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Ray Elkins Mystery #1
Summer People
IT IS LATE JUNE IN MICHIGAN'S GOLD COAST RESORT AREA. The summer residents are settling in for the season and the tourists are beginning to flood the highways and beaches. But the idyllic vision of a summer at the shore is suddenly shattered by a gangland-style shooting. This murder is quickly followed by the deaths of three more summer residents, each taking place under suspicious circumstances. At time hindered by local politics and the proverbial tension between the "summer people" and the "natives," Sheriff Ray Elkins searches for the possible links between the four victims. As he probes into their tangled lives and dark histories, he finds both the motive and the possible murderer.
260 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 2000
913 people are currently reading
1512 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Stander
13 books117 followersAaron Stander spent most of his adult years in the Detroit area, where he taught English and trained writing teachers. In 2000 he and his wife left college teaching positions and moved permanently to their cottage near Traverse City. Aaron is the author ten mysteries set in northwest lower Michigan. He is also the author of numerous articles, stories, poems, and reviews, and the host of Michigan Writers on the Air on Interlochen Public Radio. When not writing or thinking about writing, Aaron spends a lot of time kayaking along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
July 26, 2014
I wholeheartedly support authors who self-publish, and I enjoy buying books by regional authors in little bookstores in towns whose names I can't remember. I think anyone and everyone should be able to have their stories published and read. This is not to say, of course, that they are worth reading or that I actually have to like them.
Recently, during a week vacation in northern Michigan, I stumbled upon this book, "Summer People", by Aaron Stander, a local writer who has a series of self-published books featuring his detective, Ray Elkins.
It's not a great book. It's merely okay, in my humble opinion, and that's being generous. Mainly because the protagonist, a sheriff of a small resort town, is barely given any chance to develop as a character. All the reader knows about him is that he was married, his wife died of cancer, he was a college professor at one point, and he "fell into" his job of sheriff. Indeed, Elkins is one of the most wooden, two-dimensional characters I have ever read in a mystery.
The story itself isn't that interesting. It starts with the murder of an unlikable Wall Streeter vacationing with his new trophy wife. Later, a local drunk is found dead after his car crashes into a lake, which may or may not have been the result of foul play. A fire on the docks results in another death. Elkins manages to suspect (based on little evidence that I could see) that they are somehow related.
The dialogue is stilted and unnatural at times. Characters come and go without any real purpose or relevance to the story. Worst of all, the book ends abruptly, without any real closure and without the mystery actually being technically solved.
There are some things that I will forgive in a mystery, but the few things I have just mentioned are kind of unacceptable, in my opinion.
Stander apparently has five or six more books in his "Ray Elkins thriller" series, which either tells me that his writing hopefully improved enough that he garnered a larger fan base or that he is independently wealthy enough to put his disposable income into continuously publishing this rubbish. I'm enough of an optimist to give the former theory some credence, which is why I'm not opposed to giving Stander a second glance next time I visit that little bookstore in that town whose name I can't remember.
Recently, during a week vacation in northern Michigan, I stumbled upon this book, "Summer People", by Aaron Stander, a local writer who has a series of self-published books featuring his detective, Ray Elkins.
It's not a great book. It's merely okay, in my humble opinion, and that's being generous. Mainly because the protagonist, a sheriff of a small resort town, is barely given any chance to develop as a character. All the reader knows about him is that he was married, his wife died of cancer, he was a college professor at one point, and he "fell into" his job of sheriff. Indeed, Elkins is one of the most wooden, two-dimensional characters I have ever read in a mystery.
The story itself isn't that interesting. It starts with the murder of an unlikable Wall Streeter vacationing with his new trophy wife. Later, a local drunk is found dead after his car crashes into a lake, which may or may not have been the result of foul play. A fire on the docks results in another death. Elkins manages to suspect (based on little evidence that I could see) that they are somehow related.
The dialogue is stilted and unnatural at times. Characters come and go without any real purpose or relevance to the story. Worst of all, the book ends abruptly, without any real closure and without the mystery actually being technically solved.
There are some things that I will forgive in a mystery, but the few things I have just mentioned are kind of unacceptable, in my opinion.
Stander apparently has five or six more books in his "Ray Elkins thriller" series, which either tells me that his writing hopefully improved enough that he garnered a larger fan base or that he is independently wealthy enough to put his disposable income into continuously publishing this rubbish. I'm enough of an optimist to give the former theory some credence, which is why I'm not opposed to giving Stander a second glance next time I visit that little bookstore in that town whose name I can't remember.
