When Parker Collins, a gifted writing student at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, fails to show up for the first day of fall classes, his frantic girlfriend, Rishima Reynolds, files a missing person’s report. Though Parker has a history of alcohol abuse, disorderly conduct, and truancy, she insists he is committed to his writing classes, and is adamant something is very wrong.Persuaded by … wrong.
Persuaded by the depth of her conviction, Radhauser drives up to a cabin at Sunset Lake where Parker spent the last month finishing a novel. It’s a manuscript his mentor, Professor Madison Hollingsworth, claims is brilliant. The Hollingsworth cabin has been trashed—the padlock on the liquor cabinet cut and empty bottles are strewn around the kitchen. It appears Parker has gone on a binge and disappeared with the Hollingsworth boat. Radhauser knows appearances are often deceiving. He returns to Ashland, hoping Parker is out on the lake and nursing a gigantic headache. But something about the cabin scene nags at Radhauser and won’t let him go.
The following morning, 72-year-old Homer “Sully” Sullivan, one of the lake’s few year-round residents, finds a bloated body floating face-down near his cottage. He phones Radhauser, terrified it could be Parker Collins—the boy Sully befriended and has come to love. Will this missing person’s case become a murder investigation?
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Rishima is a boy converting to a woman. Her best friend Parker Collins is at a teacher’s cabin writing his novel. When Parker does not return when he said he would. He is missing, but the cabin is in shambles. He is later found floating in the lake. The autopsy showed he was murdered. The hunt to solve his murder takes you to an unexpected person.
This is a very well written to keep your interest.
Professor Madison Hollingsworth allows one of her students, Parker Collins, to use her lake cabin for privacy while he finishes writing his book. When Parker fails to show up for class at the beginning of the new semester, his girlfriend knows something is wrong. She reports him missing to Detective Winston Radhauser who agrees to drive up to the cabin to ensure the young man’s safety. Instead of a hard at work college student, the detective finds a ransacked cabin and no sign of Parker.
One of the lake’s year-round residents, Sully, calls Radhauser when he finds Parker’s body in the lake. The list of suspects is not as short as one would expect of such a young man. Parker owes some drug dealers money. In addition, another student got into a fist fight with Parker the previous year over his girlfriend, Rishima Reynolds, who is transgender. It could also be a hate crime because of Rishima too. Or is there something else in Parker’s life that Radhauser is missing?
**** FOUR STARS! Radhauser has not had an easy life, yet he has done well for himself. If anything, those rough times make the detective more empathetic toward others going through rough patches. His character is open-minded and organized. Speaking of characters, all of them have well developed backgrounds, even the minor ones. When the detective begins investigating a site or following a procedure, the author gives the reader all the details. This not only shows plenty of research by the author, but also lets the reader follow along with clues and deductions. It was fun to see if I could figure who killed Parker before Radhauser. (Answer: Yes, but only by a few chapters.) A terrific mystery that will make a rainy afternoon fly by. ****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Rishima is having a hard time with the struggles in her life. When Parker goes to his teachers cabin to write Rishima is worried when he doesn’t come home when he said he would. When Rishima goes to Detective Radhauser to report Parker missing she is really worried something awful might of happened to him. Radhauser is shocked at Parker’s parents reaction when he goes to talk to them. You will be on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. I would give this book a higher rating than a five star review if I could. I had the honor to review this book for the author for a honest review.
How refreshing it was to read a good book that not only held my attention but practically begged me to come back for more of the delicious treat! I mean, I read a LOT and do a lot of reviewing, and it seems so common, anymore, to find plots that are hard to wade through. Maybe I’ve become picky; if that is the case, then I pick any of the Winston Radhauser Mysteries!
Susan Clayton Goldner gives us another riveting mystery in the Radhauser series.
She shows us a story of a young woman’s struggle with her trans gender identity.
and the young author that loved her.
I loved the beautiful storyline and the multi faceted characters.
I eagerly await her next book.
Rishima Reynolds files a missing person report on her boyfriend Parker Collins. Parker is a gifted writer and they are going to the same college. He promised to return on Sunday, and he didn’t do it. She fears something is terribly wrong. Detective Radhause agrees to go check it out for Rishima. He knew her when she was assaulted earlier. He finds out that Parker is staying in a cabin that belongs to his creative writing professor, Madison Hollingsworth. Ms Hollingsworth is liked very much by all her students, and is a very attractive woman. When Radhouse and Hollingsworth get to the cabin, it is trashed! The liquor cabin was broken into, the place is a total wreck and the boat is missing. Something about the cabin doesn’t ‘feel’ right to Radhouse. He goes back the next day hoping to find Parker on the lake with a huge hang over. It’s then he meets Mr. Homer Sullivan, “Sully” is one of two residents there on the lake. Sully goes looking for Parker, and finds his body floating on the lake and the missing boat anchored on the lake. That is when things really get going. I will admit, when I first started reading this book, I thought, “I’m not reading this! I didn’t pick this book to read about a transgender person. That just isn’t my cup of tea, but I kept reading it and I can tell you, I almost cried at the ending! The way this story was written is so caring to all the characters that you just can’t help but be pulled into the story. I wish I could give this more stars! I received a free ARC of this book. Trust me, it’s an emotional ride!
A young college student, Parker Collins goes to Sunset Lake to spend a month at a cabin that belongs to one of his professors at Southern Oregon University in Ashland. Parker intends on doing some writing in his manuscript.
At the end of his month stay at Sunset Lake Parker is supposed to return to college as it is the first day of classes. When he fails to show up his girlfriend Rishima Reynolds, contacts Detective Winston Radhauser to report Parker missing. Parker has had some issues in the past but Rishima unlike others knows how much writing means to him.
Radhauser takes a drive up to the lake to see if he can find Parker upon his arrival he finds that Parker is nowhere to be seen but the cabin looks as if Parker or someone decided to have a party. Either Parker went on a drinking binge all by himself or he had a few friends over. The cabin had been trashed with beer bottles lying all over the place.
After his investigation at the cabin Radhauser talks to a few of the residents who live at the lake year round. One of the people he talks to is Homer “Sully” Sullivan who has a lot to tell Radhauser about Parker, about how nice of a guy he seemed to be and that they had become friends in the short time he had been at the lake. Later on after Radhauser returns home he gets a call from Sully letting him know that he found a dead body floating in the lake. Sully is not sure who the person is and hopes that it is not Parker.
After Radhauser starts his investigation, suspects start turning up left and right. Radhauser has more suspects than he knows what to do with. The suspects all have their motives and secrets to hide. Lake of the Dead has lots of secrets and it hides them well between its covers only spewing them out at the right moment in time.
Lake of the Dead had me hanging on like a fish on hook it would reel me giving me just enough information to keep me hooked and flipping the pages. One minute I would think that I had it all figured out and just knew whodunit and the next I was like what no way but all of Susan’s books are like that. Lake of the Dead took me down so many roads and each one looked as if they could be the right one but then there would be a twist and I would be headed in a complete different direction.
Lake of the Dead is the fifth book in the Winston Radhauser Mystery. I have read all of the books in the Winston Radhauser Mystery and each one seems to get better and better. In my opinion each of the Winston Radhauser Mystery books can be read in any order but I do suggest that you begin with the first book in the series, Redemption Lake for a more enjoyable experience and to get Detective Winston Radhauser’s back ground info first hand so to speak.
Although each book gives you enough info so that you don’t feel lost or that you are missing out it is so much better if you are there as they say, so that you can experience it all for yourself. What I am trying to say is check out all of the books in the Winston Radhauser Mystery. My suggested reading order is as follows – Redemption Lake, When Time is a River, A River of Silence, and River of Shame.
Wow…..this mystery has a big heart with some of the best and worst people living their lives with hate or love. It’s nice to say that as tragic as this book it at times, the hope, the love and decency win out.
Detective Winstin Radhauser is married, two young children after losing his first family years ago. One thing about the detective besides his full attention to crimes is his full attention to the victims / survivors.
On one hand this is a great procedural that really shows just how important the steps are in looking at evidence and documenting it.
It is also informative in what its like to be a transgender child not accepted by the parents. And it’s a look at grief and the ways people deal with it, right or wrong.
Sully is one of my favorite people, with his pet raccoon and good instincts. He may be old, but he is open hearted to new ideas and people.
The plot builds as does the evidence in the case of student Parker Collins. When younger he did drugs to deal with a secret regarding his sister’s death. His parents just seem so unforgiving, especially when you learn their secrets.You have the drug dealers wanting money back, Rishima’s family, Madison, the beautiful professor helping Parker and more.
The plotting is superb and takes you to suspecting different people. The people are so real, motives, wishes, and fears.
The ending is beautiful but sad and hopeful. There is humor, insight into the workings of a detective, and looks at what goes on behind closed doors. Great mystery but also a great piece of fiction.
Lake of the dead is a very good mystery/thriller that will keep you guessing. It is well written with great characters, I especially like Sully. The ending of this book is simply wonderful. I enjoyed Lake of the Dead and have no hesitation recommending it to all fans of this genre .. it is a very good read.
Have read all the books by this author and can’t get enough. Intriguing main character and engaging other character, many of whom carry through into the next book. Very enjoyable
Susan Clayton-Goldner – Lake of the Dead: A Winston Radhauser Mystery -Book #5
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Geography: Ashland, Oregon, Sun Lake in Oregon
Review: 4 Stars
The 5th installment of Winston Radhauser’s Mystery Series will keep you guessing “whodunnit”. I love mysteries that keep you guessing as secrets unravels.
Parker Collins, a student and gifted writer spends a month in a cabin belonging to his professor doesn’t show up when school starts again, his girlfriend Rishima Reynolds contacts Detective Radhauser. For those that read the Radhauser Mystery 4th installment you met Rishima, a transgender who was assaulted by a white supremacy, homophobia and pure evil racism.
As Radhauser starts his investigation he meets with some interesting parties such as Sully a 72 yo lonely widower who befriended Parker and had a “some fine binoculars” allowing him to see Parker from across the lake. Sully had a housemate, a pet racoon named Rodney which will make you laugh out loud.
Then there is Beatrice Norton who lives on the lake. She is a hoot. As Radhauser was about to shake her had during introductions, Beatrice says; “Are you saved, Detective Radhauser?” Stunned to respond, Beatrice went on, “Have you accepted Jesus Chris as your personal savior?” You will love her.
If you like mystery and “whodunnit” this is a great read that you don’t want to miss Lake of The Dead.
“I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book for an honest review.”
An intense, suspenseful book. The topic of transgender and everything involved was handled with understanding. You will not want to put it down. Characters were well-written and believable.
Lake of the Dead by Susan Clayton-Goldner
A Winston Radhauser Mystery #5
A young man is missing…or so thinks his girlfriend. With real concern for Parker Collins, Rashima Reynolds heads to the police department to file a missing person report. The person assigned to the case is Winston Radhauser. Is the young man alive or dead? What clues are there? Is Rishima correct in fearing the worst? When a body shows up and it is Parker the mystery intensifies leading the searchers on a merry chase that unearths some very interesting details surrounding more than one character in the book. I came away feeling badly for more than one person and really wishing the bad guy could either be killed slowly and painfully or sent to break rocks for decades.
I love this author’s books and this series with Winston, his painful backstory and his wonderful wife and new child. I find them believable and intriguing and would love to have them as personal friends.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
With each book I read by Susan Clayton-Goldner, I become more impressed with her ability to tell a story. Before I say more I want to let you know that I was provided an advance copy of the book so that I might review it and this is the seventh book of hers that I have reviewed, starting with A Bend In The Willow.
This is a mystery novel/thriller. It is also a character study of the people involved in the story. Many mystery authors focus on the story itself and the plot lines and move it to its conclusion via the telling of the story. Susan Clayton-Goldner moves her stories along by the telling of her characters’ stories. Stories don’t just happen. Stories are the result of people engaging in activities that result in events taking place, either good or bad.
Much of this story is focused on Winston Radhauser, the homicide detective of the Ashland, Oregon police department. Actually, Radhauser may be the only detective in the police department as initially it is a missing persons case. In her other stories concerning Detective Radhauser as well as here, we learn of the loss of his first wife and young son in a horrific auto accident. It has effected him deeply and always will. It is because he knows how fleeting life is that he concerns himself with finding the perpetrators of the murders to which he is assigned. Much like the Energizer bunny, he keeps going and going and… You get the idea. He won’t stop until he finds the murderer.
In this story we meet a lot of other characters as well. There is the old recluse up near the cabin where the murder takes place, the loving girlfriend of the deceased college student, the beautiful and helpful college professor, the parents of the deceased, the parents of the girlfriend, the drug dealers out to collect a long overdue debt, and others. One or more of them did it. The problem is figuring out who that was.
In this story, that is Detective Radhauser’s problem. He methodically approaches his list of suspects and persons of interest and keeps checking them off. When that approach fails he starts looking at them again and trying to find out what he doesn’t know until he finally gets a clue that points him toward the killer. I suspect this is much like it happens in real life, at least if the police detective is doing his job properly. For Radhauser, the truth is most important and it is the truth that he seeks.
Through Susan Clayton-Goldner’s books we meet and get to know the people in her stories. We learn of their likes and dislikes; their feelings on matters big and small. We find out who they are through their stories. And that is what makes her books special. It is not the book’s story that is important to her. It is the stories of the people who make up her books, her characters. She turns them into living, breathing beings much like you and me. And that is what makes her books special.
Read Lake of the Dead and see what I mean. I am certain that you will agree.
What can I say? Wow. This is my third in this series and second back to back. I love that there is a continuing character from the previous book. I hope that there might be more of this character’s life lessons that they are teaching me in future books. She is important!!!!!!!
Even though this book is the next in the series, you can definitely read it by itself. What they call standalone. It took me a bit to remember the returning character. It wasn’t till the mention of the what had happened to here in the previous book that I remember who she is. A wonderful human being!!!!!!! Thank you Windston Radhuaser for helping us to see that and for what you did for her.
I knew from the beginning who had done it and why. It was obvious to me. Now note that the author made me change my mind and theory as to why at least once if not a couple of times. Nice way to go!
I can honestly say that eventually I have to go back and read the earlier books in this series, just for more character definition and how Wind met Gracie. I admit that sometimes I feel I am missing a hint of something. Note that it does not distract from reading any of the books.
This is my honest and freely given review. I received an ARC book. Thank you for asking me to read this.