Author Deb Davies' debut mystery "Northern Lights" was published in 2020, the first book of a trilogy called A Coast to Coast Michigan Mystery. Make sure to read the first book before you pick up "White Nights". It is definitely not a standalone.

FIRST SENTENCE: "To Old friends", Charles proposed, raising his glass toward Claire, Arnie, and Laurel.

THE STORY: While on vacation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, friends Laurel and Arnie and Claire and Charles become involved with a suspicious death and an abandoned dog. Arnie, a policeman on leave, is asked to help the local constable who suspects the death is not a suicide. Unfortunately someone is not happy with the investigation and the four friends end up in grave danger.

WHAT I THOUGHT: This is an adult novel and like "Northern Lights", it reads like a literate mystery combined with a violent thriller. In some ways the story is less of a mystery and more of a picture of the people and places in Michigan. The author is "passionate about rescued animals and nature", so those topics find their way into the story as well as kidnapping, violence, sexual innuendoes, and cruelty. Michiganders will recognize places, products, and traditions the author weaves throughout the book. Some readers will enjoy the fact that the narrative veers off into subjects unrelated to the mystery. Some may not.

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED but start with "Northern Nights".

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "White Nights" by Deb Davies from NetGalley/BHC Press for my honest review.

Let me start with this is the 2nd book in the series and you should start with Northern Lights first to have a complete understanding. Deb Davies has written an exceptional story full of uncertainty and vivid scene building. The story takes place in Michigan at a Lakeside Retreat on Manistique Lake and with all the details I could clearly picture the scene. It is full of history and description of the Upper Peninsula was wonderful.

Laurel and Arnie are excited to get together with their friends Clair and Charles at the summer house. Arnie is a former cop and becomes involved in a murder investigation that is full of corruption and someone does not want Maddy's death to be an investigated. There are a lot of other things that are occurring instead of the murder and you have to pay close attention to keep up. I did enjoy the book though full of flawed characters and scene building that is exceptional.

Thank you BHC Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I read northern light before I read this and been honest I recommend reading it first because this one is really a follow up and will make more sense then to the reader if you know what I mean but an enjoyable book ..

I DNF'd this novel before the first chapter was done. Maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance, but I was so distracted by all the discussions of what the couples were eating and who they were gossiping about, that it felt like I'd jumped into the middle of the novel and I didn't know things I was supposed to already know.

White Nights is the second book in Davies’s Coast-to-Coast Michigan Mystery series. From reading this book, I think it is best to have read book one first.

We begin in a restaurant which is a culinary school. Interesting but not important to the story. The conversations are confusing as they ramble on about nothing interesting (to me) and keeping who is a couple straight takes several chapters. There are a lot of characters introduced to also keep straight.

The story is about two couples that go on vacation together but get roped into helping to solve a suspicious death. Yet there seems to be less emphasis on the deceased I had a hard time reading the book. All the side conversations distracted me from what I was interested in, the suspicious death. I didn't care for the characters, Claire appears to have an alcohol issue, Charles is boring with his obsession about wildlife. Arnie is an aging cop that seems angry in general, and Laurel is Arnie's new wife. This book was not for me.

I am going to start out by warning you that this book CAN NOT be read as a standalone.

Initially when I had requested White Nights, I did not know that it was book two in a series. I quickly figured this out a few chapters in so I stopped, went back and downloaded the first book, Northern Lights. You need to read book one prior to White Nights as it gives a detailed explanation to a lot that happens in this book as well as character history.

With that being said, I really enjoyed both of these books. There was a detailed plot with strong character development. The mystery had me going for a bit and it took me awhile to piece everything together .

This is a character driven, slow burn murder mystery . This was an easy read that kept my attention and had me strung along until the very end.

Other than not being aware that this was a sequel, I have not one thing I could say I did not enjoy!

First and foremost, this book is not a stand alone. Not having read the first in the series, this book came across disjointed. Many characters names and hints of backstory were hit upon, but left the reader totally in the dark. Making it to 50%, I couldn’t do it anymore as I found quite a bit of the story confusing and just plain silly! If you’ve read the first book, Northern Light, you might have a totally different opinion, but for me this book just didn’t work!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

It was interesting. I recommend it.

Husband and wife Arnie and Laurel were thrilled when their dear friends Charles and Claire agree to join them at the lake house in Lake Michigan’s Upper Peninsula they are using for a getaway. Set on Manistique Lake, the house is beautiful; but Arnie, a police officer who hasn’t been able to work due to injury, is reluctantly drawn in to an investigation by Rob, the elected constable, and his wife Brandy, who waited on the two couples at the Culinary School Restaurant that evening. Brandy ran after Arnie, telling him that her late father was a cop, and she recognized the stance of a fellow officer. She begged him to help her husband. The woman who is the subject of the investigation is Maddy Pierce. She seems to have died by suicide (carbon monoxide poisoning) with a note by her side that said, “sorry, honey.” Rob saw broken fingers on her left hand and decides there is more to the case than suicide. The four friends, their vacation ruined, find themselves being hunted by someone who will stop at nothing to cover up Maddy’s death.

