Book Review: Blue Wolf in Green Fire by Joseph Heywood

Blue Wolf in Green Fire by Joseph Heywood
The Lyons Press
392 Pages
Copyright 2002

From the back of the book:

Upper Michigan Conservation Officer Grady Service has a case on his hands that doesn't make sense. A series of protests and bombings by animal rights activists appears to have culminated in a double murder at a wolf lab, which releases into the wild an extraordinarily rare animal: a blue wolf. To the Ojibwa a blue wolf represents good luck, unless it is captured or killed - and then it is an omen of Armageddon. Service suspects that the murders aren't what they seem to be when the FBI takes over the investigation and reaches far beyond its jurisdiction. Meanwhile, an elusive poaching ring sets its sights on wolves. Once again, Service must defend the hallowed Mosquito Wilderness in a race against time when it becomes clear that its final target is the blue wolf.

Service is an interesting character; tough, strong, dedicated, fully capable of handling anything the wilds of the UP can throw at him.

In spite of that, I had a couple of problems with the second book of Heywood's Woods Cop series. Activism in the UP is almost unheard of; we're too busy on living lives that can be tough enough without adding to things. My familiarity with the areas Heywood wrote about also played against me in this one - I've been to Vermillion, the site of the murders, and know it is nothing like portrayed in the book. I had to remind myself that it was just that; a book.  Once I had, things went much more smoothly and I could enjoy the story.

Recommendation: Heywood's characters are an interesting group and his stories are suspenseful and well-told. I love reading about my little corner of the world, even when it's been twisted a bit by the author. This one is worth the read, especially if you enjoy a good mystery.