Customer Reviews

Dead Madonna (Loon Lake Fishing Mysteries)

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DEAD MADONNA - a Loon Lake mystery--by Victoria Houston (Bleak House Books- ISBN13-978-1-932557-39-8) This time DEAD MADONNA is being published in both hardback and trade paper back. This is the newest and eighth in the series, and I have read all of them. I read all of the series because I get a kick out of some of the characters, I am following the romance between widower Doc and Sheriff Lew Ferris, who has her own problems and I like the plots. If you are a fisherman, you will enjoy the books. Lois Foster Hirt
No the story has nothing to do with religion or the singer, so relax and enjoy the book.
Rich kid Robbie Moriarty is not feeling so hot after a night of drinking and who knows what else. He is having trouble with his pontoon boat It seems like something is stuck under it preventing movement. When he discovers it is the body of a young woman, DeeDee Kurlander, a friend of his, that solves his problem of feeling sick. DeeDeehas been murdered. The upper part of her body has been brutalized, especially her face. She wasn't an innocent kid but still a nice person, so why would someone do this to her?
Meanwhile, Sharon Donovan has given up teaching to buy and sell antiques on eBay. She has an appointment with Nora Loomis and enters her house through an open back door. At first she thinks Nora is a horrible housekeeper and worries that the antiques were be in great shape. Unfortunately, Sharon won't have to worry about that because she finds Nora dead. It isn't a pretty sight-her face is bashed in. Sharon was also scheduled to meet with Doc's daughters to evaluate some of their mother's items.
Lew swears in Doc to help with the cases. You have to love Houston's sense of humor with this part-Lew is told that their incompetent, overpaid coroner is off on a week's vacation playing his accordion at a polka convention. She was never told he was leaving. As it turns out, they are better off with his not there.
There is more going on in Loon Lake than just murders. Lew has to deal with a scam that they discover is taking place. She is getting calls from bankers from around the area. They are losing money. It is also tourist season so Lew has lots of problems that this time of year causes. Will she and Doc ever find time to get their special fishing time in? Did I mention the wolf that's coming around Lew's place also?

Houston fills her latest Loon Lake mystery with great lead characters and a strong supporting cast. Police Chief Lew Ferris is caught so shorthanded when there's a crime wave that she's forced to deputize a fishing guide who has been known to skirt the law and a retired dentist as the acting coroner. The reader is allowed to put the clues together right along with Ferris, but the strength in this book is in the appealing characters. Ferris and Doc Osborne are mature adults with an evolving relationship. Readers will return to the Loon Lake mysteries to catch up with the small town residents.

I welcomed another opportunity to visit with the Loon Lake characters. This is the eighth book by Victoria Houston and I've read them all. Each is a stand-alone book since Victoria does a good job of introducing the characters as she unfolds the story. In Dead Madonna, Victoria weaves the mystery through current events and contemporary technology. She finally puts you into a fishing kayak for a very exciting ride. I heartily recommend Dead Madonna.

When you meet Lew the police chief and Dr. Osborne , a retired dentist who occasionally works as the assistant medical examiner in Loon Lake you know the day is set for murder and mayhem. A supposed drowning and a murder in town sets the scene for what turns out to be a double homocide investigation. There is a little misdirection and a lot of memorable characters including the part time -when we need him-deputy who has a record, and cops from neighboring towns who just don't want to seem to help. Just sit back and let Lew and the doc take care of business and have a very pleasant evening doing just so. And when they are done solving crimes the are out to the water fishing and giving tips on certain types of flies. Good Fishing

I love this series. The main characters seem like old friends by the time you've read the first book, now several books later, I can't wait to see what's happening next. This series is well written. The key to wanting to read this book is the setting, the resort lake areas around Eagle River. Victoria catches the flavor of the people in northern Wisconsin.

I so look forward to every new title in this series. I love the doc and the sheriff.And who could not love a 6'6" man with a trout on his head. these are a delightful quick read.

Like her other books, this is great reading. It should appeal to fishermen, mystery addicts and folks who would like to just sit back, relax, and enjoy a fun book. If you like mysteries and would like a taste of northern Wisconsin, I'd suggest you start with her first book and read the series. You'll soon become an addict. Classic Vickie Houston !!!!!
I wish I didn't have to wait a year for the next one. I loved it !!!!
Thanks Vickie, you've given me much enjoyment again !!

A boater makes a gruesome discovery when his houseboat gets stuck on the body of a young girl who was last seen partying hard by night and working by day for the Chamber of Commerce. This, along with the bloody murder of a recent widow puts the kibosh on Doc Osborne's plans to relax and fish with his ladylove, Police Chief Lew Ferris. Deputized once again, Doc discovers the DeeDee Kurlander was a very ambitious woman with a harassment suit pending and the goal to become a trophy wife. Doc and Lew once again enlist Ray Pradt, an unlikely lothario with a penchant for wearing a stuffed fish on his cap who becomes enamored with a very attractive gun specialist.

Once again Ms. Houston fills her novel with quirky and entertaining characters who delight the reader and keep the humor flowing steadily until the gripping conclusion. There are enough twists and turns to keep the conclusion a surprise, yet the reader never feels tricked or misled. The strongest element of the Loon Lake Mystery series is Houston's creation of characters who are a delight to follow. New readers and long-time fans will find much to like in this novel, as Houston never fails to create novels full of wit, humor, and suspense.

This book is great, I loved it and as I have said before your characters are charming, interesting and unique. Please continue the Loon Lake Mysteries and keep improving Doc's fly fishing!

Once again, a fun and interesting adventure! It was the perfect book for my summer vacation trip -- upbeat, interesting and creative.