The Sawbrook family is notorious throughout their part of northern Michigan. Founded by a beaver trapper in 1850, their clan had purchased large amounts of land along the Crow River for generations, for a variety of reasons as colorful as their history. Rhoda, the current matriarch, carried on the family tradition of bootlegging and other activities that gave government oversight a wide berth, until her beloved husband Edward was diagnosed with cancer.

In an effort to save money on taxes, she divided the Sawbrook land in three and deeded a portion to each of their children: straight arrow park ranger Lucy, aimless alcoholic Buckner and affable gambler Jewell. To Rhoda’s disgust, Lucy immediately put her land into a trust organized by her friends in nature conservancy. Ostensibly, this would protect it from developers intent on changing the ecology and economy of the area. A distrustful Rhoda, however, sees any loss of control over the land as a betrayal of the family.

Family is everything to Rhoda, so when Jewell needs help committing arson, she’s happy to assist. A wealthy resorter – as the summer residents are called – named Van is a friend of Jewell’s, frequenting the bar where she works and occasionally setting up poker tables for her to fleece his rich friends, with a small cut going his way of course. He wants her to set his boat on fire for the insurance money, and is willing to pay her handsomely for it.

Jewell has never set a fire like that before, but her mother certainly has. As Rhoda helps Jewell prepare, the women discuss how Rhoda chased off competitors for Edward’s affections during her younger, wilder days, and how he subsequently integrated into the family:

QUOTE
“Daddy’s kind of a badass in his own right, though. I mean, he ran the borders with you, didn’t he?”

“He did,” said Rhoda. “But it was after a time. He had to get used to me first and I couldn’t have Jody Pitowski getting in the way. And the truth is, when he started doing the runs he was terrified. The man did two tours in Vietnam and was afraid of a border run? It didn’t make any sense to me, but he told me one was legal and the other wasn’t. I said they had the wrong things legal in the world and he said that might be true, but it wouldn’t matter if we wound up in prison.”

“What’d you say?”

“I told him that Sawbrooks don’t ever get caught. I told him it was the one thing he could count on.”
END QUOTE

Despite their best laid plans, however, things go terribly awry after Jewell sets the boat on fire. Soon, the entire family will be scrambling not only to protect their own, but to figure out how to deal with one another when they’re all so different in everything but their headstrong insistence on doing things in their own ways. Will the Sawbrooks be able to swallow their disappointments and tempers, and learn how to finally get along, before their luck turns and it becomes too late to make amends?

This vividly drawn novel of criminality in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula stands out due to how well fleshed out all of the characters are, with both their very human foibles and their manifold virtues. The kids all have their own issues but are doing the best they know how, while their prickly mother tries to protect her entire family and their holdings, even if it means breaking the law left, right and center. Rhoda’s appreciation for the land is especially lyrical, as she ponders her connection with the seasonal cycles of her home:

QUOTE
And then back to winter, when I like to sip my coffee and remember that day in July–the warmth and the wildflowers and how green the grass looks in the light. The explosion of dirt and dust when the tree drops and the dribble of the creek where it eases through the field.

On the land, each day connects to something larger than itself and the years stitch themselves together in ways that hold and feel solid beneath you. Take that away from me, and I can’t tell you who I am. I wouldn’t even know my name.
END QUOTE

But even more than this deep communion with nature, the gallant heartbreaker of an ending took my breath away. People will compare this novel with media properties like Ozark or the Taylor Sheridan-verse, but I think it’s a wonderful creation all its own and a terrific addition to the subgenre of rural, dynastic crime fiction.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Travis Mulhauser’s "The Trouble Up North" is a gripping, atmospheric novel that explores the tangled roots of family, survival, and legacy in the harsh landscape of Michigan. With a narrative steeped in generational trauma and the fading traditions of bootlegging, Mulhauser crafts a story that is as haunting as it is deeply human.

The Sawbrook family has long thrived on the hidden waterways and smuggling routes between Michigan and Canada, but their once-thriving operation is crumbling. Edward, the patriarch, is dying, and his children—Lucy, Buckner, and Jewell—are each struggling under their own failures and regrets. When Jewell agrees to commit arson for an insurance payout, she unwittingly sets off a chain of events that forces the family to confront their past and their uncertain future.

