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Cold Water Crossing: An Account of the Murders at the Isles of Shoals
This series of events happened on a cold winter evening when three women were unexpectedly left alone on Smuttynose Island, ten miles off the coast of Maine where it borders with New Hampshire. They were the only inhabitants of the small island.That night, the men of the family were unexpectedly detained in Portsmouth awaiting a shipment of bait. At the dock, their casual conversation was overheard, a killer saw an opportunity, and did the unthinkable. He rowed ten miles out to sea on a freezing night and committed murders that have become legend in New England crime annals. One woman survived the brutal assault and narrowly escaped his clutches as she hid among rocks. This is the frightening story of what happened the night of March 5, 1873 on a lonely coastal island and what followed in the days and months after.
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 31, 2012
a very interesting read. since the isles of shoals is essentially in our backyard the events were that much more interesting to read about, i never knew that such gruesome murders as these had happened there. if you're interested in local (new hampshire/maine/boston) history or maybe even the "justice" system that was in place back in the day give this one a try. it was interesting to get a glimpse of how the north end of boston was such a lawless place that even the police refused to go there and to learn about the people (many norwegians) who populated isle of shoals. most interesting of all was the crime scene investigation, the trial and conviction since procedures were so surrealistically primitive especially in light of what we're capable of today.
July 10, 2023
A fascinating subject, but not the best book about it.
Years ago I read a library copy of this book about the 1873 murders of two Norwegian immigrant women on the isolated island of Smuttynose, Maine, and I remember finding the story intriguing. Recently, I read another book on the same murders, "Mystery on the Isles of Shoals" by Dennis Robinson. This bloody incident has been the subject of numerous books, including one best-selling novel which invented a deathbed confession by the sister and sister-in-law of the dead women. That book was made into a film, although its storyline goes against all evidence.
Obviously, it's a story that still fascinates people and the site of the murders is now a busy tourist attraction. Of the two books I've read, the Robinson book is more readable and reaches more sensible conclusions concerning the evidence and what it proves and doesn't prove. Forensic investigation was primative at the time and there were the usual problems that plague all murder investigations at all times - public officials jockeying for attention, jurisdiction arguments, and media exaggerations.
I think the story fascinates us because it shows the dark side of the immigrant experience. We are proud of being a "nation of immigrants" and deeply invested in believing that people come from other countries to find peace and prosperity here. The truth (then as now) is that new immigrants typically face great hardships and discrimination. The Hontvet/Christensen family from Norway was no exception.
John and Maren Hontvet came first, followed by John's brother Matthew. Then Maren's sister Karen arrived and finally Maren's brother Even with his beautiful young bride Anethe. The men fished and Karen worked at a hotel on a nearby island. On the night of the murders, the men were kept in Portsmouth overnight to receive a load of bait for their fishing boat. During the night a former employee rowed to the island and killed Karen and Anethe. Maren escaped and identified him at the trial which led to his eventual hanging.
Why do I prefer the Robinson book over this one? It's better written, in my opinion, and the author seems to have a firmer grasp of the facts. His conclusions are unwavering and based on common sense and his knowledge of human nature. He has no sympathy for the brutal murderer, but saves his pity for the two women who died in pain and terror and for their families.
This author shows more sympathy for the Prussian immigrant Louis Wagner who was accused of and then convicted of the crimes. Although almost nothing is known about Wagner's early life, the author speculates on what horrors he could have endured at some time to turn him into a cold-blooded murderer. "Murderers are made, not born" he proclaims in defiance of common sense and current psychology.
He bemoans the fact that Wagner's lawyers failed to make the most of opportunities to cast suspicion on other people - Maren or John Hontvet, a disturbed man living on a nearby island, or workmen who may (or may not) have been building a hotel on another island. I think the accused was given every legal privilege. He was appointed a local attorney to represent him AND a Boston attorney to translate for him and explain legal matters in his native language. Given the times, I'm astonished that the court provided such extensive protection for a recent immigrant with no money and no local family or friends.
Even the best defense lawyer would have been hard pressed to get an acquital given the weight of evidence against Wagner, including his own lies and boasts. Some have speculated that a guilty man would have been more cautious, but Wagner was a braggert by nature. While the Hontvet family accepted their harsh lives and the hard work involved, he resented his poverty bitterly, blaming everyone but himself.
