Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book pre-publication in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very compelling, dark and twisty debut work from Pease. What I liked best about it is that it excites me to think that the main characters become part of a series of stories where they experience new adventures in each book. Make no mistake, this is not lighthearted fare. It’s a murder mystery with further reaching complications.

Afghanistan veteran Eli North has a problem. A former US Fish and Wildlife investigator who returned from active duty suffering from PTSD and flashbacks, he’s not himself. He’s working for his mother, the local and well respected Sheriff, in their small town. Most days, actually all days; Eli can’t get through the day with his sobriety intact. Sometimes with drastic consequences. What he also is, though, is a smart and thorough investigator. When the body of a local teenager is found in a boat at the lake, compounded by a missing teenager girl (she had been with the boy), solving the mystery becomes quickly complicated by the effects of a local pharmaceutical company’s latest discovery.

Eli is a wonderfully flawed character, his intense PTSD flashbacks cause him to self-medicate with alcohol. He’s a mess. His wife has abandoned him as a result and he has a strained relationship with his son. He needs help but seems determined not to find it. Eli’s mother, Marge North, is kind and intuitive and excels at her job. She offered him the job as her investigator to help him adjust gradually to civilian life. It’s proving to be a challenge.

Although not fast-paced, the suspense is strong and the sinister plot builds to a climax. It’s definitely a strong story line and with the well-drawn characters would make a great first book in a series.

Great book with interesting plot. Character development good too. Characters are flawed and have secrets not yet told. Plot ends well but leaves bigger issues open. I hope this means a sequel or better yet a series.

Seriously good and quite believable small town crime/mystery novel! Solid characters, well plotted, good pacing. Trigger warning for veterans and those experiencing PTSD. A rare five star rating from me, especially because of the deft handling of what panic attacks are like/how they feel/how they rule ones world until you get the right kind of help.

I was impressed with this book. A murder mystery set in northern Wisconsin (my home stomping grounds), I found the plot to be believable and interesting. The character development of the main character, Eli, was very good. The cast of other characters, especially Marge, was also well developed. This was a solid effort by a new author. I sincerely hope she continues this series, as there were many pieces left unsolved for future books.

Northwoods is a good read. Eli, the main character, is likeable even though he is not dependable. Eli was operating as an investigator for Fish and Game then he served in Afghanistan and his life was changed. Eli started drinking to forget things that happened on the other side of the world.

Reading about a life that was consumed by drinking should be depressing but the clever way the story is written gives the reader little.glimmers of.hope. The characters are well developed and believable.

This electronic ARC was provided by the publisher . This review is written voluntarily and is posted on NetGalley and Goodreads.

A thrilling murder mystery incorporating topical themes with strong, interesting characters. So well done. Investigator Eli was my favorite. I hope to see more of him from storyteller Amy Pease.

That was good. There's more right? There has to be. That was definitely not finished. This gave me early Inspector Gamache/Three Pines vibes actually. It was solid story telling with several mysteries still to be understood (why Ben Sharpe? why Shaky Lake? What is really going on?). Solid debut and I look forward to the next installment.

Marge and Alyssa were great characters; I hope we spend more time with them

This is Amy Pease's first novel and I cannot wait to read more. I had thought I had reached my fill of detective and police procedurals but this North Wisconsin atmospheric story pulled me right it.

Eli North is barely surviving. He has ptsd from serving and he mitigates it with alcohol costing him his marriage and possibly his career. He is, in fact is only serving as a detective in the sheriff's department because his mother is sheriff. Marge is ready to retire but is sticking it out to help Eli and help her beloved town.

When a summer local boy is found dead the department is stretched beyond it's abilities. The FBI send someone and Eli and his mom down the rabbit hole of legal pharmaceuticals, illegal opioids and power. It's really fascinating and the world Pease has shared with us will stay with you for a long time. It wasn't until midway through the book that you learn how Eli's background lends him to be a great investigator. I think knowing that earlier in the story would have made the start seem more credible, but I may have personally missed more hints. Eli is an intriguing character and I hope so much that we get a book 2 or 20 of his adventures! If you like an underdog, interested in the opioid and pharma-caused crisis or just want to read a first novel from a spectacularly talented author, Northwoods is for you!
#Atria #AmyPease #Northwoods