Amy Pease comes out of the gates swinging with her first novel. Northwoods is a stimulating crime story that is equal parts thrilling and thought-provoking, admirably folding in challenging and potentially triggering topics such as mental health, PTSD, addiction, divorce, guilt, and greed.

Eli North is a sheriff’s deputy in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. He’s also a former military who was deployed to Afghanistan and is struggling with the toll the war took on his mental health. While trying to get a handle on his drinking and come to terms with his failed marriage, he’s thrust into the middle of a murder/kidnapping case that highlights the dark underbelly of the beautiful little town he calls home. Partnered with a young FBI agent and the minimal resources of a perpetually understaffed Sheriff’s department, Eli is presented with an opportunity to pull himself out of the darkness, use his exceptional investigative skills to solve the case and perhaps find himself on a road towards redemption.

On the surface, Northwoods is a crime novel filled with suspense, twists and turns and compelling characters. If that was it, it would still be an excellent debut. But at its heart, this is a book about humanity. It explores the tenuous hold people have on their mental health, how addiction can control your every action, how it can be hard to ask for help or even forgive yourself, how trauma shapes who we are whether we like it or not, and how all these things can affect the ones we love. It also is a book about love and kindness – both towards yourself and the impact you have on others when you reach out and show you care. Heavy topics to be sure, but adroitly included in this fast-paced, anxiety-inducing tale. Raising this story to another level and going well beyond a common crime novel.

If you’re looking for a thriller that’s mindless fun, this is not the book for you. But if you enjoy contemplation about the ups and downs of life and the consequences of your actions, then Northwoods is a must-read book that should immediately be added to your TBR pile.

“Marge was not a religious person, but she had a vague yet unshakable belief in a certain connectedness in the universe, that Ben’s death and Eli’s life might be intertwined somehow.”

I have been on a run of books similar to William Kent Krueger’s vast catalog of Minnesota based novels. When this one came to my attention, I admit to thinking, “Oh, here we go again.” This time the novel intrigued me due to the Wisconsin lakes setting and the sheriff/deputy duo; a mother and son tag team.

Marge North, longtime public servant and top cop in a town in Shaky Lake, offers her son Eli a safe harbor on the tiny and underfunded force she runs. Eli has recently returned from serving in the Middle East and brings home a load of disfunction in his duffle. A plumb job has gone by the wayside, his marriage is over, his relationship with his son seems unsalvageable, and PTSD and alcohol self medication round out the field. In this summer hamlet, a paradise to the country club folks, a body of a boy is found. This becomes a catalyst for more questions than answers, and painful and surprising facts of a sinister connection with the opioid epidemic begin to come into focus.

Time is running out for a missing teenage girl, for others embroiled in a deadly corporate scandal, and for Eli himself as the pace of this debut races to the finish line. This thoughtful, police procedural had unique elements relying heavily on the exploration of the characters along with the setting. I will save any comments regarding the ending but will enjoy discussing it with other readers upon publication January 9, 2024!

Thanks to Net Galley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book I felt had promise in the beginning but fell short for me! I found it too slow and different plots that I could not get interested!
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this book!

Any one of the plots would have been enough for this book. Instead the story jumps from one trauma to another within chapters. While all are important topics, drugs, alcohol, war serve, in this book they clutter up the story.
Author had a good plot but got lost in the drama.

After serving in Afghanistan, Eli North suffers from PTSD and self-medicates with large amounts of alcohol. He only has a job as a sheriff's deputy because his mother is the town sheriff. When a teenaged boy is found dead and his friend is missing, Eli joins the rest of the police force in the search. But the more answers he gets, the murkier the case becomes.
Set in the North Woods of Wisconsin, the story could have been set in any small vacation town. The whole story swirls around addiction. Although it's a decent mystery, I think the author tried to cover too many big topics (addiction, PTSD, alcoholism, big pharma, family relationships, white collar crime). There are also a lot of unnecessary details that don't add anything to the story. A good editor could have improved the flow of the narrative.

A young boy’s body is found in a boat docked at Shaky Lake. The shock of discovering the summer local boy dead sends Investigator Eli North reeling into the depths of his PTSD. Eli is a good investigator, but he is struggling after his wife and young son left him. He drinks excessively and the only reason he has a job is that his boss, the sheriff, is his mom Marge. Even though she has her doubts about Eli’s reliability, Marge pushes him to do his job. Along with a young FBI agent, Eli and his mom find themselves investigating more than the boy’s death. They soon learn that illegal opioids are involved. A strong atmospheric mystery, current social topics and a vulnerable character like Eli, who the reader becomes invested in, made this a great read. I hope the author brings Eli back for another book. Thanks to the publisher, Atria, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mystery set in the north woods of Wisconsin that deals with the effects of drugs and alcohol in a small town ands a deputy sheriff that is struggling with alcohol and PTSD. Eli North is the son of the head sheriff, his mother Marge. Currently separated from his wife and young son, Eli struggles with drinking and panic attacks and one night while he is drinking on duty he comes upon the body of a dead teenage boy on a boat. The boy is the son of a woman who has a big house on Shaky Lake but also has problems with drugs. When Eli and his mother find out that the murdered boy was with his girlfriend who is now missing, they ask a FBI agent for help.

I am from Wisconsin and am always eager to read things about my home state. Nothing about this really said Wisconsin over any other small lake town and I didn't like it that author implied Wisconsin people can only be hospitable if alcohol is involved. I also thought the huge fancy country club where you need to be buzzed in didn't seem to fit with the majority of the tourists staying in dingy cabins with no air conditioning. The novel explores the role of Big Pharma on the lives of the locals and summer visitors and equally explores the life of Eli and his struggles. For a novel under 300 pages, I think it would have been better to focus on one subject or another as the crime story seemed to get way less attention.

The novel picked up with the action at the end, and I enjoyed Eli, Marge and the young FBI agent Alyssa who had good instincts and worked well with the local officers. I did like the character of Eli and would be interested in seeing him again in another story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

This was just ok for me. The first two-thirds were very slow. Part of the issue for me was the author spent paragraphs describing buildings, properties and people’s clothes and appearances. It was too much and I found myself skimming to get back to the action. These descriptions read like a list and did nothing to create the atmosphere of the Wisconsin Northwoods, which I know well. A bit disappointed with this one but others have given positive reviews so you be your own judge.

I've read plenty of page-turning thrillers this year and Northwoods definitely falls into that category, but to describe it as such does it a disservice. While the plot immediately grabs you from page one, it's the beauty of the writing that elevates this novel above anything else I've ready for a very long time. Not since reading my first Sebastian Faulks novel have I felt in such awe of an author and their ability to use language, not just to tell a story, but as an art form.

But it's not just art for the sake of art. Pease uses language to capture moods and atmospheres and places. I've never been to anywhere like Shady Lake but I feel like I have. Important as they are, the places and the moods and the events are all in the service of the characters. They seem to arrive fully formed and familiar. They grow in depth and evolve in surprising ways in their search for truth, but yet its not surprising because you know these people, even though you've never known these people. The range of characters is impressive and whether they're murderers or cops, country club managers or drug addicts, main characters or cameos, they each exist, and are complicated and are real.

This is such an accomplished novel it's hard to believe It's from a first-time author. I wait impatiently for the next installment!

Amy Pease's debut novel, "Northwoods," has a captivating plot and complex characters, this mystery novel is sure to intrigue readers of this genre. At first glance, Eli North may not be the most likable character. His struggles with alcoholism and emotional trauma from his time in Afghanistan make him a challenging figure to connect with. However, as the story progresses, Pease skillfully develops Eli's character, allowing readers to witness his growth and transformation. By the end of the novel, Eli becomes a character that readers can't help but root for. When the body of a teenage boy is discovered in the lake, Eli finds himself embroiled in an investigation that uncovers a web of secrets, a violent past, and a missing girl. Joined by his mother, the local sheriff, and a determined young FBI agent, Eli must navigate the twists and turns of the case while dealing with his own personal struggles. While the novel excels in its storytelling and character development, there are moments when the pacing feels slightly uneven. Some sections may feel slower compared to the overall fast-paced nature of the plot. However, this minor flaw does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. I found "Northwoods" to be a standout debut that promises great things to come from this talented author.

Eli North is not okay as his drinking is getting worse, 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, only because the sheriff is his mother who'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 grou[ 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.

This is the debut book by this author and so well-written that it is hard to believe. She develops her characters so well slipping in their backstories so you understand them and describes the area so well that you feel like you are there. She also draws attention to the opioid epidemic and what it does to victims and their families. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for introducing me to this author, and I will be on the lookout for future books by her.

What were my overall thoughts about this novel?
Northwoods is an atmospheric read that focuses on the heavy topics of opioid addiction, big pharma, and post traumatic stress. It was written in a way that kept me engaged and wanting to find out what happened while also drawing me in to connect with the characters and wanting to see them all find their way to a happier ending. I loved the setting of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and appreciated the small town feel while tackling huge topics.

Was there anything I didn't like?
I thought the story was intriguing and really did provide so much reflection on the opioid epidemic in the United States, how addiction can be fed by capitalism and the icky side of big pharma - but it wrapped up so quickly and I found myself wanting more from the story in the end. There were a lot of loose ends with relationships and other character developments that I was hoping to have tied up at the end that were left undone.

Would I recommend?
Its a great book to read if you're looking for something that's entertaining and also has a more atmospheric setting to it. It was a great read for cozying up under a blanket.

I could not put this gripping thriller down! I was seriously hooked from the beginning. This is one of the top thrillers to read this year!! Stunning!
I just reviewed Northwoods by Amy Pease. #NetGalley
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Eli North, recently returned from a tour of duty in the Middle East, dealing with PTSD and guilt from his time there, is now a deputy on the Sherman County Sheriff’s Department; his mother is the sheriff. Eli is not having an easy time transitioning back into civilian life. But as a former elite investigator for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, he’s very good at digging into crimes. When a teenage boy is found dead, Eli and Sheriff Marge North, start to dig into the story behind what happened. What they discover is dark and filled with underhanded dealings, substance abuse, and betrayal.

Shaky Lake has a very small law enforcement staff of just four officers, the sheriff included. In order to solve the murder, they must bring in help from other agencies, including FBI agent Alyssa Mason. I loved all of the characters as they rang true to life. Eli, Marge, Alyssa, Rachel Sharpe, and the others all brought the story to life. This is more than a murder mystery, it’s also a look into the lives of the characters. It’s a glimpse into the lives of those suffering from substance abuse and drug addiction, of overbearing employers, of those dealing with repercussions beyond their control.

This book deals with family, friends, betrayal, attempted suicide, people trying to do the right things in difficult situations, alcoholism, drug abuse and addiction, PTSD, and divorce. They all join to create a riveting tale of life in a small town in northern Wisconsin.

This is an astonishingly good debut novel. The writing is excellent, as are the plotting, characters and their development, and the world building. I could easily visualize the locations described. Maybe that’s partly because I found myself, surprisingly, personally invested in this story, with several ties to locations in which the story takes place. I don’t think that influenced me into liking this book, but it sure didn’t hurt that I could easily visualize everything going on. Despite my familiarity with these places, I think any reader can get a good feel for the places just from the descriptions offered. They’re that accurate.

I completely enjoyed this story, found it a page turner that kept me interested from beginning to end. I hope that this is just a first book in a series. I’d love to see more about life in Shaky Lake and its sheriff’s office. I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

Northwoods offers an interesting storyline. It is a debut novel dealing with a murder, kidnapping and high opioid use/ possibly distribution in a small rural town.
Pluses:
Interesting storyline
Good pacing
Complex mystery

Deltas:
Stilted dialogue
Poor transitioning - confusing
Editing errors
Motive for murder is unclear
Criminal activity is not fleshed out or explained
Lack of Character development except for MC

The main character, Eli North is very well developed. Other characters are one dimensional. However, Eli is intriguing and I hope he will be featured in future writings. I would like to continue reading his story! There is unfinished business in this town concerning criminal elements that perhaps will be resolved in a sequel.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinion expressed are my own.

Northwoods by Amy Pease

288 Pages
Publisher: Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Release Date: January. 9, 2024

General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller, Alcoholism, PTSD

Eli used to be an office for Fish and Wildlife department, but he changed after his tour in Afghanistan. Now he is a deputy for Shaky Lake in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. His mother, Marge, is the chief of police, and the only. Reason Eli still has a job. His drinking has gotten worse and he has trouble just maintaining his life. The body. Of a teenage boy is discovered in the lake. Now everyone is looking for the teenage girl that was supposed to be with him. The FBI become involved and sent Agent Alyssa Mason to assist in the investigation. The death and disappearance seem to be wrapped up in a prescription drug ring that is operating in the Northwoods. Can Eli hold it together long enough to work out this case?

The book has a fast pace, the characters are well developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. Eli is broken and the author does an excellent job describing the internal fight he has every day. His mother feels helpless but acts like a mother protecting her son. This is a good drug related murder mystery.

This is a great new series that will keep you wanting more. There’s lots of mystery and intriguing details that keep the reader want more. Look for to what the author has next.

An intriguing mystery set in the North woods of Wisconsin. Eli clearly is suffering from PTSD from a tour in Afghanistan. He is drinking way too much and it's cost him his job and his wife. The only employment he can find is in his small hometown as a sheriff's deputy -- his mother is the Sheriff. When he discovers the body of a teenage boy and a teen girl is missing, he's drawn into the middle of the investigation and is forced to face his own demons.

I was sucked in from the beginning, but about 10% in, I became a bit bored and even lost in following the narrative. There was so much going on -- the murder, the missing girl, the drug addicted mother, Eli's PTSD, the animosity among Eli's co-workers, sexual tension between Eli & a young FBI agent, something about a FDA drug trial, social conflicts around wealth and middle class, marital issues, and on and on. It was sometimes difficult to get the characters straight and just who had what issues with who. Fortunately about 1/2 way in, it all became clearer and the mystery became the focus. There were lots of clues and misdirections, but it was all resolved in the end. Although I admit that I figured out the culprit long before the big reveal, I finished the book with a good feeling about Pease and her writing. It's not the best I've read, but it's a solid mystery that just could have done without a couple of the extra characters and issues.

One real saving grace -- Pease is a master at descriptive writing. Her writing pulled me solidly into the setting in rural Wisconsin. The town, resort, country club, and bar were very vivid and really added to the atmosphere. Well done!

This is a book all older students and parent should read. In fact everyone should read it. A mother and son pair of law enforcement in a small town take on narcotics in the case of the death of a teenager and another missing teenager. In case that is about this and so much more. A powerful story of the trauma people carry and the ways they attempt to cope

This is an outstanding debut novel, well written with heart, complex characters and depth. The relationships feel true and complicated as the main characters wrestle with the hard things in their life as well as the mystery of a teenage boy's death and a missing girl. Addiction, PTSD from the war, abuse, divorce, parenthood and the pharmecutical industry are all explored. But it is also a story of healing and hope after despair