I've given this book three stars because the author does an excellent job of describing the hardships of immigrants at this time, on board ship and after they landed. The violent, dangerous parts of Boston they could afford to live in are a far cry from the common image of Boston as a staid, God-fearing city. However, I dislike his attempts to read the minds of the people involved. I think it's presumptuous and annoying.
Neither book answers the question that is foremost in my mind when I think about these murders. If the women were frightened of staying alone on the island overnight, why didn't they take measures to protect themselves? Why didn't they pull furniture in front of the outside door with the broken lock? Why didn't all three sleep in one room and barricade themselves in that room? They would have had "chamberpots" to use during the night so that trips outside would not have been necessary.
A few simple precautions would have prevented the murders. These women were young and strong and accustomed to hard, physical work. Wagner was not a large man and with his heavy drinking and sketchy diet he wasn't in good condition. He was unarmed and committed the murders using a kitchen chair, a scarf, and the Hontvet's own ax. Perhaps most important, he was exhausted from rowing a dory over rough seas for four hours. Surely the three women could have overpowered him if they had been warned of his presence.
Nothing can be known for sure from this distance, but I believe the evidence against Wagner is insurmountable. From everything that was said about him in court, he appears to have been a sociopath who blamed all his troubles on others and resented anyone (even the hard-working Hontvets) who had more than he did. There is no evidence that he felt any remorse for the killings and I agree with some observers who wonder if he had killed before and gotten away with it. It appears that he relied on his good appearance and glib tongue to get out of any trouble, even murder.
Both books are long and loaded with details, perhaps more than most readers will be interested in. I like to read how people lived in other times and both books have a wealth of information on life (at least for recent immigrants) in the late 1800's. Crime stories (real and fiction) give excellent looks into daily life because crime and punishment so often depend on details of daily life. What weapons are at hand, where people keep their extra money, and how a murderer tries to cover his tracks depends on location, social class, and time in history that the murder occurred.
This isn't a bad book, but I prefer "Mystery on the Isles of Shoals." Still, it's an incredible story regardless of who's telling it.
Years ago I read a library copy of this book about the 1873 murders of two Norwegian immigrant women on the isolated island of Smuttynose, Maine, and I remember finding the story intriguing. Recently, I read another book on the same murders, "Mystery on the Isles of Shoals" by Dennis Robinson. This bloody incident has been the subject of numerous books, including one best-selling novel which invented a deathbed confession by the sister and sister-in-law of the dead women. That book was made into a film, although its storyline goes against all evidence.
Obviously, it's a story that still fascinates people and the site of the murders is now a busy tourist attraction. Of the two books I've read, the Robinson book is more readable and reaches more sensible conclusions concerning the evidence and what it proves and doesn't prove. Forensic investigation was primative at the time and there were the usual problems that plague all murder investigations at all times - public officials jockeying for attention, jurisdiction arguments, and media exaggerations.
I think the story fascinates us because it shows the dark side of the immigrant experience. We are proud of being a "nation of immigrants" and deeply invested in believing that people come from other countries to find peace and prosperity here. The truth (then as now) is that new immigrants typically face great hardships and discrimination. The Hontvet/Christensen family from Norway was no exception.
John and Maren Hontvet came first, followed by John's brother Matthew. Then Maren's sister Karen arrived and finally Maren's brother Even with his beautiful young bride Anethe. The men fished and Karen worked at a hotel on a nearby island. On the night of the murders, the men were kept in Portsmouth overnight to receive a load of bait for their fishing boat. During the night a former employee rowed to the island and killed Karen and Anethe. Maren escaped and identified him at the trial which led to his eventual hanging.
Why do I prefer the Robinson book over this one? It's better written, in my opinion, and the author seems to have a firmer grasp of the facts. His conclusions are unwavering and based on common sense and his knowledge of human nature. He has no sympathy for the brutal murderer, but saves his pity for the two women who died in pain and terror and for their families.
This author shows more sympathy for the Prussian immigrant Louis Wagner who was accused of and then convicted of the crimes. Although almost nothing is known about Wagner's early life, the author speculates on what horrors he could have endured at some time to turn him into a cold-blooded murderer. "Murderers are made, not born" he proclaims in defiance of common sense and current psychology.
He bemoans the fact that Wagner's lawyers failed to make the most of opportunities to cast suspicion on other people - Maren or John Hontvet, a disturbed man living on a nearby island, or workmen who may (or may not) have been building a hotel on another island. I think the accused was given every legal privilege. He was appointed a local attorney to represent him AND a Boston attorney to translate for him and explain legal matters in his native language. Given the times, I'm astonished that the court provided such extensive protection for a recent immigrant with no money and no local family or friends.
Even the best defense lawyer would have been hard pressed to get an acquital given the weight of evidence against Wagner, including his own lies and boasts. Some have speculated that a guilty man would have been more cautious, but Wagner was a braggert by nature. While the Hontvet family accepted their harsh lives and the hard work involved, he resented his poverty bitterly, blaming everyone but himself.
I've given this book three stars because the author does an excellent job of describing the hardships of immigrants at this time, on board ship and after they landed. The violent, dangerous parts of Boston they could afford to live in are a far cry from the common image of Boston as a staid, God-fearing city. However, I dislike his attempts to read the minds of the people involved. I think it's presumptuous and annoying.
Neither book answers the question that is foremost in my mind when I think about these murders. If the women were frightened of staying alone on the island overnight, why didn't they take measures to protect themselves? Why didn't they pull furniture in front of the outside door with the broken lock? Why didn't all three sleep in one room and barricade themselves in that room? They would have had "chamberpots" to use during the night so that trips outside would not have been necessary.
A few simple precautions would have prevented the murders. These women were young and strong and accustomed to hard, physical work. Wagner was not a large man and with his heavy drinking and sketchy diet he wasn't in good condition. He was unarmed and committed the murders using a kitchen chair, a scarf, and the Hontvet's own ax. Perhaps most important, he was exhausted from rowing a dory over rough seas for four hours. Surely the three women could have overpowered him if they had been warned of his presence.
Nothing can be known for sure from this distance, but I believe the evidence against Wagner is insurmountable. From everything that was said about him in court, he appears to have been a sociopath who blamed all his troubles on others and resented anyone (even the hard-working Hontvets) who had more than he did. There is no evidence that he felt any remorse for the killings and I agree with some observers who wonder if he had killed before and gotten away with it. It appears that he relied on his good appearance and glib tongue to get out of any trouble, even murder.
Both books are long and loaded with details, perhaps more than most readers will be interested in. I like to read how people lived in other times and both books have a wealth of information on life (at least for recent immigrants) in the late 1800's. Crime stories (real and fiction) give excellent looks into daily life because crime and punishment so often depend on details of daily life. What weapons are at hand, where people keep their extra money, and how a murderer tries to cover his tracks depends on location, social class, and time in history that the murder occurred.
This isn't a bad book, but I prefer "Mystery on the Isles of Shoals." Still, it's an incredible story regardless of who's telling it.
February 5, 2011
about the murders in Anita Shreve's Weight of Water. Very interesting story...fiction because the author fills in gaps. Not a fan of his writing style.
May 13, 2017
A good example of truth being stranger than fiction. Account of a 1873 murder off the coast of Maine.
January 5, 2018
Very good
I really liked this story. After I started reading it I didnt want to put it down. Very good Excellent
I really liked this story. After I started reading it I didnt want to put it down. Very good Excellent
March 14, 2024
David Faxon's Cold Water Crossing takes you deep into a gripping tale of resilience and tragedy tied to a real-life disaster in 1902. As someone who's lived on a mountain in Central New Hampshire, Faxon's vivid portrayal of harsh March weather on the Isle of Shoals hit close to home for me. His descriptions are so detailed and accurate, it's almost like he's experienced the brutal New England winters firsthand. The format of the book as a dated journal adds an intriguing layer, making my experience even more immersive, especially reading about the murders exactly 150 years to the day they occurred—truly a chilling coincidence.
However, this book isn't without its flaws. Poor grammar and repetitive sections occasionally mar the narrative, detracting from the overall experience and making it a 4-star read for me. Despite these issues, Cold Water Crossing is still a compelling read for anyone interested in true crime or the history of New England, particularly the NH and Maine coasts. Although the pacing can slow down due to extensive character backstories, the richly woven tales make it worth the patience. For those fascinated by survival stories and local history or just looking for a story that brings the chill of the past to life, Cold Water Crossing shouldn't be missed.
