pulled down drastically by the characters. When your characters represent every stereotype of the small town, small minded, ignorant and egotistical police officer ever known, you've made it nearly impossible to enjoy the story beyond those characters.
I wasn't a huge fan of the somewhat stilted and choppy writing style, especially when it got applied to the dialog. It made most of the characters voices sound exactly the same. The number of characters that had the same weird habit of repeating themselves, and not just phrases, but individual words back to back, amped up that feeling of sameness.
I did enjoy the ending of this, but that was mostly because you finally get to see Piper with a spine and lose the bland, wet noodle feel she'd had through the rest of the book. Even with the ending being a bit better than the rest, this was just an okay read.
November 9, 2016
Piper Blackwell is here to stay
Gutsy, smart, facing a serial killer during her first week on the job, Piper is struggling to keep it all together. I was captivated by the series of murders and how her staff, who she barely knows struggles to work together to solve the crimes. Jean keeps you at the edge of your seat as you read you don't want to put it down.
Gutsy, smart, facing a serial killer during her first week on the job, Piper is struggling to keep it all together. I was captivated by the series of murders and how her staff, who she barely knows struggles to work together to solve the crimes. Jean keeps you at the edge of your seat as you read you don't want to put it down.
November 19, 2016
Love the characters
The plot of this book is enough to make a reader's hair stand on end. Some person in Spencer County is killing people and staging them to look like Christmas Cards. However, what really makes this a great book are the characters. They are human and low key, as you would see in real life.
The plot of this book is enough to make a reader's hair stand on end. Some person in Spencer County is killing people and staging them to look like Christmas Cards. However, what really makes this a great book are the characters. They are human and low key, as you would see in real life.
December 12, 2016
Great mystery! Rabe makes the scenes come alive with great description and strong characters. Enjoyed the setting especially and looking forward to the next adventure!
January 3, 2017
I won this book from Goodreads, and thought it was a fantastic book. I would highly recommend it.
July 8, 2022
It's a solid crime thriller book.
I liked the characters and the approach. It was a quick and smooth read.
I recommend.
byebye and goodreads
I liked the characters and the approach. It was a quick and smooth read.
I recommend.
byebye and goodreads
June 6, 2017
This is my review for the audiobook version of "The Dead of Winter" (I also posted it on audible and amazon):
It's one of the best audiobooks I've listened to so far. Not only is the story itself interesting, but it is also read brilliantly by Ms Wenglowski.
The plot is great. It starts with a murder that shocks everyone around, then adds to it another murder, even more shocking, and then another... And there are also some undercurrents when it comes to the detectives working on the cases, with the new Sheriff in town that the older guys in her department don't really respect (yet), and with the competition among them as to who will catch the killer... It all creates a great mix and makes the book a really engaging read.
As for the narration:
I really liked this interpretation of the book; and I loved all the characters:) The new Sheriff, Piper Blackwell, sounds young and inexperienced in her job, with a lot of doubts and yet determination to be good at what she has undertaken... Chief Deputy Oren Rosenberg's inner monologues of how unfair the whole situation is with Piper being so young are both funny and irritating (as they should be:)); Piper's father, the former Sheriff, sounds exactly as he should - a tired elderly guy weakened by a fatal illness... There is not one character in the book that doesn't sound right... And it's really amazing as Ms Wenglowski in fact doesn't change her voice at all (or only very slightly) when reading the characters' lines... and yet I know exactly who is speaking and to whom, I catch their emotions, I follow the change in their moods, all that without any trouble:)
I think Ms Wenglowski's interpretation of the book adds to it being such a good listen; she doesn't overshadow the plot and the story itself by trying to act out every single scene... For me, that is the perfect kind of narration:)
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
It's one of the best audiobooks I've listened to so far. Not only is the story itself interesting, but it is also read brilliantly by Ms Wenglowski.
The plot is great. It starts with a murder that shocks everyone around, then adds to it another murder, even more shocking, and then another... And there are also some undercurrents when it comes to the detectives working on the cases, with the new Sheriff in town that the older guys in her department don't really respect (yet), and with the competition among them as to who will catch the killer... It all creates a great mix and makes the book a really engaging read.
