A shattered career. A crooked lawyer. An unsolved murder. Seeking peace in the Northwoods is fraught with danger.
Every 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 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.
In his Northern Lakes Mystery Series, award-winning author, conservationist, and retired decorated law enforcement officer Jeff Nania weaves together stories that keep readers wondering who is on the right side of the law in the small town of Musky Falls. Figure Eight, the first book in the series, was a winner of the Midwest Book Awards. The series continues with Spider Lake, winner of the Midwest Book Awards, Independent Publisher Book Awards, and Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and Bough Cutter. Book four is expected in late 2022.
C. J. Box, William Kent Krueger, Dana Stabenow, Louise Penny, and Victoria Houston fans love this mystery series set in Wisconsin's Northwoods.
About the Author :
Jeff Nania was born and raised in Wisconsin. His family were residents of the storied Madison Greenbush neighborhood. His first career was in law enforcement serving in many roles. He was a decorated officer and found great value in serving the community. Things change and circumstances dictated a career change. The lifelong outdoorsman began in-depth exploration of our natural resources. It led him to a new career founding and leading the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Wetland Restoration Field Team, restoring hundreds of wetlands across the state. Through this work, he became nationally recognized as one of the pioneers in the ecosystem-based approach to restoration. He was named by Outdoor Life Magazine as one of the nation's 25 most influential conservationists, was Wisconsin Wildlife Federation's Conservationist of the Year, and has received the National Wetlands Award, Leopold Restoration Award, and Wisconsin Outdoor News Lifetime Achievement Award. Jeff recognized that loss of connection between kids and the outdoors was a national crisis and began to donate his energy to restoring that connection. Teaming with others, he developed Outdoor Adventure Days, an interactive outdoor classroom experience giving over 8,700 children a wet and muddy day in the field. Building on this foundation Jeff co-founded one of the first environmentally-focused charter schools with teacher Victoria Rydberg, and together, they brought this "hands on, feet wet" philosophy to teachers and students across Wisconsin. Jeff is semi-retired and writes for Wisconsin Outdoor News and other publications. Living on his farm in central Wisconsin, he spends as much time as possible outdoors. He can be often found with his family fishing muskies or snorkeling for treasure on Spider Lake.
Review :
"Figure Eight is the first of author Jeff Nania's 'A Northern Lakes Mystery' series and features a shattered career, a crooked lawyer, an unsolved murder, and a Northwoods setting that is fraught with danger, but also a story of redemption and second chances. While also readily available for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs...Figure Eight is an especially recommended addition to community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections."
Midwest Book Review
"The author's knowledge of Wisconsin's Northwoods, fishing, and law enforcement techniques, brought me hook, line and sinker into the story, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the books."
Tim Eisele Freelance Outdoor Writer and Photographer
"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!"
Laurie Buchanan Author of the Sean McPherson Novels
"Pain. Failure. Fear. Death. Natural beauty. Suspense. Sense of community. Conviction. Thankfulness. Respect. Hope. Love (maybe). That's the rollercoaster readers ride in Jeff Nania's exciting first book, Figure Eight. Along the way, Figure Eight's earthy side draws on the Northwoods of Wisconsin's spectacular scenery and time-honored traditions."
Dean Bortz Editor, Wisconsin Outdoor News
"Hard to imagine anyone more qualified than Jeff Nania to tell this tale of Northwoods intrigue. I've known him in his successive careers as both a police officer and a professional consultant on the restoration of wetlands-and as an avid sportsman with a deep veneration for our remaining wilderness. And now I find he's a fine writer with a keen ear and eye for the cadences of speech and the pace of daily life we both grew up with on our home turf in Wisconsin, and it all rings true. It's a serious story for our time, but also a page-turner and a fun read."
Peter Egan Best-selling author and Editor-at-Large, Road and Track Magazine
"Jeff Nania's first novel is a skillful, in-depth portrayal of a cop battling demons following a tragic accident while on the job. The author brings a haunting and beautiful depth to this character; nothing is easy for smart but pained and regretful John Cabrelli. I appreciated Nania's expert attention to the true-life environmental and community details that make the Spider Lake area special. Figure Eight gets a perfect "10" from me for plot, character, and setting."
Christine DeSmet Writing coach and author of the Chocolate Fudge Mysteries
