I broke a reading rule with this one. Generally, I read mysteries but not contemporary ones set in the US. I can get all “torn from the headlines” crap I want on TV and I don’t like it there that much. I make an exception for ones that take place in either Wisconsin or the UP, since I like to see just how well they handle a subculture that I know well. For example, Neil Gaiman did a nice subplot in American Gods that was set Up Nort. The Alex Knight series is set in the UP without condescension.
Monkeewrench is set in Minnesota and I only discovered the Wisconsin subplot while reading it. From the sound of it, the mythical “Kingsford County” might actually be Michigan rather than Wisconsin, but I think they wanted to keep the accents down and Yoopers have to be played with a broad accent I fear.
Now as for the book, liked to quite a bit. Serial killers (not so fond of them), standard quirky cast of characters (check), divorced and separated cops (as always). Scary but not gory (appreciate that). Twists, but ones that you could have seen if you had been paying more attention. Good characters that grow on you, but not enough for a sequel.
Posted by neotradlibrarian 