Known Dead

Carl Houseman #2

by Donald Harstad

In the American heartland, someone is killing cops.

The ambush exploded in an Iowa marijuana field. The weapons were high caliber. The pot was high grade. And the reporters said "We have two known dead...."

Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman knew the dead all One was a small-time doper, the other a good cop. But Houseman doesn't know why they died, or who cut them down in a blaze of automatic rifle fire. Now, as the Feds descend on Nation County, Houseman and his fellow cops are suddenly walking point--searching for answers amidst the violence, treachery, and evil in their own backyard....

Donald Harstad's Eleven Days was called "a hell of a first novel" by Michael Connelly and "truly frightening" by the San Francisco Chronicle. In his electrifying new novel Harstad captures with nerve-shattering power an Iowa police department's harrowing search through a killing storm--to know the truth about the dead and the living alike....

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks, Suspense, Procedural

371 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Donald Harstad is a twenty-six-year veteran of the Clayton County Sheriff's Department in northeastern Iowa, and the author of the acclaimed novels Eleven Days and Known Dead. A former deputy sheriff, Harstad lives with his wife, Mary, in Elkader, Iowa. (From Random House website.)

Reviews

[Bobby Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ambush in the deep woods of Nation County, Iowa, leaves a Federal agent dead, and marks the return of Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman in Donald Harstad’s second entry in this excellent series. Maitland goes national when an ambush in a Sensemilla marijuana field by an unknown group using military weapons and tactics points to something much broader in scope.

Harstad brings back DCI Agent Hester Gorse, his boss Lamar, and the sweet and resourceful dispatcher, Sally, giving us that familiar feel all good series have. Deputy Sheriff Houseman’s dislike for the impersonal term "Known Dead" gets a good workout before this one is over.

When Lamar goes down injured in a tense hostage situation, a federal task force led by a-not-so-forthcoming agent named Volont become involved. Due to a lack of cooperation, Houseman and the gang must use old-fashioned police work to discover what is being kept from them by the Feds.

Harstad’s blend of police procedural and rural atmosphere goes down like an ice cold soda on a hot day. Deputy Houseman’s humor during tense situations and his thoughts on two police funerals he will have to attend before this one is over add poignancy and depth to a briskly paced story.

This was the follow-up to the debut novel in this series, Eleven Days, which I highly recommend be read first. Once you do, you'll want to catch this one, The Big Thaw, and Code 61 for certain. While not as widely heralded as it should be, this series will come as a pleasant surprise to those who enjoy the genre.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadpan humor leavens this tale of multiple killings of police and a journalist in northeastern Iowa.

[Lukasz Pruski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe it is a little misleading to call Donald Harstad's "Known Dead" a novel. It does not have that much in common with a work of literature. I would categorize it as a well-written police report, a detailed day-by-day, and often minute-by-minute report on solving an extremely complex and involved case of finding cop killers in a rural Iowa county. In a sense, "Known Dead" is an ultimate police procedural or rather a "sheriff procedural" as the case is being reported by Carl Houseman, a deputy sheriff. He is working on solving the case in collaboration with - or more often against - several other agencies, including the FBI.

Utmost realism is the best feature of this book. Donald Harstad is a long-time veteran of the Sheriff's department in an Iowa county, and he knows what he is writing about. The descriptions of two shootouts in this book, in Chapter 1 and in Chapter 13, are markedly different from what we have been accustomed to from hundreds of books and movies. Here, no one knows what is going on during a shootout. Total confusion and chaos reign and virtually everything what happens is random. This is how the best "true crime" books describe how crimes are committed in real life. Totally different than how they are portrayed in Hollywood movies or in popular police procedural novels, with their carefully choreographed violence. In real life very little goes as planned by the bad guys or the good guys.

Another strong feature of the book is that it shows the extreme amount of bureaucracy and organizational overhead, particularly in situations when interests of several agencies cross. Most of an agency's effort is spent not on solving the case but on preventing the other agencies from solving it.

The title is pretty cool too. It comes from the phrase "Two known dead!" uttered by hysteric reporters: at least two people are dead. Of course, the reporters hope for many more because the news would sell better. The phrase also plays a role in the remarkably realistic ending.

An interesting, informative, and worthwhile book, even if it does not qualify as literature.

Almost four stars.

[Kaykay Obi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book because of the caption on the cover, ‘IN THE AMERICAN HEARTLAND, SOMEONE IS KILLING COPS’ and I was thinking maybe another good serial killer book. But it turned out to be a crime novel. The first 100 pages did drag a bit for me and I thought about dropping the book. Maybe I didn’t enjoy Deputy Houseman’s narration at that early stage. Or the fact that I was introduced to so many characters so early in the book. However, I kept on reading and with time I liked the narrator. I think of him as a normal cop, and not a superhero type. And I like his use of humor – that’s what kept me going because many times I caught myself laughing out loud :) The book is fast paced, but I felt it lacked enough suspense. I just enjoyed it because some of the scenes seemed like a scene from one of my favorite action movies. And the gun talks always made me remember my favorite Call of Duty games. Hester remains my favorite character in this one.

I’ll still try another book by the author and I recommend this one to anybody who loves a fast-paced book filled with action, guns, and shootings.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have liked to give this 4.5 stars. I thought the 'police report' format that a few reviews complained about very effective. The characters are good, the humor entertaining and the plot spellbinding. My only problem the the myriad of characters from Federal and state agencies that were difficult to keep straight, but I imagine that is a problem in real life as well.

[Fay Risner · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always neat to read the works of another Iowan. I've met Mr. Harstad, and his personalty is very much like Sam Houseman in his books. His stories, depicted from real life when he was a deputy, are very much a portrayal of Iowa crime, characters and scenery. Worth the read.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

great mystery, love this writer

[Helena Bowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best entry in this series. The pacing is a little slow and while it is still enjoyable, but of it seemed to drag a little.

After the lurid satanic case of "Eleven Days" Harstad brings us back down to earth with the death of a Deputy, shot while trying to catch the attendant to a patch of sensemilla Marijuana. Seems straightforward, right? But then Houseman, and his boss Lamar, have to deal with an influx of FBI and DEA agents who seem to be taking a little MJ very, very seriously. What's worse, they won't keep the Nation County Deputies in the loop. Something strange is going on and neither Houseman nor his occasional partner Hester Gorse, are willing to let that go.

Harstad's focus in this book is the lunatic US Militia movement - as crazy as the satanists, in their own way. It's an interesting glimpse into another culture because the behaviour of these guys, and, especially, the way it is tolerated is almost unbelievable to those of us who do not live in that culture. To Houseman, these nuts are just part of his daily round.

There is more detailing of law enforcement procedure, but this time Harstad seems to use a lighter hand. It isn't so obtrusive, nor did I feel that I was occasionally reading a "How To" manual as did happen with "Eleven Days". The characters are the strength of these books - you absolutely believe that Houseman, Hester, Lamar etc are real people.

I've read the third book which has a similar theme and characters that cross between the two stories. I think this book works better considered as part one of a two part story, with book 3 being the stronger of the two.

[Nishi Giefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding read! Harstad's conversational prose style makes you feel like you're across the table listening to him tell this story over coffee or a beer. And the more you listen, the closer you lean. Just about the time you think you might be able to relax, something happens that makes you physically jump! His self-deprecating humor is dead-on. His accuracy on the law enforcement details is convincing. The intricate weaving of the plot is mind-boggling. He is able to utilize a huge number of characters and manage to keep them all clear. The jurisdictional lines that would impede such an investigation are mind-numbing, and that's part of what keeps the story moving. His sentence structures are perfect--longer when there is more explaining and less action, short and simple when everything hits the fan. Fabulous read if you love action-packed mystery. In my book, if nobody dies by Page 30, it ain't a story. This one won't make you wait that long. The action starts on Page 1.

[Dan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ambush exploded in an Iowa marijuana field. The weapons were high caliber. The pot was high grade. And the reporters said afterward: "We have two known dead...."

Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman knew the dead all right: One was a small-time doper, the other a good cop. But Houseman doesn't know why they died, or who cut them down in a blaze of automatic rifle fire. Now, as the Feds descend on Nation County, Houseman and his fellow cops are suddenly walking point--searching for answers amidst the violence, treachery, and evil in their own backyard.

[Janine Dunkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doesn't disappoint!

In lockdown, I've been binging....Jay Leno's Garage, chocolate, Don Harstad books. All immensely satisfying! I used to work in "Nation County," so what he's describing is familiar, plus my husband was a police dispatcher for 37 years. The story has me reading as fast as I could comprehend, trying to "figure this one out." But I love that even during the extreme tension in the Big Scene, he could make me laugh. Love these books!

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm quite enjoying this series. One thing that comes through well is that the author was a deputy sheriff; the procedures, frustration of red tape, inability to share information, is all true. I found the sequence of events more satisfying than those where the detective protagonists just run roughshod over every procedure without consequence while getting severely injured but of course surviving each encounter.

[Margot Portal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book because there is a connection between myself and the author Donald Harstad. However, it was not a good read and I actually skimmed through to the ending. So many different law enforcement agencies involved do not make the plot easy to follow even though that might be the very point the author is trying to make.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has a sense of humor that comes across even in deadly militia shootings in NE Iowa. Main character is very competent but doesn’t take himself seriously and has a way of going around FBI, DEA and other alphabet soup agencies, to get people to work with him to get the bad guys caught. Even though it was written in the 1990’s, a good read.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried reading this book and it was boring me I normally try to finish a book but when I’m falling asleep trying to read it I can’t do it!!!

I have never read anything from this author and I don’t think I will pick another book by him.

[Jennifer]

Harstad should be a bigger deal. Great writing, and you get to know the characters through what they do, rather than descriptions of their looks. He also writes in a way that's clear what's happening and doesn't leave you fruitlessly trying to fill in the blanks with your imagination.

[William Walter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too much graphic detail in some places, a little too much bare bones dialog in others in a pretty uneven story. Just okay to me

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. He gets a little in the weeds at times but still an interesting read. Good plot and characters.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1999. The return of deputy sheriff Carl Houseman from Harstad's first novel.

[Kris Reicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as his first book (Eleven Days). It took quite a while to finally keep me interested and make want to pick it up and keep reading but ended up to be okay.

[Kat Walter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much procedure…not enough action.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

When police in Nation County, Iowa raid a suspected marijuana patch, they are met by automatic gun fire. Special Agent Bill Kellerman of Narcotics department and Howie Phelps a ceiminal with a record of drug arrests are killed.

This should have been a routine survaillance and Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman is assigned to the task force established to find the killers.

A witness tells Houseman that he saw men in military camaflogue outfits carrying automatic weapons. The witness thinks this could be a government group. The search of the area finds ammunition from Germany and elsewhere outside of the United States.

A team is sent to interview local farmers for information. They decide to serve papers on Herman Stritch, a leader of a local Milita group. He is in debt and thinks the lawmen have come to evice him, shots are fired and one policeman is dead and another wounded.

Herman wants to fight to the last man but his daughter in law, Melissa, and baby leave the farmhouse. Melissa admits that her husband Bill and a group of militia had been training in the park when Officer Kellerman and Howie Phelps were shot and that the men with Bill had shot the two men. When the police came to Herman's home, he thought the police knew he did the killing.

Sheriff Houseman gets Herman and his family to surrender but as they do, other members of the militia escape through the back of his home.

Melissa tells Houseman that one of the men who escaped is named Gabe and that he is the leader of the militia.

From the descriptive elements and the concentration on narrative plot, Harstad seems influenced by Elmore Leonard.

There is also a Bernie Madoff skeme. We learn that Herman and other farmers were encouraged to take loans out on their farms and invest in gold in a bank in South America and that in 15 years they will get ten times their face value.

Without disclosing the plot, the later third of the book involves the militia unit and something they had in mind. Houseman and DCI Agent Hester Gorse head the search for the those in charge. With the help of computer technology, things are learned.

This is an enjoyable story and tells of the Iowa farmer's life and the mind set of some militia units. It is well written with believable characters.

Well done and recommended.

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recipe for a great story:

Donald Harstad mixes the following ingredients:

1. Carl Houseman, a Nation County, Iowa, deputy sheriff and chief homicide investigator.

2. Some guys dressed like Navy Seals who kill a cop, a bad guy, and a state narcotics agent in the woods near​ a marijuana patch.

3. A local farmer who has mortgaged his farms and those of his children to a company that insists gold is the only "real" currency and investing in their stash in South America bring great riches when the U.S. collapses and the Belgian troops (All 10 of them? asks Houseman) of the U.N. take over zone 5. And by the way, these guys will happily take your personal check for the phantom gold.

4. A shoot-out at the farmer's place which kills a local reporter who had been asked to come in and hear the plight of the insurgents.

5. Hester, a nifty Iowa Bureau of Investigation agent.

6. Carl's self-depracating humor.

7. A substantial dose of realism.

8. Jurisdictional gerrymandering.

9. A shipment of stolen RPG's. (The scene where one idiot tries to take out a jail wall by shooting the thing off in his car is pretty funny.)

The result is another really good county police procedural. Harstad makes several very important observations about the luncacy of the far right extremeists. I suspect he speaks from experience, having been an Iowa deputy sheriff for many years. This is the second in the series. As usual I read a couple out of order. I recommend reading this title before The Big Thaw.

Well read by Ron McClarty

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is likely a 3.5 on my personal rating scale, but misses the 4.0 mark because it is a crime novel rather than literary fiction.

Harstad's investigator, Carl Houseman, has a keen mind, a sharp - if wry- sense of humor, and he exemplifies the adage "if you are going to be other deprecating, the you should be self-deprecating first." He's the kind of character I'd like to meet, and enjoy conjuring in my imagination as I read.

The book seemed a bit heavy on police procedures in the first chapters, but, the information laid the groundwork for subsequent events. This was also offset by the thick action in those early chapters and it held my attention well. The plot line had enough tangles to spur my interest.

I hope to read more in the series, and will look for others to pop up on the library shelves each time I visit.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harstad comes from a law enforcement background so he knows just what he is writing about. I like the fact that his main character is just an average inspector working with a small town Sheriff's Department and not some super hero, head thumping macho man. When he gets into an investigation of a cop killing it sometimes helps to cross the grey line. And Harstad knows just how far to take that part of the book. Good stuff and it does make for a good series as well.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this book as much as the first in the series, Eleven Days. I actually didn't really care for the subject matter in this one - drugs, crazy army type people. Blah. I was confused by all the gun talk and otherwise not all that entertained.

I'll likely read at least the next book, really only because I liked Eleven Days so much. Otherwise, I think I'd be tempted to stop reading.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second of Donald Harstad's Nation County sheriff series is excellent on rereading several years later. In this case, the book deals with the dangers of the militia movement in rural America. The plot is tight, the police investigative detail is interesting, and the cop patter is tremendous. (Wait until the masked man reference.)

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of this book was intriguing and is possibly the only reason I continued reading it because it sure wasn't the writing that caused me to finish this book. Almost the entire book read like a police report. Really only the last seventy-five pages or so kept my attention and interest. A saving grace of the entire novel is that the main character was given a sense of humor.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall not a bad read. The story has a good pace. I liked the location this book is set in. Most police procedurals are in LA or NY. So rural Iowa was interesting. The characters and dialogue was cliché and the plot was fairly predictable. But the author gets the nuances of law enforcement work right. Worth your time.

[Mary Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iowa, that place where nothing happens. Unless you read Donald Harstad's good mystery series about Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman. This time around we are confronted with a cover operation of marijuana agriculture. The real bad guys are an underground militia.