Dead Deceiver

December 6, 2010
In chapter two of Houston's lame 11th Loon Lake mystery (after 2009's Dead Renegade), an emergency call interrupts the romantic dinner Paul Osborne, a retired dentist turned forensic consultant, is sharing with Lewellyn "Lew" Ferris, the Loon Lake, Wis., police chief. Rob Beltner's wife, Kathy, has failed to come home after a late afternoon walk in the snow. Within hours, Lew finds Kathy's corpse under a bridge, her face almost destroyed by a gunshot. Chapter one, which describes the killing, doesn't reveal the gunman's identity, but readers will be able eliminate certain suspects such as the grieving husband right off the bat. The murder inquiry takes a backseat for much of the book to a less than gripping subplot, Lew and Paul's search for the mysterious intruder who's apparently stalking Patience Schumacher, the president of a small local college. Diehard series fans may enjoy the ride, but newcomers are advised to start with earlier, better entries.

February 1, 2011

After a woman fails to return home after snowshoeing in the forest outside Loon Lake, WI, police chief Lewellyn Ferris finds her body in the snow. In her 11th series entry (after Dead Renegade), Houston does an outstanding job of crafting a good plot and entangling her rural protagonists in real-life situations. VERDICT Fans of Mary Logue and regional mysteries will want to read.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2011
In Loon Lake, Wisconsin, a woman is murdered, her body discovered under a bridge. But Lew Ferris, chief of police, has his mind on another casea local woman claims shes being stalked. Is the woman, a former nun with possible psychological problems, imagining it, or is someone really terrorizing her? The latest Loon Lake mystery, like its predecessors, depends on its characters to propel readers through the story: Lew, Doc Osborne, likable Ray Pradt (who, in this book, is angling for a part on a new reality TV show about ice fishermen), and the newcomers, alleged stalker victim Patience Schumacher and her husband, Charles Mason. The nice thing about the book is that fans of the series will enjoy reuniting with some old friends, and newcomers can jump right in and have a great time. Mysteries set in small midwestern towns (Mary Logues Claire Watkins novels and William Kent Kreugers Cork OConnor series, among others) have become a definite trend. Recommend Houston to fans of this thriving subgenre.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)