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Shelby Lake #2
The Ursulina
The mythical beast goes by many names. Bigfoot. Sasquatch. Yeti.
In Black Wolf County, he's called ... the Ursulina.
But to Deputy Rebecca Colder, the beast is no myth. A serial killer has taken on the identity of the monster--and with each body left behind, there's a chilling message written in blood. I am the Ursulina.
In this gripping follow-up novel to his Edgar Award finalist and New York Times bestseller The Deep, Deep Snow, Brian Freeman takes us on Rebecca's dark journey to reveal the truth about the Ursulina ... a journey that ultimately leads to an excruciating choice that will change her life forever.
In Black Wolf County, he's called ... the Ursulina.
But to Deputy Rebecca Colder, the beast is no myth. A serial killer has taken on the identity of the monster--and with each body left behind, there's a chilling message written in blood. I am the Ursulina.
In this gripping follow-up novel to his Edgar Award finalist and New York Times bestseller The Deep, Deep Snow, Brian Freeman takes us on Rebecca's dark journey to reveal the truth about the Ursulina ... a journey that ultimately leads to an excruciating choice that will change her life forever.
226 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2022
About the author
Brian Freeman
59 books2,951 followersBrian Freeman is a New York Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride and Frost Easton series. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 22 languages. He is widely acclaimed for his "you are there" settings and his complex, engaging characters and twist-filled plots. Brian was also selected as the official author to continue Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series, and his novel THE BOURNE EVOLUTION was named one of the Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2020 by Kirkus.
Brian's seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards given out by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His novel THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.
His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a nominee for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. IMMORAL was named an International Book of the Month, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger.
All of Brian's books are also available in audiobook editions. His novels THE BONE HOUSE and SEASON OF FEAR were both finalists for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.
For more information on Brian's books, visit his web site at bfreemanbooks.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/bfreemanfans or Twitter and Instagram (@bfreemanbooks).
Brian's seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards given out by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His novel THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.
His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a nominee for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. IMMORAL was named an International Book of the Month, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger.
All of Brian's books are also available in audiobook editions. His novels THE BONE HOUSE and SEASON OF FEAR were both finalists for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.
For more information on Brian's books, visit his web site at bfreemanbooks.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/bfreemanfans or Twitter and Instagram (@bfreemanbooks).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
November 1, 2021
Audio - 5+++++ Stars
Story - 5 +++++ Stars
The best twist that I NEVER SAW COMING!!!
and that ending!!!
Story - 5 +++++ Stars
The best twist that I NEVER SAW COMING!!!
and that ending!!!
January 13, 2022
If you’re looking for a bedtime story, don’t read Brian Freeman’s The Ursulina. If you get to around 95% of the book, and it’s late at night, and you think you can finish in the morning, think again. That’s what I did, and I spent the next 90 minutes tossing and turning. Granted, I told my physical therapist a different story, and much of it was true. But not all. By then I knew the “who”. I just didn’t know all the “how” or the “why.”
The Ursulina is labelled #2 in the Shelby Lake series, and it will probably help to read that first. However, it is actually a prequel. What is the Ursulina? The word means, “little she-bear.” We learn of the creature through our narrator, Rebecca Colder, who lives in a small mining town called Random. The Ursulina is described as a “monster”, a huge, Sasquatch type of creature that made a hufffffff sound when he passed by. Rebecca believed. She had a close encounter as a girl back in 1969 but told no one, ever.
Much of Rebecca’s story is told in letter form to her child, Shelby. She writes of her job as a sheriff’s deputy. Thus, we learn of the horrendous deaths that occurred in Random, all signed “The Ursulina.” Rebecca is the only female deputy. She lives in a town where women are expected to stay home, raise the kids, and love, honor, and obey their husbands. This is true of the few women who work in the mine; it is true of Rebecca and her husband Ricky. All these women experience verbal abuse, and more, in the workplace and sometimes at home.
There are respectable men. Darrell, Rebecca’s deputy partner is one. He’s like a father figure to her. Norm Folz, the lawyer representing the women in a lawsuit against the mine, is another. As usual, Brian Freeman does an excellent job drawing his characters with a wide range of emotions, experiences – and motives.
Not all the characters are likable, male or female. Life in this town takes its toll on folks, and that’s not something that can be blamed on the Ursulina. Sexism, greed, all kinds of dishonesty, battering, hatred, and violence – it’s all there. The monster lives in nearly everyone, it seems.
But not everyone is a murderer.
The revelation was a surprise that took my breath away. I should have seen it coming. After I saw it, it all made sense, even though it didn’t seem 100 percent plausible. But, strangely enough, I understood it, and I could accept it, even though I really wished it had been someone else.
I received a digital copy of The Ursulina as an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. I wish to thank NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and the marvelous Mr. Brian Freeman. Opinions expressed are my own.
The Ursulina is labelled #2 in the Shelby Lake series, and it will probably help to read that first. However, it is actually a prequel. What is the Ursulina? The word means, “little she-bear.” We learn of the creature through our narrator, Rebecca Colder, who lives in a small mining town called Random. The Ursulina is described as a “monster”, a huge, Sasquatch type of creature that made a hufffffff sound when he passed by. Rebecca believed. She had a close encounter as a girl back in 1969 but told no one, ever.
