I enjoyed this debut mystery novel. When one teen is found dead and another is missing from some lakeside cabins one summer, the small-town sheriff's department is on the case. Sheriff Marge, her deputy son Eli, and the two other deputies in the county are joined by FBI agent Alyssa, and the investigation leads to things that are much bigger in scope than anyone imagined. The story also explores Eli's post-Afghanistan PTSD and how that has affected his family and his work. The setting is written really well - I could easily imagine the northern Wisconsin lake town. The main characters were fairly well developed for this genre. I loved Marge, the sheriff. She was portrayed as both a competent professional and a loving mom and grandma, a balance that not all books get right. Eli was a very complicated character, and she wrote his mental struggles well. My one complaint is that there was a point where we spend a lot of time in the midst of Eli's PTSD, and there was a big gap in the thread of solving the crime. There were several unanswered questions, and I'm not sure if they were plot holes, an ode to ambiguous endings, or a set-up to a sequel. I'd love a sequel! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an e-arc of this book.

What a great debut novel. This is a solid police procedural with well developed characters, nteresting setting and a complicated crime. Eli, the main character is certainly flawed , dealing with PTSD, alcohol addiction, and the breakdown of his family all while trying to solve the murder of a young boy. I'm not sure if this is the beginning of a series, but would like to see more of Eli.
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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book

If you like crime procedurals with well-developed characters, you'll enjoy this book. The rural Midwest setting contrasts natural beauty with human deception and violence, and the characters feel realistic and relatable. I would recommend this book to fans of William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor mystery series and I will be on the lookout for more from this author! Of note: not to be confused with a book with a very similar name that came out around the same time, but which is set on the East Coast and an entirely different type of book.

This was pretty good! I didn’t get into it as fast as other books, but I feel like that’s a me problem. I thought it did a good job observing opioid addiction and small town culture.

Northwoods by Amy Pease. Pub Date: January 9, 2024. Rating: 4 stars. For a debut novel, this was a very compelling and unputdownable mystery thriller. At its focus, the author takes the reader into the world of opioid addiction and how one town is affected by its presence. Set in the Midwest, I felt the vibe of Midwestern culture at its core. One of the main characters is fighting demons of his own and the reader gets to explore what it means to have PTSD following a military career. There is murder, family, drugs, alcohol and everything in between in this novel. I really enjoyed the pace and character development throughout. I would highly recommend for mystery thriller readers. Thanks to #netgalley and #atriabooks for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #northwoods

I just can't get into this one so I will be putting it down at this time. I tried the audio, so next time I will try the physical copy. Thank you!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of Northwoods. I was anticipating this book to be really engaging and gritty, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The opening scene is rather gripping and started out strong, but as the story went on, it lost its way and seemed to have an identity crisis. You're following a former armed serviceman who works for an underfunded, small-town police department run by his mother. He struggles with PTSD and addiction tendencies, resulting in family upheaval and rocky relationships. I liked the premise of this book, however it didn't really stay on track and tried to include a lot that just became extraneous and distracting. I caught on to the twist pretty early on and by the time it was revealed, it just fell completely flat. I'm glad I gave this a try, but recommending this one will be sparse.

This debut novel from Amy Pease is outstanding! The book follows Eli as he is investigating a body that turns up in a boat docked on Shaky Lake in Wisconsin. Eli is battling his own demons from his time in Afghanistan. Pease does a tremendous job in highlighting his PTSD while sensitive to the condition. Interwoven in the story is the real issue with opioids in many of our communities. The story moves at a feverish pace. I found the book to be well written and the characters thoughtfully developed. Pease does her homework in understanding PTSD, police procedure and the ravages of opioids on a small community. This will delight readers of various genres. It is a short book that reads rather quickly!

Northwoods had the small town, middle America atmosphere I was looking for. My interest was piqued from the first chapter. I loved that it was a mystery, but also touched on the deep topic of PTSD in someone who served in the military. However, I found myself losing interest halfway through the book and on. This is the author's debut. I imagine that Amy Pease has the potential to grow and write amazing stuff, so even though Northwoods was just okay for me, I would definitely be interested to check out Amy's future work.

Northwoods by Amy Pease is set in the quaint but troubled resort town of Shaky Lake, Wisconsin, and the book plunges you into a dark and twisty mystery that’ll keep you entertained.

Our protagonist, Deputy Sheriff Eli North, is a man haunted by demons, both internal and external. His stint in Afghanistan left him battered and scarred, self-medicating with booze to numb the pain. It’s cost him dearly—his marriage, and his career as an investigator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Now, the only job he can hold down is with the local sheriff’s department, where his mom, Marge, wears the sheriff’s badge and can keep a watchful eye on him.

Like many communities, Shaky Lake, Wisconsin, is caught up in the opioid crisis. When a teenage boy’s body is discovered floating in a boat tethered to a dock and his last companion vanishes into thin air, Eli, Marge, and a fresh-faced FBI agent dive headfirst into the investigation, unraveling secrets that some would prefer stayed buried.

Pease crafts a tense and atmospheric tale, seamlessly blending elements of crime thriller and police procedural. The multiple perspectives add layers to the mystery, keeping you guessing until the very end.

Let’s talk about setting—Pease nails it with her portrayal of Shaky Lake. You can practically smell the pine trees and hear the lapping of the water against the dock. The dialogue crackles with authenticity, and the characters feel like folks you might bump into at the local diner.

Clocking in at a brisk 288 pages, Northwoods is a quick read that packs a punch. Plus, it’s got the stamp of approval from none other than William Kent Krueger, one of my favorite authors. But fair warning—Northwoods tackles some heavy stuff, from addiction to PTSD.

Pease’s novel left me hungry for more. Here’s hoping this is the start of a new series. 4 stars.

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

I loved the accurate portrayals of PTSD and addiction - the author did not make either seem "easy" as authors sometimes do. A great story, with some small town police procedural mixed it. I would love to see these characters continue!

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. The book has a definite trigger warning for alcohol and drug abuse as well as PTSD. It was a decent story line and had decent characters. It held my attention til the end and I didn't see the end coming.

I thought this was a solid debut. I didn’t really feel the thriller vibes as it felt more like a police procedure/mystery until the end. There was great character development. I didn’t love Eli, but I felt for him and what he went through. I loved Marge and Alyssa and how they helped him in different ways. Eli put Marge in a tough position multiple times, but I loved her advice and where her heart was. I liked when the investigation followed Marge or Eli and Alyssa when there were together. The pace moved a little faster at those times. There were a lot of themes explored, but I think the author did a good job with them.

I would consider this a family drama instead of a thriller or suspense novel. The book focused mostly on the main character Eli, and the struggles he fought in his daily life. Though not possessing a lot of character depth (outside of Eli), there were twists that were unexpected. The action picked up in the end, and I was very entertained during the last 20% of the book. There were clues throughout that led me to know the conclusion early, but I still enjoyed the ending. This is definitely a slow burn novel.

My main issue with this book was the overly descriptive writing. It’s not a long book, but everything was described in excruciating detail. As a debut novel, overall, it was a decent read. I will definitely put this new author on my list to give her next book a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Northwoods is a debut and what a debut! Pease has written a story that is a mystery and police procedural that delves into very serious subjects such as PTSD, opioid abuse, and “big pharma.” The action takes place in northern Wisconsin, in a lake resort area popular with summer vacationers. Eli North is currently a deputy sheriff (and his mother is the sheriff!) of the local county, which has a very small sheriff’s department. A fair amount of their time is taken up with noise complaints and other low-key issues. Eli has severe PTSD from his time in Afghanistan and is currently separated from his wife. They have an 11-year-old son, Andy. Eli’s drinking is out of control and is affecting his job performance and his relationships. When Eli discovers the dead body of a teenage boy in a small boat, his first thought is thankfulness that it’s not Andy. Later they find out that a teenage girl is missing, and the investigation expands.

There were several characters who we learn about in a bit of depth, at least one of whom is dealing with addiction, a theme in this story. Alyssa, an FBI agent who comes to town to assist (or lead!) the investigation, seems to have an interesting backstory, but we only get an inkling of that.

The mystery is a good one and held some surprises. I sped through this one, bouncing between the ebook and the audiobook, which was well narrated by Chris Henry Coffey and Zach Aleman.

While the main mystery is wrapped up at the end of the book, the author left a few threads dangling, so I’m hoping there’s another book in the works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A wonderful debut novel!!

What I loved about this book:
1. Recommended by William Kent Krueger - great reco!!
2. Police Procedure that takes place on a lake in a small town!
3. Troubled Main Character - who you love and want to succeed!

What I wanted to be a little different:
1. Kind of gets a little unbelievable at times....but does correct itself!
2. Covers a lot of topics - could be fewer and stronger

Can't wait for her next book!

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for chance to review the book!

I really liked this book as it has all the elements I enjoy in a novel: suspense, murders, good guys/bad guys--all the usual elements in a good thriller. Deputy Eli finds a dead youngster in boat and it raises all sorts of questions as there doesn't appear to be foul play but it's unusual to find a 16-year-old by himself--docked and dead. Eli's mother is the sheriff so of course the investigation will begin immediately. But what makes it odder is that Caitlin, another 16-year-old is missing; and as this is a resort town, it's unlikely she's gone far. Unfortunately, Eli has a drinking problem and often passes out without remembering events so he may be of little help. And then there's Cal, who works for Orion, a pharmaceutical company that has just developed a drug that will counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. All of these elements combine in an often-surreal and nightmarish race through time to discover what's plaguing this town!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5 Stars rounded up

I read this book in pretty much one sitting on an airplane travel day. It kept me occupied and engaged but one of my pet peeves with police procedurals is when people go so far off the book. I understand the story was that they were so desperate that they let things slide and there was nepotism but it was a bit too far for me. Now will I continue with what I imagine will become a series?.....maybe because the optimist in me wants to continue to see growth.
The other piece that left me underwhelmed was the ease at which I pinpointed the whodunnit. I get maybe that wasn't meant to be a big secret (maybe) but I just figured it out too early and then felt like I lost some of the enthusiasm for the book.

Things I liked:
The characters - I know I just whined about the MC but when you can take a morally grey character and make me care and root for them thats a win. I also really liked the side characters and the development of characters.

Things I loved:
The setting - give me small town Wisconsin (especially on a lake) anyday. Incorporating the Kwik Trip references was just the chef's kiss easter egg this WI native much appreciated.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

Eli North’s drinking is getting worse. He has emotional wounds after being deployed to Afghanistan. He’s lost. His career and marriage, he gets a job working for his mother as a deputy sheriff. In the lake he is floating and gets up to check on the song that’s playing. When he reaches the cabin, it appears to be empty except for the record playing ab Etta James tune. After finding no one in the cabin, he goes to the lake and checks out the boat. Inside the box is a dead teenage boy.that he doesn’t recognize. His mother knows him. When his mother looks at the boy, she recognizes him. As Zelig becomes involved in th case, his mother and a young fbi agent. The case ends up being more than just finding the killer. If Eli can solve this case, he might be able to get redemption.

The author has written a gripping murder mystery. Pease has done an excellent job with writing a depiction of the consequences of substance abuse in a small midwestern town. The characters are compelling throughout the novel. There are secrets found while investigating. The characters in the book will not be forgotten by me. The book indirectly speaks about post traumatic stress, addition, small-town life and the trappings of wealth. It is a terrific mystery.