Mulhauser excels at crafting flawed, deeply human characters. Lucy, a park ranger torn between duty and family loyalty, Buckner, a veteran drowning in alcoholism, and Jewell, a gambler desperate for escape, each bring their own emotional weight to the novel. Their struggles feel raw and real, making their journey heartbreaking yet compelling.

The novel’s setting is a force unto itself. The lakes, forests, and hidden smuggling routes of Michigan shape the Sawbrooks’ lives, mirroring their isolation and resilience. Mulhauser’s prose is evocative, painting a vivid portrait of a world where survival is as much about navigating family dynamics as it is about outmaneuvering the law.

"The Trouble Up North" is a powerful exploration of family, crime, and the weight of history. Mulhauser’s storytelling is immersive, his characters unforgettable, and his themes deeply resonant. Fans of literary fiction with a dark, suspenseful edge will find much to admire in this novel. My only criticism is that this book would have been a 5 star review if one or more of the characters was likeable and relatable.

This book was pretty enjoyable. It wasn’t like an edge of my seat must continue reading type of book, but an enjoyable quick read.
I honestly kinda wish it was longer and got into the characters a little more, especially Rhoda and the sawbanks and their history. Like what happened exactly to her siblings?
The ending was kinda predictable to me. I figured it would end like that, not exactly the way it ends but somewhat.
Maybe there can be a prequel to go back into the history some or so maybe explaining why the kids choose the paths they did. Why Lucy hated her family history so much. What lead Buckner to drinking etc.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy.

Published by Grand Central Publishing on March 11, 2025

The Sawbrook family owns six hundred acres adjacent to Crooked Tree Park in Northern Michigan, but developers want their land. The Sawbrooks live on the edge of society and constantly fight with each other, but they aren’t dysfunctional. Within their limits, they function surprisingly well. The Sawbrooks are a crime family, but the crimes are low-key — brewing moonshine, smuggling cigarettes into Canada — and the Sawbrooks take pride in never being caught. Although they spend much of their time on the river, they are equally proud that no Sawbrook ever died by drowning.

Rhoda’s grandfather was “not well after the war,” a diagnosis that explains his decision to plant land mines in the woods to kill as many invaders as possible when they came for him. Rhoda’s father placed barbed wire around the mined land, although an occasional black bear tears down the fence and explodes while trying to snack on berries.

Rhoda’s husband is living with lung cancer. He would like to die but Rhoda can’t bear the thought of living without him. Their daughter Lucy is a park ranger. She's the only Sawbrook with an education and the only one who has any interest in obeying the law.

Rhoda gave equal parcels of the family land to her three children. Lucy sold her share to an environmental trust for $20,000 to keep it from being developed, causing Rhoda to complain that she gave it to communists — i.e., the conservation group that purchased the land.

Lucy paid her sister Jewell $20,000 so she could sell Jewell’s share of the land to the trust, but Jewell promptly lost the cash in a high-stakes poker game in Vegas, thwarting her hope of doubling her money and buying the land back. Lucy spent half the cash she received from the trust on treatment for her alcoholic brother Buckner. She regards that investment as a waste when Buckner goes off the wagon after hearing bad news about his stripper girlfriend.

Against that background, a story unfolds, although the plot is an excuse to explore the family dynamic. A man named Van Hargrave offers Jewell $10,000 (but only $1,000 up front) to set his boat on fire. Hargrave says he wants to collect the insurance. Hargrave runs poker games in his garage and promises to set up a game with high rollers that will allow Jewell to win more money than she lost in Vegas.

Jewell manages to burn the boat but the fire spreads to the forest. As Lucy evacuates campers from the park, she spots Jewell running through the woods and gives chase. They both end up in the river, creating the risk that one of them will be the first Sawbrook to drown — or to be captured after a crime. Buckner enters the mix by getting drunk and stealing an ATV from the park rangers. Lucy spots him as she’s chasing Jewell.

The Trouble Up North blends a crime story with a family drama. At the end, it becomes a story of enduring love. Travis Mulhauser crafts a fast-moving plot that will capture the reader’s attention, but characterization is the novel’s strength.

Buckner is a veteran but he doesn't blame war for his alcoholism. “Buckner had always been a drinker but it really picked up after he got back from Iraq, which people liked to say was because of trauma. Buckner had not been traumatized, but after a while he stopped arguing and just let people believe what they wanted.”

Buckner’s girlfriend has more depth than most fictional strippers. Her relationship with Rhoda showcases two capable women with soft hearts and hard attitudes. They aren’t afraid of bullies.

Lucy and Jewell are at odds through much of the novel. Lucy’s job is to enforce the law (at least within the park). Will Lucy notify the authorities that her sister started the fire? Someone may have died in the fire, so Lucy worries about her own criminal liability if she protects Jewell. Yet protecting each other is the drive that holds the Sawbrook clan together. How the mess the family members have made of their lives will be resolved is the question that gives the story its tension.

The story is tight. Like Chekov’s Gun, seemingly insignificant details become important later in the narrative. The resolution, like the story that precedes it, is smart and surprising. The Trouble Up North is an easy novel to recommend to fans of literary crime fiction.

RECOMMENDED

Being from the midwest myself, I always enjoy books set in our general area. This one is a story of complicated family dynamics, each person with their own struggles trying to make life work. I didn't necessarily enjoy some of the characters which made it a little tough to connect but ultimately I looked forward to seeing how it would turn out in the end. It felt a little flat but it did surprise me. 3.5 rounded up to 4

A story of a North Michigan family of bootleggers and smugglers willing to do anything for the family. I can’t say I liked many of the characters but I was drawn to their story.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheTroubleUpNorth

I was hooked from the beginning!!
The Trouble Up North by Travis Mulhauser was an amazing and engaging story.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Travis Mulhauser's *The Trouble Up North* is a gripping and atmospheric novel that delves into the complexities of family, legacy, and survival. Set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of Michigan's lakes and forests, the story follows the fractured Sawbrook family, whose history as bootleggers and smugglers is both their pride and their burden.

The narrative is rich with tension and emotion, as each member of the Sawbrook family grapples with their own struggles. Edward, the dying patriarch, and Rhoda, the disappointed matriarch, anchor the story with their poignant reflections on a changing world. Their children—Lucy, the park ranger torn between duty and family; Buckner, the war veteran battling alcoholism; and Jewell, the youngest daughter caught in a dangerous scheme—are vividly drawn characters whose journeys are both heart-wrenching and compelling.

Mulhauser's prose is evocative and lyrical, capturing the raw beauty of the landscape and the deep-seated pain of the characters. The novel masterfully weaves themes of loyalty, redemption, and the clash between tradition and progress. The Sawbrooks' struggle to navigate their legacy and the shifting world around them is both timeless and deeply resonant.

*The Trouble Up North* is a testament to Mulhauser's storytelling prowess, offering readers a tale that is as haunting as it is hopeful. It's a must-read for fans of literary fiction and family sagas.

There's more than one way to end up in prison

On a particular lake in northern Michigan not far from the Canadian border, the Sawbrook family has owned a huge chunk of land for generations. The current Sawbrooks are Edward and Rhoda, anti-establishment and the parents of three adult children: the eldest Lucy, a college graduate and environmentalist who is the local park ranger, son and middle child Buckner who served in Afghanistan, is currently unemployed and is an alcoholic, and the youngest Jewell who works as a bartender when she isn't playing (and usually winning) high stakes card games. Given that the family business through the generations has been using their talents on and knowledge of the local waterways to prosper as smugglers and bootleggers, Lucy stands out as an aberration to the usual family career paths. The family is undergoing tough times; Edward is dying of cancer, Rhoda has sold just about all their assets except for their land to pay their medical bills and has still come up short; and there are major fissures in the relationships between them all. Rhoda (who is actually the Sawbrook, not Edward, but she insisted that she and her children would all bear the Sawbrook surname and he went along) gave each of the three children chunks of the land for tax purposes and was stunned to see Lucy immediately move ownership of her parcel into a trust for the conservation group she heads. The two have been at odds ever since. Buckner's drinking hasn't endeared him to anyone either; alcoholism runs in the family, Rhoda losing her sister to it when she was still young. His sisters want to believe he can change, Lucy even taking the money she received as part of the land transfer to put him in a rehab center, but he has again relapsed. And unbeknownst to Rhoda, Jewell sold her parcel of land to Lucy's trust as well in order to get the stake she needed to play in a major Vegas poker tournament, thinking she would surely win the $1 million prize but (a) she lost and (b) even if she had won, once the land went into the trust it couldn't be bought back. Things really go south when Jewell (still thinking she could buy back her portion of the land if she just had the moeny) agrees to do a favor for Van, one of the residents of the wealthy nearby resort where wealthy city people come to spend the summer and (in the view of the locals) have ruined the area for the locals. He wants to burn his boat for the insurance money, and offers Jewell $10K to torch it for him (apparently torching vehicles runs in the Sawbrook family too). When it turns out that Van had a different motive for burning the boat, and now if Jewell is caught she is in danger of something far more serious than arson. If the family pulls together, can they find their way back to each other and keep one another safe?
In The Trouble Up North, the reader gets to know a whole host of quirky, flawed but still (mostly) lovable characters who find their family's longstanding way of life in danger because of encroaching hordes and a system that favors the haves over the have nots. Many a resort community finds the same fractious relationship between the local population who to some degree have profited from the money that summer people bring, but at the same time find that their quality of life has suffered and their ability to afford to live in the community where they grew up is in question. Neither side is completely good or completely evil, but they are unlikely to ever live harmoniously with one another. The struggles of the Sawbrook family are those of many families across the world, generational differences in values, causing one another pain and heartbreak, all while still struggling to keep their love for one another and the bonds they share intact. By turns funny, melancholic and heartbreaking, this is a novel that should appeal to readers of Charles Portis, NIckolas Butler and Elmore Leonard. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Sawbrooks and while I'm not sure if I liked the ending, it was a surprise that in some ways was not surprising at all. My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me access to this intriguing story in exchange for my honest review.