Much of Rebecca’s story is told in letter form to her child, Shelby. She writes of her job as a sheriff’s deputy. Thus, we learn of the horrendous deaths that occurred in Random, all signed “The Ursulina.” Rebecca is the only female deputy. She lives in a town where women are expected to stay home, raise the kids, and love, honor, and obey their husbands. This is true of the few women who work in the mine; it is true of Rebecca and her husband Ricky. All these women experience verbal abuse, and more, in the workplace and sometimes at home.
There are respectable men. Darrell, Rebecca’s deputy partner is one. He’s like a father figure to her. Norm Folz, the lawyer representing the women in a lawsuit against the mine, is another. As usual, Brian Freeman does an excellent job drawing his characters with a wide range of emotions, experiences – and motives.
Not all the characters are likable, male or female. Life in this town takes its toll on folks, and that’s not something that can be blamed on the Ursulina. Sexism, greed, all kinds of dishonesty, battering, hatred, and violence – it’s all there. The monster lives in nearly everyone, it seems.
But not everyone is a murderer.
The revelation was a surprise that took my breath away. I should have seen it coming. After I saw it, it all made sense, even though it didn’t seem 100 percent plausible. But, strangely enough, I understood it, and I could accept it, even though I really wished it had been someone else.
I received a digital copy of The Ursulina as an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. I wish to thank NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and the marvelous Mr. Brian Freeman. Opinions expressed are my own.
June 28, 2022
Story 4.5 stars**
Audio 5 stars**
Narrator January LaVoy
**Thank you for another awesome rec, querida! Keep ‘‘em coming LoL! **
Audio 5 stars**
Narrator January LaVoy
**Thank you for another awesome rec, querida! Keep ‘‘em coming LoL! **
November 6, 2021
The Ursulina is a follow up and a prequel to Freeman’s 2019 novel, the Deep, Deep Snow, which featured Deputy Sheriff Shelby Lake, who had been abandoned by her mother as an infant and raised by the Sheriff. Here, we get an origins tale told in a narrative to Shelby by her mother, explaining what happened. The stories are thus interconnected, but otherwise entirely separate.
This is the tale of Deputy Rebecca Colder of the Town of Random in Black Wolf County, a small northern Minnesota mining town, a generation earlier when it was not as common for women to serve as deputy sheriffs or to work in the mines. It is a quaint small town where everyone knows each other’s business, but it’s also A town of sexual harassment, domestic violence, marital strife, infidelity, and grudges going back to high school.
And, of course, there’s the legend of the Ursulina, a beast of the woods, seven feet tall, with claws like a giant wolverine, and there have been few sightings of this fell beast. Rebecca though as a child once saw him in the woods and another local made his living making true life documentaries about the beast. Several killings were attributed to the beast with bodies ripped asunder by giant claws till their organs spilled out.
It’s at once a horror movie and a domestic violence take and a murder mystery when Rebecca finds another victim of the Ursulina. The story is about Rebecca, told through her eyes, to her child, Shelby. It will keep you reading right to the end when things go in a direction you’ll probably not anticipate. Well-written, well told, worth reading.
This is the tale of Deputy Rebecca Colder of the Town of Random in Black Wolf County, a small northern Minnesota mining town, a generation earlier when it was not as common for women to serve as deputy sheriffs or to work in the mines. It is a quaint small town where everyone knows each other’s business, but it’s also A town of sexual harassment, domestic violence, marital strife, infidelity, and grudges going back to high school.
And, of course, there’s the legend of the Ursulina, a beast of the woods, seven feet tall, with claws like a giant wolverine, and there have been few sightings of this fell beast. Rebecca though as a child once saw him in the woods and another local made his living making true life documentaries about the beast. Several killings were attributed to the beast with bodies ripped asunder by giant claws till their organs spilled out.
It’s at once a horror movie and a domestic violence take and a murder mystery when Rebecca finds another victim of the Ursulina. The story is about Rebecca, told through her eyes, to her child, Shelby. It will keep you reading right to the end when things go in a direction you’ll probably not anticipate. Well-written, well told, worth reading.
August 30, 2021
This Is probably going to be (together with Deep Deep Snow) my best read of 2021. The novels offer one of the most original (said by someone who has read more than 600 thriller stories) mix of coming of age, love, thrilling dramatic stories. I loved every word, every sub-plot and most of all the great twist that changes everything . The you can't avoid a final tear on the last line of the book. Thanks mr. Freeman for the great read.
November 1, 2021
5 ++++++++++++ stars audio and story!!!!!!!!!!!
August 14, 2021
I’ve listened to two other outstanding audiobooks by JD Barker this year and this one now adds a third nominee for my best listen.
The followup to The Deep Deep Snow by my favorite all-time author and narrated by my favorite female narrator, January Lavoy, is intriguing, suspenseful, and powerful entertainment. As the book progresses, you will steadily shift to the edge of your seat. Brian has written some great books and this one might be his best since his first release and my all-time favorite IMMORAL.
