Customer Reviews

Mineral Spirits: A Novel

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4 star:		(1)
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This is 2 for 2 good novels from Heather Sharfeddin. I recently read Blackbelly which I really loved. The imagery was fantastic and the detail made it so real. I was not disappointed with the next novel, Mineral Spirits. This book follows one of the more likable characters from the first book, Sherriff Kip Edelson to a new location in Montana (Mineral County). Kip's character is well developed here and is given more depth. He becomes emotionally entangled with a heartbreakingly trusting but neglected young boy in the course of the investigation into a skeleton unearthed by the young man. Kip is drug through an amazing range of emotions during the course of this book, tenderness for Gray, the young boy, and for the sweet old lady who needs them as much as they need her; hurt and betrayal from his wife with a good dose of confusion; terror and measured response upon meeting up with members of a drug ring and sadness at the way people (including himself) can treat each other. Thrown into the mix is an almost school boy giddiness at meeting an intensly interesting but unapproachable woman who he continually devises ways to approach. On the periphery and intertwined in the story are other characters who are equally interesting. The tavern owner with his secrets and occasional glimpses back to the romantic wild West Montana is captivating. I highly recommend this fast read and can't wait to see what's comming next.

Sharfeddin's latest book kept me turning the pages until the wee hours on a work night. I enjoyed the intricate plot, the beautiful descriptions of rural Montana, and the fast-paced action. Kip Edelson is a complicated man--tough sheriff on the outside, yet complex and emotional in ways he tries to hide from everyone, including himself and those he loves. A satisfying ending and a great read. I can't wait for Sharfeddin's next book.

This exciting new author really hooks you quickly into her storyline. Her characters, while flawed and resistant to relationships, develop into people you wish you could write a thank you letter to for allowing you into their world. Ms. Sharfeddin captures Montana perfectly with just the right mix of one foot in the past and one foot in modern times and leaving you uncertain which way you would like to see it step next. Mineral Spirits has just the right mix of pathos, humor, possibilites and heartbreak. A gem of a book

I totally enjoyed her first book "Blackbellies" and am anxious to read whatever she next releases. 4 thumps up!

I take a special delight in reading novels set in remote locales, far from the madding crowds and the usual suspects. MINERAL SPIRITS is a fine example. Ms. Sharfeddin's second novel, a literate and humane contemporary western, is a pure gem. Sheriff Kip Edelson is the lawman of Mineral County in Montana, near the Idaho border. He finds the skeletal remains of a dead lady. His only clue is an anonymous phone caller identifying the lady corpse as "Chris". At the same time, Kip's wife Robin decides to move to Missoula and resume her college education. Kip is lonely until he befriends ten-year-old Gray Dausman who's destined for a tough row in the foster care system. An elderly lady, Mrs. Sherwood, takes an interest in Kip and Gray. They form an ad hoc family in this bleak, frigid wintry landscape. Events carom to the pitch-perfect climax, Kip's showdown with the local bad guys including killers and dope dealers at a deserted school. Fans of C.J. Box, Craig Johnson, and the masterly Tony Hillerman should find MINERAL SPIRITS a rewarding read.

Mineral Spirits by Heather Sharfeddin reminded me of the old western novels, though set in the modern day; it has almost a Louis L'Amour feel to it. It is the story of a rugged sheriff trying to solve a murder, while struggling to figure out how to get along with modern females and help a little boy trying to find his way in life. The interesting thing is that the modern women in this story are very much like the women in the old western novels, sturdy, independent and determined to have a say in their lives. The sheriff's introspections about relationships drive a lot of the story's suspense, which is unusual and enlightening at the same time. The narrative is realistic without being mushy or tragic, which makes reading it an uplifting experience, just like the good old western novels.