I RECENTLY FOUND LINDA NORLANDER’S fourth book—Death of a Fox—in the new fiction section of my local library. Labeled #4 in “A Cabin by the Lake Mystery,” the series name and cover art drew me to pull the book from the shelf and read the back cover summary. I do, indeed, judge a book by its cover and title. Take note, book editors and marketing teams.
Given the series name, I expected this book might be by a Minnesotan or set in Minnesota. It’s both. Sort of. The author grew up in Minnesota as the daughter of a rural newspaper editor, raised her family on 10 acres of land in the central part of our state and then moved to Tacoma, Washington. I won’t hold that against her because, well, Minnesota winters are not for everyone forever. But Norlander’s cabin mysteries are for anyone who likes a good mystery set in the Minnesota northwoods.
I’m a long-time fan of mysteries, dating back to the Nancy Drew mystery series of my youth. I’ll admit that I’ve had to force myself to read outside that genre. I still don’t read romance novels, although Norlander’s writing does include a bit of romance for main character Jamie Forest, a freelance editor who recently moved from her native New York City to a family lake cabin in northern Minnesota.
In that tranquil setting, Jamie attempts to reclaim her life, leaving behind a traumatizing event involving law enforcement in the Big Apple. This I learned in book #1, Death of an Editor. I’m reading the books in order and just finished the first. I couldn’t put it down. It was that good.
Good not only mystery-wise, but also because this is definitely a Minnesota-centric read. Norlander references reserved Minnesotans, hot dish (not casserole), Minnesota Nice, loons…even appropriately names a local eatery the Loonfeather Cafe.
The author doesn’t shy from hard topics either, like biases against Native Americans (many of her characters are partial or full-blooded Ojibwe, including Jamie), proposed copper and nickel mining, and school shootings, all integral parts of the plot in Death of an Editor and part of Minnesota’s past and present. And, yes, an editor is murdered in this fictional book.
Jamie quickly becomes a suspect in that murder. Without revealing too much of the story, I will share that she sets out to clear her name, then that of another accused, along the way finding herself in life-death situations. There are many heart-stopping moments, questions about who can be trusted and who can’t. Lots of mysteries within the mystery to unravel.
Land greed. A troubling family past. Corrupt and threatening law enforcement officers. Men in red caps. Efforts to save the pristine northwoods from development. Secrets. Even Minnesota weather, which is forever and always a topic of conversation in our state, shape this first of Norlander’s books. Death of an Editor is set in summer and Norlander’s three subsequent books happen in our other three distinct seasons.
I just started her autumn seasonal second book, Death of a Starling, and am already drawn into the thickening plot, a continuation of book #1 as Jamie, considered an outsider and big city tree hugger, continues her efforts to uncover the truth. Already I’m finding this book to be another enthralling mystery that I can’t put down, not even to watch the 10 o’clock news.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Another good recommendation…I like all the things you mentioned you like in a story.
I’m reading William Kent Krueger’s new book…another good one.
I’m always happy to showcase books like Linda Norlander’s with a Minnesota setting and written by a native Minnesotan.
What is Krueger’s newest book? Maybe I’ve read it, but probably not.
I’m only partway into the book. It takes place in Minnesota at a (fictional) Indian Training School in 1932, and tells the tales of a few of the orphans adventures.
I definitely need to read this book. Just one more to add to my list.
it sounds like a great series and I also got interested in mysteries by reading Nancy Drew books
I expect a lot of women our age are drawn to mysteries thanks to Nancy Drew. I bet you would enjoy this lake cabin series.
yes, I think so, too –
I trust your judgement on recommended books so will look for these. It sounds like this series has some common themes with another series. “Murder on the Red River” by Marcie Rendon is the first of three about a 19 year old Ojibwe woman in the 1970s growing up in some horrible foster homes. I thought it was interesting in that Cash, the main character, is about the same age I am. Thanks again for the recommendation.
I, too, have discovered Marcie Rendon’s series and love her books. I hope you enjoy Linda Norlander’s series also.
Thanks for the recommendations. I look forward to trying out this mystery series, I, too, grew up on Nancy Drew and still love mysteries. A series I discovered during COVID was the Louise Penny series set in Three Pines, Canada. Not Minnesota, but interesting characters and twisty mysterious events.
Thank you for recommending the Louise Penny series. I will need to check that out once I get to the bottom of my current stack of books.
It’s always great to discover authors that resonate with you, isn’t it? Mysteries are a fabulous way to escape.
Books in general are a great way to escape, unless they’re nonfiction and on a tough topic.
Will definitely check these books out!
🙂