The paperback and ebook edition will be released in February of 2022 but I highly recommend this version for an amazing job well done.
Wow Recommended!!
The followup to The Deep Deep Snow by my favorite all-time author and narrated by my favorite female narrator, January Lavoy, is intriguing, suspenseful, and powerful entertainment. As the book progresses, you will steadily shift to the edge of your seat. Brian has written some great books and this one might be his best since his first release and my all-time favorite IMMORAL.
The paperback and ebook edition will be released in February of 2022 but I highly recommend this version for an amazing job well done.
Wow Recommended!!
July 17, 2021
Read my full book review: https://bit.ly/3z79DBY
Synopsis: Written as a prequel to The Deep, Deep Snow, The Ursulina tells the story of Rebecca Colder, a mother forced to make an excruciating decision while a mythical creature runs through the National Forest in Minnesota leaving bodies in its wake.
My rating: My first 10/5 Stars rating of 2021.
My opinion: Anyone who knows me, reads my blogs or anything having to do with my reading habits knows what a fan I am of Brian Freeman. He is my number one recommended living US mystery writer. I truly consider this gentleman to be one of top US living mystery writers currently. I have read every book he has written with the exception of the Jason Bourne series, and that is simply because I am not a fan of the genre.
Hands down, I consider The Ursulina to be the best book Brian Freeman has written to date. I have numerous reasons for making this claim.
First, while The Ursulina was a murder mystery like all of his books are, it was so much more than that. Let me just say though, Brian nailed the mystery part that left such a shocking ending that I didn't see coming, I was giddy with surprise and felt it such a treat that I was unable to solve the mystery. Brian masterfully had woven the mystery throughout the book and threw in twists and curves that left me guessing until the end. This is pretty rare for me. I have even had a book or two of Brian's I was able to figure out the ending early in the book.
That didn't make give it my first 10/5 Star book rating for 2021 though.
Brian writes from the perspective, emotion and insight of a female and mother with such perfection that if I didn't know Brian as an author, I would have sworn the book was written by a female writing under a pseudonym. That to me is not only talent, it is a craft. I have found only one other male author who has pulled this off well. Even Brian's book, The Deep, Deep Snow didn't have as deep an insight into the female psyche as this book did.
Lastly, the book drew me into the character and had me so emotionally invested that I actually cried at the end. For an author to be able to do that, especially for a reader that devours books like Pez, that is phenomenal. In my forty plus years of reading, I can count on one hand the number of times that an author has pulled me in so deeply into the book.
Synopsis: Written as a prequel to The Deep, Deep Snow, The Ursulina tells the story of Rebecca Colder, a mother forced to make an excruciating decision while a mythical creature runs through the National Forest in Minnesota leaving bodies in its wake.
My rating: My first 10/5 Stars rating of 2021.
My opinion: Anyone who knows me, reads my blogs or anything having to do with my reading habits knows what a fan I am of Brian Freeman. He is my number one recommended living US mystery writer. I truly consider this gentleman to be one of top US living mystery writers currently. I have read every book he has written with the exception of the Jason Bourne series, and that is simply because I am not a fan of the genre.
Hands down, I consider The Ursulina to be the best book Brian Freeman has written to date. I have numerous reasons for making this claim.
First, while The Ursulina was a murder mystery like all of his books are, it was so much more than that. Let me just say though, Brian nailed the mystery part that left such a shocking ending that I didn't see coming, I was giddy with surprise and felt it such a treat that I was unable to solve the mystery. Brian masterfully had woven the mystery throughout the book and threw in twists and curves that left me guessing until the end. This is pretty rare for me. I have even had a book or two of Brian's I was able to figure out the ending early in the book.
That didn't make give it my first 10/5 Star book rating for 2021 though.
Brian writes from the perspective, emotion and insight of a female and mother with such perfection that if I didn't know Brian as an author, I would have sworn the book was written by a female writing under a pseudonym. That to me is not only talent, it is a craft. I have found only one other male author who has pulled this off well. Even Brian's book, The Deep, Deep Snow didn't have as deep an insight into the female psyche as this book did.
Lastly, the book drew me into the character and had me so emotionally invested that I actually cried at the end. For an author to be able to do that, especially for a reader that devours books like Pez, that is phenomenal. In my forty plus years of reading, I can count on one hand the number of times that an author has pulled me in so deeply into the book.
June 21, 2022
wow! I’m not going to get into details, but I promise you won’t see it coming. A truly impressive story!
February 7, 2022
Romantic drama with horror elements, loosely wrapped in mystery & a bit of paranormal
As a crime fiction reader, I chose this book expecting a complex serial killer mystery, with supernatural horror. Or at the least, heavy paranormal elements. I liked “The Deep, Deep Snow” narrated by January LaVoy, who also narrated this book. Ms. LaVoy, voice-actor extraordinaire, can improve even a badly written hash of a book, and she makes word walls sound interesting.
