Northwoods is the second book I’ve read by Bill Schweigart (the first being the Beast of Barcroft) and I have to say I’m hooked on this series now.  This review may contain spoilers for the first book so please be aware of that and I would also add that although this is a sequel and has characters from the first book I think it could quite easily be read as a standalone.  These books are a great combination of superstition and creepiness and a great cast of characters all charging around at breakneck speed.

The start of the story introduces us to two new characters.  Davis, an ex forces guy who now works for border control and the local sheriff are about to go into the Superior Forest investigating a tip off they’ve received.  What they find there instead is quite chilling.  A scene of death awaits them in the woods – dead bodies and blood soaked snow surround a strange and ancient looking chest that seems to be luring Davis forward.  At the same time Ben McKelvie and Lindsay Clark, who remained friends after the events of Barcroft brought them together, are about to receive a call from Severance seeking their assistance with an investigation that will take them into Minnesota looking for more mythical creatures.

This is a really good, chilling and often times adrenalin soaked read with an excellent ending!

Firstly, the characters.  I really like Bill and Lindsay.  They’ve remained friends – the only ones who can truly understood what horrors took place in Arlington.  They make a good, if somewhat slightly abrasive towards each other, team.  Then we have the other double act in Severance and Alex Standingcloud.  I said after book one that these two were show stealers and that still remains true here although that being said Davis puts in a very good supporting role as well.

The writing is very persuasive, I loved that we had this cold and stark setting that really added to the chill factor and the author can certainly write creepy!  The coldness and the forest and lake settings all added to the tone and I loved the beast that was stalking beneath the water!

In terms of criticisms, nothing really to go to town on. There’s a little bit of crazy going on here in terms of the animals involved, we never really get to the bottom of what exactly the mysterious ‘chest’ is all about – although I’m sure that that’s something that’s being saved for future stories.

But what an ending!  Oh my goodness, I was like ‘oh no’ and ‘oh yes’ and ‘oh no!’ What a thrill ride.  I’m really looking forward to where the author takes us next and what scary critters he can rustle up to give us the goosebumps.

I received a copy of Northwoods courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.