Just North Of Luck
Susan Whitfield
ISBN: 0741443597
Infinity Publishing
Reviewed By Marian Jeffords
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
"You're a wuss! Rubbish from the git go. Quit tryin' to squirm away. I ain't turnin' you loose 'til I'm done with ya."
The
aftereffects of domestic violence manifest themselves in various ways,
but its most devastating legacy is the erosion of the self-esteem of
its victims. Years and years of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment will
surely wary even the strongest of souls, and, without intervention, the
vicious cycle inevitably continues from generation to generation.
Such
is the case in the remote community of Trust, North Carolina. The
typical small, mountain town has its own mores and cultural traditions,
and DV is certainly among them. The fact that the problem goes
unreported and – ultimately – unresolved, though, contributes more to
the town's everyday logistics than most of its residents realize; thus,
when a series of grisly murders soon envelops the community in fear,
the local folk are understandably shocked and mortified; however, when
SBI agent Logan Hunter descends upon the town to assist in the murder
investigation, she is taken aback by the community's over-eagerness to
keep silent about the matter. With their very lives at stake, most
people would be more than willing to share crucial information leading
to the apprehension of a perpetrator; in the small town of Trust,
though, Logan soon finds that the local folk are just as mysterious –
and keep just as many secrets – as the mountains that surround them.
Teaming
up with local detective Chase Railey, Logan struggles to make sense of
an investigation that drags on for months, and, with each fresh corpse
that emerges, the duo quickly realizes that they have less and less
time to find the killer before it's too late.
What they don't
know, though, is that they'll soon stumble upon an even more sinister,
devious scheme framing the town's everyday workings – the reach of
which extends all the way back to Chase's own affluent roots…
Many words can describe Just North Of Luck:
action-packed, suspenseful, engaging, witty – but it shines most
brightly as a tightly-plotted, masterfully scripted story that stands
alongside the best and brightest that the mystery/suspense genre has to
offer. Highly recommended.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Susan Whitfield (Just North Of Luck)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Susan. We're looking forward to learning more about your book.
How does the true identity of the killer manage to go unsuspected for so long?
Susan Whitfield: Even though the killer is right under their noses and Logan had her suspicions, he had alibis or good character references that sent them in other directions for a while.
AR: Was it difficult for you to depict such a kaleidoscopic cross-section of colorful characters so realistically?
SW: Thank you! Not at all. I wanted to bring in the proud Cherokee heritage of western North Carolina. I also wanted a strong character like the landlady who not only was talented but also smart and funny. The killer's father emerges in epigraphs as being a notorious child molester. All of these characters could realistically be part of the remote mountain scenario.
AR: When Chase learns about his father's treachery, he barely winces. On top of that, he has no problem seeking justice in the matter with vigor. Why the animosity between them?
SW: Drew Railey expected his son to follow in his footsteps. When Chase didn't, he was chastised at every opportunity. Chase is all about justice, and his father is about winning the case regardless. Chase spent month running down the bad guys and then watched his father get them off.
AR: The plot twist you slip in at the end regarding one of the killer's supposed victims is quite clever. Was that a spur-of-the-moment inclusion, or did you plan that all along?
SW: It wasn't spur-of-the-moment but I hadn't planned it from the beginning either. As I wrote, the plot twist evolved and it seemed to work.
AR: You're very familiar with life in small town settings. Why do you think people in those areas tend to be so secretive about family life/problems?
SW: I grew up in a small town. We didn't like to air our dirty laundry, or worse, have somebody air it for us. I suppose we didn't want to bring shame on our families or the town.
AR: Dare we ask: is there really such an event as the Testicle Festival? If so, have you ever gone to one?
SW: The Testicle Festival is indeed, real. While we don't have the tradition of eating bull gonads and other delicacies in our mountains, the festival is alive and well in the Rockies, especially Montana. I have not attended one, but find the idea intriguing. I'm not saying I'd actually eat them, though. Maybe. I just don't know what I'd do if one was presented to me on a plate.
AR: Our reviewer noted that Just North of Luck is an action-packed, engaging read. What kinds of reactions have you gotten to the book thus far?
SW: Just North of Luck was only released a few weeks ago but I've been delighted with the comments so far. The cover is fetching, I think and seems to be attracting more men than Genesis Beach has attracted so far. I hope folks will read them both since readers get to know who Logan is in the first book.
AR: This is the second installment of Logan Hunter mystery, and you already have a third under development. What can we expect to see in that one?
SW: In Hell Swamp an animal rights activist is murdered in a horrendous way. Logan is pitted against hunters along Black River where deer are prolific. Once again, there are many obstacles she has to overcome. She is pushed into a raging river, and later assaulted and kidnapped, but Logan stays the course until justice is done.
AR: How has your experience been thus far with Infinity Publishing?
SW: The publishing company has been great to work with. The book is top quality and the design team nailed my vision of the cover on the first attempt.
AR: How can people get in touch with you or learn more about your writing and other efforts?
SW: They can go to my website at www.swhitfield.com to read excerpts from Just North of Luck, Hell Swamp, and the fourth novel. There is contact information on the site. I love getting feedback from readers. I'm interested in speaking to more book clubs in the state also.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
SW: Readers, if you like a strong but quirky protagonist in a North Carolina setting, give the Logan Hunter Mystery series a look. Genesis Beach and Just North of Luck are both available everywhere. I hope you enjoy them.