Northwoods: A Novel by Amy PeaseSeries: Northwoods #1
Publication Date: January 9, 2024
Pages: 288
Add on: Goodreads
Buy the Book: Amazon
Rating: ★★★½
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Publisher: Atria / Emily Bestler Books / Simon & Schuster
In this “compelling and heartbreaking debut that marks a new and important voice in the mystery genre” (William Kent Krueger), a murder with ties to America’s opioid epidemic reveals the dark underbelly of an idyllic Midwestern resort town.
Eli North is not okay.
His drinking is getting worse by the day, his emotional wounds after a deployment to Afghanistan are as raw as ever, his marriage and career are over, and the only job he can hold down is with the local sheriff’s department. And that’s only because the sheriff is his mother—and she’s overwhelmed with small town Shaky Lake’s dwindling budget and the fallout from the opioid epidemic.
The Northwoods of Wisconsin may be a vacationer’s paradise, but amidst the fishing trips, campfires, and Paul Bunyan festivals, something sinister is taking shape. When the body of a teenage boy is found in the lake, it sets in motion an investigation that leads Eli to a wealthy enclave with a violent past, a pharmaceutical salesman, and a missing teenage girl. Soon, Eli and his mother, along with a young FBI agent, are on the hunt for more than just a killer in this thriller that is “not to be missed” (Mindy Mejia, USA TODAY bestselling author).
REVIEW
Amy Pease’s debut, Northwoods, draws you in with the promise of a peaceful lakeside resort town, then quickly peels back the layers to reveal the rot beneath. When a teenage boy turns up dead in a boat and a local girl goes missing, the story kicks off a tense, slow-burning investigation. What starts as a classic mystery soon expands into a raw exploration of trauma, addiction, and the invisible scars left by the opioid crisis.
At the center of it all is Eli North, a veteran haunted by PTSD and a drinking problem, now working as a deputy sheriff after losing both his marriage and his old job. Eli is no superhero; he’s battered, deeply flawed, and hard not to root for as he’s drawn into the secrets of a wealthy enclave with a violent history. The supporting cast, especially a grieving mother and the tight-knit, suspicious community, lends emotional depth, making the story feel lived-in and authentic.
Pease doesn’t shy away from heavy themes: the loneliness of small-town life, the seductive dangers of wealth, and the shifting bonds of friendship and family. These aren’t just background noise; they’re baked into the plot, making every twist feel earned. The relationships are messy and poignant, reshaped by grief, violence, and the desperate hope for redemption.
The writing is sharp and evocative, capturing both the beauty and quiet menace of Wisconsin’s north woods. Instead of racing from one action beat to the next, Pease lets tension simmer, giving her characters room to breathe. Some may find the pace gentle, but it is the emotional depth that makes Northwoods stand out from standard crime fare.
The authenticity of the book is top-notch, particularly its candid approach to PTSD and addiction. While the plot occasionally wanders and the mood sometimes takes precedence over momentum, the novel’s heart and atmosphere more than compensate. If you’re after a thoughtful, atmospheric mystery with genuine emotional stakes, Northwoods delivers. Amy Pease is definitely an author to watch.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
