What do you think?
Rate this book
Lake Superior #2
Superior Storm
THE STORM IS RISING… Pastor Jonah Borden loses the life savings of an elderly widow when the First National Bank of Grand Lake, Minnesota, is robbed. Now he is playing detective, trying to solve the crime and recover the widow’s money. But his friends in law-enforcement can’t seem to help him, and information about the case mysteriously disappears. In the meantime, he faces professional challenges, and to top it off, his own relationship with the beautiful Leyla Bennett is in troubled waters. Jonah must overcome a malicious plot against his life, the ghosts of his past, and face the fury of Superior itself, if he is to save himself and the ones he loves. Superior Storm is set amidst the wild beauty of Lake Superior. Featuring a cast of unique, memorable characters, this is the second in the Lake Superior Mystery series. Go to www.tomhilpert.com for more information
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
69 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Tom Hilpert
15 books35 followersTom Hilpert writes character-driven fiction with humor and flair. He loves cats, as well as dogs and is kind to little children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 21, 2018
DNF 26%
C-a-ts, winks, and gawd. This book'n'me're done.
Modestly successful writing, hugely silly and open foreshadowing, just about nothing makes me want to continue.
C-a-ts, winks, and gawd. This book'n'me're done.
Modestly successful writing, hugely silly and open foreshadowing, just about nothing makes me want to continue.
September 23, 2018
A small town pastor gets in over his head. The pastor convinces an elderly widow who is his parishoner to let him take her savings to a bank. He's at the bank, but before he can deposit her money, robbers take it. Feeling guilty about losing her life savings, he vows to support her until he can get it back for her.
Somehow, he also gets conned into offering a marriage counseling cruise on Lake Superior. Shouldn't the badly, and freshly painted boat name have clued him in that something wasn't quite kosher?
Once the plot got going, it was very compelling and hard to put down. You might get a bit more out of the book if you know about sailing--I do not, and it did not impede reading the book, but there are parts where they're sailing that may have made the plot more intense if you know what's really going on.
I would read additional books in the series and other books by this author.
Somehow, he also gets conned into offering a marriage counseling cruise on Lake Superior. Shouldn't the badly, and freshly painted boat name have clued him in that something wasn't quite kosher?
Once the plot got going, it was very compelling and hard to put down. You might get a bit more out of the book if you know about sailing--I do not, and it did not impede reading the book, but there are parts where they're sailing that may have made the plot more intense if you know what's really going on.
I would read additional books in the series and other books by this author.
January 1, 2018
While I thought some parts were unnecessarily drawn out, I was still held captive and unable to resist the allure of “what’s next”. I also love the way he makes Christian/biblical philosophy relevant to all our lives. Everyone needs a little dose of that. My mental health has been enhanced for reading this book and I’m forever grateful for that.
May 11, 2018
Fun read
I always enjoy a well described, quick witted book. All the details, as a Minnesotan ,Ieven the mundane directions are so clear and true! Tom writes with a strong sentence structure and he has a fabulous vocabulary. I love words and always a find a new 'gem' of a word in each book!
I always enjoy a well described, quick witted book. All the details, as a Minnesotan ,Ieven the mundane directions are so clear and true! Tom writes with a strong sentence structure and he has a fabulous vocabulary. I love words and always a find a new 'gem' of a word in each book!
September 27, 2018
4.5 stars
Even better than book 1. I think the humour was a little more toned down and less intrusive. The last third reminded me of Alistair Maclean books (I loved them). I continue to appreciate the words of truth that are scattered throughout. Yes, forgiveness is there for all even the worst of us.
Even better than book 1. I think the humour was a little more toned down and less intrusive. The last third reminded me of Alistair Maclean books (I loved them). I continue to appreciate the words of truth that are scattered throughout. Yes, forgiveness is there for all even the worst of us.
February 17, 2019
Hilpert takes mystery writing by storm
I have read three of Tom Hilpert's four Superior mysteries. I hope he keeps
writing them. Twists and turns like a fun house make them great fun to read.
