Review of Murder Rides a Gale Force Wind

[Jenna Floyd]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Murder Rides a Gale Force Wind" by Yvonne Maximchuk.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Loud voices break through the tranquil night, disturbing a nearby neighbor's late-night float. A sense of unease fills the air with the silence that follows. The small community gets turned upside down when the body of one of its inhabitants washes up on shore. In Murder Rides a Gale Force Wind by Yvonne Maximchuk, the reader becomes a member of the small community; immersing in the drama, scandal, gossip, and friendships of Echo Bay. A young man arrives in town, eager to work and find his family. A woman grapples with handling a cheating partner and new love interest. Locals struggle with intersections of racism and their livelihood in the prawn-fishing community. And, of course, a murder puts everyone on edge.

Maximchuk's writing is masterful. Her words are eloquent, captivating, and immersive. Reading was a delight because the author took such great care and attention when writing descriptions. I could tell that every word was placed deliberately including slang, occasional profanity, and banter. I found zero typos or errors. There were occasional instances of alternative spellings, as I am American and the author Canadian, but everything was meticulously edited and remarkably well-written. I can’t emphasize that enough. Furthermore, I could visualize the scenery vividly and feel the emotions the characters experienced. Similarly, the characters had a genuine small-town feeling. In reading, it was reminiscent of my own small community growing up and the gossip that spread rapidly throughout. The characters had flaws, depth, and care for one another. Rivalries emerged and people felt the drive to protect their livelihood. In short, I enjoyed the immersive reading experience and marvel at the writing style of the author.

On the other hand, there were a few things I disliked. First, I felt the pacing was a little off in places. Things started slow, while the ending felt a little rushed with data dumps. It is a valid writing style, but I would’ve liked a little more even pacing. Second, I felt lost with a lot of the nautical terminology. I had to pause several times to look up terms to better understand some descriptions. While I don’t mind doing this occasionally, it distracted me from the story and pulled me out of the narrative.

For the reasons above, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It’s beautifully written and has delightfully realistic characters living their intersecting, but independent lives. If the first half of the novel had been a bit faster-paced, with a little less nautical jargon, I likely would’ve given it five stars.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading about a community and the people who live there. While some characters were more prominent, the author doesn’t hone in on any single main character. Despite the genre and mention of murder in the title, there isn’t as much mystery and crime as I expected. Therefore, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to all fans of crime novels; someone looking for a fast-paced thriller will likely be disappointed.

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Murder Rides a Gale Force Wind
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[Amy Luman]

I ww say with you right up until you didn’t recommend it to those who like fast-paced thrillers. Unfortunately, I do, and if you noticed the slow pace I’m sure that it’s not the first one I want to pick up. I’ll keep it in mind, though.

[Chris Rich Nwaka]

Your comment about the editing is especially noteworthy. It's great to hear that the book was well-edited and error-free, which can sometimes be a rare find. I appreciate your attention to detail in your review.

[holywriter]

Great review! I appreciate how you captured the essence of the book's setting and atmosphere with vivid descriptions of the small community in Echo Bay. It's evident that the author's writing style was a highlight for you, with eloquent and captivating words that made the reading experience a delight.Thanks.

[NetMassimo]

This seems like a thriller suitable for readers who like to get immersed into a setting who can savor the plot developments even when the pace is slow. Thank you for your great review!