Customer Reviews

Chasing A Blond Moon: A Woods Cop Mystery

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having greatly enjoyed Heywood's first two Wood Cop mysteries, I looked forward to reading this next one. But I was disappointed by the quality of the writing and the story. The book is thicker and the story is longer and more confusing than in his first two books. What Heywood really, really needed for this book was a ruthless editor.

The story line is terribly convoluted, with many happenings that simply didn't make sense to me, and various strands which were not brought together at the end. Through much of the story I really didn't know where we were in the mystery; I couldn't keep track of all that was going on. And there were too many other happenings in a warden's life that were distracting from the main story. I never could figure out what Trapper Jet had to do with the story. And there wasn't much writing about being in the woods, about woods skills and real natural resources information as he did in the first two books. One part I liked was chapter 37 about Service's visit to the Ojibway elder Santinaw; that took us back into the brush.

Nor could I understand why, if Siquin Soong's White Moon Trading Co. was subject to a federal investigation for drug trafficking and smuggling, Grady Service or Maridly Nantz wouldn't have warned the Michigan Governor candidate Lorelei Timms, who counted Soong as a major supporter. My God, if a major supporter were the center of a federal investigation, wouldn't I want to know that?

And finally, the book seemed somewhat more coarse with respect to sexual exploits, with people hopping in and out of bed with each other. This wasn't integral to the story, but it appeared to be more prominent than in the first two books. Overall, his latest work just plain needed some ruthless editing.

I am a huge Heywood fan and was excited about the latest Woods Cop mystery. However, I was very disappointed with this novel. As others have mentioned there was a lot in the book that simply did not make sense. Also, it was hard to follow the plot since Heywood insisted in bringing in a cast of thousands who added very little to the story. Also, the ending was not satisfactory. It was as if the plot was not moving along but the page count was too high so Heywood used a Deus ex machina to end the story, still with little conclusion.

The main plot in the novel is about bear hunting in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but the novel digresses into a multitude of side plots and relationships including some descriptive sex. Grady Service also discovers that he has a 16 year old son whom he had been unaware of.

The novel develops a case of people killing bears to obtain their gall bladders for sale in Asia (a real problem in parts of the US). Various spear carriers are killed or captured along the way, but the case is not really resolved as the person behind it (the buyer) is never positively identified, and their is no final resolution, even thouth there have been several murders, and a large amount of money is unaccounted for.

While the action in the side cases is interesting, it perhaps is a little too much in a short time period, and it does not really offset the failure to completely resolve the main case. It is somewhat like Perils of Pauline, with unresolved issues to carry into the next episode.

The novel has sex, violence, and language. I would rate it somewhere between PG-13 and R. Besides the criminal activity, there are people sleeping around. Side issues range from date rape to murder, and Service sticks his nose into a lot of things outside his jurisdiction.

I have just finished reading this novel (and now need to start getting some work done!) and throughly enjoyed it. Re: some of the other reviews, remember this book is written by a man, and I believe it portrays his "ideal woman". There are not too many characters, just the opposite, it is very interesting how all tie together. I know the MI DNR does an excellent job, especially with the (under)staff they have; this book puts a good light on the men and women of the DNR who protect all the resources of the US. I've already pre-ordered the next book and neighbors are in line to read the ones I'm finished with.
Sad to say I initially did not order this book because of the negative reviews, but let loose with some change and am glad I did!

I am a member of Greenpeace and PETA. Hunting and fishing are of no interest to me but I am interested in the lives of the men and women who protect the animals AND hunt and fish. The book is well written. I find I am getting a different point of view--maybe not one with which I am comfortable. Grady seems a good guy with a good heart. Have read the other reviews that complain about Grady's love interests and "all the sex". Really? Seems to me this group in particular would have a very "natural" sense of sex. Since I am interested in what motivates Grady watching him react to his son and Maridy is very enlightening. We do not live in a vacuum. If you want to read about fly fishing and bear hunting may I refer you to Field and Stream. My Dad was of the WWII generation and was reared in Western Pennsylvania. I watched him fly fish and tie his own lures from the time I was a baby. I have never been to Michigan and can't say I ever wanted to but got to say I would like to experience the "yooper culture". Thank you Joseph Heywood for bringing this wonderful community to life for me. (OH--And keep going with the romance and parenthood---I think it makes Grady so interesting.)

Good book!! Lots of action, and plots with interesting side incidents. Hard to put down if you like wood cop - Conservation Agents

Although it took me through a place I know well, the UP, the story was difficlt for me to keep straight. I was able, finally, to get the characters straight in my head. I will, however, read more of the cops mysteries. Joe is a great writer. Thanks Joe

Any of the Woods Cop mysteries is a winner. I love Grady. The book is written so you feel you are riding shot-gun with the people. Heywood has a winner on his hands!

A story that got away. The author tries to do too much. Dozens of characters. A plot that never satisfies. Relationships that are interesting, but not in this context. I read this book last of the first five. A great series, a less than great entry.

Joseph takes you through the U.P. on the wildest trip yet, his writing gets you into the book on page one. Reading the first two books in the woods cop series helps you to fall back into the pace of these cops and what Hell they go through to get the job done. Grady is doing what is in his heart. Not always by "the book" his love for the U.P. of Michigan and the wild life that needs a good hearted guy watching over them and protecting them from the not so nice guys. Great read thanks Joseph for another wonderful book.