Within a Forest Dark: An Adirondack Tale of Love and Suspicion

by Michael Virtanen

When Jack Kirkland travels to the Adirondack Mountains to investigate the death of a well-to-do engineer, he expects to uncover medical malpractice. Instead, he finds evidence of murder and falls in love with the only suspect, the dead man's girlfriend.

117 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2007

Reviews

[Samantha Cheney]

i give this a 2.5. The only reason I picked it up in the first place is because it was about the Adirondacks, and I live in the Adirondacks. It was slow to start, but it started getting really interesting, and I was pulled in. I would have given it a higher rating, but it seemed as though the author just wanted it to end because the ending was awful; as well as short. There was nothing that supported the end, and it was a bunch of gibberish that really didn't matter to the story.

[Jan Komrska]

An insurance adjuster Jack Kirkland works on several insurance claims... Book is advertised as an Adirondack Tale, but it's more like upstate New York tale. Easy to read. Meh.

[Diane Lynn]

Insurance adjuster Jack Kirkland works a few cases in this short book. The writing is crisp and to the point. I enjoyed getting to know Jack as his history emerged. I was reminded of Jack Reacher for some reason. I think the Jack in this book isn't as smart as Reacher. The main case he is working has some slightly creepy overtones and a somewhat creepy client. Did she or didn't she is the big question. And what could the motive have been? I won't say anymore than that about the main case. The other cases are somewhat interesting as are some of the other characters.

I was hoping for more of an Adirondack setting. Most of the book takes place around Albany, NY with some trips up to the Lake George area to the A-frame where the client lived. There is one flashback (about two pages worth) to an earlier trip to Lake Placid and the Mirror Lake Inn, Big Moose Lake with reference to the Chester Gillette case, Old Forge and the old hardware store, Long Lake and finally Newcomb. These were all familiar places but gone over so quickly it seemed the author just wanted to give them all a shout out.

Overall an okay story. It is called An Adirondack Tale of Love and Suspicion. I think it's more a case of lust and suspicion.

[Shannon]

Liked it because of the familiar setting.