June 11, 2022
I really enjoyed the people in this novel. They were interesting. I read this book pretty quickly and it was quite a mystery that really wasn’t solved. But that was okay too. I liked Ray. We will meet again.
July 23, 2017
well...having decided to circle back after reading Shelf Ice I started with the first Ray Elkins. I will probably read more in the series as they are quick reads and available through Kindle Unlimited, a service I subscribe to. If I had read this first I might not revisit. Although I enjoy lake adventures, the first one is rather packed with best school and suburb name dropping for Chicago audiences. It is saved by some comic relief with outlandish shenanigans and murder justification by the bombastic leader of a fundamentalist "Christian" church group.
As the count goes up, Ray decides there could be a connection between the four men in their 40's getting killed in various ways. And then there's the consensus opinion - they had it coming to them.
"We got a whole summer's worth of death and destruction in a week. I hope this is the end of it, but you summer people just keep things hopping."
As the count goes up, Ray decides there could be a connection between the four men in their 40's getting killed in various ways. And then there's the consensus opinion - they had it coming to them.
"We got a whole summer's worth of death and destruction in a week. I hope this is the end of it, but you summer people just keep things hopping."
April 23, 2013
Anyone who has ever lived in a north woods tourist area knows about summer people. This book is set in the area just south of Traverse City, MI: the Glen Lake and Sleeping Bear National Sand Dunes area. The area is referred to as the gold coast of MI due to monied status of most of the summer residents. My husband spent all his summers with his grandparents in the town of Empire. We, in turn, went up there for the first 8 summers after we married. It's a beautiful area. This is the story of 4 different summer people who are murdered, starting with the gangland style shooting of one of the summer people. Three other deaths soon follow, each man dying by a different means. Sheriff Ray Elkins, who's up for re-election in the Fall, needs to solve these cases. Is there a connection between the victims? Can the crimes be solved?
I enjoyed the book, as much for being taken back to the small towns, the river we canoed on, and the back roads we travelled on as for the story itself. The ending is most unusual.
I enjoyed the book, as much for being taken back to the small towns, the river we canoed on, and the back roads we travelled on as for the story itself. The ending is most unusual.
May 4, 2025
Interesting first in the series mystery book. Ray Elkins is a kindly and good sheriff, but in this case he doesn't solve the crime outright though he has a theory. His theory is pretty good, but with no hard evidence to back it up the story doesn't end satisfactorily. I might read another one just to see how the character (and author) develop.
December 31, 2017
I love reading books that take place in Michigan - and love mysteries! An adventurous, cozy mystery in northern Michigan. Fun read---
November 22, 2018
Quiet and Steady
The Ray Elkins thriller was a study of quiet, peaceful murder. You find yourself enjoying the calmness of the book with its pleasing dialogue as it meanders through the story.
The Ray Elkins thriller was a study of quiet, peaceful murder. You find yourself enjoying the calmness of the book with its pleasing dialogue as it meanders through the story.
February 1, 2020
Whilst I finished the book it was a bit of a slog. The characters are 2D, forgettable, and easily interchanged. There's no tension. It kind of peters off in the end. Wouldn't read it again and wouldn't recommend.
August 10, 2012
This is a crime/murder mystery. The scene is set with a murder that looks like it has been ordered by the mafia followed up by a lot of so called accidents. At the end the reader is introduced to the possible why, but there is no confrontation with the killer. There are no real explanations for the accidental deaths, aside from the fact that the killer must be an ex SAS super ninja to pull all of the deaths off. I found it lacking, the text was detached, stocatto and didn't flow very well. Some of the subplots seemed a little unrealistic. I think the characters can be made stronger, instead of just giving us a superficial taste of what they are like. The ingredients are all there for a good story, but it missed the mark for me. I think the frame is there for a better book, it just needs a bit of fine tuning.
April 5, 2014
Bored. To. Tears.
The truth is, I didn't even finish this book. I thought the characters were shallow, primarily because the author never really went into detail about their thoughts or feelings. The characters I was supposed to like I didn't... the characters I was supposed to feel icky about I ended up being interested in, only to have them die.
Not impressed. Got through half the book before I called it quits. Which is kind of depressing because I can count on one hand how many books I haven't finished.
The truth is, I didn't even finish this book. I thought the characters were shallow, primarily because the author never really went into detail about their thoughts or feelings. The characters I was supposed to like I didn't... the characters I was supposed to feel icky about I ended up being interested in, only to have them die.
Not impressed. Got through half the book before I called it quits. Which is kind of depressing because I can count on one hand how many books I haven't finished.
July 19, 2014
I read 'Deer Season (#3)' through a free BookBub offer and enjoyed enough to to check out the series (figures day after I bought #1, BookBub offered it free next day).
This one as not as enjoyable, a quick and easy read but it was missing something from #3 perhaps it was the lead character was more developed. The end was kind of a disappointment, sensed a bias towards a political ideology, but maybe just me and it wasn't too bad
End of the book thoughts; I'm still wanting to read the next in the series "Color Tour"
This one as not as enjoyable, a quick and easy read but it was missing something from #3 perhaps it was the lead character was more developed. The end was kind of a disappointment, sensed a bias towards a political ideology, but maybe just me and it wasn't too bad
End of the book thoughts; I'm still wanting to read the next in the series "Color Tour"
July 23, 2014
I ended up a little confused with the plot, not really understanding who or why, and I couldn't be bothered to go back and check details, The story is okay, but the characters are 2 dimensional and some of the writing is very suspect. This phrase cropped up more than once :
There was so little affect. (which I really do not understand - affection? love? - What does the noun 'affect' mean?)
and there was this:
They both gave a negative nod.
That actually made my brain hurt.
There was so little affect. (which I really do not understand - affection? love? - What does the noun 'affect' mean?)
and there was this:
They both gave a negative nod.
That actually made my brain hurt.
January 11, 2012
Aspects of this book appealed to me. I liked the setting and some of the writer's descriptions were well done. I do remember one paragraph that gave a much too detailed description of how a car is pulled out of a swamp. (Do I really need to know how the wrecker hooks up the axle to get the job done?) The characters were interesting. I liked the ending, because it allows the reader the make inferences about what really happened.
July 27, 2014
This really didn't feel like it was going anywhere...there were quite a few deaths very close together, then the sheriff Sat around and chatted to his old friend (and the old friends new chick, already acting like an old married couple) did a bit of asking around, and then decided something might have happened to someone twenty years ago, and they were now getting their revenge.
It wasn't clear if this was actually the case, or just coincidence.
Not great.
It wasn't clear if this was actually the case, or just coincidence.
Not great.
July 31, 2016
This is the second book in the Ray Elkins series that I've read. I enjoy the setting. I believe it is a good description of police investigative procedures. I read some reviews disappointed with the conclusion of the story, but the story told during the investigation was the payoff for me, and I don't feel that having a gift-wrapped solution was necessary, just as some police cases don't end up closed.
December 27, 2011
Picked this up because the story takes place in an area I love - northwest lower Michigan. Other than dropping some place names and poking fun at the summer people, Stander's really disappointing story could have taken place anywhere. The mystery is poor, the characters are stock and the ending is awful. I should have put this one down after the first chapter. Ever hopeful...
May 14, 2016
This is the second book I've read by Aaron Stander. Many of the reviews I've read were unhappy with the ending of the book--I loved it! Justice was done and good people were allowed to get on with their lives. I'm anxious to read his next book, COLOR TOUR.
September 19, 2014
I enjoyed this book very much. Hope to read more by this author
May 9, 2015
Quick read- the first in the Ray Elkins series , a sheriff in a small Northwestern, coastal Michigan town south of a traverse City.
January 26, 2017
I enjoyed this book. It is slower paced than a more typical thriller mystery, and the method is more cerebral. Instead of a great deal of action, there is a great deal of circumspection, as we enter the process with Sheriff Ray. I agree that his character is not fully developed at the end of this novel. I have read three of the series, and I feel like I'm only now getting a real sense of Ray's character. As one person put it in the third in the series, Deer Season, "what is the other Ray - the one not absorbed in a case - like?" This is what we are discovering as the series progresses.
The author does bog down at times in his descriptions, but I confess, it is not a huge distraction for me. Because of Ray's history as a college professor, I see much of his thought process as one shaped by academe. The methodical way he approaches his cases is quite similar to the methods espoused by scholarly research.
Others have complained about the " lack of ending" of the book. On the contrary, I believe the book drew to a natural conclusion that is, unfortunately, characteristic of police work. At times, there are no tidy solutions to the situations that they face. Many times, there is a certainty in the gut that *this* is what happened, but it is not possible to prove it, legally. The way the deaths were linked was not the result of an "out of the blue" hunch; rather, it was a follow-up of suggestions from several different characters that this person might have known that person, and this other person was friends with the two men involved back in high school, and that sort of thing. Sheriff Ray took those nuggets of information from different sources and took his investigation in that direction. I enjoyed the way he approached older residents of the area for insight. At the end of the book, even though the mystery is not officially "solved," there is enough information to come to a conclusion about what has happened, and I was left with the overwhelming feeling that sometimes life just sucks, and sometimes you get your own justice.
I hope to continue the series, as I have enjoyed getting to know the citizens of this sleepy little Michigan town.
The author does bog down at times in his descriptions, but I confess, it is not a huge distraction for me. Because of Ray's history as a college professor, I see much of his thought process as one shaped by academe. The methodical way he approaches his cases is quite similar to the methods espoused by scholarly research.
Others have complained about the " lack of ending" of the book. On the contrary, I believe the book drew to a natural conclusion that is, unfortunately, characteristic of police work. At times, there are no tidy solutions to the situations that they face. Many times, there is a certainty in the gut that *this* is what happened, but it is not possible to prove it, legally. The way the deaths were linked was not the result of an "out of the blue" hunch; rather, it was a follow-up of suggestions from several different characters that this person might have known that person, and this other person was friends with the two men involved back in high school, and that sort of thing. Sheriff Ray took those nuggets of information from different sources and took his investigation in that direction. I enjoyed the way he approached older residents of the area for insight. At the end of the book, even though the mystery is not officially "solved," there is enough information to come to a conclusion about what has happened, and I was left with the overwhelming feeling that sometimes life just sucks, and sometimes you get your own justice.
I hope to continue the series, as I have enjoyed getting to know the citizens of this sleepy little Michigan town.
September 23, 2022
Ray Elkins is the Sheriff of Cedar County in the northeastern area of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. He is relatively new to the job and is coming up for reelection. He has worked hard to clean up the corruption in the force left by his predecessor; however, just when he thinks the department is heading in the right direction, a memory from the past raises its ugly head.
This summer is a busy one and Elkins has his hands full with more activity in one week than he generally sees in an entire summer. Two murders, a rollover car accident, and a drowning all seem to have some connection as each of the victims are white, middle-aged men, whose families vacationed in the area during the summers. They were “summer people” (as opposed to year-round residents). But the connections are tenuous, at best, the prosecutor isn't convinced and the voting residents want answers. Can Elkins prove their connection before election day?
Summer People is book 1 in the Ray Elkins Mystery Series. It offers plenty of action and mystery. Elkins is a great protagonist but we are just getting to know him and his co-workers and friends in this, his first, book.However, I assure you that our knowledge and respect for the characters growsin relation to their development and depth with each subsequent book. (I started with book 11 by accident and have jumped all over since then.) All of the books are fun, quick reads. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
NOTE: Some followers have indicated that they have difficulty finding Stander’s books. E-books are free for Kindle Unlimited members. E-books and Paperbacks are for sale from Amazon. Local and chain book stores will likely be able to ordered books for your purchase. Audiobooks are available through Audible and Amazon. You may find them at your library.
#EmptyNestReader #instagram #facebook #Goodreads #SummerPeople #AaronStander #RayElkinsMysteryOne #mysteryfiction #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #SeptemberReads #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #ebooks #kindleunlimited
This summer is a busy one and Elkins has his hands full with more activity in one week than he generally sees in an entire summer. Two murders, a rollover car accident, and a drowning all seem to have some connection as each of the victims are white, middle-aged men, whose families vacationed in the area during the summers. They were “summer people” (as opposed to year-round residents). But the connections are tenuous, at best, the prosecutor isn't convinced and the voting residents want answers. Can Elkins prove their connection before election day?
Summer People is book 1 in the Ray Elkins Mystery Series. It offers plenty of action and mystery. Elkins is a great protagonist but we are just getting to know him and his co-workers and friends in this, his first, book.However, I assure you that our knowledge and respect for the characters growsin relation to their development and depth with each subsequent book. (I started with book 11 by accident and have jumped all over since then.) All of the books are fun, quick reads. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
NOTE: Some followers have indicated that they have difficulty finding Stander’s books. E-books are free for Kindle Unlimited members. E-books and Paperbacks are for sale from Amazon. Local and chain book stores will likely be able to ordered books for your purchase. Audiobooks are available through Audible and Amazon. You may find them at your library.
#EmptyNestReader #instagram #facebook #Goodreads #SummerPeople #AaronStander #RayElkinsMysteryOne #mysteryfiction #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #SeptemberReads #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #ebooks #kindleunlimited
October 9, 2017
Sheriff Ray Elkins has to tackle a gangland style shooting, followed by the suspicious deaths of three more summer residents in his resort town on Michigan's gold coast, all while running for re-election. The past and the present collide in surprising ways and friendships are put to the test.
I really like this series. Elkins is an average. Solid, real kind of guy. He likes classical music, loves his job and his town, and is unswervingly dedicated to justice. He’s able to skillfully navigate the gulf between the “fudgies” (the summer people), and the year round residents. He will follow the truth wherever it leads, without regard to personal cost. He reminds me a bit of Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire.
The supporting characters are multi-dimensional and interesting, and are able to exist outside of their relationship to Elkins. The settings are well-described – I felt like I could smell the lake air and feel temperature as Elkins cleared his mind at the lake, or feel the damp from the heavy rain and fog. Elkins is someone I’d like to know more about. And there are seven more books to go in the series, which gladdens me. If you like traditional mysteries with good character development, give this one a go.
I really like this series. Elkins is an average. Solid, real kind of guy. He likes classical music, loves his job and his town, and is unswervingly dedicated to justice. He’s able to skillfully navigate the gulf between the “fudgies” (the summer people), and the year round residents. He will follow the truth wherever it leads, without regard to personal cost. He reminds me a bit of Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire.
The supporting characters are multi-dimensional and interesting, and are able to exist outside of their relationship to Elkins. The settings are well-described – I felt like I could smell the lake air and feel temperature as Elkins cleared his mind at the lake, or feel the damp from the heavy rain and fog. Elkins is someone I’d like to know more about. And there are seven more books to go in the series, which gladdens me. If you like traditional mysteries with good character development, give this one a go.
November 16, 2017
I've read 3 other Ray Elkins mysteries and decided to start from the beginning. Ray is the Sheriff of Cedar County in the northwest part of lower Michigan. I am not familiar with the area at all, but my husband lived with his grandparents on Hicks Lake as a child and loved the area. These mysteries are police procedurals but with a lot of back story and interesting, complex characters.
There are 4 murders in this story, seemingly unconnected and 3 could be accidental. At the end we know who did it and why but there is not enough evidence to prosecute and the victims were all obnoxious with no one mourning their deaths.... not a good reason not to investigate but so ambiguous I was left feeling conflicted about the ending. It was a good start to the series and I know the author's writing has improved over time so I can forgive some inconsistencies and less than perfect editing. I am going to start #2 right now!
There are 4 murders in this story, seemingly unconnected and 3 could be accidental. At the end we know who did it and why but there is not enough evidence to prosecute and the victims were all obnoxious with no one mourning their deaths.... not a good reason not to investigate but so ambiguous I was left feeling conflicted about the ending. It was a good start to the series and I know the author's writing has improved over time so I can forgive some inconsistencies and less than perfect editing. I am going to start #2 right now!
June 27, 2017
This book is a waste of time. I picked it up while visiting Leelanau Peninsula, which is the setting for this story. A murder mystery, you would expect that it would be somewhat suspenseful or hard to put down. I could have put it down at any time and been fine never returning to it. If I'd had anything else to read, I would have. The book throws in characters And random details without ever fully developing their place in the story. Every few chapters someone else is murdered and then the book ends with no certain answer to who did it and with the cop basically just giving up. I would recommend you not waste your time with this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2018
Four separate deaths linked - or not?
Progeny of old summer resident families are murdered, killed in a marina lightening-caused fire, smashed inside an old Triumph's crash into a tree, and drowned from a heart attack while canoeing drunk in bad weather; Sheriff Ray Elkins' suspicions grow as details of an unprosecuted crime from the distant past unfold. Characters are well-drawn and believable while they wrestle with the ethical ramifications of how to handle the results of an investigation that cannot be formally closed because of unverifiable information and outright speculation. An interesting read that left me wanting to know more about Sheriff Elkins. Recommended.
Progeny of old summer resident families are murdered, killed in a marina lightening-caused fire, smashed inside an old Triumph's crash into a tree, and drowned from a heart attack while canoeing drunk in bad weather; Sheriff Ray Elkins' suspicions grow as details of an unprosecuted crime from the distant past unfold. Characters are well-drawn and believable while they wrestle with the ethical ramifications of how to handle the results of an investigation that cannot be formally closed because of unverifiable information and outright speculation. An interesting read that left me wanting to know more about Sheriff Elkins. Recommended.
June 27, 2022
I expected an interesting mystery novel, considering the way the book opened, however, it seemed the plot got more confusing as the story progressed. I could not find a single interesting character, or even a particularly likeable one. Believing the sheriff would huddle with his buddy and the guy's very annoying younger girlfriend about crime-solving seemed far-fetched. I might have tolerated the rude political snobbery had there been a payoff at the end but I trudged through a useless plot with no satisfying outcome. I won't be continuing this series or read anything else from this author.
May 31, 2023
This author was recommended to me while visiting Cottage Books in Glen Arbor, MI during our daughter's first visit to our new home, and area.
I enjoy reading about areas that I live in or around, and this one hits all the good notes of such a book that I enjoy. The characters are interesting and the pace of the story moves well for me; not too fast and not too slow.
My only negative about this particular story is that Ray Elkins does not get to really solve this particular set of mystery happenings. I was quite disappointed at the end of the book, but will try the next in the series since this is only the first one.
I think I've found a new series to enjoy!
I enjoy reading about areas that I live in or around, and this one hits all the good notes of such a book that I enjoy. The characters are interesting and the pace of the story moves well for me; not too fast and not too slow.
My only negative about this particular story is that Ray Elkins does not get to really solve this particular set of mystery happenings. I was quite disappointed at the end of the book, but will try the next in the series since this is only the first one.
I think I've found a new series to enjoy!
February 4, 2018
A so so mystery
This book started off getting directly to the chase, but it failed to hold my interest after about 3\4 of the way in. This book is centered on the shores of Michigan and it starts with a murder, a shooting, followed by the killing of 3 more residents . Sheriff Ray Elkins tries to find the link to them all and suspicions are everywhere. This is the premise, but I found this book went downhill, we didn't know much background about Ray and his character just seemed to lack any personality for me. I also found the ending didn't really provide much closure
This book started off getting directly to the chase, but it failed to hold my interest after about 3\4 of the way in. This book is centered on the shores of Michigan and it starts with a murder, a shooting, followed by the killing of 3 more residents . Sheriff Ray Elkins tries to find the link to them all and suspicions are everywhere. This is the premise, but I found this book went downhill, we didn't know much background about Ray and his character just seemed to lack any personality for me. I also found the ending didn't really provide much closure
February 23, 2019
The number of negative reviews lamenting the lack of "an ending" mystifies me. True, there is no gift-wrapped, bow-tied ending. In my experience, life seldom offers the pat solutions we've learned to expect from an hourlong TV show. Personally, I found this approach refreshing.
No, this isn't grand literature. Nor was the book promoted as such. The story IS an interesting premise with enjoyable descriptive writing. I look forward to seeing how this author grows as he hones his craft (and hires a proofreader!).
No, this isn't grand literature. Nor was the book promoted as such. The story IS an interesting premise with enjoyable descriptive writing. I look forward to seeing how this author grows as he hones his craft (and hires a proofreader!).
August 18, 2020
Yikes. I wanted to like this one a lot--mysteries, set in the northwest Lower Peninsula? Heck yes. But the execution falls far, far short. The characters are flat as pancakes with absolutely zero development or unique characteristics. The book's about 85% dialogue, and all of it delivered in that same flat fashion, often rehashing stuff you just learned in the last chapter.
And to add insult to injury, the mystery isn't even resolved. It just sort of meanders to a whimpering eh of an ending. Bleh. At least it's a quick read, when you're not trying to throw it across the room.
And to add insult to injury, the mystery isn't even resolved. It just sort of meanders to a whimpering eh of an ending. Bleh. At least it's a quick read, when you're not trying to throw it across the room.
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