As for the narration:
I really liked this interpretation of the book; and I loved all the characters:) The new Sheriff, Piper Blackwell, sounds young and inexperienced in her job, with a lot of doubts and yet determination to be good at what she has undertaken... Chief Deputy Oren Rosenberg's inner monologues of how unfair the whole situation is with Piper being so young are both funny and irritating (as they should be:)); Piper's father, the former Sheriff, sounds exactly as he should - a tired elderly guy weakened by a fatal illness... There is not one character in the book that doesn't sound right... And it's really amazing as Ms Wenglowski in fact doesn't change her voice at all (or only very slightly) when reading the characters' lines... and yet I know exactly who is speaking and to whom, I catch their emotions, I follow the change in their moods, all that without any trouble:)
I think Ms Wenglowski's interpretation of the book adds to it being such a good listen; she doesn't overshadow the plot and the story itself by trying to act out every single scene... For me, that is the perfect kind of narration:)
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
July 29, 2020
Less than an hour after her election as sheriff, Piper Blackwell has a frozen corpse as her first case. Conrad Delaney has been artfully arranged on the Christmas display at the front of his house and no one had noticed he'd been there for days. Shortly afterwards another local victim is found, also displayed like the cover of a Christmas card with a festive mug at the scene. Piper discovers the culprit purchased 11 cups: does that mean 11 victims...?
Piper has personal issues as her father, the previous sheriff, has cancer. She has returned from the army to care for him and uses her knowledge from the military police to tackle her first civilian case. She has a tough act to follow and her new colleagues are not happy at the prospect of a young and inexperienced woman being in charge.
The third person narrative used inThe Dead of Winter allows us to see the police characters as well as the Christmas Card Killer perspectives. Piper develops in confidence over the course of the book and she is a likeable lead especially in the face of the resentment at work and the sadness in her private life.
There is some forensic detail alongside the police procedure, investigation and interrogations. This is a little stomach churning but delivered factually so is not overly unpleasant. However, the victims all seem like nice people which makes the revulsion at their murders more intense.
The small town setting and the Christmas elements of the book make it feel believable and realistic although I admit that the motive of the killer felt slightly extreme. The humanity and natural emotional instincts of the characters is really well written so that readers can identify with their actions.
Piper has personal issues as her father, the previous sheriff, has cancer. She has returned from the army to care for him and uses her knowledge from the military police to tackle her first civilian case. She has a tough act to follow and her new colleagues are not happy at the prospect of a young and inexperienced woman being in charge.
The third person narrative used inThe Dead of Winter allows us to see the police characters as well as the Christmas Card Killer perspectives. Piper develops in confidence over the course of the book and she is a likeable lead especially in the face of the resentment at work and the sadness in her private life.
There is some forensic detail alongside the police procedure, investigation and interrogations. This is a little stomach churning but delivered factually so is not overly unpleasant. However, the victims all seem like nice people which makes the revulsion at their murders more intense.
The small town setting and the Christmas elements of the book make it feel believable and realistic although I admit that the motive of the killer felt slightly extreme. The humanity and natural emotional instincts of the characters is really well written so that readers can identify with their actions.
March 2, 2018
Talk about a page turner! I was hooked from the start reading the first Piper Blackwell Mystery. As if the characters weren't engaging enough, Jean Rabe spins a mystery that will have you gasping and going, "ewwww", all at the same time.
Piper Blackwell, military veteran, has returned home to help care for her ill father, the retired Spencer County (Indiana) sheriff. While there, her dad puts the idea into her head to run for his old job. Only 23, Piper is hesitant even though she has plenty of experience with dangerous people and situations having served in Iraq. Although she ran against Paul Blackwell's chief deputy, Oren Rosenberg, she won; most likely on the Blackwell name. Whatever, she's determined to disarm the skeptics who grumble about her "lack of experience" and her age.
Shortly after midnight, New Year's Day, her first day as sheriff, the fun begins. People start dropping like flies in the Indiana county and if that's not challenging enough, the staged crime scenes are nothing short of mystifying. One particular murder puts you right in the middle of it.
"No other smell compared to death, though it varied in intensity depending on how long a body had been destroying itself. This ranked as high as some of the kill sites she'd marched across, likening the odor to a monstrous creature that burrowed into her lungs and held on with sharp, insidious claws." Brilliant!
I devoured this book in just a few days. The descriptive writing, the fascinating storyline, and the "jump right off the page" characters makes The Dead of Winter one of the best crime-thrillers I've read.I'm chomping at the bit to read the 2nd book
Piper Blackwell, military veteran, has returned home to help care for her ill father, the retired Spencer County (Indiana) sheriff. While there, her dad puts the idea into her head to run for his old job. Only 23, Piper is hesitant even though she has plenty of experience with dangerous people and situations having served in Iraq. Although she ran against Paul Blackwell's chief deputy, Oren Rosenberg, she won; most likely on the Blackwell name. Whatever, she's determined to disarm the skeptics who grumble about her "lack of experience" and her age.
Shortly after midnight, New Year's Day, her first day as sheriff, the fun begins. People start dropping like flies in the Indiana county and if that's not challenging enough, the staged crime scenes are nothing short of mystifying. One particular murder puts you right in the middle of it.
"No other smell compared to death, though it varied in intensity depending on how long a body had been destroying itself. This ranked as high as some of the kill sites she'd marched across, likening the odor to a monstrous creature that burrowed into her lungs and held on with sharp, insidious claws." Brilliant!
I devoured this book in just a few days. The descriptive writing, the fascinating storyline, and the "jump right off the page" characters makes The Dead of Winter one of the best crime-thrillers I've read.I'm chomping at the bit to read the 2nd book
December 2, 2016
I was pleasantly surprised by the mystery content here. Rabe did an incredible job of throwing in likely suspects along the way. As a reader, we're just as gung ho to solve the murder as the sheriff's department is, and just as clueless. Once they figure it out, you're like 'oooh...yeah...yeah...i um...totally thought that too...' I was half-expecting to find that it was some character we'd never heard of. Depending upon the type of reader you are, it may be someone you've never heard of. It's obscure and at the same time, it's staring at you with bright Christmas lights.
The characters are pretty phenomenally put together. They're realistic and you find yourself empathizing with them. Most of them. Each is intriguing and carries heft as an individual.
The murderer...what can I say? I'm terrified to send Christmas cards now. Don't worry, that's not a spoiler! It does take quite awhile to figure out who had motive, means and opportunity. The way that Rabe was able to get into the killer's mind was fantastically fun. I never saw it coming.
If you're looking for a fun murder mystery this holiday season, I can't suggest this one enough. You'll find yourself devouring page after page. It's not just about solving the murders, but also an urge to see what happens next and who's going to do it. I'll admit, I fell in love with this little town and I'm anxious for Jean to hurry up and finish the second book so I can jump into it.
The characters are pretty phenomenally put together. They're realistic and you find yourself empathizing with them. Most of them. Each is intriguing and carries heft as an individual.
The murderer...what can I say? I'm terrified to send Christmas cards now. Don't worry, that's not a spoiler! It does take quite awhile to figure out who had motive, means and opportunity. The way that Rabe was able to get into the killer's mind was fantastically fun. I never saw it coming.
If you're looking for a fun murder mystery this holiday season, I can't suggest this one enough. You'll find yourself devouring page after page. It's not just about solving the murders, but also an urge to see what happens next and who's going to do it. I'll admit, I fell in love with this little town and I'm anxious for Jean to hurry up and finish the second book so I can jump into it.
September 19, 2017
3.5 stars
Good start to a series. I really enjoyed this story. It was very entertaining and drew me in right away and held my attention. It kept me guessing. I didn't realize who the bad guy was until all the clues were connected. It's good story with an interesting plot and a great cast of well rounded characters. Both likable and unlikable. There is plenty of mystery, suspense and murder without being to overly graphic or violent.
The story is told between two POV's, Pipers and the Killer.
Even in a very small town there is no shortage of suspects. You can't help but root for Piper. She was immediately likable. She may be young, but she's strong, independent, smart and a little self doubting at times which makes her even more likable.
Looking forward to the next book in the series. Now that Piper has her feet wet so to speak.
Catherine Wenglowski did a really good job with the narration. This is the first time I have listened to her narrate a book. Her voice is a bit on the softer side in the beginning which may be too soothing for some listeners. But it fit the story and the main character Piper. Really good characters voices. Her male voices were also really good. Clearly spoken with a nice pace. She was able to bring the characters and story to life. Very enjoyable. Looking forward to hearing her more in the future.
The volume changes a couple of times in chapter 8 that's the only time I noticed it.
Good start to a series. I really enjoyed this story. It was very entertaining and drew me in right away and held my attention. It kept me guessing. I didn't realize who the bad guy was until all the clues were connected. It's good story with an interesting plot and a great cast of well rounded characters. Both likable and unlikable. There is plenty of mystery, suspense and murder without being to overly graphic or violent.
The story is told between two POV's, Pipers and the Killer.
Even in a very small town there is no shortage of suspects. You can't help but root for Piper. She was immediately likable. She may be young, but she's strong, independent, smart and a little self doubting at times which makes her even more likable.
Looking forward to the next book in the series. Now that Piper has her feet wet so to speak.
Catherine Wenglowski did a really good job with the narration. This is the first time I have listened to her narrate a book. Her voice is a bit on the softer side in the beginning which may be too soothing for some listeners. But it fit the story and the main character Piper. Really good characters voices. Her male voices were also really good. Clearly spoken with a nice pace. She was able to bring the characters and story to life. Very enjoyable. Looking forward to hearing her more in the future.
The volume changes a couple of times in chapter 8 that's the only time I noticed it.
May 17, 2017
The Dead of Winter: A Piper Blackwell Mystery, Book 1
: Jean Rabe
Oh my! I wasn't sure if I would like this murder mystery / suspense thriller, but wanted to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised. The descriptions of the settings were well done and drew me in. Each of the characters had their own personality, and they sometimes clashed as the new young sheriff tried to lead her department through investigating a serial killer, less than an hour after taking office. We are given plenty of suspects, clues here and there and a red herring or two thrown in to make the listener scratched their head and say "I didn't see that one coming." I enjoyed this book and look forward to more books in this series.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed by Catherine Wenglowski.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
: Jean Rabe
Oh my! I wasn't sure if I would like this murder mystery / suspense thriller, but wanted to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised. The descriptions of the settings were well done and drew me in. Each of the characters had their own personality, and they sometimes clashed as the new young sheriff tried to lead her department through investigating a serial killer, less than an hour after taking office. We are given plenty of suspects, clues here and there and a red herring or two thrown in to make the listener scratched their head and say "I didn't see that one coming." I enjoyed this book and look forward to more books in this series.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed by Catherine Wenglowski.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
December 30, 2016
Who is the Christmas Card murderer?
I loved this first book in the Piper Blackwell series, I think the series will do well. Excitement, frustration, detection, all here for a fascinating read, what else can you ask for?
There's a new sheriff in town, but not everyone is pleased. In fact, two detectives are upset, to say the least. Daughter of the retired sheriff, relations are a bit taut in the office. There is little criminal activity in the small town of Santa Claus, but things are about to change rapidly. As one body after another is found, tension builds in both the town and the office. The only thing in common, of all things, is Christmas cards, soon to be referred to as the CCK case, the Christmas Card Killer.
I loved this first book in the Piper Blackwell series, I think the series will do well. Excitement, frustration, detection, all here for a fascinating read, what else can you ask for?
There's a new sheriff in town, but not everyone is pleased. In fact, two detectives are upset, to say the least. Daughter of the retired sheriff, relations are a bit taut in the office. There is little criminal activity in the small town of Santa Claus, but things are about to change rapidly. As one body after another is found, tension builds in both the town and the office. The only thing in common, of all things, is Christmas cards, soon to be referred to as the CCK case, the Christmas Card Killer.