“White Nights” was a fun, page-turning read, a well-woven story full of suspense, twists, and turns. The four friends’ wonderfully flawed characters were more than likable, and we as readers grew to love MOST of those we might have thought ill of in the beginning. ☺️ I thoroughly enjoyed the pace and intelligent writing style, and the incredible descriptions given make me want to visit Michigan as soon as humanly possible!

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Deb Davies, and BHC Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Didn't realize this was a series, it looked so interesting. At 25% I have no idea who the people are, what the plot is or why I should continue reading. I am so sorry but strange, rambling and foul mouth old weirdos aren't engaging. The scenery descriptions were spectacular. Where's the thrilling mystery? My apologies, I just can't finish this book, not for me. Thank you for the opportunity.

I'm not sure if it has to do with the fact that I didn't read the first book in this series, but I found it to be incredibly confusing. The characters are very difficult to follow (as mentioned in multiple other reviews). Within the first few pages I was lost on which character was which and who was part of what couple.

The book just wasn’t what I expected it to be.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. Character development was good. The plot was very interesting. Not a lot of typos.

Having spent time in Michigan earning my master’s degree, I looked forward to reading Deb Davies novel “White Nights (Coast-to-Coast Michigan Mysteries).” It is set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in a beautiful spot around Manistique Lake.

I had perused some other reviews and saw some complaints about the characters being hard to follow. I was sure I would not have this issue as I like intricate stories with lots of twists and turns. I was wrong – the main four characters (two couples) -- Laurel and Arnie along with their friends Claire and Charles – are a confusing mess to follow.

It might be possible that this is the first story of Davies that I’ve read or maybe a “cast of characters” list might have made it easier for me to follow. I’m not sure. Regardless a murder and interactions with the daughter and her giant boyfriend and others led to confusing this reader with no clear pathways.

It is a shame because reading about a place where you’ve visited and enjoyed time is supposed to be fun not a chore. Getting through this book was a chore for me. My advice for potential readers – be sure you know what you are starting – it’s not terrible but for me it was not enjoyable! My rating is the way I felt about the book and may not reflect others’ read—so as with any review – “take it with a grain of salt.”

I'm not sure if it has to do with the fact that I didn't read the previous book by this author, but I found it a bit disjointed and a little odd in some ways. It definitely wasn't quite what I expected. I seem to be in the minority though, so don't take my word for it. I did like Charles, though, and Duck.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

White Nights is book two in the Coast to Coast Michigan series (1# is Northern Light).

In book 2, the four friends ( Charles, Arnie and Laurel) who pulled together to support Claire in Northern Light embark on a vacation. It isn't long before a suspicious death in the town attracts vacationing policeman Arnie into an investigation. What first seems to be a suicide ends up much more complicated and dangerous for all four. It is clear someone wants to stop them from becoming involved at any costs! This story is quick and light and a great addition to anyone's collection of detective mysteries. I would recommend reading book #1 as some of the phrases and characters can be confusing without background knowledge. This is a must have for anyone from Michigan! #BHCPress #NetGalley #WhiteNights

Vacation plans are upended for a group of friends when they are thrown into a murder investigation. Claire, Charles, Laurel and Arnie plan to enjoy a relaxing lakeside vacation in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. However, all plans are interrupted during their first dinner at Lake Manistique. After overhearing that Arnie is a policeman on leave, their server asks him to help her boyfriend, Constable Rob, investigate the death of a local woman. It’s been ruled a suicide but Rob thinks there’s more to it. Boy, he is right. Soon Arnie and friends are plunged into a maze of assault, murder, kidnapping and more. Their lives depend on solving this case.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the Upper Peninsula and its history, customs and food. For instance, do you know the difference between Yoopers and Fudgies? You will. Before you read White Nights, read Northern Light. The Coast to Coast Michigan books are a series and there are many references to people and events from the earlier mystery that are confusing to a first time reader. This is a 4 star read.

Thank you to NetGalley, BHC Press and Deb Davies for this ARC.

This a fun and chilling mystery! I flew through this one.

Laurel and Arnie are so excited when their friends Clair and Charles decide to join them at their summer home. A lakeside retreat on Manistique Lake in Michigan this is perfect spot to relax on their fun filled trip.

Their idyllic getaway is interrupted when Arnie, a former cop, becomes entangled in a murder investigation. Initially the victim, Maddy Pierce appears to have committed suicide. However a vast amount of evidence points to foul play.

This event is the catalyst that divides the group of friends and destroys their trip. There’s someone who is willing to do anything it takes to keep Maddy’s death a secret.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

This book caught my interest because it is set in Michigan and I enjoy reading books that include my home state. Great descriptions of the people, places and food enjoyed by the characters. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Northern Light, I recommend doing so before starting this one.

My one wish is for a listing of all the people in the book with a short description of them. The first book was difficult to follow at times due to so many people. This one is better since I already knew the main ones but I still had to pause and really think about sub characters.