Quick Synopsis

The dark underbelly of an idyllic Midwestern resort town is revealed in the aftermath of a murder with ties to America’s opioid epidemic in this unputdownable and thrilling debut.

Publisher’s Synopsis

Eli North is not okay.

His drinking is getting worse by the day, his emotional wounds after a deployment to Afghanistan are as raw as ever, his marriage and career are over, and the only job he can hold down is with the local sheriff’s department. And that’s only because the sheriff is his mother—and she’s overwhelmed with small town Shaky Lake’s dwindling budget and the fallout from the opioid epidemic. The Northwoods of Wisconsin may be a vacationer’s paradise, but amidst the fishing trips and campfires and Paul Bunyan festivals, something sinister is taking shape.

When the body of a teenage boy is found in the lake, it sets in motion an investigation that leads Eli to a wealthy enclave with a violent past, a pharmaceutical salesman, and a missing teenage girl. Soon, Eli and his mother, along with a young FBI agent, are on the hunt for more than just a killer.

If Eli solves the case, could he finally get the shot at redemption he so desperately needs? Or will answers to this dark case elude him and continue to bring destruction to the Northwoods?

Book Review

 Northwoods is a slow-burn mystery and police procedural ⁣that takes place after a teen end ups murdered. After another teen disappears, deputy Eli North dives into the chase, whether he is equipped to or not. This debut novel is both character- and plot-driven and highlights the opioid epidemic in small-town America. Northwoods combines strong characters, gripping scenes, and emotionally-rich moments to explore contemporary issues and solve a murder. ⁣
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Northwoods is a story of Eli North’s struggles as much as it is a murder mystery. After returning from tour in Afghanistan, Eli is struggling to keep his life together. He is separated from his wife, lost his dream job, and uses alcohol to cope. Lucky enough for him, his mother is the local sheriff and has given him a job as deputy in his quiet hometown. Just as things come to a head personally, Eli stumbles upon the body of a teen boy and discovers another teen missing. ⁣
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Amy Pease has given us a solid debut novel with well-developed characters and a unique plot. While Northwoods unravels at a slower steady pace, I at no point felt that it dragged. Instead, I was quickly pulled into the story through Eli’s emotional quandaries, followed by the murder. ⁣
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I think Pease’s writing really shined when it came to the emotional dynamics of the book. We primarily see this play out through Eli’s confusion, guilt, and struggle, which transcends the page. However, the emotional relationships between the book’s characters are just as apparent and tangible. ⁣
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Overall, Northwoods is a strong debut novel with an interesting plot and even richer characters. The way the book ends easily lends itself to a potential sequel, so we may visit Shaky Lake and these characters again.⁣ I recommend checking this book out.

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