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Woods Cop #11
Bad Optics
In the eleventh Woods Cop Mystery, Conservation Officer Grady Service is on unpaid suspension until spring, but—stubborn as ever—continues to patrol the Mosquito Wilderness, along with his complicated past. Service is off-duty through July 4 following a season in which Service and his unofficial partner (lifelong poacher Limpy Allerdyce) cleaned up on deer-law violators and poachers, closing more big cases in two weeks than most officers solve in their careers. His reward? He is summoned to Lansing, told he is on unpaid suspension, his badge, firearms, and truck taken. The rationale for the action is fuzzy, a questioning of his using a lifelong lawbreaker as partner. For the first time, Service has no duties and feels like he has been beached unfairly. But voluntarily on patrol, he begins to sense political shenanigans–an old foe lurking somewhere in the shadows. He could retire, but decides to fight, and enlists help from Allerdyce and fellow game warden and Vietnam Veteran Luticious Treebone. Clues It seems someone wants to illegally commercialize the Mosquito. Grady realizes if he doesn’t stop it, the wilderness will be destroyed. The tight story unfolds like a poker game, with one side bluffing and raising, while the other side keeps calling and keeping the game on until there is a final showdown.
303 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2018
About the author
Joseph Heywood
49 books192 followersSee also Joe T. Heywood
Joseph Heywood is the son of a career USAF officer. His dad was from Rhinecliff, New York on the Hudson River in Dutchess County, and his mother is from Mize, Mississippi in Sullivan County. His mother’s maiden name was Hegwood and she had only to change one letter to convert to her married name.
He is a 1961 graduate of Rudyard High School in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (Chippewa County). Played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track.
1965 graduate of Michigan State University (BA-Journalism). Joseph played on the Michigan State Lacrosse Club for three years, crease attack, tri-captain in 1965. He was in the last class of mandatory ROTC for land grant universities and predictably chose the Air Force.
In 1965, he married Sandra V. Heywood (1943-2002) of East Lansing. Five children, one dog. Widower.
1965-1970, USAF Instructor Navigator, KC-135 tanker, honorably discharged as captain. Vietnam veteran. Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Graduate studies, Western Michigan University, 1974-75, completed course work for MA in English Literature; no degree.
Joseph worked for The Upjohn Company [now Pfizer], 1970-2000, retiring as vice president for worldwide public relations.
He walks every day in all weather conditions, and have hunted and fished Michigan since 1958, mostly alone.
Joseph Heywood's Woods Cop mysteries are based on the lives of Upper Peninsula conservation officers, and for going on seven years has spent about one month a year on patrol with officers, in all kinds of weather, all times of day and under sundry conditions. He worked in all 15 Upper Peninsula Counties as well as in another 15-16 counties BTB (Below the Bridge).
In preparation for work with COs, he often hikes alone at night (flashlight for emergencies) using only ambient light. He has spent nights alone in jungles and on mountains. Has canoe-camped in Michigan, Missouri and Arkansas, over the years he has had one close encounter with a wolf (six feet away in tag alders on the Iron River), and with a cow elk and her calf (in Idaho). Too many close meetings with black bears to count, no injuries.
He loves to take photographs while walking, hiking and fishing, and use some of the pix for his paintings.
Joseph always carry a ruck with emergency equipment, compass, etc. even for short sorties on foot in the U.P. It’s too easy to get under cedars and old growth in an overcast and get hopelessly turned around. He does not use a GPS. "When it comes to lost in the woods there seem to be two categories of people: Them that have been and them that will be. Iron ore deposits can make compass navigation interesting…."
The Upper Peninsula is not just a setting and base for Joseph Heywood but serves as a character in many of his novels. "When I write, I try to take readers to places and events in the U.P. they might not have occasion to visit or experience on their own. For me, the U.P. is a natural jewel and I am always surprised by how little people from BTB know about it."
"The day we arrived in the U.P. to report to Kinross Air Force Base (later renamed Kincheloe, and since decommissioned) my mother cried as we drove up the several-mile two-lane to the front gate; looking at all the woods passing by, I had a feeling I was coming home."
Joseph Heywood is the son of a career USAF officer. His dad was from Rhinecliff, New York on the Hudson River in Dutchess County, and his mother is from Mize, Mississippi in Sullivan County. His mother’s maiden name was Hegwood and she had only to change one letter to convert to her married name.
He is a 1961 graduate of Rudyard High School in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (Chippewa County). Played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track.
1965 graduate of Michigan State University (BA-Journalism). Joseph played on the Michigan State Lacrosse Club for three years, crease attack, tri-captain in 1965. He was in the last class of mandatory ROTC for land grant universities and predictably chose the Air Force.
In 1965, he married Sandra V. Heywood (1943-2002) of East Lansing. Five children, one dog. Widower.
1965-1970, USAF Instructor Navigator, KC-135 tanker, honorably discharged as captain. Vietnam veteran. Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Graduate studies, Western Michigan University, 1974-75, completed course work for MA in English Literature; no degree.
Joseph worked for The Upjohn Company [now Pfizer], 1970-2000, retiring as vice president for worldwide public relations.
He walks every day in all weather conditions, and have hunted and fished Michigan since 1958, mostly alone.
Joseph Heywood's Woods Cop mysteries are based on the lives of Upper Peninsula conservation officers, and for going on seven years has spent about one month a year on patrol with officers, in all kinds of weather, all times of day and under sundry conditions. He worked in all 15 Upper Peninsula Counties as well as in another 15-16 counties BTB (Below the Bridge).
In preparation for work with COs, he often hikes alone at night (flashlight for emergencies) using only ambient light. He has spent nights alone in jungles and on mountains. Has canoe-camped in Michigan, Missouri and Arkansas, over the years he has had one close encounter with a wolf (six feet away in tag alders on the Iron River), and with a cow elk and her calf (in Idaho). Too many close meetings with black bears to count, no injuries.
He loves to take photographs while walking, hiking and fishing, and use some of the pix for his paintings.
Joseph always carry a ruck with emergency equipment, compass, etc. even for short sorties on foot in the U.P. It’s too easy to get under cedars and old growth in an overcast and get hopelessly turned around. He does not use a GPS. "When it comes to lost in the woods there seem to be two categories of people: Them that have been and them that will be. Iron ore deposits can make compass navigation interesting…."
The Upper Peninsula is not just a setting and base for Joseph Heywood but serves as a character in many of his novels. "When I write, I try to take readers to places and events in the U.P. they might not have occasion to visit or experience on their own. For me, the U.P. is a natural jewel and I am always surprised by how little people from BTB know about it."
"The day we arrived in the U.P. to report to Kinross Air Force Base (later renamed Kincheloe, and since decommissioned) my mother cried as we drove up the several-mile two-lane to the front gate; looking at all the woods passing by, I had a feeling I was coming home."
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 21, 2023
This is the eleventh book in this series set in Michigan and featuring Conservation Officer Grady Service. I haven't read all of them, but I have read and enjoyed several.
This one finds Service at loose ends, having been suspended from his job. His crime had been teaming up with a rather notorious lawbreaker (poacher Limpy Allerdyce) in order to stop poachers and other violators of the deer hunting laws. But Service is incapable of just sitting around and so he continues patrolling his territory, the Mosquito Wilderness Area, voluntarily and unofficially.
Grady resents what he feels is the unfairness of his suspension and he begins to suspect that there is something rotten in Lansing that may be behind it all. He is a stubborn man and he is determined to get to the bottom of what he sees as political shenanigans.
Once again he enlists the aid of Limpy and his fellow Vietnam vet and game warden Luticious Treebone. (You have to love these names!) Their investigation determines that someone is trying to illegally commercialize the Mosquito and Grady realizes that the wilderness he loves and protects could be destroyed if he doesn't stop them.
These are quirky and memorable characters and they are a lot of fun to read about. There's nothing particularly deep or complicated about the story. It is generally well-written but doesn't tax the brain so I would characterize it as a good read for a hot summer day.
This one finds Service at loose ends, having been suspended from his job. His crime had been teaming up with a rather notorious lawbreaker (poacher Limpy Allerdyce) in order to stop poachers and other violators of the deer hunting laws. But Service is incapable of just sitting around and so he continues patrolling his territory, the Mosquito Wilderness Area, voluntarily and unofficially.
Grady resents what he feels is the unfairness of his suspension and he begins to suspect that there is something rotten in Lansing that may be behind it all. He is a stubborn man and he is determined to get to the bottom of what he sees as political shenanigans.
Once again he enlists the aid of Limpy and his fellow Vietnam vet and game warden Luticious Treebone. (You have to love these names!) Their investigation determines that someone is trying to illegally commercialize the Mosquito and Grady realizes that the wilderness he loves and protects could be destroyed if he doesn't stop them.
These are quirky and memorable characters and they are a lot of fun to read about. There's nothing particularly deep or complicated about the story. It is generally well-written but doesn't tax the brain so I would characterize it as a good read for a hot summer day.
July 8, 2018
Always enjoy reading books that take place in the UP (Upper Peninsula for non-Michiganders) and this series of books is quite enjoyable. For once, Grady Service does not suffer significant injuries and Limpy's way of talking is really funny.
June 16, 2021
This will be my last Woods Cop Mystery. I was a big fan of Joseph Heywood’s Grady Service series until this book. He’s turned Grady from a good, law-abiding man into a bitter, bigoted, spiteful misogynistic vigilante.
He insults every one he meets. He denigrates women; finding them useful only for sexual fantasies and release. He’s disdainful of authority. He dismisses anyone who doesn’t agree with his barbarian views as “liberal, latte-drinking, tofu-eating, pantywaists”.
This new, altogether unlikable Grady has emerged since the Trump administration, which I can only conclude means Joseph Heywood has extreme right wing leanings.
Buh bye Grady.
He insults every one he meets. He denigrates women; finding them useful only for sexual fantasies and release. He’s disdainful of authority. He dismisses anyone who doesn’t agree with his barbarian views as “liberal, latte-drinking, tofu-eating, pantywaists”.
This new, altogether unlikable Grady has emerged since the Trump administration, which I can only conclude means Joseph Heywood has extreme right wing leanings.
Buh bye Grady.
October 28, 2021
Well I'm done with this series regardless whether or not the author is. These have gotten progressively worse. Grady spends too much time ranting about liberals, kids, politicians and other usual suspects. He acts twice as old as Limpy. I have a feeling Mr. Heywood is expressing his personal views through Grady and I don't care. It doesn't make for interesting reading. He gripes for 275 pages and tries to clean up the mystery in the last 25 pages which leaves many unanswered questions.
August 4, 2018
Heywood doesn’t disappoint. This eleventh installment in the Woods Cop series is replete with Heywood’s signature quirky characters. Protagonist, Grady Service is older, wiser, and no less committed to protecting his beloved wilderness in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP.) The story is satisfyingly filled with twists and turns. Heywood is an imaginative storyteller with a knack for creating a story and characters that you come to love - even the slightly unsavory ones. Having lived in the UP for several years, there is little doubt in my mind that Heywood loves the UP as much as Grady Service does.
September 16, 2019
I always enjoy the woods cop stories. Grady is still reluctant to admit his age is catching up with him, but at least in this one he didn't get beat up or shot. Also, although he is still hard-headed about approaching any problem in his own way, he did accept a lot of help from a variety of sources in this one. It appears the seeds may have been planted for him to comfortably entrust the protection of the Mosquito to a new CO. We'll see if and when #12 comes out. I would be interested to know, when reading the commentary about Marquette, whether the curmudgeon is Service or Heywood.
September 7, 2020
I'm a big fan of the Wood Cop Mysteries and the area they take place in. I hope that book 11 isn't the end of the saga of Grady Service and more importantly I hope it isn't the end of my favorite character Limpy Allerdyce. It is a rare book that can make me laugh and keep me puzzled until the very end, while you know how these books are going to end it doesn't take away from the sheer enjoyment of reading these great stories. I look forward to my trips to camp so I can get the latest Wood Cop book from Grandpa's Barn in Copper Harbor.
September 10, 2018
After hearing about Grady Service's suspension from being a Game Warden, I wondered what would become of this book, but since I finished reading it - I have learnt many different things; one of them being that partners like Limpy, Tree and Grady stick together through thick and thin...and with Limpy's help in a roundabout way Grady found out that he owned heaps of land that his late father brought..looking forward to the next series of Joseph Heywood
January 24, 2019
Well, I'll eat crow! After reading the last Grady Service installment, Buckular Dystrophy, I was so disappointed, I vowed to stop reading Joseph Heywood. Then I saw Bad Optics, read the Jacket, and decided what the hell, I start it and see. Am I ever glad I did! Joe and Grady are BACK! In a big way! The plot is excellent, characters are new, interesting and well fleshed out, and the action is perfect! I'm now left with only one problem... waiting for the 12th book in the series.
December 1, 2022
An intricate plot and it seems important people want Grady gone, because they are going to try and take over his beloved Mosquito Wilderness and he knows there are priceless things in those caves people are trying to take over, and of course it would ruin the wilderness. And how can he save the Mosquito from them? Characters so well done, plot both funny and scary, and ugly too what people will do and why. The ending is great! Very good book in a terrific series!
June 17, 2021
I always enjoy this series that takes place in Michigan's Upper Peninsula--the Midwest version of the Wild West, where summer visitors are tolerated for the income, but brutal winters bring stark isolation. In this episode, Conservation Officer/Detective Grady Service has formed an unholy but fruitful alliance with Limpy Alerdyce, his former nemesis. This goes far beyond tracking poachers, as Grady tries to figure out what's with all the high-tech gear being aimed at his beloved Mosquito Wilderness. Who's behind the latest assault, and how high does their influence reach if they think there are riches to be mined? I've read enough of these so that I can almost understand the Youper dialect, impenetrable to folks who live BTB (below the bridge across the Mackinac straits).
October 2, 2025
Love hanging out with Grady and Tree and Allerdyce
New characters Harmony and Fellow and M and the kid writer are fun
Convoluted plot
Note to Joseph Heywood: every woman Grady meets throwing herself at him got old six books ago
Looking forward to many more Grady books especially more about his dad
New characters Harmony and Fellow and M and the kid writer are fun
Convoluted plot
Note to Joseph Heywood: every woman Grady meets throwing herself at him got old six books ago
Looking forward to many more Grady books especially more about his dad
September 2, 2019
Decent story in this long series, but disappointed in the poor editing. There were many errors throughout the book. Overall, I still appreciate the light Heywood shines on the great state of Michigan and its COs.
November 2, 2024
Great series of books
Great story telling, lots of local references. I am from the upper Peninsula and enjoyed his description of my fellow citizens as hard working, maybe somewhat crazy group of people that live and work in the UP.
Great story telling, lots of local references. I am from the upper Peninsula and enjoyed his description of my fellow citizens as hard working, maybe somewhat crazy group of people that live and work in the UP.
October 30, 2025
another great Grady service novel
This is another excellent story about Grady and Limpy. You will not be disappointed for reading This series. With each book, the story gets better and better.
This is another excellent story about Grady and Limpy. You will not be disappointed for reading This series. With each book, the story gets better and better.
May 18, 2018
Always enjoy Grady Service tromping through the upper peninsula. This time we try to translate Limpy Allerdyce's UPisms. A good read especially if you have reaad the rest of the series.
July 12, 2018
Excellent Read
Another outstanding read in the Grady Service series. Looking forward to the Sequel in the near future. A very good book.
Another outstanding read in the Grady Service series. Looking forward to the Sequel in the near future. A very good book.
December 13, 2018
Enjoyed the story, the lack of editing/proofreading notwithstanding.
October 19, 2019
Pretty intricate story. A lot has happened since the last installment, I love the accents
August 24, 2020
Another good addition to the Woods Cop series. With Grady suspended, the story is an interesting look at politics and a view of environmental preservation.
Did Not Finish
February 14, 2026Got thru about 100 pages - painful to read; characters are ridiculous, dialogue is nothing but a running comedy routine. Not even sure how this got published
July 22, 2026
I have read all of the Woods Cop series to this point. This is the best book in the series to this point.
Read
May 5, 2018Grady without Limpy = 0 I love the combination, as I am a bit of a limpy Allerdice myself.
Read
June 1, 2018The best..so far...
Well written and great use of all the characters in this series.
You will enjoy this story if you are a fan of the series.
Well written and great use of all the characters in this series.
You will enjoy this story if you are a fan of the series.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews