Cold Hunter's Moon

Rating:
Summary: A very effective debut novel suffused with realism
Review: Big Oak Wisconsin is very, very cold-especially in November. Deer hunting season fills the woods with the sound of rifle fire. Ann Ranson, a local resident, is shocked when her dogs bring home the bloody remains of a human foot. The case falls on the shoulders of the new sheriff, Lark Swenson. He is teamed up with state police detective, Lacey Smith. They soon discover a possible serial killer on the loose. To get to the bottom of the case, they must battle the extreme temperatures, the unruly drunken locals and their own budding relationship.
The brutal Wisconsin winter plays a major role in this very effective debut novel. The weather is a constant threat and one that the characters must always deal with. Rarely is the locale so carefully constructed that the reader is seized by the sense of realism. Characters are also infused with realism. Lark and Lacey's relationship is actually the central focus of this story. At times, their relationship completely takes over everything else. This is the major problem with the book if it is to be judged as a mystery. However, Ms. Greenlief has done such a superior job in creating such a sympathetic duo, that many a reader will not be bothered by this. The solution is a bit contrived but it works. I expect COLD HUNTER'S MOON to be the beginning of a highly regarded mystery series.

Rating:
Summary: Waiting for the sequel!
Review: Cold Hunter's Moon is a fast and easy read which kept me interested throughout. It is a very good first novel, and I am looking forward to the next in what seems to be developing into a series featuring Lark Swenson and Lacey Smith. Swenson is slightly more developed as a character, but neither are very closely examined in terms of their past or inner personae. It will be interesting to see if that is done in Greenlief's sequel. The plot was complex enough, the writing rather stark and somewhat choppy, but this may be a style which works well for this author. Characters were somewhat shallow, but that, too may develop with time. Good job for a first time out!

Rating:
Summary: Waiting for more...
Review: for me because I'm from Rice Lake, WI. And we do call Illinois vacationers FIB's, and yes believe it or not we occasionally do get snow storms like that. I have now moved to Oregon so it was a fun way to remember. I found it light hearted and suspenseful. Anxious to read the next one.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing.
Review: I had a hard time figuring out who was the focus of this book. The characters were stereotypical, the dialogue unbelievable, and the circumstances contrived (how many times can two people be thrown together because the hotel only has one room left?).
There was no suspense, because there was no build-up concerning the next victim. I liked the physical setting a lot, but I wish I had found at least one human character interesting (the dogs were okay).

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing.
Review: I had a hard time figuring out who was the focus of this book. The characters were stereotypical, the dialogue unbelievable, and the circumstances contrived (how many times can two people be thrown together because the hotel only has one room left?).
There was no suspense, because there was no build-up concerning the next victim. I liked the physical setting a lot, but I wish I had found at least one human character interesting (the dogs were okay).

Rating:
Summary: A "Cold" heart book....
Review: K.C. Greenlief has struck gold, no no, more like silver with this book, "Cold Hunter's Moon". The placement of this book, while being very good, would be kind of hard for a person to relate to living in a major city such as New York City. But living up here in the U.P. of Michigan, I can see where this might be plausible. Along the same lines, the details of driving back and forth all over Upper Wisconsin, is done well, but it might leave the read asking, "Where are we now?"
I did however like the characters of Lark and Lacey. I think that they were developing very well. Same as the Ransons.
Now one thing that bugged me was the sub-plot of the problems with Lonnie. I think that the book would be a bit better without that part. But it does make you suspect a few more people.
The book makes me wonder if Mrs. Greenlief was trying to scare the people of Northern Wisconsin. If she was, I think that makes the book 10X better.
I think that all Mystery lovers should read this one... but if you live in Northern Wisconsin after reading this, I wouldn't look at your neighbor the same way again.
I can't wait to read her next book... hopefully Mrs. Greenlief does not take the series out of Northern Wisconsin!

Rating:
Summary: PASS
Review: K.C. Greenlief has struck gold, no no, more like silver with this book, "Cold Hunter's Moon". The placement of this book, while being very good, would be kind of hard for a person to relate to living in a major city such as New York City. But living up here in the U.P. of Michigan, I can see where this might be plausible. Along the same lines, the details of driving back and forth all over Upper Wisconsin, is done well, but it might leave the read asking, "Where are we now?"
I did however like the characters of Lark and Lacey. I think that they were developing very well. Same as the Ransons.
Now one thing that bugged me was the sub-plot of the problems with Lonnie. I think that the book would be a bit better without that part. But it does make you suspect a few more people.
The book makes me wonder if Mrs. Greenlief was trying to scare the people of Northern Wisconsin. If she was, I think that makes the book 10X better.
I think that all Mystery lovers should read this one... but if you live in Northern Wisconsin after reading this, I wouldn't look at your neighbor the same way again.
I can't wait to read her next book... hopefully Mrs. Greenlief does not take the series out of Northern Wisconsin!

Rating:
Summary: Cold Hunter's Moon - a chilling experience
Review: The first pages of this novel make you believe you're in for an intense story. After plowing (and I do mean PLOWING) deeper into the book, you soon realize that the plot and character development are plunging downhill fast. Is this the best the publishing community has to offer? I can't imagine how this novel even made its way to the presses. It is by far the worst book I have read.

Lark & Lacey (First warning: I should have known by the names) are the worst characters to hit pulp in a long time. Their inane conversations seem to have been written by a child. People don't talk like this! The author invented so many reasons to throw these characters together so many times, yet continued to have them talk and act like children. It actually got annoying to have these two together. How many times do they have to get in bed together at Larks house to stay warm for survival! This is modern day Wisconsin.

The author seemed limited to what he could use to keep the story line alive (which was dying a slow and painful death from page twelve). Whenever the story stalled (which was often), the author threw in another window shot out (two, which have nothing to do with the story), another snowstorm (I lost count @ 4 storms and 60+ inches again which have nothing to do with the story), another scene with our Duo finding themselves in bed due to some ridiculous situation (these were too many to keep track of and again did nothing for the story) or finally another interview of a suspect that added (once more) nothing to the plot.

It would be a crime to write a sequel to this story. The author should have left Lark and Lacey (sounds like a bad sitcom) frozen in a snowdrift with the rest of the townsfolk of Big Oak never to be found.

Bottom line: I hated this book. I feel cheated that I bought it. If anyone wants it, they can have it (send me postage and I'll send it to you). I can't respectfully recommend this to anyone. I'm afraid to even let people know that I bought it much less read it. I'm writing this to warn others before they make the same mistake I did...Don't waste your money...

If I could have given it negative stars, I would have.