COLD is very aptly titled. It takes place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan during a winter blizzard where after it cleared, the temperature dropped to minus 50 degrees. Norman Haas was serving time in prison and during this blizzard, he simply walked away from his work detail without being detected. After walking through the snow and cold, barely surviving, he arrives at a farmhouse of a lonely woman named Liesl, who gives him temporary shelter but then walks him through the snow using snow shoes to turn him back in. Along the way, Norman escapes again when Liesl is injured and is able to make it to his home in North Eicher where he confronts Noel, the woman who first wronged him. She had married Norman's detestable brother and given birth to a baby while Norman was in prison. Despite this, Norman was still in love with her. On Norman's trail is Sheriff Maki, a dedicated lawman who tracks him doggedly. But there are other things going on in North Eicher that contributed to Norman's prison sentence. These involve Norman's worthless brother and Noel's heartless father and a scheme related to the abundance of bears in the locale.
A few years ago, I read and enjoyed Smolens' novel THE ANARCHIST about the assassination of President McKinley. Based on that, I decided to find another book by the same author and have had COLD on my shelves for awhile. Finally got around to reading it and found it to be a very compelling and engaging thriller. It was very unlike THE ANARCHIST which was an historical novel but very satisfying nonetheless. The characters were well-developed and the story kept me turning the pages. Overall good recommendation for this one.
A few years ago, I read and enjoyed Smolens' novel THE ANARCHIST about the assassination of President McKinley. Based on that, I decided to find another book by the same author and have had COLD on my shelves for awhile. Finally got around to reading it and found it to be a very compelling and engaging thriller. It was very unlike THE ANARCHIST which was an historical novel but very satisfying nonetheless. The characters were well-developed and the story kept me turning the pages. Overall good recommendation for this one.
Great murder mystery placed in Michigan' upper peninsula.
A mystery taking place in the UP of Michigan. A great book
