A Venture Into Murder

Those who love the Michigan's UP will delight in references, both real and veiled, to places and people. The culture comes through, but must be taken with that proverbial grain of salt. The characters created in SEASON's REVENGE continue a believable development. I have plain, old enjoyed the entire book, series. This Christmas, relatives ( former Yoopers) in Connecticut and Arizona received the book; they, too, loved it. Mystery buffs who like small place books by writers such as Archer Mayor and William Kent Krueger will find another author to add to their must reading list.

I thoroughly enjoyed Season's Revenge and so was glad to see the return of Porcupine County Sheriff Deputy Steve Martinez. Despite its close knit and gossipy nature, Upper Peninsula Michigan can be a lonely place; one that offers a lot of time to think. As a result Martinez is prone to ruminations on everything from identity politics, the drug war, and life in the boonies to the joys of being a pilot, home cooked meals, and the love of a good women. These ruminations slow the pace down at times, but they make for interesting reading. As in Season's Revenge the clues to the mystery build up slowly. A body washes up on shore, then a hundred year old body shows up in the woods, and soon Martinez knows that something fishy is going on in Porcupine County. Kisor weaves in some relationship problems for Martinez and even some local politics. Kisor, like his character Martinez, takes it slow painting the scene and laying the ground work. It doesn't take long for, however, the things to get interesting. You have a sexed-up suburbanite from Chicago on the prowl, a mysterious boat captain with a past, and bodies being found in the woods. Throw in some possible mob connections and the suspicion of drug trafficking and the tension mounts. Despite its languid start, A Venture into Murder has an action packed climax involving a shootout in an old cooper mine and an airplane/boat chase out on Lake Superior. Their unique setting and interesting observations/ruminations make Kisor's mysteries a real treat. I recommend them to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.