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There are currently 33 member reviews
for The Fields
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Carol C. (Troy, NY)
The Fields
I loved this book and can't wait for the next book in the series. While ostensibly a murder mystery/police procedural, it slowly delves into and begins to reveal the secrets and issues of both the main and many secondary characters as well as the setting itself - agricultural Iowa. Add in a bit of political chicanery and the author has provided a riveting story.
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Roberta W. (Los Ranchos, NM)
Excellent police procedural mystery
The Fields is a debut crime thriller by Erin Young. I was so glad to read on the back cover that this is the first in a planned series of novels featuring a police sergeant, Riley Fisher. I hope Young is hard at work on the next book because I can't wait to read it!
Young does an excellent job at creating a complex main character. It will be interesting to see this character develop in the future books.
The story is a procedural thriller filled with political corruption and agricultural espionage. The evil agricultural company will no doubt be recognized by many readers as Mansanto (called Agri-Co in the book). The murders are grisly but also a bit weird and made me anxious to know what kind of person the murderer was.
My only criticism of the book is that I felt there was just a bit too much "over the top" action in the last few chapters. It was like the author was trying to throw in as many dramatic scenes as possible at the end and it became a bit chaotic. If they had been spread out a bit earlier I think that would have helped.
I recommend the book and look forward to the next in the series.
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Mel F. (Auburn, MA)
Review of "The Fields"
The setting for this novel is the rural state of Iowa with its landscape of prairies, rolling hills and farmland used for corn production, This is an enthralling crime thriller that morphs into a tale that includes multiple murders, past secrets, deceptions, sexual assault, dysfunctional family live and political scandal. One of the major influencers in these outcomes in the intrusion of a major seed production corporation which changes the livelihood of the individual farmer.
This is a lengthy novel that appeals to a reader who wants to become completely absorbed in the detailed complexities associated with the impacts of migration to large scale corn production on the individual farmers. It is like following an "umbilical chord" (phrase used by author ) since each chapter is a necessary artery to provide life to both the occurrences and multiple characters in this novel.
I found this novel completely enthralling and difficult to put down. The author creatively structured words/and/or phrases that supported both the physical and emotional effects on the rural community.
I felt part of an intriguing journey along with the characters and situations exposed and/or unearthed in this crime fiction novel. I think it is an outstanding novel and I look forward to Ms. Young's next foray into this genre.
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Barbara H. (Thomasville, GA)
Oh Wow!!
This thriller went above and beyond any expectations I held when I began this novel. For some reason English authors have a special way with writing thrillers that make them incredibly good!! And Erin Young has outdone herself with this novel. What an impeccably put together story with characters and scenes so vivid you feel you are there with the characters. I read a lot of thrillers, but this one is at the top of my list!! I can not wait to read Ms. Young's next book in this promised series. This is an exceptionally put together novel - in Iowa, of all places - by an English author!
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Loren B. (Appleton, WI)
Amazing !
This book captured my attention from the very start . The descriptions, the deeply realistic characterizations, the amazing plot left me completely enthralled .
There are some scenes possibly not for the sensitive but they are not presented in a gratuitous manner and certainly are important to the plot .
I am glad that this author is planning a series and am looking forward to reading more of her work .
Highly recommended!
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Kay K. (Oshkosh, WI)
The Fields
Riley Fisher finds herself in a corn field that leads to a criminal investigation that takes her not only on a terrifying murder mystery but also on a personal journey that has continued to haunt her and her family. I found Riley to be an intriguing and multifaceted character. She will develop into a character readers will continue to want to know. Other than the first murder victim starting the story, I thought the book started out slowly. It took about half of the book before it gained speed, and then finally took off. I recommend this book to fans of TV shows like Criminal Minds. The many threads of the mystery culminate in an explosive conclusion. The back drop of real Iowans and the challenges of big corporations add a currentness to the story. The relationships in the story seemed to be a bit stilted and Riley's unresolved personal struggle was unsettling, but perhaps that is waiting for another novel.
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Chris D.
Lots of atmosphere
The Fields is very atmospheric. You can almost hear the insects buzzing, feel the heat and humidity, and watch the corn growing in that heat. There is a lot going on, besides the investigation into the murders of three women—big business trying to run out family farms, illegal distribution of drugs, politicians trying anything and everything to win elections. It's a lot to untangle, and the author has left threads hanging at the end to carry through into a series revolving around Sergeant Riley Fisher and the Black Hawk County Sheriff's office. It will be interesting to see where they lead.
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