I don’t mind flashbacks of ten, twenty or more years, but I prefer a primary storyline in current time. This book is set in 1984 in a mostly White, one restaurant/bar small town with a church and sheriff station. It also has all the prejudices of the early 1980s, plus holdover issues from the 1970s. Emotional triggers abound: Rapes; sexism & misogyny; workplace harassment; verbal, sexual, & physical abuse of women. Vicious acts of homophobia. Gory, blood-drenched murder scenes.
After a few chapters in, I knew the domestic storyline could not have a HEA ending. IMHO, the book’s core is romance—including the protagonist Rebecca Colder’s ideals of love, overwhelming need of love, and belief in paranormal events to do with love. Even as she makes bad choices and does horrible deeds, she beseeches her god to help her. And her baby. As the storyline advances, events & actions became more predictable. I chose the ultimate culprit and predicted much of the extended denouement.
Unbelievable events:
1. A women suffers 36 hours of three men raping and beating her. She doesn’t seem to have psychological issues
2. Female characters make bad choices repeatedly. A wife and mother makes stupid decisions about her relationship w her husband.
3. Female characters turn personal drama into telenovela melodrama.
4. Rebecca and a sheriff fall in insta-love and have insta-sex. She has almost-insta-pregnancy.
5. Rebecca knows her sheriff partner has two parents w early onset Alzheimer’s. He thinks he will too. Rebecca? Hello, Rebecca?
6. Author needs OB nurse or Doula consultant about advanced pregnancy issues.
7. Cops blame four murders on one culprit, but the last method is very different.
8. Murderer(s)—who must be covered head-to-toe in blood—escape without leaving evidence. Or a trail.
9. An almost Christmas Story setting when insta-lovers meet again.
There are plot holes, paranormal events that aren’t, and the ending is unbelievable. There’s more, but I’ll stop. If I hadn’t burned an Audible credit, I wouldn’t have made it through this book. January LaVoy does stellar work with what she’s given to narrate. Brava, Ms. LaVoy! Brava!
Please note that I am in the minority of reviewers, so read my review with a shaker of salt.
As a crime fiction reader, I chose this book expecting a complex serial killer mystery, with supernatural horror. Or at the least, heavy paranormal elements. I liked “The Deep, Deep Snow” narrated by January LaVoy, who also narrated this book. Ms. LaVoy, voice-actor extraordinaire, can improve even a badly written hash of a book, and she makes word walls sound interesting.
I don’t mind flashbacks of ten, twenty or more years, but I prefer a primary storyline in current time. This book is set in 1984 in a mostly White, one restaurant/bar small town with a church and sheriff station. It also has all the prejudices of the early 1980s, plus holdover issues from the 1970s. Emotional triggers abound: Rapes; sexism & misogyny; workplace harassment; verbal, sexual, & physical abuse of women. Vicious acts of homophobia. Gory, blood-drenched murder scenes.
After a few chapters in, I knew the domestic storyline could not have a HEA ending. IMHO, the book’s core is romance—including the protagonist Rebecca Colder’s ideals of love, overwhelming need of love, and belief in paranormal events to do with love. Even as she makes bad choices and does horrible deeds, she beseeches her god to help her. And her baby. As the storyline advances, events & actions became more predictable. I chose the ultimate culprit and predicted much of the extended denouement.
Unbelievable events:
1. A women suffers 36 hours of three men raping and beating her. She doesn’t seem to have psychological issues
2. Female characters make bad choices repeatedly. A wife and mother makes stupid decisions about her relationship w her husband.
3. Female characters turn personal drama into telenovela melodrama.
4. Rebecca and a sheriff fall in insta-love and have insta-sex. She has almost-insta-pregnancy.
5. Rebecca knows her sheriff partner has two parents w early onset Alzheimer’s. He thinks he will too. Rebecca? Hello, Rebecca?
6. Author needs OB nurse or Doula consultant about advanced pregnancy issues.
7. Cops blame four murders on one culprit, but the last method is very different.
8. Murderer(s)—who must be covered head-to-toe in blood—escape without leaving evidence. Or a trail.
9. An almost Christmas Story setting when insta-lovers meet again.
There are plot holes, paranormal events that aren’t, and the ending is unbelievable. There’s more, but I’ll stop. If I hadn’t burned an Audible credit, I wouldn’t have made it through this book. January LaVoy does stellar work with what she’s given to narrate. Brava, Ms. LaVoy! Brava!
Please note that I am in the minority of reviewers, so read my review with a shaker of salt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2022
Don’t waste your time here with me. Go read this book IMMEDIATELY!
Still here? Well, fine, then. I’ll tell you some stuff.
Writing: Freaking perfection. Truly. No wasted words. Just enough detail. Plunked me in the story and left me there, where I remained until the end, the story becoming my reality.
Characters: Complex, walk-off-the-page real people. They stirred all my emotions in a huge boiling cauldron.
Plot: Evenly paced, dark, gritty, surprising, twisty, tug-at-your-heartstrings suspense full of layers that flowed perfectly together while tying me in knots.
Convinced? I hope you’ve already clicked the Buy button somewhere.
The Ursulina is listed as the second Shelby Lake novel, but technically it’s the prequel to The Deep, Deep Snow, which I haven’t yet read. In fact, I’d planned to borrow the ebook from Scribd, but no, I NEED these books on my shelves, where I can admire them. So I took my own advice and pressed the BUY button.
*Enormous thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the free copy, and to Brian Freeman for sharing his gift of storytelling.*
Still here? Well, fine, then. I’ll tell you some stuff.
Writing: Freaking perfection. Truly. No wasted words. Just enough detail. Plunked me in the story and left me there, where I remained until the end, the story becoming my reality.
Characters: Complex, walk-off-the-page real people. They stirred all my emotions in a huge boiling cauldron.
Plot: Evenly paced, dark, gritty, surprising, twisty, tug-at-your-heartstrings suspense full of layers that flowed perfectly together while tying me in knots.
Convinced? I hope you’ve already clicked the Buy button somewhere.
The Ursulina is listed as the second Shelby Lake novel, but technically it’s the prequel to The Deep, Deep Snow, which I haven’t yet read. In fact, I’d planned to borrow the ebook from Scribd, but no, I NEED these books on my shelves, where I can admire them. So I took my own advice and pressed the BUY button.
*Enormous thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the free copy, and to Brian Freeman for sharing his gift of storytelling.*
February 8, 2022
Whoa. Just WHOA. I am searching for other titles from this author.
While camping with her father and brother in the woods, Rebecca finds herself approached by The Ursulina - an urban legend in her small Black Wood County town; his breath inches from her face.
Years later, Rebecca is a deputy in the small town, called to the scene of a grisly murder. I am the Ursulina written in blood above the eviscerated remains of a lawyer in town to defend the local mine against a law suit brought by women workers after years of experiencing abuse, assault, sexual harassment.
Years earlier two young men were found with the same words, bodies in the same condition. Could they be linked?
Meanwhile Rebecca deals with her abusive husband, Ricky - desperate to sever ties and stand on her own.
Definitely going to be one of my favorites for 2022.
While camping with her father and brother in the woods, Rebecca finds herself approached by The Ursulina - an urban legend in her small Black Wood County town; his breath inches from her face.
Years later, Rebecca is a deputy in the small town, called to the scene of a grisly murder. I am the Ursulina written in blood above the eviscerated remains of a lawyer in town to defend the local mine against a law suit brought by women workers after years of experiencing abuse, assault, sexual harassment.
Years earlier two young men were found with the same words, bodies in the same condition. Could they be linked?
Meanwhile Rebecca deals with her abusive husband, Ricky - desperate to sever ties and stand on her own.
Definitely going to be one of my favorites for 2022.
October 14, 2022
I'm a fan of Brian Freeman, but almost skipped this one because I'm not a big fan of stories involving mythical monsters and the like. I'm very glad I didn't let that deter me!
August 9, 2022
Certain aspects of the ending were a bit suspect...but not enough derail my overall enjoyment of this rather engaging whodunit.
3 1/2 Hairy Stars
3 1/2 Hairy Stars
February 1, 2022
"...the most important lesson of police work: you never know."
This is the outstanding follow-up to Freeman's THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW. Some of this book is a prequel to the first book and some of it brings closure. Both books are excellent.
Rebecca Colder becomes a deputy in Black Wolf County. She basically raised herself as a child, with a father who's a trucker and an absent older brother. The one time her family went camping she had an encounter with the legendary Ursulina, kind of a Bigfoot for the area.
Now years later there's been a series of murders in the County and the signature that is being left blames it on the Ursulina. Rebecca is on the lookout for the murderer plus she's having problems at home.
I loved this conclusion to the Shelby Lake story especially the twist towards the end. This was an especially entertaining two book series. I highly recommend it.
I received this book from Blackstone Publishing through Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
This is the outstanding follow-up to Freeman's THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW. Some of this book is a prequel to the first book and some of it brings closure. Both books are excellent.
Rebecca Colder becomes a deputy in Black Wolf County. She basically raised herself as a child, with a father who's a trucker and an absent older brother. The one time her family went camping she had an encounter with the legendary Ursulina, kind of a Bigfoot for the area.
Now years later there's been a series of murders in the County and the signature that is being left blames it on the Ursulina. Rebecca is on the lookout for the murderer plus she's having problems at home.
I loved this conclusion to the Shelby Lake story especially the twist towards the end. This was an especially entertaining two book series. I highly recommend it.
I received this book from Blackstone Publishing through Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
March 17, 2022
It was really hard for me to stop listening to this one. With the time setting of the book (1984), I often found myself getting upset at normal things that happened back then, all the cigarette smoking, the rampant sexual harassment, where women were told to suck it up, the treatment of gay people, so horrible, yet that was what that time period was like. I had to let that go for my own sanity. I loved Rebecca, though. Felt like she got the shaft through much of the book and hated how when it seemed like she had a little bit of joy/happiness it got taken away from her. But then it came to the big reveal of Rebecca's letters and when she confessed all, I found I loved her even more. I thought with what she went through her actions were warranted and I really liked that she was willing to make the greatest sacrifice for what she thought was her most important possession. I would have loved to hear more about what happened after she was called by the one name she longed to hear for so many years.
February 7, 2022
The funny thing about this story is that most of the way through I was not crazy about it being told from Shelby’s mom’s point of view. The closer I got to the end I loved that she was telling her story.
The ending was one of the most stunning ending I have ever read.
I love Brian Freeman’s story telling!
Also the audible narration is excellent.
The ending was one of the most stunning ending I have ever read.
I love Brian Freeman’s story telling!
Also the audible narration is excellent.
June 30, 2021
Brian Freeman does it again! The Deep, Deep Snow left readers with questions about Shelby as well as the elsusive Ursulina. The Ursulina answers these questions and I was hooked from the first page. The ending has me wondering...is there more to come...
Well done!
Well done!
February 2, 2022
OK so this is the 2nd book in the Ursalina series, BUT it takes place in a different town with totally different people. This was not the usual expectation in a book series.
This is Rebeccas' story, a young deputy who is just tolerated by the male staff members. This book is set 20 or so years before book 1, so lots of sexual discrimination.
Once again the 'mythical"Ursalina is the suspect in several murders, mainly because one of the clues left behind is written in blood "I am the Ursalina".
Rebeccas partner at work is obviously not convinced, but Rebecca has a secret which she has never told anyone that she actually saw the Ursalina when she was a child, so she believes.
I was pleasantly surprised at the way this story unfolded, which I won't say, as the twist is so interesting and personal that to give it away would spoil the story. We do find out quite early what this twist is and I loved it.
Not only is this a story of several grisly murders it also involves a court case between the female workers and the management of the local mines, once again it is about sexual discrimination and sexual abuse of these female workers. They want the mines to pay. And we have to live through what is happening to Becca living with an abusive husband.
January LaVoy does an exceptional job as narrator, once again, I didn't want this story to end as I wanted to keep these people around. One of those reads where something goes missing in your life when you finish it.
This is Rebeccas' story, a young deputy who is just tolerated by the male staff members. This book is set 20 or so years before book 1, so lots of sexual discrimination.
Once again the 'mythical"Ursalina is the suspect in several murders, mainly because one of the clues left behind is written in blood "I am the Ursalina".
Rebeccas partner at work is obviously not convinced, but Rebecca has a secret which she has never told anyone that she actually saw the Ursalina when she was a child, so she believes.
I was pleasantly surprised at the way this story unfolded, which I won't say, as the twist is so interesting and personal that to give it away would spoil the story. We do find out quite early what this twist is and I loved it.
Not only is this a story of several grisly murders it also involves a court case between the female workers and the management of the local mines, once again it is about sexual discrimination and sexual abuse of these female workers. They want the mines to pay. And we have to live through what is happening to Becca living with an abusive husband.
January LaVoy does an exceptional job as narrator, once again, I didn't want this story to end as I wanted to keep these people around. One of those reads where something goes missing in your life when you finish it.
May 9, 2022
As I was reading this book I wasn’t real sure what was going on. Having read all of Brian Freeman’s books, this seemed so different than any of his previous books. Rebecca, a deputy in Black Wolf County, is the main character. The Ursulina is a mythical creature that lives in the forest, or is the Ursulina real?
Several disturbing murders have taken place and all believe the Ursulina is responsible. There are many times in here where Rebecca seems to be writing letters to a daughter, (Shelby), and attempting to explain to the daughter, why she did what she had to do. The whole truth of Rebecca’s past comes out near the end of the book, and suddenly the whole book makes sense.
I read The Deep Deep Snow a couple years ago, so it definitely wasn’t fresh in my mind, until the ending of this book, then it all came back to me. The Ursulina, though written two years after The Deep Deep Snow, is actually a prequel to the first book. The ending is bittersweet, I was crying and emotionally drained by the end.
Kudos to you, Brian, for an extremely clever way to write the story of Rebecca and Shelby.
Several disturbing murders have taken place and all believe the Ursulina is responsible. There are many times in here where Rebecca seems to be writing letters to a daughter, (Shelby), and attempting to explain to the daughter, why she did what she had to do. The whole truth of Rebecca’s past comes out near the end of the book, and suddenly the whole book makes sense.
I read The Deep Deep Snow a couple years ago, so it definitely wasn’t fresh in my mind, until the ending of this book, then it all came back to me. The Ursulina, though written two years after The Deep Deep Snow, is actually a prequel to the first book. The ending is bittersweet, I was crying and emotionally drained by the end.
Kudos to you, Brian, for an extremely clever way to write the story of Rebecca and Shelby.
December 27, 2021
Very good, very intricate story from Freeman. Sheriff's deputy Rebecca Colder gets the call when a scummy lawyer defending a big company against allegations of sexual misconduct gets butchered....in the exact same way as 2 small time crooks 7 years earlier. What is the connection ? Lots of moving parts to this intense story but it all comes together in an excellent way at the end. Loved it !
December 28, 2021
Wow! Just like the first in this series I did not see the ending coming. It is a prequel to the Deep Deep Snow the first She.by Lake book. This is the story of the Ursulina a brutual murderer perhaps creature. One killing happened many years ago but suddenly the Ursulina is back. Detective Rebeca Colder is on the case as she also deals with her own personal crisis with her marriage.
Gripping story
4.5 rounded up.
I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Gripping story
4.5 rounded up.
I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 21, 2023
Not quite the 5 star read of the first one, but I enjoyed it. Stellar narration on the audio book.
October 19, 2021
Brian Freeman continues to amaze and mesmerize me with his stunning ability to weave a tale that leaves you breathless. This book was thrilling, beautiful, terrifying, and gut wrenching all at the same time. If you haven’t read The Deep, Deep Snow yet, do yourself a favor and dive right in. Then, quickly follow it up with this wonderful book that is nothing short of a masterful work of art.
April 3, 2024
I could not put this listen down. I couldn’t do anything but hunker down and finish it. This book and book 1 were both books I will never forget. There really was nothing I thought was done wrong. Definitely you should read or listen to The Deep Deep Snow first. And this one was even better than the first.
It’s a murder mystery that involves a monster that lives in the woods near a small town. Supposedly anyway. People are getting cut up in slivers until they die. Gruesome stuff. The main female character is a deputy and is on the case to solve the mystery. There’s quite the cast of characters as many of the town people are questioned as well as some out of towners. And then another body turns up. The town has a factory as the place most people work and there’s a lawsuit going on as well. There’s lawyers and factory officials to hate as well as some really horrible guys. If it was me I would have moved away. Just saying. I’m going to leave it at that.
Bottom line? This was a rollercoaster ride of a story. Once you get into it there’s no stopping. I highly recommend this to mystery and thriller readers. Narration was stellar and I rated it 5 stars as well.
Trigger warning: Domestic Abuse which is separate from the main story but still important.
It’s a murder mystery that involves a monster that lives in the woods near a small town. Supposedly anyway. People are getting cut up in slivers until they die. Gruesome stuff. The main female character is a deputy and is on the case to solve the mystery. There’s quite the cast of characters as many of the town people are questioned as well as some out of towners. And then another body turns up. The town has a factory as the place most people work and there’s a lawsuit going on as well. There’s lawyers and factory officials to hate as well as some really horrible guys. If it was me I would have moved away. Just saying. I’m going to leave it at that.
Bottom line? This was a rollercoaster ride of a story. Once you get into it there’s no stopping. I highly recommend this to mystery and thriller readers. Narration was stellar and I rated it 5 stars as well.
Trigger warning: Domestic Abuse which is separate from the main story but still important.
July 14, 2021
This was a really great book!
February 3, 2022
Release day today, 2/1/2022 4.5 stars.
Firstly, I didn't realize that this was a prequel for The Deep Deep Snow, which I hadn't read, but it is not necessary to do so. If you read the DDSnow, you know it revolves around the life of Shelby Lake, an abandoned baby girl left at the sheriff's doorstep of Mittel County, a few hours away from Black Wolf County and the town of Random, where this takes place. He ends up raising her. This story explains what led to her mother’s choice of leaving her there one cold and blistery night. It is told in the form of a chronicle, if you will, but in conversation form from mother to daughter, explaining the whole story. As the story unfolds I found myself captivated, also realizing that the setting is as much a character as the cast of characters.
In this wilderness country of Blackfoot County, legend has it that a Big Foot-Sasquatch like monster roamed the area in past years and horrible crimes were committed that were attributed to it. Rebecca actually saw it once as a child and has never forgotten the sound he makes, nor his smell and intensity, and she never told a soul about the encounter. This is Rebecca's story, mother of Shelby, that abandoned baby who grew up to be a deputy sheriff in her home town where her adopted dad Tom is the sheriff who raised her. Her story parallels her mother’s as Rebecca is a deputy sheriff when this opens. She was unofficially adopted by one of Random’s leading law enforcement officers, Darrell, at a point in her life that she had no one and needed a father figure, following along in her mentors footsteps, like Shelby did, into law enforcement.
I went into this blind and was pleasantly surprised that Mr. Freeman's skillfully layered writing blended subplots and characters story lines, keeping me reading "just one more chapter" and also kept me up much later than I intended, resenting that I needed sleep to meet another day. There are twists you don't expect or see coming, but that SHOCKER near the end really threw me for a loop as I struggled to pick my jaw up off the floor. That itself warrants a discussion of its own.
Disclosure: grizzly murder scenes not for the faint-at-heart, but definitely a novel one won’t easily forget.
Get your copy today at your favorite retailer. Thanks to the following for the opportunity to read and review this e-galley prior to the formal hard copy release date. It was indeed a pleasure. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #Blackstone Publishing #The Ursulina
Firstly, I didn't realize that this was a prequel for The Deep Deep Snow, which I hadn't read, but it is not necessary to do so. If you read the DDSnow, you know it revolves around the life of Shelby Lake, an abandoned baby girl left at the sheriff's doorstep of Mittel County, a few hours away from Black Wolf County and the town of Random, where this takes place. He ends up raising her. This story explains what led to her mother’s choice of leaving her there one cold and blistery night. It is told in the form of a chronicle, if you will, but in conversation form from mother to daughter, explaining the whole story. As the story unfolds I found myself captivated, also realizing that the setting is as much a character as the cast of characters.
