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An Emily Kincaid Mystery #2
Dead Floating Lovers
Springtime in northern Michigan: a picture-perfect scene. Until struggling mystery writer Emily Kincaid gets a visit from her foul-weather friend Deputy Dolly, who frantically demands Emily's help. Sandy Lake's receding waters have revealed a bullet-pierced skull, along with a keepsake that could mean serious trouble for a man Dolly once loved. As another set of bones surfaces, Emily finds herself wading through Dolly's painful past, digging into Leetsville's dark history, and dodging threats from an outraged Odawa Indian-who may be protecting more than just sacred land. Now, Emily and Dolly are deadset on solving the crime whether it breaks their hearts . . . or costs them their lives. Praise for Dead Dancing Women, the first Emily Kincaid Mystery: "Every woman who's ever struggled with saying no, fitting in, and balancing independence against loneliness will adore first-timer Emily."-Kirkus
324 pages, Paperback
Published July 8, 2009
41 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli
15 books177 followersElizabeth Kane Buzzelli (aka Elizabeth Lee) is a Michigan based novelist whose 12th book is due out in 2016. She teaches fiction writing at Northern Michigan College and has written for the NORTHERN EXPRESS, the ROMEO OBSERVER, the DETROIT NEWS, and the RECORD-EAGLE. She is a member of the Author’s Guild, International Association of crime Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers’ of America, Michigan Writers, and Detroit Working Writers and has three mystery series out, or about to be published.
In the Emily Kincaid series her novel DEAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN was chosen one of the best mysteries of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews. A new series (written as Elizabeth Lee) is now out with the third: NUTS AND BURIED (based in Texas) to be published this November from Berkley Publishers. Another series, beginning with A MOST CURIOUS MURDER, (Crooked Lane Publishers) will be out in July, 2016, with the second: DEATH OF A SAD POET, scheduled later in the year.
In the Emily Kincaid series her novel DEAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN was chosen one of the best mysteries of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews. A new series (written as Elizabeth Lee) is now out with the third: NUTS AND BURIED (based in Texas) to be published this November from Berkley Publishers. Another series, beginning with A MOST CURIOUS MURDER, (Crooked Lane Publishers) will be out in July, 2016, with the second: DEATH OF A SAD POET, scheduled later in the year.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 28, 2017
Emily Kincaid is a mystery writer ... ar at least, she would like to be. She's settled into a small town in Northern Michigan and loves it there. It's peaceful, it's beautiful, and it's away from her ex-husband.
That all changes when her friend, Deputy Dolly Wakowski is sent to investigate the finding of some bones ... which turn out to be the bones of her husband who disappeared with an Indian girlfriend 13 years earlier. And then more bones are found .. presumably the girlfriend.
The Indians are demanding that the body of the girl be returned to them post haste so she can continue her journey to heaven.
But who would have killed these 2 people ... other than Dolly?
This one is billed as a cozy mystery, but I feel it's actually a step above. What impressed me the most are the quirky characters. They are so much fun.
There is Deputy Dolly herself ... full of insecurity who has been hurt so much in the past, but won't let anyone see the pain. She and Emily are true friends ... the kind of friend you never have to lie to or hide from. They can bicker and poke at each other without hurting their relationship.
Then there is the librarian. She's got such a good heart. She'll do anything for anyone. She's first in line to organize a find raiser, take food to a needy family,/ But she won't let you borrow any of the library's books unless she thinks you will appreciate it.
Henry is an older gentleman, Emily's closest neighbor. He's a mushroom hunter, finding morels and selling them. He's taught Emily a lot about the hunting, about her gardening. His little quirk -- he's always wearing a black suit. As he says --- just in case he drops dead, he'll already be dressed for it.
The mystery was a good one... not something I could foresee, which makes any mystery book much better in my eye. I loved that the American Indians played a part ... and the location is somewhere I could see myself living.