I have read three of Tom Hilpert's four Superior mysteries. I hope he keeps
writing them. Twists and turns like a fun house make them great fun to read.
June 29, 2021
Great characters continue to surround Jonah.
Never a dull moment. In this book Lake Superior plays a big part in the story line. Sailing, a marriage counseling retreat, robbers that only steal from the patrons of the bank not the bank itself & Jonah's new found love Leila.
Never a dull moment. In this book Lake Superior plays a big part in the story line. Sailing, a marriage counseling retreat, robbers that only steal from the patrons of the bank not the bank itself & Jonah's new found love Leila.
March 9, 2022
Excellent novel with a message.
The thriller plot comes with deep meaning that can change the way its readers face the challenges they encounter as they walk through their valley of them shadow of death.
The thriller plot comes with deep meaning that can change the way its readers face the challenges they encounter as they walk through their valley of them shadow of death.
March 25, 2018
This was the second in the series with the same character, Pastor Jonah Borden, and I liked it just as well as the first. Very easy reading, good mystery.
October 10, 2018
Exciting.
Great story. I love Jonah's character; incredibly funny, intelligent and brave. What more could you ask for in a hero. Well written...bring on the next one.
Great story. I love Jonah's character; incredibly funny, intelligent and brave. What more could you ask for in a hero. Well written...bring on the next one.
February 28, 2019
Love his superior books. Have now read 1-3. Will start book 4 tonight. Love his writing.
November 22, 2019
I didn't enjoy this one as much. Too much foreshadowing in spots. In others, it was just too far-fetched for me.
January 15, 2024
Captures the power of Lake Superior
Great book! The descriptions of the power of the lake felt so real. You could feel the storm churning the water.
Great book! The descriptions of the power of the lake felt so real. You could feel the storm churning the water.
Read
April 4, 2025Terrific read
The story is serious but with a lot of interesting characters in play especially the pastor Who has a very comical side and that makes the book more fun.
The story is serious but with a lot of interesting characters in play especially the pastor Who has a very comical side and that makes the book more fun.
September 29, 2025
wow,wow,wow
I thought that the first novel was great, but this one was even more riveting. I couldn’t read it fast enough. Wonderful characters and creative plot.
I thought that the first novel was great, but this one was even more riveting. I couldn’t read it fast enough. Wonderful characters and creative plot.
October 9, 2017
I appreciate that, even though part of a series, this book stands alone. There was a great deal of action in a boat on the lake in a storm. I didn't understand or enjoy much of the detail about the boat and its operation. Some of it was necessary, but I think it could have been cut down. There was some repetition--we were told countless times how much Jonah likes coffee and how much and often he drinks it--and a few editing issues. But the mystery and the turncoat ( or was it double agent?) kept the reader guessing.
September 1, 2013
Jonah Borden is not your typical minister - he goes where the need is, even if that means offering informal counseling sessions in the town watering hole, rather than setting himself up as being holier-than-thou. He's a fully-dimensional character with flaws, strengths, a sense of humor even in the darkest moments and a love of strong coffee, also even in the darkest moments.
The book starts out with him talking an elderly parishioner into placing a huge sum of cash she has tucked away in a mattress in the bank. She talks him into depositing the money for her, and while he is in line to do so, a gang storms the bank and takes money from the customers, including his parishioner's cash. Gunfire is exchanged, Jonah wings one of the robbers and the day goes downhill from there.
The author deftly the day-to-day life of a minister into the mystery, with a light touch. No heavy-handed proselytizing here. A subplot involves Jonah coming to terms with the loss of his wife in a violent crime, and his taking tentative steps towards a new life with his "friend with a future," Layla Bennett.
When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about reading this book, wondering what was going to happen to Jonah, Layla, the elderly woman who lost her money, and Jonah's new kitty. I found the ending very satisfying and it left me wanting more.
