Set in the deep Northern Minnesota woods a estranged brother as sister must come to grips of who and why there family member died. Does it go back to the resort their parents owned. Great location, vivid scenery. Goldman is a top priority reader. Bring back some Nils soon

Still Waters is now the second thriller I've read by Matt Goldman, and this one was again bubbling over with family drama!

An email from beyond the grave starts this book off, and suddenly estranged siblings Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom are forced into finding out what happened to their dead brother Mack. Threatening notes, a mysterious key and an ornery old woman all add to the strains put on this small-town family. While the book has a dark undertone, (though not menacingly so), the additional love story helps offset and counterbalance the ever-present suspense.

It's evident that Waters enjoys writing unlikable characters submerged in family drama, and what I enjoy most about his writing is the morally gray compass they live by! Additionally, his books are very cinematic with a panoramic view - his TV writer background clearly coming across!

The audiobook narrator often created unintentional pauses between some sentences in the same paragraph, at times leading me to believe the start of a new paragraph or chapter break was occurring. Although this didn't detract from my enjoyment in listening, these hesitations were not edited out.

All in all, the resort setting makes this a perfect thriller to take along on your next vacation!

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Liv and Gabe are estranged siblings but join together when their older brother dies. He told them if something happened to him, he was murdered. They both return to their family run resort for answers.

A good mystery that I got sucked in from then beginning. The pacing changed towards the middle when disputes about property and ownership became involved; just not my thing. I had a harder time staying invested then but I did like all the characters, especially the family drama so wanted to find out what happened.

“This isn’t a game. This isn’t a psychological exploration of why you’re more successful than I am. This is real.”

Still Waters comes out 5/21.

Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom are Irish twins, but they have been estranged for many years. Liv is a go getter, while Gabe is laidback. Neither understands the other. When their older brother dies suddenly, they are thrown back together. They are receiving mysterious emails from him after his death telling them not to believe everything they hear, that he has been murdered. Unable to walk away, the two head back to their family run resort in the Northwoods of Minnesota. Leech Lake has changed, but their memories have not. There are memories of losing their parents and memories of a place they couldn’t wait to leave. Family secrets abound as the two unravel their mysterious past. Is it in someway connected to the death of their brother? They are not safe in Leech Lake, someone is willing to kill to keep the past where it belongs! As they continue to dig, past hurts are healed, but will they live long enough to enjoy the future? Thank you to Forge Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Still Waters has a family with secrets; an email from the dead; more than you can unravel each session. A solid plot, good, writing, well-developed story line with great characters. Recommended.

Estranged siblings Liv and Gabe receive the news that their older brother Mack had died, when the get an email from Mack after the fact saying someone had killed him. Although they haven't visited home in 20 years, they go back to see what they can find and discover something really might have happened to him and that it might be tied to their family history. Overall, a story about a family trying to understand their past and how it is relevant to today. While the mystery was an easy enough read, the characters of Liv and Gabe were a bit frustrating and seemed to dislike each other one moment but then somehow work together the next.

Published by Forge Books on May 21, 2024

Gabe and Liv Ahlstrom are siblings but they have not connected with each other in decades. They grew up in Minnesota, where their family made a living operating the Ahlstrom resort on Leech Lake. The resort holds bad memories, particularly concerning their mother’s death. Now they live on separate coasts.

The funeral of their brother Mack brings Gabe and Liv back to Minnesota. Mack lived in Chicago and also maintained no connection to his siblings. Despite the absence of connection, Mack emails his brother and sister from beyond the grave. He accomplished this by setting his email program to send them emails in the future, resetting the delivery dates each day until his death prevented him from accomplishing that daily task. The emails disclose his suspicion that someone is trying to kill him. The delivery of threatening notes and a dead beaver at the resort make Liv and Gabe wonder whether they might be the next victims.

Still Waters is a novel of family secrets. As Gabe and Liv try to identify Mack’s killer — assuming he was killed and didn’t die from a natural but unusual cause, as his doctor certified — they learn that their parents’ relationship might not have been as idyllic as it appeared to the younger children.

It isn’t a secret that Judith Otsby, the owner of a neighboring resort, would like to acquire the Ahlstrom resort. Another family member’s death seems to open the door to that possibility, but Liv and Gabe would have to surrender their right to take ownership for that to happen. Could Judith be the murderer? Winona, a niece of Liv and Gabe, hopes to acquire the land so she can build a small ecofriendly power plant on the premises. Would murder further her ambitions? Add a murder mystery to a Succession plot and you’ve got Still Waters.

Unfortunately, Still Waters doesn’t feature the sharp writing and wicked twists of Succession. The family drama is rooted in a pedestrian story of parental infidelity. The characters are bland. That probably shouldn’t be surprising, as the book is populated with characters in Minnesota whose goal is to “blend in and carry on as if you’re embarrassed to be alive” (by far the best line in the novel). Various love stories (Gabe and his girlfriend) and love gone bad stories (Liv and her husband) do little to spice up the plot.

The only interesting character is Judith, and she’s only interesting because she’s nasty and snarky. She treats her husband like a servant but it’s difficult to feel sympathy for him, given that he only puts up with her to benefit from her family’s wealth. It’s easy to feel sympathy for a mentally challenged character, but a weak effort to cast suspicion on him is a waste of time. No conventional writer is going to turn a sweet likeable guy with a mental disability into a killer, and Still Waters is clearly the work of a conventional writer.

On a side note, Gabe and Liv need to pull off a scheme to deceive someone they suspect of being the murderer, but the scheme requires them to track down a unique liquor bottle that hasn’t been manufactured in decades. They apparently do this in less than a day. Writers gloss over improbabilities all the time for the sake of telling a story, but this one seriously impairs the story’s credibility.

The plot drags between major events. Efforts to build suspense milk scenes for longer than is necessary, causing suspense to dissipate. Chapters finish with cliffhangers before the action resumes in the very next chapter in an apparent attempt to make the book seem like a page turner. The technique fails to rescue a dull story. The reveal is ho-hum, capped by a rambling confession that serves only to tie up loose ends. While the story might hold some interest for mystery fans who enjoy family dramas, I would put Still Waters near the bottom of a reading list for most mystery fans.

RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS

I'd really enjoyed reading Matt Goldman's first book and was excited to get into this one, too.

Set at a family ran resort in small town, northern Minnesota -- estranged siblings travel back to scatter the ashes of their older brother and figure out the mystery of his death. They both received an email from him, just after his passing saying he believed he was murdered. After speaking with his wife, they learn he had a different father than themselves and that just adds to the mystery. Well written, intriguing and cleverly crafted characters. It's a mystery that kept me entertained and wondering how it would work out in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Two estranged siblings go back home to their old home at their family’s Minnesota resort after several years apart to bury their older brother who has suddenly died. Each of them, however, has received an email from their brother after his death, saying that he has been murdered. This starts an investigation into the death of their brother, the secrets left behind over 20 years ago, and the intentions of the members of the small community. Goldman gives us intriguing characters with compelling traits, dialogue that is at times funny and dark, and the plot twists that make for an entertaining mystery. Perfect for fans of Alex Finlay, JT Ellison, or Lisa Unger.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Matt Goldman., with the audio perfectly narrated by Helen Laser. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom are estranged siblings, along with their older brother, Mack. But then Liv gets a call from Mack's wife saying that Mack died from a seizure. Right afterwards, both Liv and Gabe receive a scheduled email from Mack, stating, If you’re reading this email, I am dead. I know this will sound strange, but someone has been trying to kill me. The siblings return to their family-run resort in the Northwoods of Minnesota to investigate. But they are soon enmeshed in family and small town secrets and someone is not happy they are there.

I alternated between the digital and audio versions of this book, but was totally enthralled with the narration and the Minnesota accents (think Fargo). It just really added to the atmospheric feel of this book. The characters felt real, especially Liv and Gabe, with their estrangement and resulting feelings coloring everything. This book was the perfect blend of family and small town drama and mystery. It was an easy, quick read and I thought the ending was perfect.

Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom are siblings who have t seen each other in many years, but they find themselves together after their brother’s death. This begins a search for answers to their family history. When more people die, they decide to find answers. This was an interesting plot, but just didn’t seem to flow for me.

I can’t say going into this I expected to leave the book feeling so upbeat? Reading the synopsis I figured I was in for a classic messy who dun it, what I didn’t expect was to be so invested in the dynamics between the characters and their individual growth. The way this murder mystery was woven around decades of tragic family history while managing to still read like found family was truly a feat. Still Water was presented like a thriller but leaves you with an understanding of learning to love people where they are and accepting that portions of a chapter do not make up an entire story.

This is a book with excellent characters and a very good plot. The story is told almost entirely with dialogue, which is good, but can lead to some repetitions. Very enjoyable book.

I've been a fan of Matt Goldman since his Nils Shapiro series, so I picked up "Still Waters" with pretty high expectations. The setting in Minnesota with its cozy cabin vibes is definitely the best part, similar to previous books - I love the Minnesota setting.

The story itself was a bit flat, I just didn't jive with the characters like I normally do. His writing is as smooth and easy to read as ever, which is great, but the plot didn't quite deliver this time around.

This book has its moments with a great setting and Goldman's usual easy writing, the storyline could've used a bit more oomph. For those who are fans because of his previous series, it might not hit the same mark.

"If you're reading this email, I am dead. I know this will sound strange, but someone has been trying to kill me.

Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom are estranged siblings who haven't seen each other in years, but that's about to change when they receive a rare call from their older brother's wife. "Mack is dead," she says. "He died of a seizure." Five minutes after they hang up, Liv and Gabe each receive a scheduled email from their dead brother, claiming that he was murdered.

The siblings return to their family-run resort in the Northwoods of Minnesota to investigate Mack's claims, but Leech Lake has more in store for them than either could imagine. Drawn into a tangled web of lies and betrayal that spans decades, they put their lives on the line to unravel the truth about their brother, their parents, themselves, and the small town in which they grew up. After all, no one can keep a secret in a small town, but someone in Leech Lake is willing to kill for the truth to stay buried.

New York Times bestselling and Emmy award-winning author Matt Goldman returns with a gripping, emotional thrill ride in this compelling story on grief and uncovering the past before it's too late."

I mean, Leech Lake? If I had a resort there I'd try to do some rebranding...

Goldman writes another quick and easy to read mystery just in time for the beach! I enjoy his books because he sticks to the story and “gets the job done.” Thanks for the advanced copy!

The Ahlstrom siblings have been estranged for 20 years. But they always get together for the big things: weddings, funerals, etc. When their older brother Mack dies and younger siblings Liv and Gabe get a strange timed email from him the next day, they end up heading back to their hometown and their family-run resort in Northern Minnesota to investigate what’s going on. It turns out not only has the town changed a great deal, but the family drama gets ramped up to 11. And it’s possible that all of these issues are what got their brother killed - and they could be next.

Matt Goldman is a terrific author, able to perfectly blend family stories and emotional drama with riveting mysteries and thrills. This book really showcases that, with the siblings working out their own issues and strained relationship, while coming together to solve the mystery of their brother’s death. It was really great.

I also did not see the ending coming! It was a great solution to the mystery, that really packed a punch, while allowing for plenty of twists and turns along the way.

And Liv and Gabe were both nice characters. I was rooting for them to work things out between themselves and in the various relationships in their lives. They were well-drawn and layered characters, who had issues but were worth rooting for. Their personal stories added depth to the overall story.

I highly recommend this book, and other books by Matt Goldman. He’s one of my favorite current writers!

Tor Publishing Group provided an early galley for review.

Goldman was another new author for me that I heard speak at a Mystery Writers Panel at PLA2024 early this month. His pitch to us for this one really grabbed my interest, so I wanted to check it out.

Right out of the gate, I like his writing style. He combines his Emmy-award winning comedic rhythms with a clear Midwest charm to pull the reader right into the narrative. It certainly worked on me. Of course, it helps that the plot has an interesting hook to drag you in as well. The relationship between the siblings and the whole small town homecoming vibe really hit the mark for me. I could completely relate on both of these elements.

I found myself quickly engaged with the mysterious circumstances in which Liv and Gave find themselves in the center. The pacing and structure kept me motivated to read "just one more chapter", taking me along to a satisfying resolution.

How much do you know about your family history? If you were estranged from your siblings what would bring you together so you actually got along? Well Liv and Gabe Ahlstrom hadn’t seen each other in years. As children they dealt with the loss of parents and their brother, Mack, just up and leaving town with no reason. Family dynamics were always strange. When the suddenly receive a call from Mack’s wife saying he’s dead from a seizure and then receive an email from Mack the day after that someone was trying to kill him family dynamics of another kind are back in play as Liv and Gabe head for the family run resort in Minnesota Northwoods to seek the answers. They reconnect with friends and begin to learn more than they ever expected to as they investigate and solve what happened to Mack. There is definitely no still waters in the Northwoods as they resolve the mystery provided with suspense and an interesting tale. Thank you Tor and NetGalley for the ARC

While better than his last entry (A Good Family), Still Waters was just okay. Goldman writes in a way that is easy to read and I enjoyed the northern Minnesota setting. Beyond that, the story was convoluted and slightly corny.