Book Review: 'Bad Axe County: A Novel' by John Galligan

✰✰✰✰ Interim sheriff Heidi Kick has a lot on her plate. She's married to a local baseball legend, is the mother of three young kids, and half of the county would prefer a man to be sheriff. Nevertheless, Heidi doesn't let anything stand in her way, and she has a job to do. 

When the local librarian is beaten, Heidi discovers that there's more going on in her county than she knew. With a teenaged girl is missing and in danger, Heidi follows the clues and discovers just how deep local, illegal activities have been buried. 

Just when you think you have this one figured out, there's another twist in the path to lead you down the wrong way. Suspenseful and entertaining, this Midwest mystery will keep you guessing.

The Bottom Line: This is the first book in the series, and I'm hooked. I don't usually read thrillers, but I received this one in a goody bag at a conference a few years back. Gritty, dark, and fast-paced, Galligan has a knack for making the reader turn pages; I couldn't put it down. And being as it was set in Wisconsin, I could easily picture the setting. Highly recommended for fans of thrillers, mysteries, and police procedurals. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment.

Details: Bad Axe County: A Novel (Book 1) by John Galligan. ARC edition published by Atria Books in 2019. 336 p. ISBN: 978-1-9821-1070-3