I very rarely will request a book on Netgalley that I’ve never heard of before, whose author I’m completely unfamiliar with, and not recommended by any of my trusted sources. The Trouble Up North is that book and my curiosity was rewarded. I requested this book bc I am a sucker for a good Michigan setting (especially up North!) and the plot seemed very intriguing.
This book takes off from the first page and tells the story of The Sawbrook family, their land and their lore and their questionable decision making skills. We go between the perspectives of Rhoda, the matriarch and her three adult children, Lucy, Jewell and Buckner. The story begins with a boat burning and the action never stops from there.
If you are looking for a fast paced family story with a real sense of place this is the book for you. Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.

Books that are set in Northern Michigan hold a special place in my Michigander heart, so I knew going into it that I would enjoy Travis Mulhauser's new book, The Trouble Up North The novel depicts life in the area where I spent many summer vacations in such vivid detail that it took me right back to the lake.

Likable characters are important, but not necessarily critical for me to enjoy a book. Even though the Sawbrooks live mostly on the wrong side of the law, they are empathetic characters and their struggles were relatable. The sibling relationships were realistic, and the parental disappointment in each of their choices was understandable. The different POV of the characters adds a dimension that is critical to the storyline, and also allowed the reader to comprehend the reasoning behind the decisions made.

This relatively short book is a quick read with a satisfactory ending. If you like to root for characters who have lived a hard life and made difficult decisions, I recommend this book for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the digital ARC of The Trouble Up North by Travis Mulhauser. The opinions in this review are my own.

The Trouble Up North by Travis Mulhauser follows a unique northern Michigan family of bootleggers who own a large swath of river property near a resort that’s taken over miles of Lake Michigan shore, Edward is dying of cancer and has no insurance. Wife Rhoda controls their land and wants to control her children. Lucy’s a park ranger who’s put her share of the land in a conservancy trust. Buckner drinks so Lucy pays for his rehab. Jewell plays poker and bartends but can't get ahead, so she agrees to torch a boat for the insurance, but tragedy strikes, and the family is under suspicion. Place is the main character reflecting Mulhauser’s attention and care. He also shows the family members as poignant, funny, strange, and real. His portrayal of the land and the hold it has on those living on it is powerful in this page-turner.

I did not start this book expecting to cry at the end! I read the summary and it gave me Justified/backwoods family vibes and I always found them so interesting in that TV show so decided to give this a try.

The story revolves around the Sawbrook family in Northern Michigan. They have lived on their land for generations, making a living running things illegally to and from Canada. Tourism has picked up in their area and their way of life has changed, but the land always comes first and foremost, no selling out to developers. Rhoda and Edward and their children, Lucy, Buckner and Jewell, have differing opinions on what to do with their land and everything hidden and repressed comes out into the open when Jewell accepts a risky job and starts a chain reaction that will forever change their family dynamic.

This book was so much more than I thought it would be. It's one of those books that you pick up with the intention of reading the first page or two to see if it would be something you like then discover you've blown through 30 pages in no time. Nothing was even happening, Mulhauser just has a way with words that have you immediately invested in the story. The characters instantly become real and tangible, I loved Rhoda and Edward's dynamic the most. The scene near the beginning where they rock on their chairs side by side, reminiscing on their early relationship while holding hands, was so beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

THE TROUBLE UP NORTH - Absolutely, a page-turner. It's just about a family, but with a history that keeps the pages moving. The new generation does not seem to hold up the reputation of the past generations. Good characters, especially, Rhoda, my favorite. Interesting story lines. Actions with intriguing effects that kept me figuring out solutions. Ending was sad but Rhoda was awesome. Source: Netgalley. 5*

The Trouble Up North was an engaging read about family and friends striving to protect their relationships, future, and land while grappling with addiction, stubbornness, and despair. The bond between the siblings felt incredibly authentic, and I deeply related to them—their story continues to linger in my thoughts.

That said, I wish the book had been more descriptive of the northern setting. As someone who loves visiting that area, especially with friends who are locals, I felt the scenery deserved more attention to truly capture its beauty and the reasons it’s worth defending.

While the portrayal of the resorters sometimes felt exaggerated, I’ve heard similar territorial rhetoric firsthand, so I applaud the author for capturing that dynamic. I also wanted to know more about the other characters; they were intriguing but lacked the depth I was hoping for. Overall, The Trouble Up North was an enjoyable read that resonated with me, even as I wished for richer descriptions of the setting and supporting characters.

The Sawbrooks are a fascinating family. I really enjoyed the story although it was difficult to relate to their experiences which were so different from my own. I was surprised by some of their choices and feel a bit as though, after all they went through, they just settled back into a close approximation of their old life.

This is an interesting story of a rather shady family. They have a history of bootlegging and breaking the law in their family.
The family owns acres of wilderness that is coveted by developers. The father is dying of cancer and their money is running out. In a series of events each of the children try in their own ways to help.

This is a dysfunctional family who don’t respect the law and will do what they have to to help each other. I can’t say I liked any of them, even the daughther who was trying to save the property. But I did enjoy reading it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the copy!

When I saw THE TROUBLE UP NORTH was set in Northern Michigan I knew I had to give this story a try. As a Michigan native I love books that are set in the state I know and love. The story follows the Sawbrook family, a dysfunction clan of bootleggers. Faced with lucrative offers from developers wanting to turn the beloved family land into condos and golf courses, adult daughter Jewell takes things into her own hands as she tries to keep her family afloat.

I really enjoyed the setting and the premise, but I was expecting a faster-paced story. Readers who are interested in a slow-burn family drama may find more enjoyment here. I enjoyed the writing by debut author Travis Mulhauser and will give him another try!

Many thanks to Grand Central Pub and Netgalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Trouble Up North is set in Northern Michigan's tourism territory. The landscape is being overrun by second homes, condos and tourists. The Sawbrook family, however, are locals. Edward, suffering from cancer, finds himself mostly homebound. Rhonda is the matriarch of the family and is his caregiver. Daughter Lucy works for the local park service; son Buckner is a struggling alcoholic and daughter Jewell is a gambler trying to find her way in the world. Money is tight, so when Jewell is offered a large some of money to commit what seems to be a victimless crime, she takes the opportunity. However, things don't go as planned and the siblings and their mother find themselves in a race to find a way out of the situation that has been created. I loved the very realistic family dynamics and the love/hate relationship amongst the siblings. As someone who has spent much time in Northern Michigan, I felt the author portrayed a realistic setting and was true to the local/visitor dynamic. Loved the local references like listening to the Tigers on the radio and call outs to local geography. Highly recommend.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group via NetGalley.

Every region of our country has stories of the first families that held land, cherished it, and would do anything short of betraying family for that land. They were pioneers, bootleggers, poachers, smugglers, doing what they had to to survive and rise. The novels always seem to be about Appalachia, Deep South, Texas or the like. This one is set in Michigan, my home state. “Up north” in Michigan is the northern lower peninsula, not the upper peninsula as a non-Michigander would guess. Well written with believable characters. A far-fetched tale that I found believable, oft told conflicts told in a new way.