MYSTERY

Death Stalks Door County: A Dave Cubiak Door County Mystery

by Patricia Skalka
Terrace: Univ. of Wisconsin. May 2014. 256p. ISBN 9780299299408. $26.95; ebk. ISBN 9780299299439. M
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Summer tourism in Door County, WI, dominates the local economy, and a serial killer isn't going to help. Six unexplained—and dramatically different—deaths mar the normally tranquil atmosphere. Despite the crime wave, the local big man around town insists that the upcoming Fourth of July festivities not be curtailed. This guy has big development dreams, and he's not about to let a few deaths slow him down. The state park has added former cop Dave Cubiak to its staff as an assistant ranger, but he's a drunken mess, grieving over the tragic deaths of his family back in Chicago. Thankfully, Cubiak is shaken out of his morass in time to focus on the present-day drama. Through careful questioning he learns more about the locals, seeing that multigenerational histories carry long vendettas.
VERDICT Skalka's debut shows tremendous potential. Once readers get past a couple of grim opening chapters, the novel just takes off. The author concocts a satisfyingly complex plot while showcasing one of the main characters, Wisconsin's beautiful Door County. A great match for Nevada Barr fans.
Reviewed by Teresa L. Jacobsen , Apr 01, 2014
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