“Northwoods” is Amy Pease’s debut novel and will appeal to readers who like mysteries by William Kent Krueger and Craig Johnson. I really loved the believable characters and the northern Wisconsin lakeside setting. Some of the characters struggle with PTSD, addiction, alcoholism and relationship issues – so if those subjects are triggering, this might not be a book you would like. I found that the subjects were treated very realistically and fit in with the plot to make the story very believable.
Eli North is a former top investigator who suffers from PTSD after his time served in Afghanistan. Despite his many medals, he relives the horrors of the war and has many instances of crippling panic attacks. Eli is a deputy sheriff in Shaky Lake, WI. His mother, Marge, is the sheriff in the town and tries her best to run a good department, despite lack of funding and having few officers. When a teenage boy is discovered – murdered – in his boat and a teenage girl goes missing around the same time, Marge and Eli have to solve the murder, while wondering if the missing girl is somehow connected . . . FBI agent, Alyssa Mason, arrives in town to help with the investigation and seems to connect with Eli during the time they search for answers.
I read “Northwoods” in one afternoon and I loved the relationship between Eli and Marge, his mother. This was a great debut novel. I’ve read that Amy Pease is working on the 2nd book in this “Northwoods” series – and I can’t wait to read it!!
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