October 8, 2017
Maybe I read the wrong book, but I found this to be a very disappointing read. For a short book this seemed to drag on and on. The characters were annoying and highly unprofessional. I do have a hard time believing that a 23 year old with no experience within the department would have been elected sheriff. It seems very far fetched. Oren was a huge jackass that probably should have been fired for his behavior. The premise and the way the murders occurred were pretty cool, however it just felt like it took forever to get to the end.
September 14, 2019
I felt the characters and plot were a little wooden and it dragged on. I don't think we were given enough to connect with Piper. Sure we were told how amazing she was in the military (seemed overdone and unrealistic) but through her current POV all we saw was her inexperience in the sheriff job. And every other character kept banging on about her young age and nobody respected her. Made it hard to back her as the protagonist.
Also, I thought the motive behind the killings was silly and probably offensive to people with mental health disorders.
Also, I thought the motive behind the killings was silly and probably offensive to people with mental health disorders.
February 18, 2020
Rabe describes this novel as a cozy procedural-- it really is--with the small town cozy feel but the grit of a procedural. The pace of this book keeps the tension high. I was sucked in and freaked out {this isn't much of a spoiler exactly but you might opt to skip this comment--the point of view changes from time to time from the main character to her co-workers to the killer... it was getting in the head of the killer that got me; I wasn't ready for that and that chapter bumped us out of cozyland} -- I couldn't put it down.
December 13, 2025
New sheriff, crazy workload, many deceased
Piper was elected sheriff after the previous sheriff, her father, retired due to cancer. Being female, she gets a frosty reception from those she works with.
On her first day, in the first hour, the first deceased shows up. He is followed by about six before she, or her deputies, get a lead on a suspect.
The characters are all great. Not all are likable but they're authentic. The descriptions of the sheriff's office, dispatch, workings of the department are all fairly accurate. I want to read more about this small town sheriff.
Piper was elected sheriff after the previous sheriff, her father, retired due to cancer. Being female, she gets a frosty reception from those she works with.
On her first day, in the first hour, the first deceased shows up. He is followed by about six before she, or her deputies, get a lead on a suspect.
The characters are all great. Not all are likable but they're authentic. The descriptions of the sheriff's office, dispatch, workings of the department are all fairly accurate. I want to read more about this small town sheriff.
August 23, 2020
These series of books was highly recommended in the blog of a writer I follow, and I was intrigued and followed buying this first, and now I'm heading to buy the rest, it was that good (and it's not a long list to add, I have some very looong series in my TBR pile, and it's very reasonably priced, the author is self-publishing her misteries)
If you are in the mood for a "cozy-procedural" as I read it called, this one is almost sure to be very liked.
If you are in the mood for a "cozy-procedural" as I read it called, this one is almost sure to be very liked.
April 8, 2018
Excellent first mystery by Jean Rabe
When you can't put the book down, is a great recommendation for any novel. The clues were ingenious. Action scenes put the reader on the edge of there seat. Can't wait to see where Piper heads next in her adventures as sheriff! Move over Longmire, there is a new Sheriff in town!
When you can't put the book down, is a great recommendation for any novel. The clues were ingenious. Action scenes put the reader on the edge of there seat. Can't wait to see where Piper heads next in her adventures as sheriff! Move over Longmire, there is a new Sheriff in town!
May 18, 2022
A gripping story
I liked this book because Piper is an intelligent character. A serial killer pops up on her first day as the new sheriff of a small town.
The clues are thin on the ground, and her deputy resents her. I enjoyed trying to work out who the murder was, and what the motive was.
I liked this book because Piper is an intelligent character. A serial killer pops up on her first day as the new sheriff of a small town.
The clues are thin on the ground, and her deputy resents her. I enjoyed trying to work out who the murder was, and what the motive was.
May 25, 2022
The Dead of Winter are Several
The characters were small-town good, in the way that small-town residents can be. The plot outstripped the characters, the way it would in a small town. You can even root for the little guy, the way you do in small towns. Looking forward to the next book in the series, so I can catch up to small-town friends when you’ve been away for awhile….
The characters were small-town good, in the way that small-town residents can be. The plot outstripped the characters, the way it would in a small town. You can even root for the little guy, the way you do in small towns. Looking forward to the next book in the series, so I can catch up to small-town friends when you’ve been away for awhile….
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