What do readers think of The Fields by Erin Young? Write your own review.

Just mention corn and I immediately know something bad is coming. (Thank you, Stephen King.)
The young protagonist, Sergeant Riley Fisher, is a likeable woman with a lot of baggage. When promoted to Head of Investigations, her first case is a murder of a childhood friend.
The characterizations are excellent, not just of Riley, but the others in the novel. Lots of twists and surprises, some of them very dark, are almost disorienting and keep the reader a little off-balance.
I enjoyed this book very much and am glad to know it is the first in a planned series.

The Fields is a well-paced crime novel that pulled me in from the first page. The main character was well developed, however, there were too many other characters to keep track of. This book, while a page-turner, is densely packed and not a quick read. It covers a number of topics - Big Ag, violence, politics, family, drugs, past stories, and may be better suited as a Netflix series. I felt the final revelation was a bit far-fetched, but as this dipped into the horror genre perhaps it fitted. A few storylines were left unresolved and I am hoping to see those explained in the next book of the series.

I did not expect this book to be quite so graphic. Initially, I felt I was reading a Steven King novel. As I settled down, I started to enjoy the novel. The graphic descriptions decreased (somewhat) and I was drawn in to the story. Very clearly Midwestern but there is nothing wrong with that; it doesn't get in the way of a good story. The characters were well developed and will keep you guessing until the end. The story made me realize the danger in what seems to be everyday work in crime investigation. I don't think this is the type of book to recommend to book clubs, mainly because of the graphic descriptions. I would definitely recommend it to someone who loves crime fiction though.

A fast-paced police procedural, "The Fields" grabbed me from the first page. I enjoyed the story line, the well-developed characters, and the convoluted plot, which was nicely tied up in the book's final pages. While many of today's hot-button issues are woven into the plot, including big agriculture, politics, global warming, and the Me Too movement, the author doesn't let her opinions bog the story down; she is able to educate without being preachy. Well-read readers will find a couple of stereotypes, however, the book still has broad appeal.

I don't want to give away too much (by comparing it to another well-known book) but readers who are turned-off by gore may want to choose another book. As for me, I found the last 25 or so of the book to be really exciting! Sign me up for the next one in the series!

In many ways, "The Fields" is your standard thriller, with lots of twists and turns. What makes it different is the role that Big Ag plays in the story. A woman's body has been found in a field owned by a small consortium of farmers. Before long, two other bodies are found in seemingly unrelated settings. Creepily, the bodies have bite marks on them in addition to the deadly wounds. It's up to newly appointed Sergeant Riley Fisher and her team to solve these crimes. (Love a female protagonist!) Somehow, it all comes together by the last page.

This is a rather ambitious mystery with tangled storylines but an author who manages to tie them all up very well. The main character is a woman with a past that still haunts her. Riley is a police officer who is struggling to find her way in her hometown.

A murder case will bring her past and the present together with a bang. She recognizes the victim and worries that her past will become common knowledge. However this case is about more than that. All the characters are well drawn and interesting.

The author also manages to bring in a subject that many readers might not know about. Farming and Big Agra not to mention the cultivation of corn and other vegetables are very hot topics.

This book has a rather in depth look at the heartland and farmers suffering while presenting a page turning murder mystery.

Readers age 16 and up might enjoy this one and book clubs will want to talk about the problems in the Midwest and about experimentation in our crops while also touching on serial killers. Excellent book for those cold winter nights.

The Field is a police procedural introducing us to Sergeant Riley Fisher, a newly promoted head of investigation for the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office.
The corn fields of Iowa are a new backdrop in my mystery reads.

Our author lives and writes in Brighton, England and really does a commendable job of portrayal set in the heart of America's corn-belt.
The characters are for the most part intense, fractured people with life stories that are thoughtfully and thoroughly presented.
The plot streams in many directions but all interfaces nicely.
The fabric of this small Midwest town was woven so well in the plot that I will be interested to see where this debut heads for the next installment.
I enjoyed the read.
Give it a try.

I couldn't put this book down. The story is fast-paced and written from multiple points of view. Chapters are short, building suspense as the mystery unfolds. The prose will draw you in and drop you in the middle of Iowa. It is clear Erin Young did her research. Lends authenticity to the plot. If you like thrillers and police procedurals, I highly recommend this book!