Dead Angler (Loon Lake Fishing Mystery)
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Product Description
A Brand-New Mystery Series...with a great "hook"
Loon Lake, Wisconsin's newly appointed Chief of Police, Lewellyn Ferris, is a tough-as-nails crime fighter and a fly fishing wonder. And when she reels in a dead body, she gets an opportunity to put all her talents to work....
"As exciting as fishing a tournament."--Norb Wallock, North American Walleye Angler's 1997 Angler of the Year
Spotlight Customer Reviews:
Summary:
This Story Reels You Right In!
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Comment:
This is the first book in the Loon Lake Fishing Mysteries. It's almost impossible not to be drawn into a murder mystery where long time friends and acquaintances (of the protagonist) are show to be something other than what they seem on the surface. The characters are "older" for the most part, the dentist turned armature detective (Doc Osborne) is retired and the rest of the main and supporting characters are 45 or older as near as I can tell. In most books that are small town murder mysteries, the lead characters are much younger (mid twenties to mid thirties usually), I enjoyed that because it allowed the characters to have a lot more life experience than normally can be had by any one character without unusual circumstances (like being a genius or some resorting to some unrealistic reason for their aptitude and life experience). These are people who haven't led a life of tragedy...normal, likeable small town folk (who enjoy fishing)...the town and its residents come with the usual quirky characters and the normal jerks...the book is loaded with wonderful visual imagery that is thoroughly enjoyable...half of what makes this book interesting are the descriptions of the fishing locations (and I don't even LIKE fishing!)...but the mystery itself is as engaging as the characters! I didn't expect to enjoy this, but I did.
Overall, a fun read. I love that Houston really made a world that feels real and interesting...these aren't perfect cookie cutter characters, they are flawed, have issues, and actually have lives and interests outside of their "jobs." It's rare to find such a wonderful combination of characters, setting, and crime that really feels like it could happen and where the reader feels like Loon Lake is a real place. I give it 4 stars and two thumbs up! I'm looking forward to enjoying more in this series.
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Summary:
More Local Flavor Than a Friday Night Fish Fry
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Comment:
This is the first story I've read by Northwoods author, Victoria Houston. Reading it while surrounded by the settings she so colorfully and accurately describes added to my enjoyment of the experience. It's a themed murder mystery that anyone with a remote interest in fishing--particularly fly-fishing--will savor for the knowledgeable references to the sport and those who participate in it.
The main characters are very well drawn and highly likable. Osborne, aka "Doc," is a retired dentist-made deputy on the case of the `dead angler,' Meredith Marshall. Doc discovers the body while fishing with his friend, Lewellyn Ferris. "Lew" is the Loon Lake chief of police, the first woman to hold the job. She's smart and sexy, and an expert fisherman. (Doc is more attracted to her than he realizes.) Doc's neighbor, Ray Pradt, is probably best described as a local-yokel, a celebrated fishing guide who wears a trout on his head in the form of hat and has a side-job digging graves. Together, this trio falls into several precarious situations as they solve the case. Each stays true to character throughout the story and the dialog is so good, I could `hear' them talking--Northwoods dialect and all. Meanwhile, Meredith's sister, Alicia, is juicy, detestable villainess throughout the story; however, other suspects in the case are not given equal time to make uncovering the mystery in the plot the reason to keep turning pages.
I simply liked spending time in this region with these characters, and I look forwarding to reading more of Houston's series.
From the Author of I'm Living Your Dream Life: The Story of a Northwoods Resort Owner
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Summary:
Interesting Small Town Fishing Cozy
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Comment:
In the 1st book in the Loon Lake Fishing Mystery series, we meet Lewellyn "Lew" Ferris, chief of police in Loon Lake, Wisconsin and retired dentist, Paul "Doc" Osborne. Lew is the first female police chief in this small town, and she works hard, and spends most of her free time fishing. Doc's wife had died two years ago, and he decides one day to finally tackle cleaning his garage (a task she insisted they do several times each year). While looking through his garage, he finds all of his old fly-fishing gear, and not having used that equipment in years (due to his late wife's hatred of the sport), he decides to sell it. When he discovers the equipment is worth thousands of dollars, he feels less eager to sell, and sets up a lesson with experienced fisherman, Lew. Doc meets "him" and quickly discovers he is meeting a female...and one that can catch fish better than most men in town. During his first lesson, Doc trips over a dead body, and recognizing the woman as a former patient, Lew quickly deputizes the retired dentist. They work the case together, putting aside some time to fish and build their friendship along the way. Finding the dead body is just the start of this case, and they quickly discover that their small town has been hiding a lot of very large secrets.
Having sent my son to Wisconsin to stay with relatives (and fish to his heart's content) each summer, I picked up this book for the premise and setting as much as I did for the mystery. I really enjoyed this first installment in this series, and cannot wait to pick up the next book. I was a bit confused at how much involvement Paul had in the story at first, as the book was touted as having a female protagonist. The two main characters work very well together, and it quickly became apparent to me that the series needs both of them to make it so successful. I enjoyed all of the descriptions of the lovely town and its many lakes, and the descriptions made me want to take up the art of fly-fishing. I am looking forward to another visit to Loon Lake again in the near future!
The next book in the series is called "Dead Creek". Enjoy!
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Summary:
A Great New Mystery Catch!
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Comment:
This warm and friendly series which takes place in Loon Lake, Wisconsin, has so much going for it, it's hard to know where to begin. Those who love to fish, either "dancing the fly" or musky fishing, will certainly have fun reading this very good mystery with lots of Wisconsin atmosphere. While it is not necessary to be much of a fisherman to like this series, the enthusiasm for fishing is infectious. It seems, however, to be more an expression of taking some pleasure in the living of life than anything else. It is not a gimmick and does not distract from the very good mystery, as is the case in many of the series now making the rounds. It does, in fact, add to the pleasure of reading this marvelous and fun to read book.
Loon Lake is the kind of town where the local MacDonalds isn't just a place to meet in the morning for coffee, but a clearing house for the latest Loon Lake gossip. On any given morning, it's where you can usually find retired dentist Paul Osborne, known simply as "Doc." Loon Lake is a town small enough where people usually know each other's business. It has a Cabot Cove kind of feel to it. Almost everyone who lives there is right where they want to be.
The colorful and sometimes shady Ray Pradt might be there also. He is the best fly-fisherman around, and a good friend to Doc. It is a friendship you will learn much about over the course of reading this book, and it will add depth to the mystery. There is also a real charm to Doc's feelings for the town's female sheriff, Lewellyn Ferris, known to all simply as Lew. Doc is a musky man, but takes Lew up on her offer to reacquaint him with the joys of fly fishing. When they discover the body of a woman named Meredith, Lew will deputize the Doc for his forensic skills.
The mystery is very good and the characters excellent. Doc's old friends and acquaintences, who become suspects as some tangled and twisted relationships are uncovered, are fleshed out enough to lend a little depth to this mystery. There is even a little danger and a dash of unexpected violence that, while not graphic, adds a serious dimension to the mystery portion. Someone you were sure would be a recurring character in the series will not make it. There will be a sad but exciting ending to the mystery portion of "Dead Angler." The epilog, as our friends enjoy some burgers smothered under big slabs of Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese while they discuss the past few day's events, make this series top-notch.
One of the reasons I loved this book is the atmosphere. Loon Lake, Wisconsin, has a warm and inviting feel. It's a place you'd like to visit and maybe stay a couple of weeks. You really get a sense of the rugged beauty of the woods and lakes of Wisconsin, and wish you too could smell the sweet scent of wildflowers growing in the Northwoods. If you love to fish, you'll probably long to cast on the waters of Loon Lake late one night to see what's biting.
The characters are another reason I love this book. They are likable because they seem real. By the end of this book, they'll seem like old pals you want to visit as often as you can. Doc's affection for Lew and his growing jealousy over her sometimes fishing partner, Ralph, has a real charm to it. It's a big deal when he finally gets up the courage to ask her to share in his weed beds and go musky fishing with him. There is a lot of stuff like that here and it is one of the things that separates this from others in the mystery theme genre.
You'll learn a lot about both Doc and Ray Pradt here in the first book in the series. Ray will seem a little "out there" when you first meet him in this mystery, but by the end you'll know why he's Doc's best friend. You'll also know that Doc is a real person. Author Victoria Houston has given him two grown daughters, one of whom will be in the midst of leaving a troubled marriage. Doc will understand what Mallory is going through but not have any answers. He did not have a good marriage with the mother of his two daughters, as she was really not a very nice woman.
Mallory's confusion will turn the tide on years of unknowing neglect on Doc's part, and he will begin to build a better relationship with his youngest daughter, who has been well-off but unhappy for a long time. Maybe as unhappy as Doc was before Ray pulled him out of the bottle when Mallory's mother died. He does, of course, get a little push in the right direction from his pal, Ray Pradt. Ray handles all this while helming the Loon Lake Pro-Am Walleye Open and getting his 15 minutes of fame on ESPN.
This is a terrific mystery series with great atmosphere and people who are good to know. They aren't perfect, and are easy to like for that very reason. You'll like this Northwood's cuisine a lot. It has the flavor of Ray Pradt's blue gills dipped in seasoned flour and fried to perfection. Don't miss a tasty moment!
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Summary:
Not the best in the genre, but OK
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Comment:
I enjoy this genre of mystery, the type that takes place in a small town with quirky local characters and not much blood and guts. This book is the first in the Loon Lake, Lew Ferris Police Chief, fly fishing series.Although the series touts tough, fly fishing Ms. Lew Ferris as police chief, the book is told through the eyes of retired dentist Dr. Osbourne, who is deputized to be a forensic dentist. Usually in this genre, the story is told through the actual detective. Seeing the mystery unfold second-hand through the dentist's eyes is different, and frankly, not as interesting. His contributions to the clue-finding are tripping over the body and identifying that her gold fillings have been pulled out. For the rest of the clues, the reader must rely on what Chief Ferris chooses to tell him. This is complicated by Dr. Osbourne's developing crush on the police chief. I don't think this author is as good a writer as, for example, Earlene Fowler (quilting mysteries) or Diane Mott Davidson (culinary mysteries with excellent recipes included). However, if you are desperate for another author who can be relied on to keep to the genre, I would recommend this author, Victoria Houston (the name sounds made up, doesn't it?).
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