In this sequel to the “gritty, brash, and totally gripping” (The Real Book Spy) thriller Bad Axe County, Sheriff Heidi Kick is investigating an illicit cage fighting ring with ties to white nationalism when her husband suddenly goes missing. It’s a time for celebration in Bad Axe County as the town gathers for the annual Syttende Mai–Norwegian Independence Day–festival. During this rollicking … Mai–Norwegian Independence Day–festival. During this rollicking family-oriented event filled with dancing and food, Sheriff Heidi Kick discovers a dark and shocking event–a migrant worker has been savagely beaten but refuses to explain what happened. Then, a sudden murder of a band member shatters the festival. Something is deeply wrong in Bad Axe County.
As she looks for answers, Heidi plunges into a secret underworld where high-stakes cage fights double as combat training for the White Nationalist movement. Then all hell breaks loose for Heidi when her husband disappears and a secret he’s been keeping from Heidi is revealed.
“Given current tensions and deep divisions in the United States, Dead Man Dancing takes on an electrifying relevance” (BookPage) with its vividly drawn characters and unforgettable twists and turns.
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I did not read the first book but here you are getting ready for a Norwegian holiday and you also have a man looking forward to having not only his book being published but also selling it at the festival. The book is one of the genealogies of the area which he believes to be of vital importance.
Sheriff Heide Kick has noticed an influx of violence lately and is working at stopping it, one of the persons involved in her brother in law. Heidi is also dealing with her husband who feels left out because she is spending time away from him and the family. She feels guilty as well because she is a mother and she does not feel that she spends enough time with her children. With everything going on and then a murder she is working on stopping the people from changing her town from a nice sleepy one to a violent one.
The topic of this story centers around race and how some people from the town don’t believe that any African Americans settled in Wisconsin or their town. That they could be descendants of slaves is a whole other issue. The book itself was a good story with different storylines with different characters. This topic though hot now is really one that should be taught in schools. Freed slaves were given land to settle throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana. Churches, schools, and communities were built yet this is never taught. Hell, here in California we had our own community named Colonel Allensworth who was the highest-ranking black officer of the Civil War. He retired in 1906 and came to California and set up a community of freed slaves, with their own school, bank, church and they framed themselves as well. Sadly, it went away when he passed in 1914. But these communities were around everywhere they are just not talked about or taught. This book gives a little history into it. A very good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at http://www.1rad-readerreviews.com
I was hooked on these characters in the first book in this series last year. I was counting down the days for this next book to find its way in my posession.
I am struggling with what to say about this one. It’s uncanny that this book will be releasing when it does given it’s theme and the current climate in our country right now. This book was written before the current climate became what it was. For that reason, people are either going to love it or be hyper-sensitive and overly critical of it.
For me, the book was spot on. It hits the roots of small town prejudices and racism like no other book I have read so far. The author does not hold back on these characters and their flaws and personal biases. I couldn’t put this book down. I had to know that everything would work out in the end.
If you’re looking for a story with a strong, take charge, take no crap female character, I highly suggest picking up this book and the book before it. You really should read them in order. They follow the same kick-butt character in chronological order. I can’t sing enough praises for both books. I’m hoping I will be reading a third book in the future.