January 9, 2026 6:00 am

the setup…
It’s been a year and Deputy Sheriff Eli North has spent it well, giving up alcohol and getting professional help to gain control over his PSTD. He and his mother Marge, the Shaky Lake Sheriff are the sole law enforcement team in this rural town. They’re dispatched to the trailer of Trinity Campanella and find what looks like a murder scene sans a body. When the FBI shows up, they learn the young woman was a Confidential Informant (CI) for Agent Adam Diaz. Agent Alyssa Mason has returned to assist him, bringing some complicated feelings to the surface for Eli who worked with her on last year’s opioid investigation.
the heart of the story…
I was rooting for Eli to clean up his act after the last story because even in his sad state, you could see he was a skilled investigator. My instincts were right about him as the sober deputy was in fine form. The search for Trinity led them to a shady health care system with ties to some powerful people. There were some loose threads from that last case that seem to have some connection. We get the points of view from Eli in the present with transitions to Tiffany from six-months earlier going forward, all woven seamlessly.
the narration…
Chris Henry Coffey returns as the primary narrator with Amanda Dolan being the voice for Trinity. Using two elevated the storytelling factor, providing clarity. They delivered wonderful performances.
the bottom line…
While having such major illegal drug enterprises operating in such a small town where everyone knows everybody’s business might bring skepticism, the vast rural nature does allow for some hiding in plain sight. This was one of my most anticipated sequels and I got the twisty story I was hoping for. There’s a whiff of something between Eli and Alyssa that needs to be explored and I still think there’s more going on in this town. Book #3?
Posted by Jonetta | Blue Mood Café
Categories: Audiobook, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
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[…] Wildwood by Amy Pease […]
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By 2026 Audiobook Challenge @caffeinatedreviewer.com @caffeinatedreviewer @jentwimom.bsky.social @jen_twimom #2026AudiobookChallenge – Blue Mood Café on January 9, 2026 at 6:03 am
[…] Northwoods by Amy Pease […]
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By 2026 Finishing the Series Challenge! #FinishingTheSeries2026 – Blue Mood Café on January 9, 2026 at 6:05 am
Fab review Jo, glad this lived up to your expectations!
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By nickimags @ Secret Library Book Blog on January 9, 2026 at 6:39 am
Thank you, Nicki💜 It certainly did.
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on January 9, 2026 at 8:03 am
Wonderful review Jonetta! I’m glad you’re continuing to enjoy this series.
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By Jodie | That Happy Reader on January 9, 2026 at 11:33 am
Thank you, Jodie💜
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on January 9, 2026 at 11:50 am
I started the first one and got too busy (library books sometimes fall to the bottom over ARCs) I hope to get back and now I have two to read.
Trinity? Tiffany? I’m confused.
Anne – Books of My Heart
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By BooksofMyHeart on January 9, 2026 at 4:07 pm
Thanks for the catch! Someone kept calling her Tiffany at the beginning of the book. Trinity it is.
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on January 9, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Great review, Jo. I’m glad this was a good sequel to the first and that your hunch was right.
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By Carla on January 11, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Thank you, Carla💜
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on January 11, 2026 at 8:15 pm
Fab review! I’ve been meaning to read the first book, so I’m glad the sequel was a winner for you. xx
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By Yvonne (It's All About Books) on January 12, 2026 at 1:59 pm
Thanks, Yvo💜 You’ll know from the first book whether you’d enjoy this one.
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By Jonetta | Blue Mood Café on January 12, 2026 at 4:11 pm
Good to know! xx
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By Yvonne (It's All About Books) on January 17, 2026 at 8:54 pm