Where I share my love of books with reviews, features, giveaways and memes. Family and needlepoint are thrown in from time to time.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Dead of Wynter by Spencer Seidel (Book Review and Giveaway!)

Title: Dead of Wynter
Author: Spencer Seidel
Publisher: Publishing Works

"Dolly, it's your mother."

Dolly.  Jackie Ruth Wynter had called Alice that for years.  Alice hated it.  Almost as much as she hated her old life as Alice Wynter when she lived with her torn up family in the small town of Redding, Maine.  Her twin brother Chris had been fading fast, transforming into a mirror image of their drunken, violent father.  Now Jackie Ruth was telling her that Papa was dead and Chris was missing.

Alice resigns herself to return, helping her mother and the local police with the mystery surrounding the crime.  But there are some family secrets her mother would sooner take to the grave than reveal.  As the authorities come closer to solving the mystery of the men in her family, she begins to realize her past life as Alice Wynter is the missing part of the puzzle.  But who is searching out the former Alice?

Wynter family secrets run deep, and they all have something to hide in the bone-chilling cold of Maine lake country. The mystery of her father's murder and brother's disappearance will capture your attention well past when the fire has gone out.

My thoughts: I loved this book.  I read it quicker than I have read any book in quite awhile.  I literally did not want to put it down.  The story jumps back and forth between the present time, when Alice goes back to Redding to be with her family and 1984, which is where the circumstances that drive the present day events started.  You get just little bits of the story at a time, some I was able to guess, some not so much.  Just when you thought you were going to get some juicy morsel the author would turn the story to make you wait a little longer.

The present day story wraps up in just a couple of days, but lots of family secrets are unearthed.  Alice thinks she is the only one with anything to hide, but learns that everyone in her family had a secret - some old, some new. She reconnects with an old boyfriend from highschool while she is back in town and is able to eventually heal some wounds that had happened with him. 

I liked the way the author used the Maine weather to play a role in the story.  As the weather intensified, so did the story.  The more the snow fell and covered the landscape, the more secrets were unburied.  I felt satisfied by the ending and felt like all the loose ends had been wrapped up.  Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves mysteries, thrillers, and are fans of good fiction!

About the author: Spencer Seidel lives and works in suburban New Jersey.  This is his first book.  Follow his musings of music, books and other things at http://www.spencerseidel.com/ or on Twitter @SpencerSeidel.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange from my review from Media Muscle.~


Giveaway! 
 Thanks goes out to Erin from Media Muscle in providing a giveaway for one of my readers!

To enter:  Just leave a comment below with your email address.  This contest will end on June 6th and is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

 
For additional entries:  Follow my blog - just tell me how you do it (up to two ways, good for two entries)
Twitter - leave me the link
Blog post - leave me the link

A total of five entries are available - please leave each one in a separate comment.  You only need to leave your email address once.

Winners of all giveaways on Books and Needlepoint are chosen using random.org.


Publisher/Publication Date: Publishing Works, May 24, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-935557-69-2
281 pages

44 comments:

PoCoKat said...

If it opens up to Canadians, please enter me!

pocokat AT gmail DOT com

Tiffany Drew said...

I would really love to read this book, it sounds like an amazing read. Thank you for the chance!

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

Tiffany Drew said...

GFC follower Tiffany Drew

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

Tiffany Drew said...

I follow on Networked Blogs as Tiffany Drew

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot_net

Tiffany Drew said...

Tweeted

http://twitter.com/#!/enterthedrew/status/70253617646538752

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

Charleydog said...

Interesting choice of colors for this book cover: white for snow and red for blood.

Please enter my name in the giveaway.

pboylecharley(at)hotmail(dot)com

Robin said...

This book sounds great!
robindpdx (at) yahoo (dot) com

Qandthebooks said...

Thanks for the giveaway! (:

blissfulrains(at)yahoo(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

Sounds great. Count me in please.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

debbie said...

I love a good mystery, and your review was really good.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

karenk said...

please count me in...thanks :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Benita said...

Please count me in.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Hot Off the Shelves said...

Sounds like a treat read. Please enter me.

jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

Hot Off the Shelves said...

I am a follower of GFC.

Jen B. said...

Please enter me in the contest.
jepebATverizonDOTnet

Jen B. said...

GFC follower.
jepebATverizonDOTnet

Mona said...

This book sounds great. I love books about family secrets. And the title really sets the mood. Sounds like a great atmospheric mystery.

monagarg@yahoo.com

Mona said...

+2 email subscriber
+2 twitter follower(@Kulmona)

http://twitter.com/kherbrand

Margie said...

Sounds good...count me in. THanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

email subscriber
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Judy H said...

Your review makes it sound great!

Please enter me in the contest.

headlessfowl at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed your review and would love to read Dead of Wynter :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Tweeted the giveaway
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Blogged about the giveaway
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

Julie said...

This is NOT a giveaway entry, as I already have this title .. but I loved it, too! It was really a great read!

bison61 said...

good review I'd love to read this book

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

rubynreba said...

Please enter me. Thanks!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

GFC Follower.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

BrittanyGale said...

Please count me in! :) Thanks

quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com

BrittanyGale said...

Follow via GFC quixoticdreamer


quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com

BrittanyGale said...

Follow via Network Blog - Brittany


quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com

BrittanyGale said...

Tweeted

http://twitter.com/QuixoticWeetzie/status/72177733861511168

quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

Sounds like a good one. Thanks for the giveaway!

truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

GFC follower.

truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/truebookaddict/status/74982196359860224

truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

Anita Yancey said...

I loved your review. I've been wanting to read this book. It sounds so good, and I love reading about secrets. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

Subscribe via email.

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

Old Follower on GFC(Anita Yancey).

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

skkorman said...

I would love to read this book—please enter me to win!

skkorman said...

I follow you via GFC (skkorman)!

skkorman said...

I follow you via Networked Blogs (skkorman)!

shanaelyse said...

This looks like a great mystery!

shanaelyse@gmail.com

shanaelyse said...

I follow you on GFC!

shanaelyse@gmail.com

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...