Customer Reviews

Dead of Wynter

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

 

 

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!

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!

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!

Dead of Wynter is a tight and gripping novel which will keep you guessing until the very end. I am seriously impressed with the writing talent of Mr. Seidel. There are secrets that do no harm and then there are secrets that come back to haunt you. Alice Wynter has long been keeping secrets and now her family may be paying the ultimate price. The action and thrills keep you on your toes! Dead of Wynter is a wicked good novel - pick it up and find yourself lost in a mystery that spans generations.

If you are a crime mystery junkie (like me) then you will absolutely devour Spencer Seidel's debut,
DEAD OF WYNTER.

Set in the harsh, frozen winter of Maine, Seidel introduces readers to the small town, dysfunctional Wynter family with skeletons hidden in the darkest corner of their closet.

Ma Wynter is devoted wife who stood by her alcoholic husband through better and worse-poor and poorer. The mother of fraternal twins, Chris and Alice, she just excepted her lot in life and never amounted to much of anything. Pa Wynter was a mean and course man who drank and criticized anyone who was within ear shot and passed his tendency to hit the bottle on to his only son, Chris. Though twins, Chris and Alice are very different. Alice hides in books and wants nothing to do with the town, and Chris wants to be accepted more than anything. It is Chris's drive to be a part of a group and his longing for acceptance that leads to the true downfall of his family and the loss of his sister's real presence in his life.

Alice, managing to escape her past, has made something of herself. She left for university, married and has never looked back...until she receives word that her father is dead. Unsure of how she really feels about his death, Alice knows one thing for certain, she must go back. This scene was really moving. When we meet Alice at the beginning she is successful and married, but her life is not without problems. Her marriage of 18 years has fallen stale and she realizes that her husband is most likely having an affair. Anyone who has been married for a period of time will be able to relate to the emotions conveyed by the characters. The distance between Alice and her husband is one of the factors that leads to Alice arriving alone to the house and family she left in her past.

Soon after arriving back in her hometown, Alice discovers that there is more to her father's death than meets the eye. And with her brother Chris spiraling downward she soon realizes that it may all be connected to the reason she left in the first place.

This was a very fast and easy read at only 281 pages. The story alternates between various characters perspectives and periodic flashbacks to 1984 so readers can slowly begin to unravel the hidden mystery that has led to the current murder/crimes taking place. The end is satisfying, even though it wasn't what I had hoped would happen-I admit that I understood the characters decisions and why things were left the way they were. Unlike some other popular crime mysteries, this one is completely solved and has a definitive ending.

DEAD OF WYNTER is an enthralling thriller that is emotional and gripping and Spencer Seidel is an author to definitely keep an eye out for. I was impressed with this debut and look forward to future works from this author.

Full review-[...]

About:
Alice Wynter receives a phone call from her mother telling her that her father is dead. When she goes back to her hometown of Redding, Maine, she discovers that her twin brother Chris is missing. Alice grew up in a troubled household with an alcoholic and abusive father. As a result, her twin Chris was a troubled teen and developed his own drinking problem. Alice was able to move away and start a life of her own, but now that she's back in town, bad memories are resurfacing as the police are trying to figure out what happened to Alice's father and brother. As the story goes on, there are flashbacks to 1984 when Chris was a teen and getting into deep trouble as well as glimpses into Alice's homelife.

My thoughts:
Dead of Wynter is one of those novels that slowly draws you in. I enjoyed uncovering the story layer by layer. I wondered if Chris was responsible for his fathers murder and what secrets Alice and her mother were keeping. I felt bad for Alice having to go back to her hometown where so many painful memories were waiting.
The flashbacks were done well and were a necessary part of the story in order for the reader to get a glimpse into these characters lives.
Author Spencer Seidel does a great job at creating a creepy atmosphere. This was a good mystery and I enjoyed getting caught up in it.

Received from Publisher for review
Overall Rating 3.75
Story Rating 4.00
Character Rating 3.5

QUICK THOUGHTS: Spencer Seidel is a terrific storyteller that is not afraid to take risks with his plot. This book was a dark thriller that kept you guessing till almost the very end. I pretty much thought I had it figured out about 1/3 of the way through and was completely wrong. Best kind of thriller on the market is when you can't figure out who did it!

What I Loved: Dead of Wynter was a very methodical, well paced thriller that not only had a terrific story but also enough twists and turns to truly keep you guessing. The idea of using two parallel time lines was brilliant. Every time you were sure where the story was heading,Spencer Seidel would send you in another direction. None of the plot turns felt forced as they complimented what was happening in the adjoining time line.

What I Liked: The 1984 plot was a great glimpse into who these characters were and how they became who they are today. I really enjoyed (though that might be the wrong word) watching the thoughts, actions, reactions, and character building that went on during this part of the storyline. Of course, this is also what made me believe I had it all figured out but alas I was wrong. Great Job Spencer Seidel!

Complaints: Other than Michael, I didn't really "connect" with any of the characters. This did not distract from the story to much, since in a thriller, to me, it is more important to have a strong story/plot/case than character connections.

Why I gave it a 3.75: This was a fantastic debut novel from someone who I think will be a strong voice in the thriller community for years to come. I would have liked to feel a little stronger pull to the core characters but still a very strong debut! I will be reading Spencer Seidel in the years to come.

Who I would recommend it too: Mystery/Thriller readers who like the darker material. This is not for the faint hearted!

"Dead of Wynter" is a great read if you enjoy trying to solve the mystery as the story unfolds. The book opens with the first clue, followed by more clues that taunt you with information and false leads that keep you guessing and wanting to know more. Too quickly, you get to the end and everything comes together in a wonderfully twisted way.

I typically only read well known authors who I trust will entertain, amuse, and challenge my deductive skills but took a chance with a new, unknown author who came through with a compelling story.

I highly recommend this book and can't wait until Seidel's next book becomes available.