I have seen reviews downgrading this book because of the profanity. Other than a few well-placed, G-rated exclamations that were germane to the plot (and appropriate to the situation), I didn't see too much to get offended at. For me, the language just made Jonah more human and the book more realistic. I would definitely re-read this.
The book starts out with him talking an elderly parishioner into placing a huge sum of cash she has tucked away in a mattress in the bank. She talks him into depositing the money for her, and while he is in line to do so, a gang storms the bank and takes money from the customers, including his parishioner's cash. Gunfire is exchanged, Jonah wings one of the robbers and the day goes downhill from there.
The author deftly the day-to-day life of a minister into the mystery, with a light touch. No heavy-handed proselytizing here. A subplot involves Jonah coming to terms with the loss of his wife in a violent crime, and his taking tentative steps towards a new life with his "friend with a future," Layla Bennett.
When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about reading this book, wondering what was going to happen to Jonah, Layla, the elderly woman who lost her money, and Jonah's new kitty. I found the ending very satisfying and it left me wanting more.
I have seen reviews downgrading this book because of the profanity. Other than a few well-placed, G-rated exclamations that were germane to the plot (and appropriate to the situation), I didn't see too much to get offended at. For me, the language just made Jonah more human and the book more realistic. I would definitely re-read this.
July 30, 2016
#2 Lake Superior Mysteries
While there are references to things that happened in #1, you don't need to have read it in order to enjoy the story, although if you're like me, you'll probably be intrigued enough to want to read #1.
I enjoyed the story, and was definitely drawn in. I really enjoyed the wild ride on Lake Superior, even if part of it was a little far-fetched it didn't detract enough from my enjoyment of the story.
The language in places was a little coarse from my British perspective (I know Americans & Brits have differing views on words as to whether they are strong or not, so the same might apply with this too) and I would have rather it was written he blasphemed not the actual blasphemy spelt out. The author used that approach with swearing, saying he swore rather than use a word, so not sure why he didn't here. In my opinion blasphemy is worse than swearing. For those who this seriously annoys, there were a few editing blips in there as well. I noticed them, but it didn't detract too much from the story for me.
I did appreciate the humour in this story ~ it had me chuckling or smiling in several places.
While there are references to things that happened in #1, you don't need to have read it in order to enjoy the story, although if you're like me, you'll probably be intrigued enough to want to read #1.
I enjoyed the story, and was definitely drawn in. I really enjoyed the wild ride on Lake Superior, even if part of it was a little far-fetched it didn't detract enough from my enjoyment of the story.
The language in places was a little coarse from my British perspective (I know Americans & Brits have differing views on words as to whether they are strong or not, so the same might apply with this too) and I would have rather it was written he blasphemed not the actual blasphemy spelt out. The author used that approach with swearing, saying he swore rather than use a word, so not sure why he didn't here. In my opinion blasphemy is worse than swearing. For those who this seriously annoys, there were a few editing blips in there as well. I noticed them, but it didn't detract too much from the story for me.
I did appreciate the humour in this story ~ it had me chuckling or smiling in several places.
June 1, 2014
Yahoo!
I loved this book. Dishes didnt get done, the phone didn't get answered, and sleeping wasn't the least bit inviting because I was so hooked on this book. What a terrific read. I enjoy the story lines of this series, the main character, flawed but perfect is absolutely likeable. This writer is proof that a good mystery can be clean, and nothing is lacking in the suspense aspect. This is the second of his books I have read and highly recommend him to anyone and everyone. The next time I read one of his books I will plan to be fully tied up from start to finish. One of the best authors ever!
I loved this book. Dishes didnt get done, the phone didn't get answered, and sleeping wasn't the least bit inviting because I was so hooked on this book. What a terrific read. I enjoy the story lines of this series, the main character, flawed but perfect is absolutely likeable. This writer is proof that a good mystery can be clean, and nothing is lacking in the suspense aspect. This is the second of his books I have read and highly recommend him to anyone and everyone. The next time I read one of his books I will plan to be fully tied up from start to finish. One of the best authors ever!
October 1, 2014
The second in this series, takes off with another adventure for Lutheran Pastor Jonah Borden. Jonah seeks to help an elderly member of his church and in doing so loses what he believes to be her life savings. There is a bank robbery, a plot against his life, personal and professional challenges and to top it off, seemingly the perfect storm on Lake Superior. The twists and turns kept me guessing as I breezed through the second book in the trilogy.
July 13, 2013
When I saw this one offered as a freebie on Kindle, I hurried to download it, because I had so enjoyed an earlier one I picked up as a random freebie. And I wasn't disappointed. It was another well above average read. Decent writing and editing. It is one of those that could just as easily have been a hardback book.
March 8, 2014
Another great book! I got this one as a free download last summer, and finally had a chance to start reading. After about 4 chapters I decided it was so good I needed the first book in the series, so I quickly bought that one for my Kindle. Then I read this one, and it was just as good as the first! I guess I'm going to have to buy the next book. :)
September 9, 2014
Much to be enjoyed about this book if you can get past the pastor's school boyish relationship with the love of his life. I greatly enjoyed the storm on the yacht on Lake Superior, thought I found it and the characters of the bank robbers a bit shallow and implausible. A sweet story nonetheless, and in a certain mood I'd read another book by the same author.
November 3, 2014
Enjoyable
This is the second book in the series. I've read both books. This one was better than the first. I did solve the mystery before the end, so I hope he continues to grow in plot development. I'm beginning to love the different characters in this small town; especially the coffee drinking, forgetful, Pastor as he develops his sleuthing abilities.
This is the second book in the series. I've read both books. This one was better than the first. I did solve the mystery before the end, so I hope he continues to grow in plot development. I'm beginning to love the different characters in this small town; especially the coffee drinking, forgetful, Pastor as he develops his sleuthing abilities.
December 31, 2014
Book two was extremely exhilarating
I Read book one and was really impressed it was riveting I just finished book 2 and it was even better than the first book it had romance it had suspense it had nautical boating information, this author amazes me how well he can express his storyline it is words you should read this book you'll be impressed.
I Read book one and was really impressed it was riveting I just finished book 2 and it was even better than the first book it had romance it had suspense it had nautical boating information, this author amazes me how well he can express his storyline it is words you should read this book you'll be impressed.
May 1, 2015
Enjoyed tremendously
Still a great story. I read the first book in this series and couldn't wait to read the second. It did not disappoint. My only complaint is the editing to have it in the kindle. That needs improvement but still read the next one. Read it you will not be disappointed.
Still a great story. I read the first book in this series and couldn't wait to read the second. It did not disappoint. My only complaint is the editing to have it in the kindle. That needs improvement but still read the next one. Read it you will not be disappointed.
August 11, 2016
This is the 2nd book in the Lake Superior Mysteries, I believe. The first one I read. I loved it. Creative and Lake Superior is one of my favorite places. The story is fun and if you place close attention you will get a couple of new recipes!!
April 24, 2014
Another excellent read. I started and finished this book in one sitting. Definitely fast-paced, exciting, couldn't-put-it-down kind of book. Now I have to find more by Mr. Hilpert. Jim finished this on 4-24-14 and gave it 4.5 stars.
February 2, 2015
this is part of a series written by Tom Hilpert. I enjoyed the series very much not only because of the mystery but the stories are very well developed and the reader gets to know the characters. The only problem is at this point there are only three books.
August 10, 2016
Great book
I so enjoyed this book. It is well written with enough humor to keep you interested. When I first started I thought, well I might not like the book but it turned out to be a great book. I am going to find book 1. I will also recommend to my sister's and friends.
I so enjoyed this book. It is well written with enough humor to keep you interested. When I first started I thought, well I might not like the book but it turned out to be a great book. I am going to find book 1. I will also recommend to my sister's and friends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews