ARC Review: Northwoods by Amy Pease

Northwoods
Author: Amy Pease
Publication: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (January 9, 2024)

Description: The dark underbelly of an idyllic Midwestern resort town is revealed in the aftermath of a murder with ties to America’s opioid epidemic in this unputdownable and thrilling debut that is perfect for fans of James Lee Burke, William Kent Krueger, and Mindy Mejia.

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 and 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.

If Eli solves the case, could he finally get the shot at redemption he so desperately needs? Or will answers to this dark case elude him and continue to bring destruction to the Northwoods?

My Thoughts: Things haven't gone well for Eli North since his return from service in Afghanistan. He's lost his job as an investigator for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service due to budget cuts. His marriage has failed due to emotional problems that came back from Afghanistan with him. He's drinking too much and suffering from PTSD. The only job he can hold, just barely, is as a deputy in the local sheriff's department and that only because his mother is the sheriff. 

When he stumbles upon the body of a dead teenager, his first response is to have a flashback to his days in the military and pass out. His fall also leaves him with a concussion which he tries to hide from his mother because he's stuck in the rut of telling her that he's fine. Even though he knows that he is far from fine. 

The investigation of the death leads to a reclusive "resort" and to investigation into the opioid epidemic which has found its way to Wisconsin's vacation paradise. A teenage girl who was with the murdered boy is also missing and trying to find her and find out why she was kidnapped also adds more stress to Eli's already very difficult life.

The story was gripping and intense. Watching Eli try to manage PTSD on his own was heart-wrenching. And his mother's helpless feelings also come through in the story as she doesn't know how she can help her son. I was totally engaged and recommend the book.  

Favorite Quote:

"I was beginning to think you lived in your car," she said, her back to him. She craned her neck to look into to the kitchen and down the hall. "This place is as depressing as hell."

Eli let out a small puff of laughter. "How do you really feel?"

"After seeing this? Depressed."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.