A shattered career. A crooked lawyer. An unsolved murder. Seeking peace in the Northwoods is fraught with danger.2020 Midwest Book Awards Mystery/Thriller WinnerEvery night John Cabrelli relives the tragic events that ended his career. While struggling to find himself again, John inherits his uncle’s cabin and returns to the lake where he spent much of his youth. Little does John know that danger … Little does John know that danger waits for him when he uncovers suspicious circumstances of his uncle’s death. Few people will talk about it as John unravels a mystery that could forever change the landscape.
Award-winning author, conservationist, and retired decorated law enforcement officer Jeff Nania weaves a thrilling tale of murder and deceit, family and traditions, redemption and second chances. John Cabrelli’s story continues in book two, Spider Lake: A Northern Lakes Mystery.
C. J. Box, William Kent Krueger, Dana Stabenow, Louise Penny, and Victoria Houston fans love this new mystery series set in Wisconsin’s Northwoods.
“Jeff Nania’s Figure Eight features a spellbinding storyline with more twists and turns than the number in its title. Nania writes with power and precision, humor and grace about land, legacy, loss, love, and the mysteries of (human) nature.” — Joel Pace, Ph.D. Professor of English, University of Wisconsin
“Nania presents us with well-developed and at times quirky characters, a fast-paced plot line, and some of the best twists in anything I’ve read this year.” — Valerie Biel, Author
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What do you get when you mix together a good guy who’s weighed down with heavy emotional baggage, a bad guy you love to hate, and a dash of romance? A page-turning read!
This first effort of author Jeff Nania is a good weekend read which will make you long for a trip to Northern Wisconsin. The protagonist, Cabrelli, is a former cop trying to get over a shooting incident which, while justified, was tragic. He soon finds himself in a Northwoods town populated by friends, a potential love interest, and suspects in a criminal enterprise. Will Cabrelli solve the crime? Will he find true love? Will he find peace in the Northwoods? Do yourself a favor and read this book and prepare to follow Cabrelli’s future exploits.
John Cabrelli’s first person narration comes from an author who is experienced in criminal justice, environmental issues, and the great Wisconsin outdoors. That experience comes roaring through in Figure Eight, Nania’s debut novel. The complicated character of Cabrelli and the nest of weasels he steps into when he inherits a valuable property from his uncle kept me turning pages, eager for more.
In the Sherlock Holmes story, “The Copper Beeches” the master detective shares his views with his sidekick on the city versus the countryside: “They [country homesteads] always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys of London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside. . . . those lonely houses . . . [where] deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness may go on year in and year out . . . [with] none the wiser.”
In Jeff Nania’s superlative murder mystery Figure Eight, Book 1 of 3 in his Northern Lake Mystery series, protagonist John Cabrelli would have been well advised by Holmes. Instead, he leaves the city upon hearing that he has inherited his late uncle Nick’s lakeside cabin and property in Wisconsin’s Northwoods—a well-timed reprieve, he thinks, to escape his shattered career as a police officer in the city of Madison and sooth his soul in the country in the town of Musky Falls where he spent part of his childhood.
It doesn’t take Cabrelli long, however, to realize, as Holmes had, that the countryside is far from peaceful. Soon after arriving, questions begin swirling in his head about the circumstances of his uncle’s death. Too many townspeople are far from friendly and seem to want him gone—for good. His uncle’s lawyer is pressuring him to sell the property. What is going on? More than Cabrelli could have ever imagined.
Author Jeff Nania, a master of description, police procedures, and conservation will transport you to the woods, take you into the clever mind of a law enforcement officer, and expose you to the physical pain that results.
After Figure Eight, be sure to pick up Nania’s Spider Lake and his recently released Bough Cutter. Because the game is still afoot!
An entertaining read.
Loved it
I didn’t want it to end!
This book was very entertaining. Good characters with a good plot.
This book was well laid out with good characters and setting.
In a split second everything can change—for the good or for the bad. Figure Eight takes you on this journey of John Cabrelli’s life. During a tense situation, training takes over and Cabrelli claims a young girl’s life. His life, his career falls apart. Months later, he finds himself starting anew in Northern Wisconsin as he settles the estate of his Uncle Nick and Aunt Rose. Unusual circumstances surrounding Uncle Nick’s death, however, throw John back into investigator mode and trouble finds him in the Northwoods tourist town. No matter what path he travels, he always seems to find himself in back in the same place. Can he change the ending this time?
Jeff Nania’s debut novel takes an unconventional form with the telling of a story within a story. The book begins at the end, with a narrator opening the story in Cabrelli’s hospital room. But the reader is soon drawn into Cabrelli’s first person telling as the story unfolds, which helps the reader develop empathy for this flawed hero. Nania’s character development is fresh and real, with protagonists who are hard-nosed yet lovable and antagonists who are evil, despicable, and totally believable.
There aren’t enough stars for this book!! Five big stars and add 2 more. This is not your average mystery that may have likable characters and a good plot….this is an extremely well written, informative book that pops off the page and takes you to a small town where you can feel the breeze, touch the lake water, enjoy the small parades and fairs and feel you are “home”. And it all starts from a tragic shooting by a good cop and he loses his way but for his lawyer and friends from the dept. This man picks himself up and starts a new life working with his lawyer, Laura, whom he adores. This is really an inspirational book as he then moves on again as he moves to Wisc to Spider Lake, to a home left by his relatives, Nick and Rose. He could sell the place and live a great life, no harm, no foul. BUT John Cabrelli is an honest ex-cop and will not back off saving the town he knew as a child.
The characters are terrific as you meet Ron, best friend of Uncle Nick, sherriff Don Timmy, another friend of Nick, and Julie and her brother Bud, and others. Uncle Nick was killed in a hit and run and nothing was done about it, his wife Rose was already gone and he left nearly everything to John.
Between a rogue cop bully, Lawler, a shady lawyer, Derek, and a mining company offering millions for the land….let’s just say there is a bad vibe in the town…and who do you trust? Julie? Ron? Timmy? And why the pushing to sign over the home, lake rights and all the land?
Meet John near death in a hospital wanting to relive his story to a reporter, Bill. Meet nurse, Holterman, trying her best to keep John safe.
John is quite the character, and still feeling guilt over a shooting as a cop, but an honest man with morals and backbone.
The plot is excellent, tight and totally believable as is the feel of the town itself. If you ever lived in upper Wisconsin or Minnesota…..pick this up! Any small town with lakes, fish, natural beauty…..read this book. Enjoy the sounds of water lapping against the docks, the sunsets, the taste if home cooked food, and the undercurrents that mean, beware! 5 PLUS STARS
Beautifully written.
A great introduction to the series, we learn John’s tragic backstory while launching into his current dire circumstances. A former big-city cop in an idyllic small Wisconsin town creates friction John doesn’t want. But his childhood retreat may be the thing he needs the most if he can stay alive long enough to enjoy it. Read this, and you’ll be planning a Spider Lake fishing trip in the hopes of catching a mystery of your own!
A new favorite author….I’m from Wisconsin so I love stories that take place in our state. I’m on this author’s third book now and am well-invested in his characters. If you are planning to stick with this series I would definitely recommend that you read this book. It sets up all the books that follow.