Customer Reviews

Dark Coulee (Worldwide Library Mysteries)

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

 

 

Claire and her daughter Meg have known much sorrow in recent years. A drug lord killed her spouse. Later on, she learned her partner and lover was the murderer. She killed him in self-defense, but never revealed his sordid past to anyone. Her lie of omission eats at Claire, especially since she is seeing pheasant farmer Rich Haggard, a man she dearly loves.

Rich and Claire are enjoying a pleasant evening together in Little Rock, attending a street dance, when someone knifes Jed Spitzler with his two children nearby. Claire changes from being on a date to a deputy sheriff taking care of the crime scene and trying to save Jed's life. He dies at the hospital, leaving Claire with a homicide investigation to undertake. As Claire digs into the case, she realizes the roots of the motive lies in the past that the Spitzler family refuses to divulge to her.

Mary Logue has simultaneously written a powerful family drama with a strong mystery. Ms. Logue exquisitely develops both subplots with neither shortchanged and ultimately they merge into a dramatic climax. This is a story about people and why they do things that is often ugly. The novel is also about life in a tiny town (population under 400) where everyone knows everyone on a first name basis. DARK COULEE uses the who-done-it to blend the present with the past, but it is Ms. Logue's literary abilities that turns this book into a sure shot winner for anyone who relishes a superior family-driven mystery.

Harriet Klausner

In a follow-up to Blood County, Mary Logue continues to follow Claire as she works as an officer in the small-town police station of Fort St. Antoine, Wisconsin. Although still recovering from the deaths of her husband and a good friend, Claire capably leads the investigation into the murder of Jed Spitzler, a man whose life has left his children with a legacy of pain. The more Claire looks into his past, the more she begins to see that Spitzler is not the good 'ol boy he at first seemed to be. Logue skillful intertwines Claire's investigation with her family life and her growing romance with a neighbor, as wekk as the attempts of Spitzler's family to recover from his death. Intriguing throughout, the mystery ends with a twist that few will have predict

Lots of mystery involved and not to much side stories (i.e. romance between characters, etc.) You should really read the books in order though to understand some of the plot of Dark Coulee and what is going on in Claire personal life. This series has great potential.

Warning: a previous review here gives the plot away completely do not read it if you want to be surprised by the book.

Do not read Dark Coulee before reading Blood Country. Too much of the plot of Blood Country is completely given away in Dark Coulee. I have never seen this degree of plot giveaway before. Do, however get both books and read them in order. It's worth it.

This book might not be for everybody, but if you like good writing, a sense of place, compelling characters, and a tale well-told, check it out! Mary Logue writes with the voice of a poet and the intensity of one who has "been there." Five stars is not enough. Highly recommended!

In her second Claire Watkins murder mystery, author Mary Logue brings a small town to compelling life. This is particularly true of the several children who are portrayed in the novel.

An ordinary local farmer, living what appears to be, on the surface, a placid, normal life is raising his family. He's a widower with three children. When he's murdered, investigator Watkins begins to find more to Mr. Jed Spitzler than suspected. Readers will be pleased with the way in which the author has captured the characters in this novel, especially the children. Do not, however, expect a complex puzzle to solve. Excellent writing, pace and descriptions.

I thought the book was great. It was full of mystery. I never would have guessed that it was Pit Snyder all along that really killed Jed. I thought from the beginning it was Jenny, just cause of what she thought after they left the hospital. Claire's life is also quite interesting. I'm happy that in then end she was able to help Jenny out. I would definitely recommend reading the rest of the Claire Watkins mystery books.