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Deep winter
In this compelling mystery-suspense novel, a devastating murder in an isolated small town sets off an unstoppable chain of events made more complicated—and more dangerous—by the town’s dark secrets.A devastating murder in an isolated town appears to be the work of a man with the mind of a child—but could the truth be hidden in the swirling snow?In the small town of Wyalusing in eastern Pennsylvania, a woman is found brutally murdered one winter night. Next to the body is Danny Bedford, a misunderstood man who suffered a tragic brain injury that left him with limited mental capabilities. Despite his simple life, his intimidating size has caused his neighbors to ostracize him in fear. So when the local bully-turned-deputy discovers Danny with the body it’s obvious that Danny’s physical strength has finally turned deadly. But in the long, freezing night that follows, the murder is only the first in a series of crimes that viciously upset the town order—an unstoppable chain of violence that appears to make Danny’s guilt increasingly undeniable.With the threat of an approaching blizzard, the local sheriff and a state trooper work through the pre-dawn hours to establish some semblance of peace. As they investigate one incident after another, they discover an intricate web of lies that reveals that not everything in Wyalusing is quite what it seems.With echoes of Scott Smith’s A Simple Plan and Tana French’s In the Woods, Deep Winter is a richly atmospheric and ingeniously plotted novel that is surprising to the final page. It’s impossible to escape this bone-chilling story of deception where the truth is uncertain and something sinister is lurking just below the surface…
320 pages, Pocket Book
First published February 20, 2014
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January 27, 2015
This is an atmospheric novel set in the middle of winter in a tiny town in eastern Pennsylvania named Wyalusing. At the center of the story is Danny Bedford, a giant of a man who was left severely challenged mentally in an accident in which both of his parents died while Danny was still a young boy.
Since that time, Danny's life has been a stern trial. He was raised by a bitter hard-drinking uncle and after the death of the uncle supports himself by tending to a laundromat. He lives in a tiny room above the laundromat which is part of his compensation. Most other residents in the small community either ignore Danny or mock him both because of his size and his disability.
The only person who's ever been kind to Danny is a waitress named Mindy who shares his birthday and who is angered by the way the rest of the town treats him. But when Mindy turns up murdered, Danny suddenly finds himself in the crosshairs of a number of people who immediately jump to the conclusion that he has killed her.
In particular, Danny is pursued by a vicious deputy sheriff who has bullied Danny all their lives and who is now ready to shoot him on sight. Danny is only vaguely aware of what is going on around him and his chances of surviving the night of the murder seem small indeed.
As the title implies, the story takes place in the dead of winter, and Gailey is at his best in setting the frigid scene in which the action takes place. The characters are well-drawn, if a bit one-dimensional, and one feels a great deal of sympathy for Danny and the tragic situation in which he finds himself. But the story did not resonate with me quite as much as I had hoped, in part because some of the characters did not seem all that believable.
This is another of those novels in which some of the characters drink very heavily in addition to taking drugs. As a result, any normal person would be totally incapacitated very early on, although these characters continue to forge on for hours, committing mayhem on a massive scale. This ultimately took me out of the story because I kept thinking that at least one or two of these characters should have been not just dead drunk, but simply dead from alcohol poisoning long before the climax of the novel.
There's another development at the end of the book which allows the narrative to spin out for another few chapters but that simply made no sense to me, and so while I enjoyed parts of this book, it winds up being three stars for me rather than four.
Since that time, Danny's life has been a stern trial. He was raised by a bitter hard-drinking uncle and after the death of the uncle supports himself by tending to a laundromat. He lives in a tiny room above the laundromat which is part of his compensation. Most other residents in the small community either ignore Danny or mock him both because of his size and his disability.
The only person who's ever been kind to Danny is a waitress named Mindy who shares his birthday and who is angered by the way the rest of the town treats him. But when Mindy turns up murdered, Danny suddenly finds himself in the crosshairs of a number of people who immediately jump to the conclusion that he has killed her.
In particular, Danny is pursued by a vicious deputy sheriff who has bullied Danny all their lives and who is now ready to shoot him on sight. Danny is only vaguely aware of what is going on around him and his chances of surviving the night of the murder seem small indeed.
As the title implies, the story takes place in the dead of winter, and Gailey is at his best in setting the frigid scene in which the action takes place. The characters are well-drawn, if a bit one-dimensional, and one feels a great deal of sympathy for Danny and the tragic situation in which he finds himself. But the story did not resonate with me quite as much as I had hoped, in part because some of the characters did not seem all that believable.
This is another of those novels in which some of the characters drink very heavily in addition to taking drugs. As a result, any normal person would be totally incapacitated very early on, although these characters continue to forge on for hours, committing mayhem on a massive scale. This ultimately took me out of the story because I kept thinking that at least one or two of these characters should have been not just dead drunk, but simply dead from alcohol poisoning long before the climax of the novel.
There's another development at the end of the book which allows the narrative to spin out for another few chapters but that simply made no sense to me, and so while I enjoyed parts of this book, it winds up being three stars for me rather than four.
March 12, 2014
Set deep in the heart of rural Pennsylvania, Deep Winter hits you with the toxic blast of Frank Bill, combined with the raw emotional intensity of Daniel Woodrell. Focusing on the confusion wrought in the aftermath of a brutal murder in a small town community, with a cast of characters ranging from the good to the exceedingly bad, this is a book that has more than a shock or two in store for the unsuspecting reader…
The defining characteristic of Gailey’s writing is his incredibly natural and fluid portrayal of his protagonists. Ostensibly the book is centred on Danny, a middle aged man who has suffered not only an extreme personal tragedy, but also having to deal day-to-day with life in the shadow of his learning disabilities. As we are offered snapshots of Danny’s life both now and in the past, we bear witness to the bullying and ostracising he has experienced within this small community. Having formed a heart-warming connection with the sassy Mindy- now a waitress in the local diner- from a young age, Danny finds himself at the centre of a manhunt after her murder. As he is pursued doggedly by the local law enforcement, one of whom is actually responsible for this brutal crime, we see his life descend into a tailspin, with the blurring of his perception of reality, as past and present become confused in his mind. Gailey’s portrayal of Danny is both emotive and affecting and as a reader you are rooting for him throughout with a sense of extreme indignation at the persecution of this simple soul. Likewise, the bad guys in this book are thoroughly bad, in particular the dastardly Deputy Sokowski -what a rotter- provoking a strong sense of disgust at both their actions, and the lengths they will go to in condemning Danny for a crime he did not commit. As Danny is pursued by the evil Sokowski, the empathetic Sheriff Lester and an alcoholic State Trooper, Bill Taggart, a man haunted by more than a few demons of his own, the scene is set for a violent denouement that’ll blow your socks off, You’ll either love or hate the slightly overblown Tarantino-esque ending, but I thought it was good fun. Yes, I know…
So, compounded by the use of location, and the unrelenting chill of winter that seems to seep into your very marrow as the book progresses, I enjoyed this violent tale of murder with its detours into the emotional core of its characters. A nice find if you like your crime fiction with a bit more punch.
The defining characteristic of Gailey’s writing is his incredibly natural and fluid portrayal of his protagonists. Ostensibly the book is centred on Danny, a middle aged man who has suffered not only an extreme personal tragedy, but also having to deal day-to-day with life in the shadow of his learning disabilities. As we are offered snapshots of Danny’s life both now and in the past, we bear witness to the bullying and ostracising he has experienced within this small community. Having formed a heart-warming connection with the sassy Mindy- now a waitress in the local diner- from a young age, Danny finds himself at the centre of a manhunt after her murder. As he is pursued doggedly by the local law enforcement, one of whom is actually responsible for this brutal crime, we see his life descend into a tailspin, with the blurring of his perception of reality, as past and present become confused in his mind. Gailey’s portrayal of Danny is both emotive and affecting and as a reader you are rooting for him throughout with a sense of extreme indignation at the persecution of this simple soul. Likewise, the bad guys in this book are thoroughly bad, in particular the dastardly Deputy Sokowski -what a rotter- provoking a strong sense of disgust at both their actions, and the lengths they will go to in condemning Danny for a crime he did not commit. As Danny is pursued by the evil Sokowski, the empathetic Sheriff Lester and an alcoholic State Trooper, Bill Taggart, a man haunted by more than a few demons of his own, the scene is set for a violent denouement that’ll blow your socks off, You’ll either love or hate the slightly overblown Tarantino-esque ending, but I thought it was good fun. Yes, I know…
So, compounded by the use of location, and the unrelenting chill of winter that seems to seep into your very marrow as the book progresses, I enjoyed this violent tale of murder with its detours into the emotional core of its characters. A nice find if you like your crime fiction with a bit more punch.
March 15, 2015
I always had trouble watching the U.S. version of The Office, because I would sit there trying to figure out if anyone on the show genuinely seemed like they were from Scranton (the verdict: maybe Dwight, no one else). There's really no such thing as a "generic" part of the country populated with "just folks"--every area has its own traits and quirks, and if you're creating art you dismiss that fact at your own peril.
As it happens, 2014 was a big year for fiction set in northeastern PA--there were two, count 'em, two books from major publishers set there. One was The Hollow Ground, which I won in a Goodreads giveaway and plan to read shortly, and the other was Deep Winter. I'm cutting back on my book buying and hadn't planned on getting this one, but when I paged through it in Barnes & Noble I could barely contain my glee: Now these characters sounded like they were from northeastern Pennsylvania! I bought it on the spot and now that I've read it I still feel the same--Samuel Gailey has created characters who really do seem like they're from that neck of the woods, perhaps the first time an author has done that. I enjoyed that aspect of the book immensely.
Unfortunately, not everything about the book was as skilled. In particular, it had major point-of-view problems: Chapters are narrated by alternating characters, but within those chapters point-of-view sometimes switches to another character without warning, often within paragraphs. There also seems to be an omniscient narrator, but sometimes this narrator talks in NEPA-speak and sometimes in more standard English. This didn't work for me at all and I have no idea why it wasn't cleaned up a bit more before publication.
While the number of guns the residents of Wyalusing had seemed realistic, the sheer bloodiness of the book strained credibility. But it was definitely a page-turner that kept me guessing almost to the end, and the last few pages actually made me choke up a little. I wouldn't go into this expecting something particularly literary, but if you just want an above-average psychological thriller, you won't be disappointed.
As it happens, 2014 was a big year for fiction set in northeastern PA--there were two, count 'em, two books from major publishers set there. One was The Hollow Ground, which I won in a Goodreads giveaway and plan to read shortly, and the other was Deep Winter. I'm cutting back on my book buying and hadn't planned on getting this one, but when I paged through it in Barnes & Noble I could barely contain my glee: Now these characters sounded like they were from northeastern Pennsylvania! I bought it on the spot and now that I've read it I still feel the same--Samuel Gailey has created characters who really do seem like they're from that neck of the woods, perhaps the first time an author has done that. I enjoyed that aspect of the book immensely.
Unfortunately, not everything about the book was as skilled. In particular, it had major point-of-view problems: Chapters are narrated by alternating characters, but within those chapters point-of-view sometimes switches to another character without warning, often within paragraphs. There also seems to be an omniscient narrator, but sometimes this narrator talks in NEPA-speak and sometimes in more standard English. This didn't work for me at all and I have no idea why it wasn't cleaned up a bit more before publication.
While the number of guns the residents of Wyalusing had seemed realistic, the sheer bloodiness of the book strained credibility. But it was definitely a page-turner that kept me guessing almost to the end, and the last few pages actually made me choke up a little. I wouldn't go into this expecting something particularly literary, but if you just want an above-average psychological thriller, you won't be disappointed.
November 14, 2013
Coming 20th February 2014 from Penguin Group Blue Rider Press.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy via netgalley.
A devastating murder in an isolated small town sets off an unstoppable chain of events made more complicated—and more dangerous—by the town’s dark secrets.
A clever and compelling character driven novel about the events leading up to and the aftermath of a brutal murder. Told from several points of view over a short period of time, this was a fascinating old school type read with a wonderful noir feel to it.
Bang at the heart of this story is Danny – slow since a childhood accident but with a good heart, he finds himself caught up in events he can barely understand. With the inhabitants of the town all too ready to judge him and accept the worst, he finds himself in a maelstorm created by a very evil man.