However, this book isn't without its flaws. Poor grammar and repetitive sections occasionally mar the narrative, detracting from the overall experience and making it a 4-star read for me. Despite these issues, Cold Water Crossing is still a compelling read for anyone interested in true crime or the history of New England, particularly the NH and Maine coasts. Although the pacing can slow down due to extensive character backstories, the richly woven tales make it worth the patience. For those fascinated by survival stories and local history or just looking for a story that brings the chill of the past to life, Cold Water Crossing shouldn't be missed.
October 10, 2020
In 1872, two Norwegian immigrants were killed by a Prussian immigrant on a small island off the coast of Maine; this book is a good historic recreation of those murders. Note: Poet Celia Thaxter lived on a nearby island and her 1875 account of the crime (A MEMORABLE MURDER IN MAINE) is available online.
September 3, 2018
Interesting read filled with local history
It was fun getting all the details on the story I have heard for years. Great if you enjoy local history, or if you vacation in the area.
This is one of the great, real life murder mysteries.
It was fun getting all the details on the story I have heard for years. Great if you enjoy local history, or if you vacation in the area.
This is one of the great, real life murder mysteries.
March 28, 2021
True Story Overview:
there’s a group of small, closely clustered islands a handful of miles off the coast of Maine/New Hampshire. They are called the Isles of Shoals. Circa 1880, one of these small islands, named Smutty Nose island, has a single house on it occupied by 5 members of the Norwegian immigrant Honvet family consisting of 2 men and 3 women(family and in laws). The island is much less than a square mile and it is a VERY isolated and difficult existence for the wives, an unmarried sister and the two fishermen husbands.
One cold winter evening 2 of the 3 women are murdered while the third, Maren, barely escapes death by hiding in the rocks (bitter cold air and water, not dressed for being in these elements). Their husbands are on the mainland working their fishing boat gear and would discover this awful scene after sunrise/return to the island.
While in the modern day few know of this murder, back in this time it grabbed attention in multiple corners of the country. While it didn’t grab the attention level of the Lizzie Borden murder trial — which was in the same era — it was a news spectacle of the local area and beyond.
I became aware of this story after seeing a modestly entertaining movie called The Weight of Water. In wanting to learn more I came across this gem by author David Faxon. What I appreciated about the author’s format is providing the story, laying out the facts, trying to dispel the myriad of rumors, and providing a conclusion based on the evidence (unlike the movie). IF this story sounds interesting, I believe you’ll enjoy this book a lot (as I did). If you enjoy a crime story with a spooky element that lacks modern day devices and protections, you’ll probably enjoy this book. If you’re looking for something to read without much draw to the underlying story, it’s 50/50 whether the book will capture your attention.
there’s a group of small, closely clustered islands a handful of miles off the coast of Maine/New Hampshire. They are called the Isles of Shoals. Circa 1880, one of these small islands, named Smutty Nose island, has a single house on it occupied by 5 members of the Norwegian immigrant Honvet family consisting of 2 men and 3 women(family and in laws). The island is much less than a square mile and it is a VERY isolated and difficult existence for the wives, an unmarried sister and the two fishermen husbands.
One cold winter evening 2 of the 3 women are murdered while the third, Maren, barely escapes death by hiding in the rocks (bitter cold air and water, not dressed for being in these elements). Their husbands are on the mainland working their fishing boat gear and would discover this awful scene after sunrise/return to the island.
While in the modern day few know of this murder, back in this time it grabbed attention in multiple corners of the country. While it didn’t grab the attention level of the Lizzie Borden murder trial — which was in the same era — it was a news spectacle of the local area and beyond.
I became aware of this story after seeing a modestly entertaining movie called The Weight of Water. In wanting to learn more I came across this gem by author David Faxon. What I appreciated about the author’s format is providing the story, laying out the facts, trying to dispel the myriad of rumors, and providing a conclusion based on the evidence (unlike the movie). IF this story sounds interesting, I believe you’ll enjoy this book a lot (as I did). If you enjoy a crime story with a spooky element that lacks modern day devices and protections, you’ll probably enjoy this book. If you’re looking for something to read without much draw to the underlying story, it’s 50/50 whether the book will capture your attention.
October 18, 2018
First time reading about this crime. It’s hard to say if they really did get the right guy.
June 2, 2020
This is a factual account of the murder that took place on Smuttynose. Very readable.
November 16, 2024
Really enjoyed the first portion of this book. Once it got to the trial not only did it drag but I think the proofreader quit.
September 16, 2012
Just fascinating............years ago I read a novel by Anita Shreve called The Weight of Water which was loosely based on 2 true murders on the Island of Smuttynose......a book I always remembered mostly because of the name of the island itself, I suppose. It's part of the Isles of Shoal...
Anyway, this book appeared on my free Kindle book list last month and as soon as I read it was the true account of those same murders I had to download it. In fairness Anita had stayed pretty true to the reality of it in her book.
I really enjoyed it and it's quite a descriptive tale with little dialogue which I usually find hard-going but didn't.
The author did seem to swing around as to whether or not he considered Louis to be guilty at times. In my opinion it does seem pretty cut and dried. It had to be an extremely hard life out there living on those islands and those murdered had emigrated from Norway, although at least they were used to the cold, I suppose. The families featured made their living fishing and were the only family living on Smuttynose in the 1870's all alone.
It's an enthralling tale and more so since it's true.
Anyway, this book appeared on my free Kindle book list last month and as soon as I read it was the true account of those same murders I had to download it. In fairness Anita had stayed pretty true to the reality of it in her book.
I really enjoyed it and it's quite a descriptive tale with little dialogue which I usually find hard-going but didn't.
The author did seem to swing around as to whether or not he considered Louis to be guilty at times. In my opinion it does seem pretty cut and dried. It had to be an extremely hard life out there living on those islands and those murdered had emigrated from Norway, although at least they were used to the cold, I suppose. The families featured made their living fishing and were the only family living on Smuttynose in the 1870's all alone.
It's an enthralling tale and more so since it's true.
October 16, 2012
This book is a fantastic account of a true life murder. I had never heard of the Shoal murders, but I'm from the South, so maybe that's not so surprising. Since this was my first exposure to it, I had no preconceived notions about what actually happened, about the trial, the characters. All I knew was what was on the back of the book cover. It is splendidly sewn together, presenting all sides of the arguments, for and against. It was very well presented. There were a few typos and grammatical errors, I would surely have given this a five star if it weren't for them. It is a great read, especially for those who love true crime stories.
June 9, 2012
Cold Water Crossing was an excellent read. The story revolves around the murders of two Norwegian women on Smuttynose Island off the cost of Maine. David Faxon gives the author a great historical overview of the hardships immigrants encountered coming to America during that time. Ironically I read this book on my way to Boston and visited Maine while I was still reading this book. I was able to get more of a feeling for the book because of that. All in all, this was a truly enjoyable book and one that I would highly recommend.
October 28, 2015
An impressive must-read for anyone as interested in the Isles of Shoals murders as I am, although the sheer volume of detail is daunting at times. The author's personal ties to the Isle of Shoals and his penchant for original investigative work give this book an immediacy and authenticity other books on this topic lack. I only wish that he had included more background on the victims' family and Norwegian folkways, and interviewed their relatives today, to help round out their characterization.
February 7, 2013
Faxon retells the tale of the Isles of Shoals murders in 1873. As someone very familiar with this event, I found the book less interesting than I thought; for someone unfamiliar, it might be a treat. The best treatment I've seen of it is Anita Shreve's "The Weight of Water," accurate in the details but fictional in the interpretation.
February 17, 2010
This is a "don't want to put down book" about murders that took place on the Isle of Shoals. Very well written and very interesting.
February 18, 2012
A very interesting, non-fiction account of the mysterious axe murders on Smuttynose Island, Isles of Shoals.
December 3, 2012
Such a ghastly story! I wonder if dna tests could be run on the exhumed bodies and and the evidence gathered at the scene (if the evidence still exists). Might prove to be interesting.
March 15, 2016
Well written and researched. Lots of authentic details. I have been to Smuttynose and found this to be accurate in atmosphere.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews