Mystery

hockey, false-information, falsely accused, family-dynamics, law-enforcement, friction, friendship, Minnesota, murder, murder-investigation, attempted-murder, private-investigators, procedural, rivalry, riveting, snarky, suspense, suspicion, thriller, greed, drug-trafficking, drugs-issues, teens, injury, nursing-care, interpersonal-problems*****

Uff Da!
Nils Shapiro and his private investigator business partner Anders Ellegaard get entangled in missing teenaged girls, an NHL hero, high school hockey tournaments, attempted murder (Nils) via arrows, several other murders (mostly via arrows), conflicting antagonistic law enforcement agencies, and the ongoing girlfriend issues (Nils), and some odd surprises. Law enforcement focuses on admissible evidence, while the PIs doggedly follow the evidence. It moves along quickly and is as twisty as it is snarky. Plus all the dead-end trails and red herrings. Just when I'd think that I had a handle on something, PLOT TWIST! Loved it!
The narration is well done (with only a few misses) by voice actor MacLeod Andrews and I truly enjoyed listening to his snarky narration.
Not unbiased review--very familiar with those parts of Minnesota, Upper Peninsula Michigan, and northern Wisconsin (and of Norwegian heritage). ( )

I had received an ARC for Matt Goldman's new book The Shallows, and decided to read his earlier books first. I was glad I did because he is now one of my new favorite authors. I don't really care that much about solving the mystery as mysteries are my favorite genre. What reels me in is the main character's personality, and whether it is someone I would like to hang out with. Nils Shapiro is a curmudgeon, but a witty one that you would like to be friend with. More Nils Shapiro please! ( )

Setting this during the hockey tournament is genius--a good portion of the state descends on St. Paul increasing the pool of suspects exponentially! Goldman has hit his stride, I thought this was even better than the first Nils Shapiro mystery--it has a bit tauter storyline and characterizations. About a year has passed since the Edina murder made headlines. Things are looking more stable for Nils. He and his now retired from the force friend Anders Ellegaard have opened Stone Arch Investigations in a swank City Center location, complete with a part time investigator and an intern. When two girls go missing during the State Hockey playoffs in St. Paul, they are hired by one set of parents to find their daughter. Both are from Warroad, very close to the Canadian border and on the surface, aren't close friends. Nils unravels many parts of the mystery, all while recovering from an arrow injury he receives after being hired by the Engstrom's. ( )

INTUITION, is something Nils Shapiro has in spades, and fully developed. Comes in handy for this ex cop now private detective. Set in Minnesota, this second in series, finds Nils hired to find a missing girl. Actually tei girls are missing, but one is found fairly quickly. An unusual weapon will be causing much pain, and a few deaths. A bow, with some lethsl and expensive arrows.

Yes, I know, I seemed to have picked up another series, but I quite enjoy the characters in this one as well as the storylines, which are a little unusual. Nils character, with his unique ability, able to see what others miss and his personality, appeal. He is a good guy, a rather nice man who is still in love with his ex wife, and loyal to his friends. He also has a valid sense of fairness, and is dogged in his pursuit of answers. He doesn't work only for the money, much to his partners dismay. I like the cold setting of Northern Minnesota too, especially with the heat we have here in the Midwest again.

Well written, solid story and character development, fast paced, this is a good series, and another I will be adding to my series list. ( )