Winter Haven [Hardcover]

Athol Dickson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2008

A twisting mystery exploring God's response to honest questions as a woman's search into her brother's death exposes dark secrets from a town's past.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a wonderfully drawn story that includes suspense, chills, a hint of romance, and a search for spiritual truth...." -- Jake Chism, BookshelfReview.com

"Winter Haven is an absorbing suspense novel from one of Christian fiction's most engaging writers." -- Cindy Crosby, FaithfulReader.com

"...Dickson's mastery.... makes Winter Haven rise above the standard fair of gothic suspense." --Eric Wilson, TitleTrakk.com

Review

"A page-turning gothic tale, combining elements of romance, mystery, and a ghost story, that aspires to go beyond genre..."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764201646
• ISBN-13: 978-0764201646
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Athol Dickson's novels transcend description with a literary style that blends magical realism, suspense, and a strong sense of spirituality. Critics have favorably compared his work to such diverse authors as Octavia Butler (Publisher's Weekly) and Flannery O'Connor (The New York Times). His RIVER RISING is an Audie Award winner and three of his novels have won the Christy Award, including his most recent, LOST MISSION. Athol's next novel, THE OPPOSITE OF ART, is about pride, passion, and death as a spiritual pursuit. Look for it in September, 2011. Athol lives with his wife in southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rich, Mesmerizing Tale, April 1, 2008

By 

Jake Chism (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winter Haven (Hardcover)

Vera Gamble leads a quiet life as a CPA in Dallas. Haunted by her past, she hides behind the numbers to keep from facing the pain. A stranger calls out of the blue bearing news that forces Vera to remember things that she longs to forget. Her brother, Siggy, has been found dead washed up on the shores of Winter Haven, a small island community just off the coast of Maine. Reluctantly, Vera embarks on the long journey to claim the body of her older brother who has been missing for thirteen years.

Upon arrival at Winter Haven, Vera is instantly aware of how unique this place is. Trees of seemingly unnatural height tower overhead and the streets are lined with antiquated homes and buildings that look as if they have been untouched by time. The people are quite and keep to themselves and seem bothered by the presence of a stranger.

Vera is lead to the old shack where her brother's body has been preserved. She is shocked to discover that that not only is the body indeed her brother, but he also hasn't aged a day since he vanished thirteen years ago. Vera stets out on a quest for the truth behind this startling revelation and along the way learns the dark history of Winter Haven. Her search for truth will bring her face to face with her greatest fears and her troubled past. The truth that is uncovered will forever change Vera and the people of Winter Haven.

Athol Dickson is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Winter Haven is further proof of the depth of his talent and his storytelling ability. At its core this is a mystery novel, yet it is so much more. Dickson treats us to a wonderfully drawn story that includes suspense, chills, a hint of romance, and a search for spiritual truth that will resonate with the reader long after the last line.

Dickson's strength is found in his ability to cause readers to slow down and savor every word. I often find myself flying through the pages of a book that I love, but this time I constantly found myself holding back to enjoy the rich imagery and the methodical character development. Dickson paints word pictures like no one else and he effortlessly drops us into the strange and beautiful world of Winter Haven. Even though we are presented with more and more questions as the story unfolds, Dickson cleverly ties up all the loose ends in a way I never anticipated.

This is Athol Dickson at his best and fans of unique mysteries and suspense will love this story. Clear your schedules, kick back, slow down, and prepare to enjoy every word of this rich, mesmerizing tale.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Atheist Seeks Winter Haven, September 29, 2008

By 

Imez - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winter Haven (Hardcover)

When I got to my car holding this book, I actually swore out-loud when I realized the library's "NEW" tag had covered the "CHRISTIAN" tag underneath it. I thought, "Man, all that cool stuff about witches and scary mansions was just a red herring. I have already solved this mystery. Jesus did it."

But I read it.

This book wasn't smug. It presented a Christianity that wasn't arrogant, sterilized, or shaking a finger at the filthy world around it. It was a story that happened to happen the Christian folks, and they dealt with it based on their Christian beliefs. I respect that.

It was a good mystery. It seemed a little threadbare, lo-fat Stephen King, characters not terribly original or deep. I really liked the **SPOILER ALERT** role an iceberg could play in a mystery like this. Just plausible enough to be fun.

I did not understand the religious angle entirely. Detecting **SPOILER** the message that God had 7 or so people die tragically so that...a nice hotel could exist...but I never got the impression Dickson was insisting I agree with him. Dickson seemed content in the not knowing, himself.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Winter Haven, April 26, 2010

By 

Lollipops "lollipops5" (Arkansas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Winter Haven (Paperback)

Vera Gamble has gotten the call she's feared for thirteen years. A body has washed up on the coast of a remote island in Maine, and they believe its her brother, Siggy. Reluctantly, Vera takes vacation leave and heads for Winter Haven, while reading a guide book telling a spooky story about how pilgrims disappeared on the island leaving no proof when a man sent to find help returns with the promised help.

At first Vera doesn't believe the body found is her brother. Siggy hadn't aged a day in thirteen years! He didn't look a day over fifteen. But he carries proof that he is indeed Siggy Gamble. The law on the island refuses to release the body in light of this new mystery, so Vera is forced to stay on the island.

But there is something evil on the island trailing her. It rains rocks around her. Trees bleed blood. And only she can hear the hissing voices. Amid tales of witches, unexplained deaths, unfriendly islanders, and threats Vera is sure who to trust. And with no way off the island, is she doomed to become one more Winter Haven legend?

I have read and loved all of Athol Dickson's novels so far, and WINTER HAVEN has a different feel to it than the others, more gothic--dark and brooding. While repulsed, I couldn't put the book down. I was caught up in a story I didn't want to be caught up into. A story of evil.

There are some Christian touches in the story, so it is not all on the dark side, but WINTER HAVEN is too much on the dark side for my tastes. But the story is very compelling, the story very well drawn out, and there is a touch of a romance. Not sure how Athol Dickson did on characterization--the whole story is more plot driven than character driven, and what I learned about Vera was all related to the plot. Very well written. If you're a member of the "chicken club" you might want to avoid this book. But if you like a bit of the dark side in your books, then WINTER HAVEN is a book to consider.