Customer Reviews

Dead Hot Shot (Loon Lake Fishing Mysteries)

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Thanksgiving is a holiday for family and friends, relaxing after dinner, and just all around good food and fun. Chief of Police Lew Ferris plans for a peaceful Thanksgiving with Doc Osborne, retired dentist and part time deputy. Doc plans for an early dinner with his family and then a later a leisurely dinner with Lew and hopefully dessert in front of the fire and thoughts of future plans.

First, the death of a local resident intervenes. Nolan Reece is found dead down by her dock early on Thanksgiving. This is just the first of many tragic incidents to happen on this holiday. Lew's coroner is out of town and she finds it necessary to call Doc in to work. Nolan's husband and daughter seem to have strange reactions to Nolan's death which raises questions in Lew and Doc's minds.

Soon another local person is found dead and there is no doubt this one is a murder. Ray Pradt is called in to help out and then Gina Palmer, former investigative reporter arrives in town. Gina is working on a case of credit card theft that may have links to Canada and she soon discovers links to Loon Lake as well.

Most of the characters from the previous Loon Lake Mystery series are on hand and the reader meets a few other residents of the area. The scenery is stunning and the mystery is one that kept this reader on edge. It is not necessary to have read the previous Loon Lake Mysteries to enjoy this one but I would highly recommend latching onto the whole series.

Retired dentist Paul Osborne was hoping for a pleasant Thanksgiving holiday with his daughter and ladylove Police Chief Llewellyn "Lew" Ferris despite his irritating houseguests, neighbors who have overstayed their welcome by five weeks during their home renovation. Unfortunately, the drowned body of social royalty Nolan Reece washes ashore just after her daughter's engagement party and Lew finds that she also has her hands full investigating a rash of credit card fraud incidents that all seem to be tied to their small Wisconsin town. After deputizing Osborne and more reluctantly, unlikely ladies' man and fishing guide/entrepreneur/everything else Ray Pradt, the three begin investigating the secrets of the Reece family and focus on Nolan's husband's and daughter's lack of bereavement over her death. Doc as well attempts to help two young Indian girls who seem oppressively employed by their foster mother and owner of Mildred's Food Shop, and when violence occurs it's not surprising that in this small town events will intertwine and lead towards a tragic conclusion.

Once again Houston returns to the comfortable and always engaging Loon Lake setting, where the characters continue to be as enjoyable and entertaining as they are familiar. Readers will revel in the advancement of the relationship between Osborne and Lew, as well as the hilariously awkward and definitely unwanted advancements by Osborne's married houseguest. Osborne has finally moved past most of his resentment towards his overbearing late wife, and he and daughters are learning to develop healthy relationships with one another. This is a fast, breezy, and satisfying read in a continually enjoyable series. As always, Houston writes with charm and humor, and her reliable cast of characters is a joy to observe.

I like the books because I'm from Michigan and go to the areas she talks about, so I find them interesting. It is nice country.

I'm enjoying this series of books about northern Wisconsin. I've been in that area many times. The series main characters are believable and well developed. Even though this is a murder mystery it is still an easy read one. You don't have to worry about blood and guts all the way through the book. I do enjoy the fishing tips also.

Have you ever not liked a loon lake mystery? I have not. The combination of Lew the Sheriff and Dr Osborne just cannot be beat for a nice cozey about murder, mystery, and best of all fishing. See my pic on profile page with 2 big fish.

is there any other way to have a good time with a well written novel, fast paced, the author is knowledgeable of police procedure and good fishing and manages to entwine them beautifully. This is a good readable novel and I highly recommend it.

Victoria Houston's Loon Lake mystery series is first rate. I have thoroughly enjoyed all the books in the series. It's not necessary to read them in order, but you will lose a wonderful part of the books if you don't. This series is very much about the developing relationship between retired dentist Paul Osborne and Police Chief Lew Ferris, a strong independent woman who loves fly fishing. Because the Loon Lake police department is so small, she frequently deputizes both Osborne and his flaky neighbor Ray Pradt to help investigate murders. This device gives logical access to crime scenes, autopsy reports, etc. that many cozy mysteries lack, adding reality. I won't summarize the plot of Dead Hot Shot--it's well done in other reviews. The plots are logical, with well-placed clues but without graphic gore, violence, or sex. Characterization, even with the secondary characters, is always developed well. Fly-fishing background never becomes cloying (and I don't care one thing about fly-fishing). The physical setting is almost a character, and love of the lakes and woods of Wisconsin shines through the series. Highly recommended!!!

All of the novels move fast and have good plots. I flyfish in northern Wisconsin so I know all about "Loon Lake." Each novel reminds me of the places, people, and the fishing of mt good times up there.

The book arrived on time and in great condition, just as the seller described. Good service would buy from this person again.

Another hit for VIctoria Houston.

Murder and family secrets abound in Loon Lake and with the help of Doc, Ray and Gina, Chief Ferris is hot on the trail.

You won't be disappointed.

I love these characters. Makes we wish I could live in Loon Lake.

I'm hooked again on the latest Loon Lake Mystery. I have all nine books in the series, all keepers. There's nothing better than finding out what Lew Farris, Doc Osborne and Ray Pradt are up to in their latest adventure. Murder, mayhem and raccoons in Wisconsin's northwoods.