Mr Gailey has created a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere within the tightly woven and fast moving plot – and given us an authentic soundbite of small town life. Where everyone knows everyone else, but equally everyone has secrets. This is not a “WhoDunnit” this is a rather dark look at human nature…how we view others, how they view us. Nicely executed – if the authors intention was to make us consider more carefully our reactions and assumptions about those around us then job done.
Unpredictable and astute, I would recommend this for lovers of Crime Fiction, especially if they like it with a classic feel rather than a more modern one.
Happy Reading Folks!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy via netgalley.
A devastating murder in an isolated small town sets off an unstoppable chain of events made more complicated—and more dangerous—by the town’s dark secrets.
A clever and compelling character driven novel about the events leading up to and the aftermath of a brutal murder. Told from several points of view over a short period of time, this was a fascinating old school type read with a wonderful noir feel to it.
Bang at the heart of this story is Danny – slow since a childhood accident but with a good heart, he finds himself caught up in events he can barely understand. With the inhabitants of the town all too ready to judge him and accept the worst, he finds himself in a maelstorm created by a very evil man.
Mr Gailey has created a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere within the tightly woven and fast moving plot – and given us an authentic soundbite of small town life. Where everyone knows everyone else, but equally everyone has secrets. This is not a “WhoDunnit” this is a rather dark look at human nature…how we view others, how they view us. Nicely executed – if the authors intention was to make us consider more carefully our reactions and assumptions about those around us then job done.
Unpredictable and astute, I would recommend this for lovers of Crime Fiction, especially if they like it with a classic feel rather than a more modern one.
Happy Reading Folks!
November 2, 2013
I received this book as an early read via NetGalley. This was very well written as far as character description, dialogue, speed at which the story rolled along - but I'm not convinced there was a plot. With the exception of the owners of the laundromat, none of the characters - including the protagonist - had any especially redeeming qualities, they either seemed outright, and often over the top, horrible or utterly forgettable wastes of space. This whole novel was basically a vignette of an unbelievably (literally) violent couple of days in time in a place no one in their right mind would care about or want to live if it existed.
October 26, 2013
I got to read an advanced copy of this book "Deep Winter" when it was acquired by Blue Rider Press/Penguin USA. If you liked Heather Gudenkamp's "Weight of Silence," "Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, or "Simple Plan" by Scott Smith, then you will like this book. It is a page turner, alternating pov's between interesting characters that you want to root for or that drive you mad (as they are supposed to). In the end, this story has all the mystery and action one wants from a thriller, but also has the heart and humanity of great literary fiction.
Official Book release for Deep Winter is February 2014.
Official Book release for Deep Winter is February 2014.
January 30, 2016
When Danny was 5 years old, he fell through thin ice and was submerged for more than 10 minutes. His parents drowned trying to rescue him, and he sustained severe brain damage. Read more about this extraordinary book on my blog "Should I read it or not?": http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.c...
September 7, 2014
Clunky. but compulsively readable, Deep Winter, set in an indeterminate time (probably late 1970s-early 80s) in Wyalusing, PA (a town of less than 500 known for little more than hosting an annual fair to celebrate the origin of the American standard "Camptown Races"), recounts the hours before and after a gruesome murder of a local waitress.
Clunky, because it takes an incredible leap of faith to imagine the police being so incredibly stupid (even in the 70s-80s, even in Podunk, PA) not to figure out what's going on; compulsively readable in that Danny, a brain-damaged 40+ year-old protagonist (hurt in a tragic incident in his youth) who is pinned for the murder of the waitress, is so likeable (and I'm a sucker for poor shlub stories).
If you read this expecting a complex thriller, you'll probably be disappointed; if you read this (like I did) as a somewhat tongue-in-cheek
comedy of errors/anti-NRA tract, you might be pleased as I was.
September 19, 2014
Samuel W. Gailey grew up in a small Pennsylvania town much like the one depicted in his riveting debut novel. The book follows the town’s inhabitants through the buildup and aftermath of the murder of one of its well-loved residents. It’s a nasty slaying and an ugly cover-up, and the local sheriff and state trooper are in a race against time to capture the assailant before anyone else does. Because in the snow-blanketed woods of Wyalusing, murderers are hunted not just by the law, but by the ones left behind who will stop at nothing to exact their own form of merciless justice.
October 29, 2013
Read an advanced galley of this book after seeing the glowing recommendation by author Urban Waite ('Terror of Living', 'Carrion Birds'), one of my favorite suspense writers. 'Deep Winter' is a great, fast-paced read. More depth, reality and heart than GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn, while maintaining as much suspense. Enjoyed the alternating POV as much as I did in WEIGHT OF SILENCE. Looking forward to whatever this author puts out next.
April 15, 2014
Picked this book up on a whim from my library and boy, did I like it. Touted as a combination of a Simple Plan by Scott Smith and In the Woods by Tara French, I was intrigued. The book left me feeling many things. Mainly, how can so many things go wrong and yet things turn out so right? I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries that are not a mystery and who knows that ordinary life is sometimes much deeper that it first seems. A highly enjoyable read.
June 5, 2016
Truly one of the best examples of amateurish writing I have ever experienced. Someone actually compared this novel with Tana French's In The Woods which is probably why I picked it up. That someone would dare to compare this book with Tana French's writing is so grossly misleading and pathetic it makes me want to cry. This may be the worst book I have ever attempted to read. I can't in good conscience even donate to my local library. It is trash.
April 25, 2014
Wow. This book just sort of sneaks up on you. I was reading along, enjoying what I considered to be a good story & then--bam! I found myself saying oh my God! Out loud! Loved this book, & the main character, & & the other "good guy" characters as well. But the bad guy? He's BAD! A great read!
December 3, 2022
Something about this author’s writing was very easy to read. The plot was also quite engaging and fast-paced and I was flying through this book anytime I picked it up and did not want to put it down. I did enjoy this book but there were some things that bothered me like most of the characters were awful and disgusting and all they seemingly did was drink and hate others. The villain in this may be one of the grossest and most vile characters I’ve ever read. The descriptions in this book were very violent and gory and I don’t think everyone would enjoy that aspect. Overall I think this is a high 3 stars (more like 3.5).
January 27, 2021
Not a perfect novel but it has a lot of heart. Being from Pennsylvania, this author basically described a place everyone from the state has been to or grown up in, characters that you've probably met in real life at some point. The ending was touching as well, a nice way to cap off all the violence
November 26, 2017
Sorry- this book was so 'over the top' of being so unbelievable that I am shocked that I even finished this book. 'nuf said!
Read
March 7, 2021The story premise was good. A mentally challenged young man getting blamed for a murder he didn't commit. Danny's character was believable. However, the rest is not. Law enforcement and many of the other characters are drunks and unbelievable. People getting killed right and left with the idea that the murder is being covered up, unbelievable. What a poor portrayal of small town goings on.
February 26, 2014
I would like to thank the publisher through NetGalley for my review copy of Deep Winter by Samuel W. Gailey.
Deep Winter is one part To Kill a Mockingbird, and one big part a Quentin Tarantino type Kill Bill action thriller.
Deep Winter is the story of Danny, a grown man with a low IQ, who is ostracized by almost everyone in the small Pennsylvania town in which he has lived all his life. He has one friend, Mindy Knolls, who is a waitress at the local dinner. As the story begins, it is a cold winter morning in 1984, and Danny has carved a beautiful wooden robin to give to Mindy for her birthday. Unfortunately, when Danny arrives at her trailer to give her his gift, he discovers that Mindy has been brutally murdered.
Almost simultaneously, we are introduced to deputy sheriff Mike Sokowski, Mindy’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, who is pretty much the most corrupt cop and all around evil guy that one can imagine. Mike is responsible for Mindy’s death, but decides to blame it on slow-witted Danny.
What follows is a blood bath (with occasional vomiting and defecating thrown in for good measure) in which Sokowski pursues Danny, and Danny tries to escape and tell the truth about Mindy’s murder.
Deep Winter is more of an action thriller than a mystery, because the identity of the murderer, and Danny’s discovery of Mindy’s body, are both revealed to the reader in the first few chapters of the story. The author writes with multiple pov’s. This allows him to explain the action from an omniscient perspective.
I’ve noticed quite a few authors using multiple pov’s lately to achieve this omniscient affect, and I’m ambivalent about this technique. I think dual, or multiple pov’s can be used very powerfully to show how different characters have limited, or skewed world views, or to demonstrate how they misunderstand each other’s intentions. But when multiple pov’s are utilized mainly in order to most easily advance the plot, it seems a little like the author is just sneakily being the all-knowing narrator. Deep Winter definitely falls into this second category, with new narrators entering the novel throughout as they appear in the story.
As I read Deep Winter, I continually asked myself what the author’s goal was in this novel. At first, I thought Gailey was attempting to write about ostracism, and to tell a touching, if gritty story about the suffering of someone viewed as different. His omnipresent use of bird metaphors to describe Danny seemed, while a bit overdone, to suggest that Gailey meant for the novel to have literary depth.
However, in short order, the story descended into unending, over-the-top, violence and gore. In scene after scene, there were fights, broken bones, and bloody deaths. Deep Winter had probably the highest body count of any book I can recall reading, and I wondered half-seriously to myself if there would be anyone remaining alive in that unfortunate town by the end of the book.
Then, suddenly, everything wrapped up, and the novel ended on a slightly meaningful note. To me however, what was meant to be a touching conclusion seemed too little too late compared to the slaughter that we had witnessed throughout the novel.
On a positive note, I will say that Deep Winter was never boring. There was non-stop action once the book began. Fans of action thrillers, or fans of movies or books with over-the-top violence will be entertained by Deep Winter. However, to me, the violence simply for the sake of violence, was a turn off, and seemed meaningless. For me, the end of Deep Winter did not justify the means.
Deep Winter is one part To Kill a Mockingbird, and one big part a Quentin Tarantino type Kill Bill action thriller.
Deep Winter is the story of Danny, a grown man with a low IQ, who is ostracized by almost everyone in the small Pennsylvania town in which he has lived all his life. He has one friend, Mindy Knolls, who is a waitress at the local dinner. As the story begins, it is a cold winter morning in 1984, and Danny has carved a beautiful wooden robin to give to Mindy for her birthday. Unfortunately, when Danny arrives at her trailer to give her his gift, he discovers that Mindy has been brutally murdered.
Almost simultaneously, we are introduced to deputy sheriff Mike Sokowski, Mindy’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, who is pretty much the most corrupt cop and all around evil guy that one can imagine. Mike is responsible for Mindy’s death, but decides to blame it on slow-witted Danny.
What follows is a blood bath (with occasional vomiting and defecating thrown in for good measure) in which Sokowski pursues Danny, and Danny tries to escape and tell the truth about Mindy’s murder.
Deep Winter is more of an action thriller than a mystery, because the identity of the murderer, and Danny’s discovery of Mindy’s body, are both revealed to the reader in the first few chapters of the story. The author writes with multiple pov’s. This allows him to explain the action from an omniscient perspective.
I’ve noticed quite a few authors using multiple pov’s lately to achieve this omniscient affect, and I’m ambivalent about this technique. I think dual, or multiple pov’s can be used very powerfully to show how different characters have limited, or skewed world views, or to demonstrate how they misunderstand each other’s intentions. But when multiple pov’s are utilized mainly in order to most easily advance the plot, it seems a little like the author is just sneakily being the all-knowing narrator. Deep Winter definitely falls into this second category, with new narrators entering the novel throughout as they appear in the story.
As I read Deep Winter, I continually asked myself what the author’s goal was in this novel. At first, I thought Gailey was attempting to write about ostracism, and to tell a touching, if gritty story about the suffering of someone viewed as different. His omnipresent use of bird metaphors to describe Danny seemed, while a bit overdone, to suggest that Gailey meant for the novel to have literary depth.
However, in short order, the story descended into unending, over-the-top, violence and gore. In scene after scene, there were fights, broken bones, and bloody deaths. Deep Winter had probably the highest body count of any book I can recall reading, and I wondered half-seriously to myself if there would be anyone remaining alive in that unfortunate town by the end of the book.
Then, suddenly, everything wrapped up, and the novel ended on a slightly meaningful note. To me however, what was meant to be a touching conclusion seemed too little too late compared to the slaughter that we had witnessed throughout the novel.
On a positive note, I will say that Deep Winter was never boring. There was non-stop action once the book began. Fans of action thrillers, or fans of movies or books with over-the-top violence will be entertained by Deep Winter. However, to me, the violence simply for the sake of violence, was a turn off, and seemed meaningless. For me, the end of Deep Winter did not justify the means.
February 20, 2014
Samuel W. Gailey’s debut release Deep Winter is a dark, gritty and extremely violent yet compelling novel. The town of Wyalusing, PA is stunned by the brutal murder of Mindy Knolls, but even more shocking is the apparent identity of her killer-Danny Bedford, a gentle giant whose near drowning as a child left him with diminished mental capacity.
Ostracized by most of the townspeople, Danny lives a quiet and mostly solitary life. He and Mindy have been friends since childhood and Mindy can always be counted on to defend Danny from the town's bullies. They share a long and complicated past with Mike Sokowski, a local Deputy and Mindy's violent on again/off again boyfriend. Danny, Mindy, and Sokowski's worlds tragically collide one snowy night in 1984 in a horrific act of violence and the biggest mystery is not who killed Mindy, but what will become of Danny Bedford.
Told from multiple points of view, Deep Winter is a riveting, character driven novel. Of course, Danny is the most sympathetic character and the unfolding events are mostly beyond his comprehension. One of the other likable character is the Lester, the town sheriff. Close to retirement age, he is still sharp as a tack but it takes him a while to piece together the evidence from the crime scene. Called in to assist in the investigation, State Trooper Bill Taggart is an alcoholic who is more of a liability than an asset. Deputy Mike Sokowski is not only at the bottom of the law enforcement barrel, but he is the personification of evil. Alcoholic, corrupt and self-indulgent, he is unrepentant and ruthless as he continues on his unrelenting path of destruction with the help of his spineless lackey, Carl.
Deep Winter is a disquieting read that I found impossible to put down. It is not traditional mystery but there is plenty of action and suspense. The story is desolate, and while it seems like any type of positive outcome is impossible, Samuel W. Gailey ends the novel on a surprisingly hopeful note.
All in all, Deep Winter is an impressive first novel and I am looking forward to Samuel W. Gailey's next release.
Ostracized by most of the townspeople, Danny lives a quiet and mostly solitary life. He and Mindy have been friends since childhood and Mindy can always be counted on to defend Danny from the town's bullies. They share a long and complicated past with Mike Sokowski, a local Deputy and Mindy's violent on again/off again boyfriend. Danny, Mindy, and Sokowski's worlds tragically collide one snowy night in 1984 in a horrific act of violence and the biggest mystery is not who killed Mindy, but what will become of Danny Bedford.
Told from multiple points of view, Deep Winter is a riveting, character driven novel. Of course, Danny is the most sympathetic character and the unfolding events are mostly beyond his comprehension. One of the other likable character is the Lester, the town sheriff. Close to retirement age, he is still sharp as a tack but it takes him a while to piece together the evidence from the crime scene. Called in to assist in the investigation, State Trooper Bill Taggart is an alcoholic who is more of a liability than an asset. Deputy Mike Sokowski is not only at the bottom of the law enforcement barrel, but he is the personification of evil. Alcoholic, corrupt and self-indulgent, he is unrepentant and ruthless as he continues on his unrelenting path of destruction with the help of his spineless lackey, Carl.
Deep Winter is a disquieting read that I found impossible to put down. It is not traditional mystery but there is plenty of action and suspense. The story is desolate, and while it seems like any type of positive outcome is impossible, Samuel W. Gailey ends the novel on a surprisingly hopeful note.
All in all, Deep Winter is an impressive first novel and I am looking forward to Samuel W. Gailey's next release.
February 24, 2014
Deep Winter is Samuel W. Gailey's debut novel.
Gentle giant Danny has lived in Wyalusing, a small town in Northern Pennsylvania, for his entire life. An accident has left Danny with brain injuries, but he has made a small place for himself. And he tries to lead asmall life as he is the target of taunts and bullying and has few friends. But Mindy, the waitress who serves him breakfast every morning is an exception. She has only treated him with kindness. Danny walks to her trailer on her birthday to deliver a gift - only to find the local sheriff's deputy, Sokowski already there. And Mindy is dead.
The reader knows early on who has killed Mindy. But the race is on - will the killer be caught? Or will Danny take the fall?
There are few likable characters in the book. Sokowski is one of the nastiest antagonists I've read in a while. Many of the 'good' characters are flawed in some way as well. Gailey's characters were quite vivid I quickly turned pages. The reader cannot help but react to each one.
Indeed the whole town seems dismal, dreary and defeated. "Gailey was raised in a small town in northeast Pennsylvania (population 379), which serves as the setting for his debut novel." The setting definitely had a ring of authenticity. The blizzard that envelopes the town serves to further isolate the town and the drama playing out.
Deep Winter is told from multiple points of view - the killer, Mindy, Danny and more. I found this highly effective as it only heightened the tension. The reader is aware of what's going to happen next - or think we are. Gailey knows just when to end a chapter - ensuring I had to read just one more and then another before turning off the light for the evening.
Gailey has worked as a screenwriter and Deep Winter read like a movie for me. (Quentin Tarantino sprang to mind.) It's grim and gritty and not recommended for gentle readers. But it was a page turner for me. There's been a new genre label bandied about - "grit lit" or "rural noir". Deep Winter is a great example of this style.
Gentle giant Danny has lived in Wyalusing, a small town in Northern Pennsylvania, for his entire life. An accident has left Danny with brain injuries, but he has made a small place for himself. And he tries to lead asmall life as he is the target of taunts and bullying and has few friends. But Mindy, the waitress who serves him breakfast every morning is an exception. She has only treated him with kindness. Danny walks to her trailer on her birthday to deliver a gift - only to find the local sheriff's deputy, Sokowski already there. And Mindy is dead.
The reader knows early on who has killed Mindy. But the race is on - will the killer be caught? Or will Danny take the fall?
There are few likable characters in the book. Sokowski is one of the nastiest antagonists I've read in a while. Many of the 'good' characters are flawed in some way as well. Gailey's characters were quite vivid I quickly turned pages. The reader cannot help but react to each one.
Indeed the whole town seems dismal, dreary and defeated. "Gailey was raised in a small town in northeast Pennsylvania (population 379), which serves as the setting for his debut novel." The setting definitely had a ring of authenticity. The blizzard that envelopes the town serves to further isolate the town and the drama playing out.
