Driftless Gold

by Sue Berg

A migrant worker is discovered buried in a local quarry with an antique gold coin in his pocket near La Crosse, Wisconsin. Lt. Jim Higgins begins to unravel a murder that will take him back into Wisconsin’s early history. During the investigation, Higgins meets a local archaeological savant and treasure hunter who tells him a wild tale about a U.S. Army payroll that was stolen on the way to Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien in 1866. The payroll has never been recovered. Is the coin on the dead man part of the stolen treasure? Higgins hesitates to base his investigation on a wild tale, but he has nothing else to go on. As his team desperately attempts to make sense of the facts, the killer strikes again. The investigative team realizes the wild tale may be the only explanation for the two murders. In a race against time, Jim struggles to identify the killer—and find the elusive gold treasure.

Genres: Mystery

348 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2022

Reviews

[Tim Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good enough story. Characters are well drawn and you get just enough backstory on each of them to keep them interesting.

The constant reminders of local LaCrosse are a little overboard. I live in Madison, WI, about an hour or so from La Crosse. While it’s kind of cool to see local WI and La Crosse references, after a while it looks like the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce paid the author to stuff as many local references into the book.

Anyway, still a good story told well.

Main character Jim is a little too good to be true. He’s the hero that has no flaws, but I like my heroes to have some flaws.

I will pick up the next book in 2022 sometime. Right now, I need a break from all the references to Kwik Trip.

[Michael Bertrand · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a weird book. Why?

It takes a little explaining. First, the plot:

a dead body is found in a quarry near La Crosse, WI. Lt. Jim Higgins and his team of professionals investigate.

Who's the dead guy, and how did he get into the quarry?

Read the book.

The "driftless" in the book title is explained by the setting, which is the Driftless region of Wisconsin.

But what about the "gold?"

Read the book.

And what's so weird about a straightforward murder-mystery?

Glad you asked. Driftless Gold is mostly a cozy mystery. There's minimal violence. No gore. I don't recall any profanity. All of this is good and not-weird. I like cozy mysteries.

The weirdness comes with the preachy Christian morality espoused by the main character. At one point, one of the Lieutenant's detectives shares that his girlfriend is pregnant. The Lieutenant immediately tells this detective, a grown man in his late 20s, early 30s:

"Now you have to do what you should have done in the first place. Give her a ring, have a wedding, build a home and a family, and quit playing house. Living together usually doesn't end well." (164)

Driftless Gold is set in the 2020s. I can't imagine a superior officer giving this speech and getting away unscathed in this day and age.

The weirdness increases in a side-plot, in which the Lieutenant is dating a staffer from the coroner's office. The Lieutenant's wife died years before the start of the novel. The Lieutenant is in his 50s. I don't remember if the girlfriend's age is stated, but it's implied that she's in his same ballpark. There's a scene where they're at the end of a good date, and she wants him to stay the night. The Lieutenant then delivers a lecture about how he can't stay because "God will know" and how "if what we have is as special as I think it is, it's worth waiting for."

Again, I can't imagine that in the 2020s a grown man could give this speech to a grown woman and come away unscathed. It isn't the idea of choosing to postpone sex until after marriage that makes it weird. It isn't the idea that the choice is founded in religion that makes it weird. What makes it weird is the preachy quality of the dialogue. It reads like something an adult would say to a teen who was thinking of making "poor life choices."

There are other moments of preachy weirdness: a detective dresses like a slob until the Lieutenant lectures him about dressing appropriately; A witness (who is described as autistic) gets into danger when he ignores the Lieutenant's orders.

And all the bad guys are described as addicts who live in filth.

In other words, Driftless Gold contains strong Father-Knows-Best themes and didactic black & white Christian moral lessons that don't sit well with me.

It's not a bad book. It's just not the book for me.

[Sharon Jessee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at Pearl Street Books in La Crosse even though I knew nothing of the author (a rare move for me) since it is set in and around La Crosse, Wisconsin. In the beginning, it did not grab me, but so many references to local places (Leo and Leonie's, La Crosse County Courthouse, "a big brown toad" of architectural boredom, the Friendship Garden, Mississippi River venues, Highway 14 and Chimpmunk Coulee to mention just a few) kept me mildly interested. But then, the plot "thickened" to use a trite cliche, and I was hooked on the mystery of the missing gold coins legend and the murky murders surrounding them. Characters are well-developed. The description is what I would describe as thorough, but not artistic. And the main protagonist is a bit too good to be true. References to Christian principles are not overpowering, which is good because I am no longer a believer. Nevertheless, the last half was gripping!

[Sabrina · Rating 1 out of 5]

First of all, the prose is wanting. There are grammar and formatting errors, especially around the dialogue. Characters are described in excessive detail, even if they’re side characters, and the female characters are given weird objectifying descriptors like “stark Scandinavian beauty” and a sentence how the female police chief “could not be described as beautiful, though she was attractive.” Each character’s eye color is mentioned multiple times. The Wisconsin setting was why I picked up the book and probably its most redeeming quality, but there really is too much detail. I don’t need to know who is stocking the trout streams. There are too many dialogue tags, especially combined with unnecessary adverbs, that make the dialogue a pain to read.

Second is the plot. Previous reviews are right. The main character acts as a mouthpiece for the author, going on about kids these days and the horrors of the digital age. The bad guys are all portrayed as irredeemable drug addicts. The only two people of color in this book are used as plot devices to be brutally murdered and raped. There’s a sexual assault plotline that’s used as a device to get the main romance together and then immediately forgotten; the officer who committed the assault is put on paid administrative leave which is treated as a win. A side character was given induced amnesia when someone put Effexor in his drink, which, again, Effexor does not do. One of the detectives is mentioned as going undercover to bust prostitute rings and his disguises are described as “drag queen paraphernalia”. This conflation of prostitutes and drag by the author is extremely irresponsible and dangerous.

I appreciate Sue for writing about Wisconsin and putting herself out there, but this was not good.

[Niki Bergler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! There was adventure around every corner and Sue kept me guessing! Because of the way it was written, I found myself researching the areas history surrounding treasure. And who wouldn't fall in love with Jim Higgins? I really enjoyed this story.

[David Carlson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good plot, interesting characters well developed, lots of La Crosse regional places. Could be tightened up with some editing.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally finished after many, many months. The local references were pretty fun but got to be quite a lot at the end. The pushing Christian values was a bit much, but I got through it.

[Hannah Hathcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of my favorite books yet! I grew up in Sparta, WI which is not even 30 minutes from where this book is based! It was so fun reading about places I have actually visited in my life! The author really captured my attention and kept me interested by sharing more about each characters personal life. That was something I really appreciated. I enjoyed the mystery while also getting to really know the characters involved. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this driftless series!

[Erika Kampschnieder · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is clearly written by a new author. She seemed to over describe the specifics of La Crosse in an attempt to make the book more realistic, but many of the details were unnecessary. The characters and storyline gave just enough to keep me reading but not enough to truly enjoy. As someone that grew up in the area, it added to my reason to finish. The love story was cliche and unrealistic. I was also put off by the formatting of the book. It looked like someone printed it directly from Microsoft Word without updating any of the spacing.

[Marnie Bebej · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book needs an editor. it was so hard to tell who's perspective the book was being told from because there were no breaks between the paragraphs to let you know there had been a change. this made telling characters apart kinda hard. also it had a character drinking and then claimed they were only 19. not saying it doesn't happen in LaCrosse but it was an obvious oppsie. it was a simple sweet mystery. it was really just fun to read a book set in the town I live and fully know the places they went to in the book. that was why I purchased it to begin with.

[Hollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Local author highlighted by the library. I enjoyed the Wisconsin setting, the character development was okay, but the actual plot was meh. It's like the author was trying to write a clean mystery romance but fell short. The main character was used to push the authors moral agenda which made it like getting a lecture my mom. The rural bias was deep. If you are over the age of 55 and want a "clean" book this is for you.

[Deborah G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our members were completely absorbed from the very first chapter. The mystery, the small-town atmosphere, and the deeply human characters made every page feel alive. Sue Berg has a gift for blending crime, emotion, and regional charm into something unforgettable. We loved how she balanced suspense with tender moments of love and loss. It’s the kind of book that sparks real conversation long after the meeting ends.

[Susan Wilkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story pulled us right into the heart of Wisconsin’s Driftless region — it felt like we were walking those rugged bluffs ourselves. The sense of place was so vivid that we could almost smell the river air. What surprised us most was how emotional the mystery became as we learned more about the people involved. We found ourselves caring as much about the relationships as the investigation. Sue Berg really knows how to write with heart.

[Sandra Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our discussion went deep into how grief and purpose drive the characters, especially Jim Higgins. Sue Berg didn’t just give us a murder mystery she gave us a portrait of resilience and renewal. The writing was so grounded and evocative that several of us said we could picture every scene. It’s one of those books that feels both cinematic and intimate. We highly recommend it to any club that loves layered storytelling.

[Charlotte Nalley · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all agreed this was one of the best regional mysteries we’ve read in a long time. The pacing was perfect enough tension to keep us hooked, but enough quiet reflection to make it meaningful. Sue Berg’s descriptive writing brought the Driftless region to life in ways that felt almost poetic. We admired her ability to weave crime, history, and emotion into one compelling thread. A true gem for book discussions.

[Mathias Wexler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone was fascinated by the historical elements behind the missing gold coins. The mix of legend, local lore, and murder gave us so much to talk about. What really stood out, though, was how real the characters felt, flawed, brave, and deeply human. Sue Berg’s attention to emotional truth makes this story more than just a mystery. It’s about what drives people when they’re faced with temptation and loss.

[Harold Pagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved how the novel combined a classic treasure hunt with modern emotional depth. It’s rare to find a mystery that feels this fresh and grounded at the same time. Sue Berg’s ability to shift between tension, humor, and tenderness is remarkable. The ending left us satisfied but also wishing we could spend more time with these characters. It’s an easy recommendation for any serious reader’s list.

[David Beaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our discussion circled around how real the investigation felt. Sue Berg’s background research and attention to police detail impressed everyone. We loved how she balanced the grit of detective work with moments of compassion and quiet reflection. By the end, we all felt like we knew Jim Higgins personally his pain, his courage, and his humanity. This is the kind of book that makes readers fall in love with character-driven mysteries again.

[Betty Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

We were struck by how beautifully Sue Berg wrote about love after loss. Those moments between Jim and Carol carried such authenticity and grace. It sparked a long discussion about resilience and how people rebuild their lives after tragedy. What we admired most was that the romance never overpowered the mystery , it complemented it. That balance made Driftless Gold a truly satisfying read for our whole group.

[Kathryn Pellerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

We appreciated how Driftless Gold stayed grounded in moral questions, about greed, guilt, and second chances. The story made us ask what we might do if faced with temptation or regret. Sue Berg writes with empathy, never judging her characters, even when they make hard choices. That kind of compassion makes her mystery feel deeply human. It’s a thoughtful, emotionally layered novel that we’ll be recommending often.

[Jami A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone in our group mentioned how refreshing it was to read a mystery that didn’t rely on violence or shock value. Sue Berg builds tension through character, motive, and atmosphere instead. We found that so much more engaging and realistic. The emotional undercurrent made it even better, you feel every decision, every heartbreak. A compelling and intelligent read we’ll be talking about for months.

[Steven Helman · Rating 5 out of 5]

We found ourselves especially moved by the way Sue Berg portrayed grief and renewal. Jim’s memories of his late wife and his gradual return to life gave the story unexpected emotional depth. We all related to that sense of holding on and letting go. The mystery served as a backdrop for a much larger exploration of healing. It’s rare to find a book that can make you tear up and keep you guessing at the same time.

[Sarah Milone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our club was fascinated by how seamlessly Sue Berg wove history into a modern mystery. The lost gold coins and their backstory added an almost mythic quality to the plot. It gave us a great excuse to dive into real-life Wisconsin history during our discussion! The pacing, the characters, and the sense of place all worked perfectly together. A superb debut that left us wanting more from this author.

[Martin Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our group agreed that Driftless Gold isn’t just a mystery, it’s a journey through human emotion. We were drawn to how Sue Berg wove together the suspense of the crime with the quiet struggles of everyday people. The relationships felt genuine and unforced, especially between Jim and Carol. The story touched on loneliness, courage, and the longing for connection in a way that felt universal. It’s a book that speaks to both the heart and the mind.

[Bonnie Barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel gave us so much to talk about! The theme of obsession, what people sacrifice in their search for something they think will change their lives, really resonated. Sue Berg handled it with such nuance and empathy that we couldn’t stop discussing the moral side of treasure hunting. We loved how the mystery never felt far-fetched; it was rooted in human desire and regret. It’s the kind of story that lingers long after you close the book.

[Brian Trevizo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect blend of crime and compassion. We were completely captivated by Sue Berg’s ability to make us care about everyone in the story, even the flawed ones. There’s a wisdom in her writing that feels comforting, even amid danger and deceit. We talked a lot about how the Driftless region itself seemed to reflect the emotional terrain of the characters. It’s one of those rare mysteries that’s both thrilling and tender.

[Dina Block · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved how Driftless Gold made us care as much about the people as about the puzzle. The story’s emotional honesty made it a joy to discuss, especially the choices characters made under pressure. Sue Berg’s writing has both strength and tenderness, which is a rare combination. Every member found something personal to connect with. It’s a book that makes you reflect on your own values while keeping you entertained.

[Helen Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our club appreciated the way Sue Berg explored right and wrong without easy answers. Each character’s decision added another layer to the moral landscape of the story. We debated what we might have done in similar circumstances, which led to one of our best discussions this year. Her writing inspires empathy, even for those who make mistakes. That’s the mark of a skilled and compassionate storyteller.

[James Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the time we reached the ending, everyone in our group was emotionally invested. Sue Berg tied everything together with just the right amount of closure and hope. We talked about how satisfying it is to read a mystery that doesn’t rely on clichés but still delivers surprises. The setting, the characters, and the message about redemption were all beautifully done. We’ll be recommending Driftless Gold to every reading circle we know.

[Lynn Galston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part over-marketing the LaCrosse area, part Christian morality preaching, with a little bit of mystery that just needed a bit more editing and refinement to keep engaging.

So into the premise of the lost gold, happy to support a local author, and this book was printing on remarkably high quality paper. But it’s not really well written enough for me to recommend.