Bough Cutter: A Northern Lakes Mystery

Northern Lakes Mystery #3

by Jeff Nania

Just as Namekagon County sheriff John Cabrelli adjusts to his new job, a body is discovered in the woods — and he must race against time to unravel the case when the lives of even more victims are claimed within the wilderness… A gripping tale of crime fiction!

Bough Cutter is the third book in the best-selling Northern Lakes Mystery series and is perfect for fans of William Kent Krueger, Victoria Houston, C. J. Box, and Patricia Skalka. Award-winning author Jeff Nania keeps readers wondering who is on the right side of the law in the rural Northwoods county.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 25, 2021

About the author

Jeff Nania draws upon careers in law enforcement, conservation, and his passion for our natural resources to weave together his award-winning Northern Lakes Mysteries. Whether he’s cutting wood, sitting in a wetland, fishing muskies, or snorkeling Spider Lake for treasure, Jeff spends as much time as possible outdoors.
Get "Autumn: a short story" when you sign-up at: https://feetwetwriting.com/.

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Northern Lake mystery series is one of the greatest surprises for me in 2021. Bough Cutter by Jeff Nania is the third and last so far about John Cabrelli whose life is turned around in a remarkable way through these books. I just love the setting and the characters made up by this author. The books are all very well written and if you want more there's a short story available for those that sign up for the newsletter. This book is set in the aproaching winter around Spider Lake and deals with the drug problem that is there. But we also get the wonderful development of the different characters and their lifes. I am so sold on this series and I hope there are more coming. I am so grateful that @this_is_edelweiss #LittleCreekPress and #FeetWetWriting gave me the opportunity to read these books for review purposes. I also must thank @jeffnania for making this stuff up. I stongly recommend everyone to try this serie. #WhatIamReading #LibraryOfAbibliofob #eARC #Edelweiss #JeffNania #BoughCutter #JohnCabrelli #NorthernLakeMystery

[Sheila Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Nania is an excellent writer who set the scene in the North Country of Wisconsin so that I feel I've been there. His Sheriff John Cabrelli investigates a body found out in the woods that leads to a much bigger situation than first anticipated. The characters who populate this story are appealing and real, and there's a twist I did not see coming.

[Scott A. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars. Nania has done it again even if he made the mystery a little too easy. Usually, that bothers me. It didn’t here. The Characters are all so enjoyable that it’s okay. The crimes were terrible and punishments more than fair. I love this series because, among other things, I love the North Woods of Wisconsin and Musky Fishing. I’m starting to catch up to Nania and I need to slow down a bit.

[karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first two books in this series featuring John Cabrelli, and I’m happy to say I loved this one too! The John Cabrelli books are fast paced and full of surprises. Mr. Nania has delivered a great mystery every time! I hope he writes many more! I look forward to seeing what John Cabrelli gets involved in next!

[Laurie Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheriff John Cabrelli encounters a stunning twist in the district he strives to protect from crime—a unique Northwoods community imbued with a palpable sense of place and having each other’s backs. I highly recommend this page-turner!

[Sharon Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!

Bough Cutter, the third John Cabrelli novel in the series by Jeff Nania, takes on big city crimes in Musky Falls. The book draws you into the community with its wonderful characters and immerses you the wildlife of northern Wisconsin. A savvy, exciting police procedural wrapped in a delightful small town. A real page turner!

[Astrid Galactic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not so much a book about who did it, but instead it's about the discovery of who committed the crimes.

[Jeffrey-Kathy Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Jeff's 3rd book in the series. I love the easygoing north woods atmosphere with the added reality of today's world. And don't forget the personal touches which add greatly to the story. I don't know how Jeff weaves these plots, but I was kept guessing until very end. Thank you for a "Goodread".

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last of a trilogy. Enjoyed the first book, the second book less, and this book even less. Other than the atmospheric descriptions, the rest is just far fetched and the characters almost cartoonish.

[Buddy Huffaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another page turner by Jeff Nania! Our whole family has read the entire series and we love the fun read and then the discussion afterwards!!

[michelle Dumdie]

I enjoyed this as much as the first two. Can't wait for the next book

[Gail Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a mystery mixed with lots of information about northern Wisconsin, this is your book! John Cabrelli, now the sheriff of a county in northern Wisconsin

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok I hope the next one is in the works!! So good.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book club

[Donald Bourgault · Rating 4 out of 5]

The who dun it didn't

The book built on past Cabrelli police work he did in the county . Making him sheriff was a nice touch since he could follow his leads without interfering as in the past.
The pace and the suspect list kept you guessing.

Good book great read!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bough Cutter continues the popular Northern Wisconsin mystery series by Jeff Nania. While I like mysteries, it takes a lot to get me to follow a particular series because I read so many different types of books. What drew me first to this series is Jeff Nania himself. 1. He lives in Wisconsin, my home state, and actually not too far from me. 2. He writes about what he knows. He was in law enforcement and then he worked in conservation. 3. He appears to love Wisconsin's "Up North" as much as I do. I love the story he tells about his family reading out Victoria Houston books while on vacation. VH is another Wisconsin author who sets her widely popular mystery series in a fictional northern vacation setting. I, too, used to read VH's books while vacationing in the north woods. Tales of crime among the walleyes and pines may sound creepy, but it just works. One season Houston did not have a new book for Nania's family to read, so Jeff decided to write his own mystery. Enter on the scene John Cabrelli, a burned out Madison cop who has retreated to a small cabin he inherited from his aunt and uncle. Of course, he gets drawn into solving a new crime spree. Now in book three, John has taken over temporarily for the county sheriff and while the Eastern European crime bosses have been booted out of Superior and Duluth, drugs are still a problem in the northwoods. I thought this book moved a little slower than the first two and had some repetitive parts, but the side comments on everyday life and nature itself made the slower pace worthwhile. And to be truthful, descriptions of overlapping law agencies, their territories, and different viewpoints were probably extremely accurate. What have seemed a slow pace to me was most likely accurate writing. Nania's development of the character John Cabrelli is progressing nicely, settling into his new community with his found love. And the descriptions of the cooling autumn, followed by the first snows and roaring woodstoves made me want to grab a cup of tea and a quilt.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installment in the Northern Lakes Mystery series. It continues with the the problem of drug gangs and the devastating effects of drug addiction on the abuser and their families. However this book seems more intimate as it hits so close to their home.
I love the way the author portrays a sense of a close knit community with centuries old traditions. The Ojibwe are a welcome and contributing part of the county. One Ojibwe family plays an important role in this story.
Sherriff John Cabrelli has to contend with several murders tied to the drug trade. I was very surprised when the murderer was revealed.
I truly enjoy the characters in these books, and the location that is so beautifully described.

[Valerie Biel · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s so much about this series that keeps me reading (and eagerly awaiting each new book.) The northern Wisconsin setting is as much a character as the cast that we’ve grown to love in previous stories. But small town doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of criminals, and somehow when murder strikes in the pristine nature of the Northwoods, it’s more jarring and disturbing. Nania’s plot lines always keep you guessing as we follow reluctant Sheriff John Cabrelli’s solid detective work clue-by-clue to solve the case!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spoilers from me. If you like the north woods and small town mysteries, read the whole series. Living in western Wisconsin, just a short distance from a Spider Lake and the fictitious town of Musky Falls, I felt like I was following a live account of drug and homicide cases with a little community goodwill, neighborly interactions among the residents and the beginning of a tough relationship when one is a sheriff, added to the story. Drugs are very prevalent in small towns around here so I wonder how much is really fictitious. Waiting patiently for another novel, Jeff Nania.

[Kathy Schouten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read all the books in this series. I love the northern WI (my state) descriptions. I love the people who feel like neighbors and am glad that John has a relationship that works so well and makes him happy. It’s sad that the drug problem has made its way into the north woods and although I figured out the “who dun it” enjoyed the path it took for everyone to get there

[Diane Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book in the series

I love reading Jeff's books because the story details are so close to what happens in small towns in northern Wisconsin. His story progression is usually not predictable until almost the end of each book. If it is predictable to other readers, maybe I don't see that because I enjoy the pictures he paints of life in the Northwoods.

[Patricia Mccammon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Great down to earth characters. Set in Northern Wisconsin, law enforcement has to deal with drug related problems. Then it turns into multiple murders. It keeps your interest all the way. Won this in a Goodreads Giveaway

[Gary Belew · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Cabrelli

As a country boy, myself, I felt the authenticity of the authors words. The story is well written with reverence for nature, the human condition and the written word. I need more like this to help me remember that we are a mostly decent kind folks.

[Tracey Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like going up north-in person.

John Cabrelli is doing his thing, solving crimes and chilling in the great rural Midwest. I love the testimonies of natural elements juxtaposed with true crime solving. A great read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ Extremely Enjoyable Mystery ⭐️⭐️

Book three in the Northern Lakes Mystery series did not disappoint. The author kept me as confused as the Sheriff trying to figure out who did it. WELL DONE MR. NANIA!! Certainly hope there will be a fourth book in the series!

[Cheri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm from Wisconsin. I made it 1/4 through this book and quit. I feel nearly every paragraph was overly explained and attempted to be awe shucks folksy. It was beyond annoying. I enjoyed the first two books of the series and am disappointed in this one.

[Barbara Duerst · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the series and enjoyed the Wisconsin Northwoods setting.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff Nania has such a love for the northwoods of Wisconsin! This is third in the Northern Lakes Series. I figured out the mystery too early, but I enjoyed the ride anyway.

[Jon-Scott Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

I sure hope that there is another book soon. GREAT STORY with another great ending. Please read all three in order.

[ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just say no!

Slow moving , obvious mystery. Written with an out of touch Nancy Reagan just say no style You know who did it the first time you meet the character.