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!

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.

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.

Liv and Gabe receive news that their older brother Gabe has died. He was 12 years older than them, and very distant. So it’s the shock of their lives when the next day they receive an email from him saying “If you’re reading this, it’s because I’ve been murdered.” Liv and Gabe are forced to return to the northern Minnesota resort town to figure out just what happened to their brother, and why. I met this author at PLA, and he was such a nice guy. I liked this book a lot, I just wished for a little more at the end. But that’s just me. This did seem very realistic and I liked that aspect. I also liked siblings becoming close after a long time. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy.

Still Waters is a mystery wrapped up in secrets and family drama.

We have a remote nature resort on a lake in Minnesota, estranged siblings, and a death that might be murder.

I loved the atmosphere and setting, but I wanted more emotional depth from the content and characters. Also, all but one of the characters were unlikable, making it difficult to care what happened to them.

Overall, an entertaining read, but one I won't remember.

Sadly this one just didn't work for me. Most of it just didn't make sense. I mean the sibs haven't spoken in 20 years or so yet they suddenly come together, decide to be best friends and gang up on everyone else.

The premise was really good and I certainly wanted to see this one through, but couldn't make it past the 50% mark.

I appreciate this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I wish the author all the best.

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! Great read! I definitely enjoyed reading this one! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, a fantastic who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Good read but it felt like every other mystery I’ve read before and the characters weren’t exactly likable.

Emails from a dead brother pull his younger sister and brother into a mystery and back to their home, a family-owned resort. As the mystery unfolds, the siblings learn more than they may want to about their family history and begin to create a closer bond than they had as children. Goldman draws you into a mystery of family ties, love and loss.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. Pub Date: 21 May 2024

A family mystery brings estranged siblings together. This story could have been so much bigger than it was, there were parts that just seemed to fizzle out. Where it seemed as though Goldman started down a path and then pivoted leaving some more interesting angles open and forgotten. What kept my attention was the characters and their flawed personalities and wanting to know what will happen to the family resort. Overall, I liked the story and it is an easy, entertaining read.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. #StillWaters #NetGalley