Overview

In Dark Corners in Skoghall, the second book of Alida Winternheimer's Skoghall Mystery Series, Jessica Vernon once again finds herself unwillingly at the center of death's dark web. Jess left the big city behind for the quiet of a tiny arts community on the upper Mississippi River. But Skoghall, with its picturesque inn, friendly locals, and thriving arts scene, is anything but quaint. Beneath the small-town charm lurks something sinister. When a body turns up in a seemingly abandoned shop, Jess realizes the dead aren't about to let her settle into the life she dreamed of. Does she dare tell the Sheriff's Investigator what she knows-and how she knows it? Will he think she's delusional...or worse, involved in the crime? As Jess is reluctantly drawn into another murder investigation, disturbing encounters with the living and the dead threaten her relationships, her sanity, and her very survival. When it becomes clear the killer knows she's connected to the case, and even where she lives, Jess must take desperate measures to protect herself and her dog, Shakti. Unless she can put a ghost to rest and a killer behind bars, Jess may become Skoghall's next restless spirit. Winternheimer crafts a mesmerizing blend of psychological thriller, paranormal mystery, and gothic suspense, creating an atmosphere where the artsy veneer of small-town life is shadowed by murder, secrets, and supernatural forces. Readers who enjoy Wendy Webb, Simone St. James, or Jennifer McMahon will find themselves enthralled by Skoghall's haunted corners. Midwest Book Review praises Winternheimer's work for its ""wonderful dance between small-town atmosphere and the dark trouble simmering underneath the façade of propriety,"" highlighting her deft characterization and slow-building tension that makes the series hard to predict-or put down. Booksellers, libraries and readers looking for: Female amateur sleuths with psychic gifts Paranormal thrillers with gothic undertones Small town settings with dark secrets Crime novels featuring complex relationships, danger, and supernatural elements ...will find Dark Corners in Skoghall an evocative addition to their mystery and thriller collections. As the dangerous games of a psychopath unfold, Winternheimer keeps readers turning the pages until the chilling conclusion. Dark Corners in Skoghall is both a gripping thriller and a haunting ghost story-perfect for fans of midwestern gothic tales where murder and the paranormal entwine.

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9780997871456

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Reviews

Dark Corners in Skoghall, Alida Winternheimer's second book in the Skoghall Mystery Series, sees Jessica Vernon involved in another murder victim's haunting quest for justice. Jess moved from a big city to the tiny arts community on the upper Mississippi River to start over and live the quiet life of an aspiring writer, but so far Skoghall has been anything but quaint. When a body turns up in a seemingly abandoned shop, Jess realizes the dead are not going to let her settle down. Does she dare tell the Rice County Sheriff what she knows and how she knows it? And will he think she's as crazy as she feels...or worse, involved in the crime? Jess is reluctantly drawn back into a world where disturbing encounters overshadow small town charm, threatening her relationships, sanity, and life. When it becomes apparent the killer knows she's involved and where she lives, Jess is driven to take extreme measures to protect herself and Shakti. If she can't catch a killer and put a ghost to rest, she'll end up Skoghall's next restless spirit. Winternheimer creates a wonderful dance between small-town atmosphere and the dark trouble simmering underneath the façade of propriety: A middle-aged couple sat on the porch of the Skoghall Inn at the wrought iron cafe set, demitasses before them on demure saucers, a dish of sugar cubes with an antique silver tong between them. Sitting beside that, a plate of biscotti. Carrie and Mike Cummings did a nice job charming their guests. Welcome to picturesque Skoghall on the Mississippi! Enjoy the arts, the eagles, the garden, the water wheel-the murders. Jess snorted at the thought of how her experience of Skoghall had changed since moving here. The fine characterization, complicated relationships, including romantic hopefuls, sheriff's investigators, and ghosts are well-wrought with precise detail. Pair the small town setting and cast of locals with the slowly-building tension of a murder thriller, and Winternheimer creates a thoroughly engrossing mystery that's hard to predict or put down. Libraries and readers seeking a blend of supernatural mystery-thriller and small-town influences will welcome how both coalesce neatly in the powerful, dark story of disturbing problems and possibilities that makes Dark Corners in Skoghall an evocative read. Filled with surprises as the dangerous games of a psychopath play out, Dark Corners in Skoghall is a winning draw that should be in any library interested in stories that conjoin intrigue and the paranormal. - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Author Information

A native Minnesotan, Alida grew up with wholesome Midwestern values and a daily dose of ""Minnesota Nice,"" but always sensed there was more going on behind people's closed doors. Her stories explore the core of our humanity with richly emotional, darkly themed tales about complicated, real women, their relationships, and the secrets that haunt them.Alida's writing has been honored with a silver medal in the National Indie Excellence Awards and has won the Firebird Award, Page Turner Award, and Confluence Prize. She is three-times nominated for the Pushcart Prize and is a notable in Best American Essays. Alida is an author, speaker, developmental editor, and writing coach with a story craft podcast for writers and readers curious about writers, called the Story Works Round Table. When she is not writing, reading, or teaching writing, you can find Alida sea kayaking, cycling, or being walked by her golden retriever around Minneapolis, Minnesota. Find Alida at www.alidawinternheimer.com and in A Room Full of Books & Pencils, where she shares reflections on writing, life, and the writing life at booksandpencils.substack.com.

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