Deep Winter is told from multiple points of view - the killer, Mindy, Danny and more. I found this highly effective as it only heightened the tension. The reader is aware of what's going to happen next - or think we are. Gailey knows just when to end a chapter - ensuring I had to read just one more and then another before turning off the light for the evening.
Gailey has worked as a screenwriter and Deep Winter read like a movie for me. (Quentin Tarantino sprang to mind.) It's grim and gritty and not recommended for gentle readers. But it was a page turner for me. There's been a new genre label bandied about - "grit lit" or "rural noir". Deep Winter is a great example of this style.
April 2, 2015
Deep Winter is a bleak and brutal book that is written in a sparse and beautiful style. I wish I could've enjoyed the story as much as I did the writing style.
There are only four sympathetic characters in the book: Mindy, the murder victim; the older couple in town who run the laundromat; and Danny Bedford, a young man who suffered a childhood brain trauma that left him disabled. He has a job maintaining the laundromat. He has his own place to live. He's never hurt anyone in his life, but he's had to get used to being either ignored or being the butt of cruel jokes because he's "different." Unfortunately these four characters are incidental to the plot.
Instead the story focuses on Deputy Sheriff Mike Sokowski. Deep Winter is the portrait of a drunk only lightly touched with intelligence but filled to overflowing with greed, hatred, and violence. As the pages turned, I wanted to sweep Sokowski under the rug-- pretend he didn't exist. But I couldn't look away. Gailey created a character who truly frightened me.
Backing up Sokowski is Carl, his weak-willed satellite; Lester the sheriff, an old man looking retirement right in the face and willing to skate along the path of least resistance; and a community of people who look the other way if a situation doesn't directly concern them. The more I read, the more I despised these people. How can you ignore an impending train wreck? Isn't it easier to deal with something right now instead of waiting until there's a body count?
And then I realized that I didn't like myself much either. What did I say a couple of paragraphs ago? I said that I wanted to sweep Sokowski under the rug... pretend that he didn't exist. Just like all those townspeople had been doing for years. Time for me to climb down off my high horse.
Yes, Deep Winter is a powerfully written book, and it made me think. It also deeply depressed me. It's definitely the sort of book you need to be in the right mood to read.
There are only four sympathetic characters in the book: Mindy, the murder victim; the older couple in town who run the laundromat; and Danny Bedford, a young man who suffered a childhood brain trauma that left him disabled. He has a job maintaining the laundromat. He has his own place to live. He's never hurt anyone in his life, but he's had to get used to being either ignored or being the butt of cruel jokes because he's "different." Unfortunately these four characters are incidental to the plot.
Instead the story focuses on Deputy Sheriff Mike Sokowski. Deep Winter is the portrait of a drunk only lightly touched with intelligence but filled to overflowing with greed, hatred, and violence. As the pages turned, I wanted to sweep Sokowski under the rug-- pretend he didn't exist. But I couldn't look away. Gailey created a character who truly frightened me.
Backing up Sokowski is Carl, his weak-willed satellite; Lester the sheriff, an old man looking retirement right in the face and willing to skate along the path of least resistance; and a community of people who look the other way if a situation doesn't directly concern them. The more I read, the more I despised these people. How can you ignore an impending train wreck? Isn't it easier to deal with something right now instead of waiting until there's a body count?
And then I realized that I didn't like myself much either. What did I say a couple of paragraphs ago? I said that I wanted to sweep Sokowski under the rug... pretend that he didn't exist. Just like all those townspeople had been doing for years. Time for me to climb down off my high horse.
Yes, Deep Winter is a powerfully written book, and it made me think. It also deeply depressed me. It's definitely the sort of book you need to be in the right mood to read.
February 2, 2014
Deep Winter by Samuel W. Gailey is highly recommended debut novel of suspense for those with a taste for noir set in a frozen rural landscape.
It is the dead of winter and Danny Bedford, a mentally challenged man, is framed by the real killer as the murderer of Mindy Knolls, one of the few people in the small town of Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, who is his friend. As the body count rises, this dark novel is told from the point of view of several different characters.
Is Deep Winter by Samuel W. Gailey good?
Oh, yes - it is very good and had me racing to the end to see what could possibly happen next. Here is the dilemma: it is unrelentingly violent, feels hopeless, and everyone - save a few timid souls- is a nasty piece of business who enjoy bullying a mentally challenged man. There seems to be debauchery and drug use and excessive drinking and guns and murders happening left and right. I read it at a break-neck pace right to the end but I hated almost all the characters and wondered why on earth anyone would want to live someplace where everyone is a jerk with greasy unwashed hair. I felt emotionally drained after I was done reading.
So, Deep Winter held me by the throat and had me frantically reading to the end but I was angry at almost all the characters (and the author, truth be told, until the very end) but I had to keep reading to find out what happened because it couldn't get any worse and then when it did I had to keep reading just to see if....
Hmmm...
I have to guess that my very emotional reaction to Deep Winter was exactly what author Gailey planned. Well played. I'll be looking forward to Gailey's next novel.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Penguin Books via Edelweiss for review purposes.
It is the dead of winter and Danny Bedford, a mentally challenged man, is framed by the real killer as the murderer of Mindy Knolls, one of the few people in the small town of Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, who is his friend. As the body count rises, this dark novel is told from the point of view of several different characters.
Is Deep Winter by Samuel W. Gailey good?
Oh, yes - it is very good and had me racing to the end to see what could possibly happen next. Here is the dilemma: it is unrelentingly violent, feels hopeless, and everyone - save a few timid souls- is a nasty piece of business who enjoy bullying a mentally challenged man. There seems to be debauchery and drug use and excessive drinking and guns and murders happening left and right. I read it at a break-neck pace right to the end but I hated almost all the characters and wondered why on earth anyone would want to live someplace where everyone is a jerk with greasy unwashed hair. I felt emotionally drained after I was done reading.
So, Deep Winter held me by the throat and had me frantically reading to the end but I was angry at almost all the characters (and the author, truth be told, until the very end) but I had to keep reading to find out what happened because it couldn't get any worse and then when it did I had to keep reading just to see if....
Hmmm...
I have to guess that my very emotional reaction to Deep Winter was exactly what author Gailey planned. Well played. I'll be looking forward to Gailey's next novel.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Penguin Books via Edelweiss for review purposes.
March 25, 2014
The crime novel genre often revolves around cases so fantastical that it sacrifices believability for the high stakes drama of solving the crime and capturing the culprit. Screenwriter Sam Gailey’s nuanced first novel “A Deep Winter” dismisses the outrageous for the sublime and exposes the quiet desperation that belies the seemingly peaceful solitude of a tiny northeastern Pennsylvania town of Wyalusing where a shocking murder of a local woman occurs. The accused, Danny, a local man with a developmental disability from a childhood accident and whose presence at the scene of the crime thrusts him into the role of the primary suspect, seems to initially give the small community the simple closure it expects despite being in direct contrast with Danny’s genial nature and the viciousness of such an attack.
The novel takes place in 1984, is told through present and flashback, is more a slow burner than roller coaster and intensifies as we discover how each of the principals’ backgrounds and preconceptions leads them towards the truth. Gailey’s setting of Wyalusing, about a decade prior to the laptop computer, the internet and WIFI-espresso bars, and over two decades before social media, seems a lifetime ago from the present where one might not be able to differentiate a great deal from the 1940’s or 50’s. The murder initially raises the interest level of the locals but the quickly established conclusion ushers them back to their usual routines. Simultaneously, as the the investigation carries on, the local police and a state trooper are inexorably racing towards an uncomfortable, if not explosive conclusion which left me riveted and unable to put the novel down. Very fine first effort by the author.
The novel takes place in 1984, is told through present and flashback, is more a slow burner than roller coaster and intensifies as we discover how each of the principals’ backgrounds and preconceptions leads them towards the truth. Gailey’s setting of Wyalusing, about a decade prior to the laptop computer, the internet and WIFI-espresso bars, and over two decades before social media, seems a lifetime ago from the present where one might not be able to differentiate a great deal from the 1940’s or 50’s. The murder initially raises the interest level of the locals but the quickly established conclusion ushers them back to their usual routines. Simultaneously, as the the investigation carries on, the local police and a state trooper are inexorably racing towards an uncomfortable, if not explosive conclusion which left me riveted and unable to put the novel down. Very fine first effort by the author.
March 24, 2015
Kept me interested until the very end. The story revolves around Danny Bedford, a giant of a man who suffered brain damage as the result of an accident that also killed his parents. He does not have any friends and people aren't particularly nice to him around town. The one person who treats him kindly is Mindy, who happens to be in an off and on relationship with Mike Sokowski, a horrible, unpredictable, violent person who is also the deputy in town. Sokowski has a "friend" named Carl who is pretty much just his follower, a guy who actually has a conscience, but isn't tough enough to stand up to Sokowski.
Everything goes wrong on Mindy's birthday when Danny goes to give Mindy a birthday present he made for her and finds Sokowski and Carl at her place. They take advantage of Danny's trusting nature and blame him for a crime that they committed. It all escalates from there.
It is a fast paced novel with many shocking scenes. Just when you think you've seen the worst of Sokowski, he does something else to make things even more of a mess. I was starting to wonder if anyone would come out of this mess alive!
Another disturbing thing about the novel, which is set in rural Pennsylvania, was how no one seemed to be very competent in taking care of things when they had a situation. The law enforcement were either corrupt, drunk, or not tough enough to do what had to be done. Clearly no one was safe in that town with those people in charge!
Overall, a fast read, but very disturbing.
I received a copy as a First Reads winner on Goodreads.
Everything goes wrong on Mindy's birthday when Danny goes to give Mindy a birthday present he made for her and finds Sokowski and Carl at her place. They take advantage of Danny's trusting nature and blame him for a crime that they committed. It all escalates from there.
It is a fast paced novel with many shocking scenes. Just when you think you've seen the worst of Sokowski, he does something else to make things even more of a mess. I was starting to wonder if anyone would come out of this mess alive!
Another disturbing thing about the novel, which is set in rural Pennsylvania, was how no one seemed to be very competent in taking care of things when they had a situation. The law enforcement were either corrupt, drunk, or not tough enough to do what had to be done. Clearly no one was safe in that town with those people in charge!
Overall, a fast read, but very disturbing.
I received a copy as a First Reads winner on Goodreads.
February 12, 2014
More of a Character Study Than a Murder Mystery
It's the dead of winter in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. Danny, a gentle, mentally challenged man, brings a bird he carved to his friend Mindy for her fortieth birthday. When he enters her trailer, he finds her lying on the floor dead. Being found beside the dead woman, Danny becomes the main suspect. He escapes and a manhunt through the frozen forest ensues setting off a string of progressively more violent incidents.
I thought the book would be about finding the real murderer. However, the author tells us almost immediately who killed her. Since we know who committed the murder, this isn't a typical murder mystery. However, the chase through the woods brings together an interesting cast of characters: the aging Sheriff, his violent deputy, an alcoholic State Police Officer, Danny, and the people he works for at the laundromat.
The author moves from one character to another so we see the unfolding action from a variety of perspectives. Danny is perhaps the most unusual character. The author did a good job of showing us the world through the eyes of a mentally challenged man. The other characters are well drawn, but more stereotypical.
The pace is fast and the book is not long so it's easy to get through it quickly. I recommend the book for the characters. The plot is not strong and the level of violence can make it hard to read. If you're not a fan of violent scenes, this may not be your book.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley
It's the dead of winter in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. Danny, a gentle, mentally challenged man, brings a bird he carved to his friend Mindy for her fortieth birthday. When he enters her trailer, he finds her lying on the floor dead. Being found beside the dead woman, Danny becomes the main suspect. He escapes and a manhunt through the frozen forest ensues setting off a string of progressively more violent incidents.
I thought the book would be about finding the real murderer. However, the author tells us almost immediately who killed her. Since we know who committed the murder, this isn't a typical murder mystery. However, the chase through the woods brings together an interesting cast of characters: the aging Sheriff, his violent deputy, an alcoholic State Police Officer, Danny, and the people he works for at the laundromat.
The author moves from one character to another so we see the unfolding action from a variety of perspectives. Danny is perhaps the most unusual character. The author did a good job of showing us the world through the eyes of a mentally challenged man. The other characters are well drawn, but more stereotypical.
The pace is fast and the book is not long so it's easy to get through it quickly. I recommend the book for the characters. The plot is not strong and the level of violence can make it hard to read. If you're not a fan of violent scenes, this may not be your book.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley
February 6, 2014
This book will upset you and I believe that was the intention. It will stay with you like a huge plate of greasy chili cheese fries - great going down but the meal lives with you for a while and not in a good way. It will make worry about how you treat people who are different and hope that you are kind and patient. A tragic accident when Danny was young leaves him with brain damage and the mind and demeanor of a young child. He does his best to stay cheerful and out of people's way and can't understand why he upsets them. He has few friends and one of them will meet with a brutal end which Danny being in the wrong place at the wrong time, will get the blame for. Add to this mix a messed up police force and a power hungry abusive deputy everything can and will go wrong. With everyone jumping to conclusions and blood thirsty with revenge, this will be a manhunt where only bad things can happen. Confused and alone, Danny must stay alive and find someone who believes in him. Oh, and did I mention a blizzard is coming?
Sheer brutality mixed with simple beauty,"Deep Winter" will haunt you for some time to come. Thanks to Penguin's First Flights program which allowed me to read an advance copy of this book.
Sheer brutality mixed with simple beauty,"Deep Winter" will haunt you for some time to come. Thanks to Penguin's First Flights program which allowed me to read an advance copy of this book.
March 10, 2014
Thank you to Goodreads, the author and Penguin for a free copy of Deep Winter.
This story felt like an intimate study of the dark underbelly of small town America. Mr. Gailey was brilliant in his depiction of the "faces" people put on for the public while being miserable and horrendous creatures to the core. Something about this book kept reminding me of Cormac McCarthy's "No Country for Old Men" where the majority of the characters were walking nightmares, people you wouldn't want to meet in broad daylight, let alone in a dark alley. I kept having a feeling that I just might hate this book, but that wasn't the case...it was more the ugly truth that there really are people, who cross our paths, that are so truly demented and maimed in mind that they can see it, or really relish the fact that they are indeed this rotten to the core. This story is told with bold imagery, stark prose and some bone-chilling characters. If you enjoy an intense thriller, you'll find one in this book.
This story felt like an intimate study of the dark underbelly of small town America. Mr. Gailey was brilliant in his depiction of the "faces" people put on for the public while being miserable and horrendous creatures to the core. Something about this book kept reminding me of Cormac McCarthy's "No Country for Old Men" where the majority of the characters were walking nightmares, people you wouldn't want to meet in broad daylight, let alone in a dark alley. I kept having a feeling that I just might hate this book, but that wasn't the case...it was more the ugly truth that there really are people, who cross our paths, that are so truly demented and maimed in mind that they can see it, or really relish the fact that they are indeed this rotten to the core. This story is told with bold imagery, stark prose and some bone-chilling characters. If you enjoy an intense thriller, you'll find one in this book.
February 23, 2014
Deep Winter is far more than a suspense thriller - even the New York Times describes it as "beautifully written." This is a tour de force exploration of a small town, where each of the well drawn characters leave clear tracks in the snow. The setting is as much of a character as the hero, and the mystery is not about the murder, but whether justice will be served. The characters have such complexity that you root for every honest moment. The violence is uncomfortable, as it should be, and the moral code is so strong that after you wince, you will whistle with admiration.
In all honesty, the author worked on this novel in my class at the Writers Program at UCLA Extension, but I have guided many writers to publication and Samuel Gaily has the goods. He applies his screenwriter's eye to the visual details that express deep emotional lives until a small story becomes an epic experience. Deep Winter will be on the bestseller list in no time, with more in this series to follow. I couldn't be more proud.
In all honesty, the author worked on this novel in my class at the Writers Program at UCLA Extension, but I have guided many writers to publication and Samuel Gaily has the goods. He applies his screenwriter's eye to the visual details that express deep emotional lives until a small story becomes an epic experience. Deep Winter will be on the bestseller list in no time, with more in this series to follow. I couldn't be more proud.
April 7, 2014
***I received an ARC of this novel from a Goodreads Giveaway***
I greatly enjoyed this novel! The story line focused on the murder of a local woman and the subsequent violence that erupted as a consequence of this act. A gentle man with a traumatic brain injury was wrongly named as the perpetrator (it was made evident early on in the novel, who actually committed the murder). Each chapter in the novel alternates between the different characters, and sheds light on each of their weaknesses/motivations (whether it be a vice or the way they chose to view the world) and allows for greater character development. As the suspense in the novel built, I had to stop the urge to flip to the end of the novel to see what happened and to ease some of the tension (a sign that I was truly gripped by this story...I did, however, manage to stymie this impulse!) I would most definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a fast paced suspenseful read!
I greatly enjoyed this novel! The story line focused on the murder of a local woman and the subsequent violence that erupted as a consequence of this act. A gentle man with a traumatic brain injury was wrongly named as the perpetrator (it was made evident early on in the novel, who actually committed the murder). Each chapter in the novel alternates between the different characters, and sheds light on each of their weaknesses/motivations (whether it be a vice or the way they chose to view the world) and allows for greater character development. As the suspense in the novel built, I had to stop the urge to flip to the end of the novel to see what happened and to ease some of the tension (a sign that I was truly gripped by this story...I did, however, manage to stymie this impulse!) I would most definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a fast paced suspenseful read!
October 6, 2014
I love any book that can be described as "atmospheric and brutal," and this far exceeded my expectations. It has elements of "Winter's Bone," "In the Woods," and "Of Mice and Men." I haven't read "A Simple Plan," but I know there are comparisons to this as well. The story is skillfully told from alternating POVs, allowing us to get to know all of these troubled characters from every angle. The story basically centers around a mentally-challenged boy, Danny, who stumbles upon a grisly crime scene. I say "boy" because even though he's a grown adult, I couldn't help feeling protective over him. He's basically an innocent child who is inexplicably thrown into a nightmarish world of violence, corruption, and cowardice. We meet the deputy sheriff who is the epitome of small-town evil and it's only a matter of time before there's a bloodbath in his wake. The writing is superb; Gailey expertly brings the bleak winter setting to life. I can't wait for the next book from this talented writer.
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