The book did not send my heart into overdrive. It's a smooth journey from start to end and it did hold my attention all the way.
Many thanks to the author / Beyond the Page Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
That all changes when her friend, Deputy Dolly Wakowski is sent to investigate the finding of some bones ... which turn out to be the bones of her husband who disappeared with an Indian girlfriend 13 years earlier. And then more bones are found .. presumably the girlfriend.
The Indians are demanding that the body of the girl be returned to them post haste so she can continue her journey to heaven.
But who would have killed these 2 people ... other than Dolly?
This one is billed as a cozy mystery, but I feel it's actually a step above. What impressed me the most are the quirky characters. They are so much fun.
There is Deputy Dolly herself ... full of insecurity who has been hurt so much in the past, but won't let anyone see the pain. She and Emily are true friends ... the kind of friend you never have to lie to or hide from. They can bicker and poke at each other without hurting their relationship.
Then there is the librarian. She's got such a good heart. She'll do anything for anyone. She's first in line to organize a find raiser, take food to a needy family,/ But she won't let you borrow any of the library's books unless she thinks you will appreciate it.
Henry is an older gentleman, Emily's closest neighbor. He's a mushroom hunter, finding morels and selling them. He's taught Emily a lot about the hunting, about her gardening. His little quirk -- he's always wearing a black suit. As he says --- just in case he drops dead, he'll already be dressed for it.
The mystery was a good one... not something I could foresee, which makes any mystery book much better in my eye. I loved that the American Indians played a part ... and the location is somewhere I could see myself living.
The book did not send my heart into overdrive. It's a smooth journey from start to end and it did hold my attention all the way.
Many thanks to the author / Beyond the Page Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 22, 2013
3.5 stars. Irritated with Emily's relationship with her ex.
May 24, 2018
Since I couldn't read Elizabeth George's latest doorstopper book in bed, I had to look through my bookshelves for bedtime reading and found this one, which I had purchased at a library book sale. It seems to be a bit of a sleeper once I started to get into it, and part of a series that may be worth pursuing. I think it's the first one I've run across set in northern Michigan which has a female protagonist, who also happens to be a reporter and an aspiring author. I enjoyed this mystery, which has a variety of plots in both the protagonist's personal life, and in investigating the discovery of two skeletal bodies in a lake by her property, due to extreme dry weather and dropping water levels.
I think it's worth the time to find the other books in the series. It seems to be a 5 book series. I haven't previously read any of Buzzelli's books. She actually teaches creative writing, as well as having worked as a reporter, and having published a number of books.
I think it's worth the time to find the other books in the series. It seems to be a 5 book series. I haven't previously read any of Buzzelli's books. She actually teaches creative writing, as well as having worked as a reporter, and having published a number of books.
July 8, 2016
Nice Michigan mystery series
January 31, 2022
I enjoyed this book. Yes, Emily’s relationship with her ex is exasperating, especially judging from a woman’s view point. I immediately agreed with Dolly. However, if I had been married to a man of that calibre, I don’t know if I’d have been any wiser. She loved him enough that she married him. Only she could make the decision of her expense into the relationship cause she was paying the price. In the end, she would be the one who would have to be at peace with herself.
I don’t usually enjoy Native American stories, but I enjoyed this one. Maybe because it was an eastern tribe and not a tribe of the southwest. I enjoyed the characters Ms. Buzzelli created. I enjoyed her writing style, the capture of the Odawa Indian tribe, and the rural setting she developed.
I would not say this is a 5, but I do give it a 4 for an enjoyable read that I had to finish. I also wanted to state, some authors seem like they come to the mysteries conclusion at the last chapter or two in a read. Like they are too close to the publishing deadline and have to slap a conclusion on. As the reader I find myself stating, that these endings just don’t make sense. In this read, I got the impression Ms. Buzzelli wove this ending from the very beginning of the story. I found the conclusion very satisfying and fit the preceding narrative.
I don’t usually enjoy Native American stories, but I enjoyed this one. Maybe because it was an eastern tribe and not a tribe of the southwest. I enjoyed the characters Ms. Buzzelli created. I enjoyed her writing style, the capture of the Odawa Indian tribe, and the rural setting she developed.
I would not say this is a 5, but I do give it a 4 for an enjoyable read that I had to finish. I also wanted to state, some authors seem like they come to the mysteries conclusion at the last chapter or two in a read. Like they are too close to the publishing deadline and have to slap a conclusion on. As the reader I find myself stating, that these endings just don’t make sense. In this read, I got the impression Ms. Buzzelli wove this ending from the very beginning of the story. I found the conclusion very satisfying and fit the preceding narrative.
July 28, 2018
When I say "it was OK" I really mean that it was kind of a hot mess but not entirely unreadable. This woman (Emily Kinkaid) now she is a lot of a hot mess. I really can't stand her most of the time and I would never be her friend. The other characters are better developed and relatable, but this woman makes you want to kick her square in the pants. And this plot line stretched on into infinity with too many detours and too many people. I did not care in the end to even reach the resolution. I only kept reading for Dolly's sake and I skimmed the last 50 pages then. I gave it a good shot but just don't care enough about Emily to endure her stupidity for one more book.
November 7, 2018
I find this series by Buzzelli to be far superior to the Little Library series. Both seem to have some niggling issues though. In book one of this series, Emily's ex shows up with a woman. It appears that this woman and the ex were involved but she was going to be staying with family. In this book, that woman is nowhere to be found and Jackson is sleeping with Emily and another woman. At least throw out some reason for why that woman is no longer in the picture. I am getting ready to start book three now.
March 1, 2017
After the breakup of the marriage with her cheating husband, Emily Kincade moves up north. She buys a cabin in the woods and prepares to write "the great American novel". She finds it's not quite as easy as she thought. She meets, an becomes friends with the locals, especially Deputy Dolly Wakowski. In this episode, Dolly asks her for help in finding out who killed her husband, who had left her 13 years ago.
October 12, 2018
I got hooked on this series, which I found when I was hungering for a more rural life. I think this is my favorite in the series so far — good plot (without too much dependence on violence against women) and strong characterization of supporting cast. I forgot to mention that there is a lovely dog in this series.
November 8, 2017
Still not loving this series and I have one more to go in the set of three I bought. Good thing they were cheap. I'm wandering off for awhile and may come back to it but right now there's just not enough to hold my interest.
June 14, 2018
I can't take this book out in public because the title is so disturbing. However, I think that from the first book in the series to this one, the author upped her game. Great story. The characters are enjoyable.
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September 26, 2021I re-read this book and loved it just the same. I'm now on the next in the series.
March 14, 2017
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in return for my honest opinion.
First let me say that I really wanted to love this book. It sounded so good. The characters were well written, I just didn't find them interesting. They were dull, the story never picked up, I kept waiting for the shoe to drop, for the A-ha moment. It didn't happen. I finished the book, but honestly, don't think I would read another in this series.
First let me say that I really wanted to love this book. It sounded so good. The characters were well written, I just didn't find them interesting. They were dull, the story never picked up, I kept waiting for the shoe to drop, for the A-ha moment. It didn't happen. I finished the book, but honestly, don't think I would read another in this series.
February 27, 2017
I read the first book and eagerly awaited this book, now I'm waiting for the third book!
A story of a woman starting over, a story of friendships. Of course a story of murder.
Well written
A story of a woman starting over, a story of friendships. Of course a story of murder.
Well written
July 5, 2009
Simply not as good as the first in the series though the overreaching prose of the first book were tamed and the author's talent with words seemed less forced, less aimed to impress and more willing to let the story unfold. Characterization both flourished and floundered; the secondary characters grew more likeable with their added depth, especially Dolly and Harry, while Emily, the lead character grew increasingly unlikable and quite pathetic. I’m just not interested in doormats, especially self-aware doormats. I’m not even sure how a person can be arrogantly self-involved, closed off and a doormat all at once, yet, here’s Emily – it doesn’t compel a reader to care. There was even a point where I considered the series continuing without her, Dolly would make a great lead, but by the end, Emily had settled into something less offensive.
The plot was interesting enough, murders from the past that cause ripples in the present. Two skeletons discovered at a local lake have ties to Dolly and possibly the local Native American community. Some people want the secrets of those bodies to stay in the past but Dolly needs answers. Emily does as well when here life is disrupted. There is an interesting subplot involving Dolly’s family and the author attempted to draw a parallel between the two women, about how different people create family. Dolly’s outlook is far more appealing that Emily’s sad ideas.
Although, the book felt like the middle piece of a trilogy, I hope the series continues for years to come and Emily continues to rise in my esteem. A 3.5
The plot was interesting enough, murders from the past that cause ripples in the present. Two skeletons discovered at a local lake have ties to Dolly and possibly the local Native American community. Some people want the secrets of those bodies to stay in the past but Dolly needs answers. Emily does as well when here life is disrupted. There is an interesting subplot involving Dolly’s family and the author attempted to draw a parallel between the two women, about how different people create family. Dolly’s outlook is far more appealing that Emily’s sad ideas.
Although, the book felt like the middle piece of a trilogy, I hope the series continues for years to come and Emily continues to rise in my esteem. A 3.5
April 6, 2012
I picked this up off the shelf to have something to read while at lunch. The cover is wonderful--I love illustration. The title intriguing. Unfortunately, the story was not as good. That said, this did give me nice cozy little mystery with some sass.
Emily Kincaid is a good character, as is her side-kick Dolly. She is a writer who keeps turning out someone else's stories accidentally. I found that interesting since I felt like I was reading one of the Stephanie Plumb series, only a little more tame. There were no exploding cars, overt sexual desire, or generally cynical outlooks. There was some intrigue, some sexual desire, and some cynical talk, but in general it was a kinder book. I've never been to Michigan, but I suspect Buzzelli's lack of camp and volume are directly attributable to the differences between Northern Michigan and Trenton New Jersey. It was a nice place to visit for a few days.
If you like and want a well-written, straight-forward, comfortable mystery, this is a good series for you. For me, I doubt I will dig deeper--that is why it is a two star review and not a three. I don't feel compelled to find out what happens to Emily and Dolly next. I'll stick with Cara Black for mystery brain candy in large part because I would rather be in Paris...
Emily Kincaid is a good character, as is her side-kick Dolly. She is a writer who keeps turning out someone else's stories accidentally. I found that interesting since I felt like I was reading one of the Stephanie Plumb series, only a little more tame. There were no exploding cars, overt sexual desire, or generally cynical outlooks. There was some intrigue, some sexual desire, and some cynical talk, but in general it was a kinder book. I've never been to Michigan, but I suspect Buzzelli's lack of camp and volume are directly attributable to the differences between Northern Michigan and Trenton New Jersey. It was a nice place to visit for a few days.
If you like and want a well-written, straight-forward, comfortable mystery, this is a good series for you. For me, I doubt I will dig deeper--that is why it is a two star review and not a three. I don't feel compelled to find out what happens to Emily and Dolly next. I'll stick with Cara Black for mystery brain candy in large part because I would rather be in Paris...
June 24, 2009
BORING. (it really didn't need to be 324 pages!)
Someone said Emily Kincaid was more Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew's creator) rather than Agatha Christie. Wrong. She's neither. She's just a dull tool in the mystery fiction shed.
Dead Floating Lovers begins with a bone discovery at a lake of two lovers. One is, Chet, the ex-husband of Emily's sidekick, Deputy Dolly Wakowski. Dolly's a lost soul and Emily's a desperate-for-love wannabe sleuth without a clue. Both bumble along trying to piece a murder puzzle together without any unique analytical skill or passion. No joke, I was on page 197 and the case had barely progressed from the first chapter. While Buzzelli's prose is solid, unfortunately, the plot didn't hook me.
Chet's affair, Dolly's background, the trip to Detroit to find Chet, the mysteriously lurking Native American men, Emily's pining for Jackson (her ex), the abusive dysfunctional household of the female "lover" etc. made Dead Floating Lovers come off as an overstuffed hodge-podge of loose ends rather than a novel with a dominating story with subplots. After a while, I didn't care what happened.
Someone said Emily Kincaid was more Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew's creator) rather than Agatha Christie. Wrong. She's neither. She's just a dull tool in the mystery fiction shed.
Dead Floating Lovers begins with a bone discovery at a lake of two lovers. One is, Chet, the ex-husband of Emily's sidekick, Deputy Dolly Wakowski. Dolly's a lost soul and Emily's a desperate-for-love wannabe sleuth without a clue. Both bumble along trying to piece a murder puzzle together without any unique analytical skill or passion. No joke, I was on page 197 and the case had barely progressed from the first chapter. While Buzzelli's prose is solid, unfortunately, the plot didn't hook me.
Chet's affair, Dolly's background, the trip to Detroit to find Chet, the mysteriously lurking Native American men, Emily's pining for Jackson (her ex), the abusive dysfunctional household of the female "lover" etc. made Dead Floating Lovers come off as an overstuffed hodge-podge of loose ends rather than a novel with a dominating story with subplots. After a while, I didn't care what happened.
June 3, 2013
I'm intrigued. Not enraptured but intrigued enough to have gone to the library to check out the books that precede and follow this one in the series. The protagonist, Emily, is an Ann Arbor transplant to the northern lower peninsula. You may have to live in Michigan to understand that. She was a journalist and moved after her husband played around one too many times. She is not over him. Emily is trying to sell a novel but seems to be stuck in a derivative rut. Her plots have all been done before.
The characters are interesting (I hate Emily's ex-husband) and the plot lines are not derivative (as poor Emily's seem to be.) I've just started number one (Dead Dancing Women) and am glad I got into the series in number 2 as Buzzelli still seems to be working out her style in the first book. It is readable, particularly as I know it gets better in Dead Floating Lovers.
All in all, a good read
The characters are interesting (I hate Emily's ex-husband) and the plot lines are not derivative (as poor Emily's seem to be.) I've just started number one (Dead Dancing Women) and am glad I got into the series in number 2 as Buzzelli still seems to be working out her style in the first book. It is readable, particularly as I know it gets better in Dead Floating Lovers.
All in all, a good read
March 3, 2010
Buzzelli's second mystery leaves the reader wondering why she finished reading it. Heroine Emily Kincaid annoys more than she appeals, and the help of secondary characters like Deputy Dolly Wakowski and Crazy Harry does little to save Emily from herself.
Also tedious are the constant references to Dead Dancing Women, Kincaid's first book, as an unpublished novel in the process of submission and Kincaid's frankly unbelievable habit of unknowingly rewriting famous movies as novels.
Sadly, Buzzelli possesses talent - her setting and characters are vividly imagined and her depictions of Emily's relationships are realistic and just a little wry. Too bad the bland plot leaves all the action to the very end of the story, and Emily leaves the reader uninterested in her further adventures.
Also tedious are the constant references to Dead Dancing Women, Kincaid's first book, as an unpublished novel in the process of submission and Kincaid's frankly unbelievable habit of unknowingly rewriting famous movies as novels.
Sadly, Buzzelli possesses talent - her setting and characters are vividly imagined and her depictions of Emily's relationships are realistic and just a little wry. Too bad the bland plot leaves all the action to the very end of the story, and Emily leaves the reader uninterested in her further adventures.
July 23, 2009
Second in a new mystery series-story line quickly follows the first. Set in upper Michigan somewhere near Traverse City the book is full of local atmosphere and the beauty and also the isolation of the area. The characters seem less eccentric and more believable than in the first of the series-with the character of Deputy Dolly given more background as this plot centers around her and the husband who disappeared 13 years before. The basic crime plot is all too sadly believable. Well written with both characters, plot, and setting well done. Not really a cheery cozy, but no graphic language or details. I'm sure there will be a third in the series and I will read it!
September 10, 2012
Went a bit better than the first in this series, but I'm still not sure about this author's writing style. It just doesn't seem to flow quite right.
The characters are unusual and interesting. The lead character still has me on the fence - I'm still not sure about her. She seems almost ditsy in this book. She's an appalling dog owner, though well intended. No concept of how to train or discipline a puppy; but she does love him and generally treats him well (though she leaves him alone and tied up a lot).
I think I'm starting to like the supporting characters, though and getting drawn into this series.
The characters are unusual and interesting. The lead character still has me on the fence - I'm still not sure about her. She seems almost ditsy in this book. She's an appalling dog owner, though well intended. No concept of how to train or discipline a puppy; but she does love him and generally treats him well (though she leaves him alone and tied up a lot).
I think I'm starting to like the supporting characters, though and getting drawn into this series.
July 22, 2013
Deputy Delores (Dolly) Flynn is in trouble. A body's been found in the local lake and the dog tags her husband gave her for a wedding present are on the scene. Emily Kincaid, frustrated mystery writer and our narrator, was on the scene.
But the dog tags were found on a set of female bones. Bones that Dolly thinks might be of the woman she last saw her husband with. Chet, her husband, is also a skeleton and is found nearby.
Emily and Dolly will need to find out who killed Chet and the other woman before that death ripples into creating another one in the present.
Characters like Emily's neighbor Harry and the local restaurateur reappear in this book as well.
But the dog tags were found on a set of female bones. Bones that Dolly thinks might be of the woman she last saw her husband with. Chet, her husband, is also a skeleton and is found nearby.
Emily and Dolly will need to find out who killed Chet and the other woman before that death ripples into creating another one in the present.
Characters like Emily's neighbor Harry and the local restaurateur reappear in this book as well.
March 3, 2014
"Dead Floating Lovers" is a cozy mystery with a distinctly literary edge. The sleuths are a mismatched pair from "up north" Michigan - Emily, a sad sack who can't sell her novels, pay her bills, or say no to her obnoxious user of an ex-husband; and Deputy Dolly Wakowski, equally wounded but better at hiding it. The mystery, involving the murder of Dolly's long-missing husband and his Native American girlfriend, unfolds in a straight-forward manner without any shocking surprises. The complexity of the book lies in the main characters and their developing friendship. A cast of colorful locals add interest. Though the second in a series, this book can be enjoyed alone.
August 1, 2009
Aspiring writer Emily is living in northern Michigan, but is still in thrall to her manipulative ex-husband Jackson. Her friend deputy Dolly Wakowski confides that she thinks the bones recently discovered nearby are connected to her husband Chet, who disappeared years ago. When Emily joins Dolly in the investigation, she is threatened by members of a Native American group that runs a nearby casino. For a former urbanite and reporter, Emily is rather naive--even Dolly can see through Jackson-- but this is still an enjoyable read.
Read
December 7, 2011Didn't hold my interest enough to keep on reading
September 6, 2012
This novel was beautifully written, and the author's knowledge of ancient Indian rituals was amazing. The ending was lovely.
September 21, 2012
I am enjoying this series.
March 6, 2015
Love the description of northern Michigan, the mystery and motivations don’t quite make sense if you think too hard about it, but enough to entertain.
Read
November 2, 2017I found parts of this book quite interesting such as the cultural tensions between the Indian nation and white men or the mysteries of the morel mushrooms. However, suffering through Emma`s attempt to rekindle her defunct marriage was tortuous.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews