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Beneath the Maize
Beneath the Maize is a sci-fi crime mystery with a tantalizing mix of magical realism, fantasy, and Native American folklore.
It is the summer of 1999. A little girl mysteriously vanishes in a Wisconsin cornfield during a friendly game of hide-and-seek. Over the next sixteen years, the list of missing persons in Sheboygan County only grows. GMO corn, giant mushrooms, crop circles, sinkholes, Native American folklore…could there be a connection?
Luke Kramer, a young, aspiring news reporter, teams up with UW Madison botanist Aiyanna-Nez Black Bear, a Sheboygan County sheriff’s detective (Dan Meyers), and his rookie deputy (Sam Riley), to find the answer.
Aiyanna, of Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Native American descent, introduces Luke to the traditions and legends of her people. But the situation rapidly devolves into turmoil and chaos as Luke and Aiyanna must deal with forces beyond their control from the depths of Underworld realms grounded in Ho-Chuck myth and shamanistic religious beliefs.
In the words of Detective “A modern-day legend born of desperation and love.”
It is the summer of 1999. A little girl mysteriously vanishes in a Wisconsin cornfield during a friendly game of hide-and-seek. Over the next sixteen years, the list of missing persons in Sheboygan County only grows. GMO corn, giant mushrooms, crop circles, sinkholes, Native American folklore…could there be a connection?
Luke Kramer, a young, aspiring news reporter, teams up with UW Madison botanist Aiyanna-Nez Black Bear, a Sheboygan County sheriff’s detective (Dan Meyers), and his rookie deputy (Sam Riley), to find the answer.
Aiyanna, of Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Native American descent, introduces Luke to the traditions and legends of her people. But the situation rapidly devolves into turmoil and chaos as Luke and Aiyanna must deal with forces beyond their control from the depths of Underworld realms grounded in Ho-Chuck myth and shamanistic religious beliefs.
In the words of Detective “A modern-day legend born of desperation and love.”
- GenresHorror
412 pages, Paperback
Published September 5, 2022
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 13, 2022
Beneath the Maize by Steve Goldhahn was not what I expected at all--in a great way.
The characters in the story are likable. Luke, Dan, Aiyanna etc. seem like decent relatable people and it's fun and thrilling to watch them navigate through the narrative.
The story itself is a lot more complex, intelligent, and informative than I had anticipated as well but it never stops being a fun read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters in the story are likable. Luke, Dan, Aiyanna etc. seem like decent relatable people and it's fun and thrilling to watch them navigate through the narrative.
The story itself is a lot more complex, intelligent, and informative than I had anticipated as well but it never stops being a fun read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 2, 2022
There is a tremendous amount of depth and meaning to unpack in this engrossing novel. On the surface, it's a puzzling mystery: why does one rural Wisconsin region have so many missing persons in a sixteen-year duration, why almost always in or near cornfields, what are the disturbed soil patterns resembling "crop circles," and how do the nearby surrounding stalks get spiraled? Where are the bodies?
That would be exciting enough to absorb this reader, but the author never stops at the surface. A Sheboygan rookie newspaper reporter is the older brother of a six-year-old who was the first disappearance, sixteen years ago. He's investigating the area's plethora of GMO corn. His research leads him to a Native American professor of biology at University of Wisconsin-Madison, whose field of specialization is Fungi [I am so there], especially "giant mushrooms." [Really there] Between them they shed some light on the disappearances, though the Sheriff's Deputy remains unconvinced. As their friendship and then budding intimacy extends, both rely thoroughly on Native American belief and legend in exploring the potentially terrifying possibilities "beneath the maize."
That would be exciting enough to absorb this reader, but the author never stops at the surface. A Sheboygan rookie newspaper reporter is the older brother of a six-year-old who was the first disappearance, sixteen years ago. He's investigating the area's plethora of GMO corn. His research leads him to a Native American professor of biology at University of Wisconsin-Madison, whose field of specialization is Fungi [I am so there], especially "giant mushrooms." [Really there] Between them they shed some light on the disappearances, though the Sheriff's Deputy remains unconvinced. As their friendship and then budding intimacy extends, both rely thoroughly on Native American belief and legend in exploring the potentially terrifying possibilities "beneath the maize."
September 26, 2022
Are you looking for a good murder mystery? Or is it murder? The book has it all -- longstanding mystery, past historical chapters to inform the reader of background information (helpful), great descriptions of events and physical surroundings. Love the Native American history, folklore & legends, and rituals inserted into the story. If you are into sci-fi reading, this book has crop circles in GMO corn fields and gigantic mushrooms. How does it all tie in to the murders/missing persons? Oh, and it has Wil.....Nope can't tell you. You will have to read this enthralling story.
August 11, 2022
A crime story with a difference. Investigating missing persons going back over many years, with a young reporter whose sister was one of the early missing people, last know location a strange crop circle in a field of corn. It moves between times from the local Native American tribe perspective, now and in the past. Characters are strong, fully developed and make the flow of the book easy and keeps your interest to the very end. A well written book that is definitely worth reading, with some unusual ideas explored for your reading pleasure.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 31, 2022
ARC epub 413 pages
There's something inherently creepy about maize - at least to my European sensibilities (and not from any Stephen King-related imagery!). Here we have what is ostensibly a missing person/police procedural, with historic overtones - the protagonist is a journalist whose young sister disappeared twenty odd years ago - that develops into tracking a potential serial killer... These two subjects are connected by local folklore (that's not intended to be dismissive, just a convenient shorthand) and GMO crops (that maize!).
I found the various strands of story interwove well. I can't vouch for the accuracy of the 'folklore' elements but the author has done his research (there's a reference list at the end) and the science of the GMO effects seems to make sense, albeit with a bit of a stretch (that's my biology background stirring).
A definite page-turner - the characters are well-drawn and despite an outrageous but inevitable pun that I won't dignify by repeating here the writing draws the reader along. A minor criticism is that the aftermath to the main story is perhaps somewhat sidelined into an epilogue... but that's a trivial quibble: wrongs are righted, virtue is triumphant - and I learned about some subjects with which I was unfamiliar. I'll be picking up more books from this author!
Now, about that creepy maize...
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There's something inherently creepy about maize - at least to my European sensibilities (and not from any Stephen King-related imagery!). Here we have what is ostensibly a missing person/police procedural, with historic overtones - the protagonist is a journalist whose young sister disappeared twenty odd years ago - that develops into tracking a potential serial killer... These two subjects are connected by local folklore (that's not intended to be dismissive, just a convenient shorthand) and GMO crops (that maize!).
I found the various strands of story interwove well. I can't vouch for the accuracy of the 'folklore' elements but the author has done his research (there's a reference list at the end) and the science of the GMO effects seems to make sense, albeit with a bit of a stretch (that's my biology background stirring).
A definite page-turner - the characters are well-drawn and despite an outrageous but inevitable pun that I won't dignify by repeating here the writing draws the reader along. A minor criticism is that the aftermath to the main story is perhaps somewhat sidelined into an epilogue... but that's a trivial quibble: wrongs are righted, virtue is triumphant - and I learned about some subjects with which I was unfamiliar. I'll be picking up more books from this author!
Now, about that creepy maize...
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 25, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Beneath the Maize is a brilliant story. It follows along with a few characters who all play a role in the events that are unfolding in this small town puzzling its citizens.
I loved the world building that was established from all points of views, from the local Sheriff to the background knowledge of the Native American folklore. We see lots of different point of views between the Characters and you never feel as if something was left out from them. The Author wrote the Characters in a way I was able to go through the emotions with them throughout the story.
The writing and story line was captivating, really pulls you in with such suspense I didn't want to the put the book down, always left wanting to read just one more chapter.
a personal added bonus was the fact that the Author, Stephen Goldhahn, wrote the book flipflopping the chapters between all the characters throughout versus half way with one then another. I did use this as a chance to annotate my first book, which was beyond helpful.
Beneath the Maize is a brilliant story. It follows along with a few characters who all play a role in the events that are unfolding in this small town puzzling its citizens.
I loved the world building that was established from all points of views, from the local Sheriff to the background knowledge of the Native American folklore. We see lots of different point of views between the Characters and you never feel as if something was left out from them. The Author wrote the Characters in a way I was able to go through the emotions with them throughout the story.
The writing and story line was captivating, really pulls you in with such suspense I didn't want to the put the book down, always left wanting to read just one more chapter.
a personal added bonus was the fact that the Author, Stephen Goldhahn, wrote the book flipflopping the chapters between all the characters throughout versus half way with one then another. I did use this as a chance to annotate my first book, which was beyond helpful.
September 17, 2022
I really enjoyed this book.
I was surprised, given the title and cover art, to find such a well grounded, researched, and documented story. Everything in this book is realistic; the accents, the landscape, the history, and the science. (There is even a bibliography and research notes in the back.) It reminds me of a Dan Brown story, with it's very solid foundation from which springs a magical story that takes you on wild ride. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery, or who has an interest in history, especially First Nations history, or mycology.
However, I would not recommend it for anyone looking for a cozy mystery, or a quick read. There are a few issues which might interfere with the enjoyment of the book for certain people. The author did a great deal of research into all aspects of this story, and it shows. For me, this is a good thing, but it could become frustrating for readers who aren't interested in mycology or First Nations history. Also, the author was obviously concerned with readers forgetting important plot points, so he reiterates them, sometimes to the edge of irritation. I think this is a book that could have used a stricter editor. I honestly enjoyed it, even at its full length, but I think it would have more popular appeal if it were 100 pages shorter.
I read a free copy I received through Book Sirens.
I was surprised, given the title and cover art, to find such a well grounded, researched, and documented story. Everything in this book is realistic; the accents, the landscape, the history, and the science. (There is even a bibliography and research notes in the back.) It reminds me of a Dan Brown story, with it's very solid foundation from which springs a magical story that takes you on wild ride. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery, or who has an interest in history, especially First Nations history, or mycology.
However, I would not recommend it for anyone looking for a cozy mystery, or a quick read. There are a few issues which might interfere with the enjoyment of the book for certain people. The author did a great deal of research into all aspects of this story, and it shows. For me, this is a good thing, but it could become frustrating for readers who aren't interested in mycology or First Nations history. Also, the author was obviously concerned with readers forgetting important plot points, so he reiterates them, sometimes to the edge of irritation. I think this is a book that could have used a stricter editor. I honestly enjoyed it, even at its full length, but I think it would have more popular appeal if it were 100 pages shorter.
I read a free copy I received through Book Sirens.
September 20, 2022
Thank you to BookSirens & the author, Stephen Goldhahn, for a copy.
What first caught my eye with this book was the awesome cover & the intriguing title. I saw the premise and was hooked, I NEEDED to read this book!
Right off the bat you jump into something horrifying, a little girl disappearing in the corn, stumping local police.
I couldn’t wait to read more, but unfortunately I was shocked by something the author had written.
The author flips to a historical narration from the viewpoint of a Hoocągra man. While we are in this view point, there is usage of a derogatory term (in fact, it was formally declared a racist term in 2021) for indigenous women. Looking it up to see if there was any way an indigenous person would use this to describe a spouse (as it’s used in the story), the short answer was no. I’m sure there is appropriate Ho-Chunk term that would be actually used, in fact, it sounds like they’ve been working on language restoration. That term has never been used to describe indigenous women in a positive light, historically and in present day.
After this, I couldn’t continue to enjoy reading the story, and I feel that this needs to be edited before I would attempt to read it again. If the author decides to change the usage of the word, then I would be open to another read and a re-review.
What first caught my eye with this book was the awesome cover & the intriguing title. I saw the premise and was hooked, I NEEDED to read this book!
Right off the bat you jump into something horrifying, a little girl disappearing in the corn, stumping local police.
I couldn’t wait to read more, but unfortunately I was shocked by something the author had written.
The author flips to a historical narration from the viewpoint of a Hoocągra man. While we are in this view point, there is usage of a derogatory term (in fact, it was formally declared a racist term in 2021) for indigenous women. Looking it up to see if there was any way an indigenous person would use this to describe a spouse (as it’s used in the story), the short answer was no. I’m sure there is appropriate Ho-Chunk term that would be actually used, in fact, it sounds like they’ve been working on language restoration. That term has never been used to describe indigenous women in a positive light, historically and in present day.
After this, I couldn’t continue to enjoy reading the story, and I feel that this needs to be edited before I would attempt to read it again. If the author decides to change the usage of the word, then I would be open to another read and a re-review.
September 21, 2022
Interesting story ! Beneath the Maize fascinated me with Indian history and stories. The author researched In depth to provide a lot of Indian background and some Wisconsin names history.
The story is not my usual choice. I tend to avoid sci-fi and fantasy but I’m happy to say this book was very rewarding to read . The first half started a mystery the second half went in the direction of fantasy.
I really liked the personalities of the main characters. Luke seemed like a likeable guy that had me pulling for him. Ayianna, was a smart, fearless woman and watching their romance blossom was very satisfying. Dan, Luke’s boss, seemed like a realistic boss and friend
Being from the Midwest the colloquialisms in the dialogues ran true for the most part. Glad to see the author didn’t make everyone talk like the move”Fargo”.
Give this book a read. I gave it 5 stars for original, well written and it kept my interest. Thanks to the author for this arc. This is my honest opinion
The story is not my usual choice. I tend to avoid sci-fi and fantasy but I’m happy to say this book was very rewarding to read . The first half started a mystery the second half went in the direction of fantasy.
I really liked the personalities of the main characters. Luke seemed like a likeable guy that had me pulling for him. Ayianna, was a smart, fearless woman and watching their romance blossom was very satisfying. Dan, Luke’s boss, seemed like a realistic boss and friend
Being from the Midwest the colloquialisms in the dialogues ran true for the most part. Glad to see the author didn’t make everyone talk like the move”Fargo”.
Give this book a read. I gave it 5 stars for original, well written and it kept my interest. Thanks to the author for this arc. This is my honest opinion
September 16, 2022
Beneath the Maize is a special kind of crime story.
We come along investigating missing persons over many years, together with a junior reporter whose sister was one of the early missing people. The last known location is a strange crop circle in a field of corn.
It moves between times from the local Native American tribe's perspective, now and in the past.
Characters are strong and fully developed and make the flow of the book easy, and keep your interest to the very end. A well-written book that is definitely worth reading, with some unusual ideas explored for your reading pleasure.
This book was a first for me by this author, but I will surely keep an eye out for other titles.
We come along investigating missing persons over many years, together with a junior reporter whose sister was one of the early missing people. The last known location is a strange crop circle in a field of corn.
It moves between times from the local Native American tribe's perspective, now and in the past.
Characters are strong and fully developed and make the flow of the book easy, and keep your interest to the very end. A well-written book that is definitely worth reading, with some unusual ideas explored for your reading pleasure.
This book was a first for me by this author, but I will surely keep an eye out for other titles.
September 16, 2022
Do you hear that rustle and scrape behind you? Is it someone hiding in the corn or is it something far worse! A scientist has discovered a humongous fungus that has developed a dangerous relationship with the areas GMO corn crops. Could it be the reason people have begun to disappear?! Settle in - the book is a little long but it’s well laid out, the characters nicely developed and the dialogue won’t leave you wanting. There is a little romance, a little mystery, a little a horror- so a good book for just about everyone.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 16, 2022
I loved the premise of this book, and appreciate the scientific and historical parts. The author clearly did his research, and I enjoyed reading the author's notes. The characters were for the most part likeable as well. What felt off to me was the writing style--oftentimes this read like a YA or junior fiction novel.
I received an advance copy of this book through Book Sirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance copy of this book through Book Sirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 13, 2026
Beneath the Maize by Stephen Goldhahn is one of the best horror books I’ve read in a long time. This story truly stays with you and makes you want to read it again and again. It blends horror, folklore, and mystery in such a powerful way. This is actually a reread for me: I’ve read it five times already! It still hits just as hard.
September 16, 2022
This had a great suspenseful atmosphere that added to the book. I enjoyed getting to know this world and the characters in it. I was hooked from beginning to end, and enjoyed the way the author wrote it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 19, 2022
**I received a free ARC from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.**
Positives: Fast-paced mystery with historical chapters thrown in to provide scope. Good characters that were easy to enjoy and root for. Decent plot although I figured it out soon after Aiyanna joined the story. Interesting backstories/cultural inferences thrown in for educational value.
Negatives: A writing style that felt juvenile to me. Dialogue that was so immature as to feel fake at spots, in particular the Sheriff always calling him "Sport".
This should have been a four for me, but the writing style, for me anyway, was a real turn off.
Positives: Fast-paced mystery with historical chapters thrown in to provide scope. Good characters that were easy to enjoy and root for. Decent plot although I figured it out soon after Aiyanna joined the story. Interesting backstories/cultural inferences thrown in for educational value.
Negatives: A writing style that felt juvenile to me. Dialogue that was so immature as to feel fake at spots, in particular the Sheriff always calling him "Sport".
This should have been a four for me, but the writing style, for me anyway, was a real turn off.
September 16, 2022
This is a fantastic missing person's story with a supernatural twist. I enjoyed the way the detective investigation intertwines with native American lore and culture. The storyline is fast paced and keeps you engaged throughout. The characters are well defined and interact well, some are likeable and some are not.I highly recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews