A Dangerous Season

Sheriff Matt Callahan #3

by Russell Fee

The Northwoods, where myth and reality merge deep within its most dangerous season.

A Dangerous Season, the third Sheriff Matt Callahan mystery novel, depicts life on Callahan's iced-in island during a brutal winter. Callahan, who originally sought peace on Nicolet Island after a fatal acid attack on his fiancée, one that left him both physically and emotionally disfigured, now discovers a lone young girl hiding in the island wilderness. She is unable to speak but agile at surviving on her own in the desperate cold. In the quest to discover the girl's identity, Callahan teams with the Ojibwe tribal police and is drawn to a place where myth and reality merge deep in the Northwoods' most dangerous season.

Besides the mystery of the girl and what brought her to Nicolet Island, this winter begets other dangerous contaminated lake fish, an island murder, and a dead body in the woods. As Callahan's experienced young deputy, Amanda, and her neophyte partner, Nick, work with Callahan to solve the island's crimes, they face the additional challenge of piggybacking a professional relationship on one that began as deeply personal. Callahan faces his own relationship challenges when he and Julie, his romantic partner, disagree over the eventual placement of the found girl.

Knitting A Dangerous Season together is the indelible sense of place the Northwoods convey. In contrast to the bustling tourist environment of earlier Callahan novels, winter imbues Nicolet Island with both icy danger and lyrical beauty-a fitting environment for a teeth-chattering thriller.

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 6, 2021

About the author

Russell Fee grew up in Washington, D.C. and London. After graduating from the College of William and Mary, he served in the army as intelligence officer and then became a trial lawyer, litigating civil rights and civil liberties cases, before becoming a teacher. In their inimitable ways, these careers inspired his novels and book of poetry. He and his wife have traveled the world and are dual citizens of the United States and Ireland. They now live in the Midwest, which they both love.

Reviews

[Rick Rapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting premise, but not satisfactorily followed through. Set on in island in northern Michigan, some grizzly murders seem to be the work of Native American spirits. But, of course, it's just greedy people. And the thread is not sufficiently developed. This book raises some interesting questions about the majority of culture's relationship with indigenous people. But once again, no answers are really provided. And the angst-ridden Sheriff is about to hang up his gun for a new life...setting the stage for a sequel. Yawn. I liked parts of this, but overall, I'm not compelled to continue with the series.

[Marssie Mencotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a police procedural either one that's so contrived that I roll my eyes and enjoy the humor or better yet, one that seems entirely possible. That's this third installment of the Matt Callahan series. I will read the other two for sure. This book is so deeply honest without hyperbole, rarely swerving into tropes that would be off-putting. Russell Fee gives every suspect, deputy and person he comes across equal respect and understanding and that is such a wonderful change from highly opinionated crudely drawn lawmen. That's it - you can't get on or off the island easily so the antidote is to understand the limitations, the culture of isolation, and the personalities it creates. The characters that populate this book are struggling with emotional, intellectual, cultural and physical challenges but good steady police work with all the creativity that entails mixed with experience and common sense makes this a fine read. Well-written spare descriptions let the reader know what survival in a sometimes hostile environment means and then you add in the murderous Wendigo, an Ojibwe demon that punishes avarice. Superb winter read.

[Military Writers Society of America (MWSA)]

MWSA Review

A Dangerous Season by Russell Fee is an interesting mystery set during winter on Nicolet Island, Michigan. This book is the third in the Sheriff Matt Callahan series and has all the twists and turns of a good who-dun-it. Author Fee throws a lot at his protagonist in the form of a missing girl, several murders, poisoned lake water, and a civic protest regarding his own competence as sheriff. Add in organized crime and Indian evil spirits, and one can see why Sheriff Callahan may want to throw in the towel. Fortunately, Callahan finds an ally in the nearby Indian reservation's chief of police. Together they try to get to the truth. However, that truth is as slippery as the ice that surrounds them. This book is an easy read full of characters that you will like and bad ones that you will not like. I recommend it.

Review by Bob Doerr (April 2024)

[Merry Edmondson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery, wonderful characters, a plot with twists and turns, and a setting you'll embrace.
A measure of a good book is when I can answer the question, "Do I care about these characters?". My reply in this case and Russ Fee's prior mysteries is a resounding " YES!". The characters have developed in my mind as old friends. Russ Fee has created another
intriguing mystery with some of my favorite characters, a charming as well as challenging setting, a plot that keeps you wondering and one which honors the native American culture. Bravo! If you enjoy mysteries I encourage you to all of read Russ Fee,'s books.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third, and for now the last of the Sheriff Matt Callahan series. Hoping there is another coming! A solid police procedural.

Fee continues to build the island community, flesh out its characters, and add new ones. This time Sheriff Callahan, his Deputy Amanda- and her boyfriend Nick (joining the force), and Julie, dispatcher and Callahan's girlfriend face new crimes on their island. A young girl hiding in the woods, dying fish, and murder.

Definitely read the series in order (first two re free if you have Kindle Unlimited)

[Williams Fulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging Finale' to the Callahan Trilogy

I have enjoyed the unencumbered easy flow of all three Matt Callahan mysteries and the characters as they enter and stay, or exit, the storylines. With the abundance of personalities it would be nice to see this series flow into a continuum of drama and mystery of the island itself, beyond the Callahan years.

[James Elsener · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you liked Jessica Fletcher solving crimes in Cabot's Cove? The Michigan version of that story line is Russ Fee's series featuring Sheriff Matt Callahan on remote Nicolet Island located in Lake Michigan. "A Dangerous Season" takes place during a brutal winter season that is both beautiful and treacherous. Fee ties his mysteries to real life issues in northern Michigan such as the native Indian culture and the casino industry, a rigged fishing contest that backfires on the mastermind, and an intriguing young girl that has learned to live on her own in this rugged outdoor environment. Once you start reading you won't put it down.