Dead of Wynter [Paperback]

Spencer Seidel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 24, 2011

“Dolly, it’s your mother.” Dolly. Jackie Ruth Wynter had called Alice that for years. The conversation that followed led her right back to the place she had run from for years. Her twin brother, younger by just a minute or so, had been fading, transforming into an image of their drunken, narrow-eyed father. Now her father was dead, and her brother, Chris, missing.

Alice resigns herself to return, helping her mother and the local police with the mystery surrounding the crime. But there are some family secrets her mother would sooner take to the grave than reveal.

Reacquainting with her past brings fresh pain and new friendships as she struggles with who to trust with the details of her father’s murder and brother’s disappearance. As the authorities come closer to solving the mystery of the men in her family, she begins to realize her past life as Alice Wynter is the missing part of the puzzle. But who is searching out the former Alice? The sinister mysteries of the Wynter family will capture the reader’s attention well past when the fire has gone out.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[An] effective thrill ride."
—Publishers Weekly

"Dead of Wynter cracks like footsteps on frozen branches. You’ll have trouble putting this down until the last page has been turned. This is not only a fine first novel, it’s a terrific novel, period."
—Michael Palmer, New York Times bestselling author

"Dead of Wynter packs a wallop, with writing as raw and rugged as its landscape and characters. You’ll want to stay with it until the last shot is fired."
—Gerry Boyle, author of Damaged Goods, and the Jack McMorrow mystery series

"Dead of Wynter kept me reading late into the night, the sign of a great thriller! Seidel combines well-written action sequences and vivid, cruel characters as the secrets of one New England family are slowly meted out."
—Stefanie Kiper, Water Street Bookstore

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: PublishingWorks (May 24, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935557696
• ISBN-13: 978-1935557692
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,115,648 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Spencer Seidel's love of reading and writing began as a child after he discovered Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. His first novel, Dead of Wynter, was published in 2011 and was well-received by critics and readers alike. When he's not writing novels, Spencer enjoys playing loud rock guitar, something he's been doing for over twenty-five years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Debut Novel!!!!, May 16, 2011

By 

K. Herbrand - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dead of Wynter (Paperback)

I loved this book. I read it quicker than I have read any book in quite awhile. I literally did not want to put it down. The story jumps back and forth between the present time, when Alice goes back to Redding to be with her family and 1984, which is where the circumstances that drive the present day events started. You get just little bits of the story at a time, some I was able to guess, some not so much. Just when you thought you were going to get some juicy morsel the author would turn the story to make you wait a little longer.

The present day story wraps up in just a couple of days, but lots of family secrets are unearthed. Alice thinks she is the only one with anything to hide, but learns that everyone in her family had a secret - some old, some new. She reconnects with an old boyfriend from highschool while she is back in town and is able to eventually heal some wounds that had happened with him.

I liked the way the author used the Maine weather to play a role in the story. As the weather intensified, so did the story. The more the snow fell and covered the landscape, the more secrets were unburied. I felt satisfied by the ending and felt like all the loose ends had been wrapped up. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves mysteries, thrillers, and are fans of good fiction!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pick up this page-turner!, June 1, 2011

By 

Joni B. Cole - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dead of Wynter (Paperback)

Okay, I'll admit the main reason I couldn't stop reading this book and kept ignoring my work deadlines, and household duties, and need for sleep was because I had to find out WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!! This book has a heck of a plot that doesn't just rollick the reader along, but actually satisfies when all is tied up at the end. But dare I say it, this book is also a character driven novel. And that's what made me really appreciate it. Here's a guy author who writes a woman protagonist so complex, and so convincingly, I wanted to give him five pink stars. But the author is equally good with the male characters--the out-of-shape cop, the old boyfriend (hot!), and the nasty (nasty and pathetic) bad guys. I can't wait to see what Spencer Seidel writes next!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead of Wynter, June 3, 2011

By 

Jshimp - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dead of Wynter (Paperback)

I read this book in two days flat. As did one reviewer, I too ignored a lot of household duties and slacked off a bit during work because I HAD to find out what happened. Wonderful debut novel and a damn good read. Can't wait to read his next book. Best of luck!