Running Dark: A Woods Cop Mystery

Joseph Heywood
First Lyons Press (2005)
ISBN 9781592288908
Reviewed by Lorraine Robins for Reader Views (8/06)

The author takes us to the beginning of Grady Service's career as a DNR officer. Grady is following in his father's footsteps, as he had worked for the DNR his entire career. The book is set in the mid 1970's.

Grady's marriage crumbles very quickly after he becomes a DNR officer. His wife does not understand why Grady would care about the Department of Natural Resources. But it is all Grady Service has ever wanted to do.

The author's main point was to have the reader experience what Grady Service goes through, trying to enforce the law against poaching, over fishing, and his struggle to enforce the limits of the law. The book has some excitement and colorful characters.

Personally, I did not find this book very captivating. I grew up in Michigan and am familiar with the Upper Peninsula. This is where the book is set. The people in that area do speak with a sort of unique accent--not exactly Canadian, but not really Midwestern. I did not care for the way the author seemed to over-emphasize how everyone was speaking in this accent. I don't know if it was supposed to be humorous, but it was lost on me.  I also felt the book dragged and did not grab my interest. I had a hard time getting though it.

Based on the way this book was written, I believe it would appeal more to men than women. There was a lot of tough, macho type language and behavior in the book which seems more suited for men. It did not suit me.

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