In this wilderness country of Blackfoot County, legend has it that a Big Foot-Sasquatch like monster roamed the area in past years and horrible crimes were committed that were attributed to it. Rebecca actually saw it once as a child and has never forgotten the sound he makes, nor his smell and intensity, and she never told a soul about the encounter. This is Rebecca's story, mother of Shelby, that abandoned baby who grew up to be a deputy sheriff in her home town where her adopted dad Tom is the sheriff who raised her. Her story parallels her mother’s as Rebecca is a deputy sheriff when this opens. She was unofficially adopted by one of Random’s leading law enforcement officers, Darrell, at a point in her life that she had no one and needed a father figure, following along in her mentors footsteps, like Shelby did, into law enforcement.
I went into this blind and was pleasantly surprised that Mr. Freeman's skillfully layered writing blended subplots and characters story lines, keeping me reading "just one more chapter" and also kept me up much later than I intended, resenting that I needed sleep to meet another day. There are twists you don't expect or see coming, but that SHOCKER near the end really threw me for a loop as I struggled to pick my jaw up off the floor. That itself warrants a discussion of its own.
Disclosure: grizzly murder scenes not for the faint-at-heart, but definitely a novel one won’t easily forget.
Get your copy today at your favorite retailer. Thanks to the following for the opportunity to read and review this e-galley prior to the formal hard copy release date. It was indeed a pleasure. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #Blackstone Publishing #The Ursulina
March 27, 2022
The Ursulina a is prequel to The Deep Deep Snow; not having read it, I don’t feel it is necessary to do so before enjoying The Ursulina. If you can tolerate grizzly murder scene descriptions, I recommend diving into The Ursulina.
The author’s writing style and skilled plot layering made me a fan. I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple character subplots and storylines. There is one unexpected twist after another, which kept me on my toes, and the big reveal at the end was quite a shock! There are many monsters in the small town of Random; beside Ursulina, the folks of Random, are battling other monsters like sexism, greed and hatred. There is an endless source of things to fear in this small town!
The intricate details and the story layout hooked me. The blend of legend, folklore and murder mystery intrigued me. The best part though, was the author’s characterization of Rebecca Colder and his use of her voice as the narrator. It felt ironic to have the story of a clearly male-dominated town be told by a woman.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
The author’s writing style and skilled plot layering made me a fan. I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple character subplots and storylines. There is one unexpected twist after another, which kept me on my toes, and the big reveal at the end was quite a shock! There are many monsters in the small town of Random; beside Ursulina, the folks of Random, are battling other monsters like sexism, greed and hatred. There is an endless source of things to fear in this small town!
The intricate details and the story layout hooked me. The blend of legend, folklore and murder mystery intrigued me. The best part though, was the author’s characterization of Rebecca Colder and his use of her voice as the narrator. It felt ironic to have the story of a clearly male-dominated town be told by a woman.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
February 4, 2022
Brian Freeman has quickly become one of my favorite mystery writers and this book did not disappoint! The Ursulina is set in the same remote area as The Deep, Deep Snow, but earlier, in the 1980s. The story’s narrator is Rebecca Colder, a young married police officer. She investigates a grisly murder of a visiting corporate lawyer whose murder is claimed by someone calling themselves the Ursulina, a mythical monstrous beast rumored to roam the wilderness.
The story was a little meandering at the beginning, but I couldn’t stop reading and I wanted to know what happened. I didn't solve the mysteries and was surprised at some of the answers. I found the end especially compelling. I have become so attached to the characters in this universe and really liked the resolution at the end. I both read the e-book and listened to the audiobook. January LaVoy’s audiobook narration was flawless. The Ursulina was another well-written and well-plotted story by Brian Freeman.
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story was a little meandering at the beginning, but I couldn’t stop reading and I wanted to know what happened. I didn't solve the mysteries and was surprised at some of the answers. I found the end especially compelling. I have become so attached to the characters in this universe and really liked the resolution at the end. I both read the e-book and listened to the audiobook. January LaVoy’s audiobook narration was flawless. The Ursulina was another well-written and well-plotted story by Brian Freeman.
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2023
4.5 stars - I went into this book with big expectations having read The Deep, Deep Snow (which I loved) not too long ago (which usually means that I end up disappointed). Not this time.
The Ursulina is the prequel to Deep Snow. Like any good prequel, it answers a lot of questions from the original book. What I found interesting about this book is that it is very different from the first book. It’s deeply disturbing and graphic and also mythical. I don’t want to give away anything but reading this book, it’s still not clear if there was an actual physical beast. It’s sort of left to the reader to interpret what happened. And the twist?! I honestly never saw it coming and that is rare. But this book is more than just the twist. It’s beautifully written. The last few pages I read with my heart in my throat. It was so emotional. Dare I hope for a third installment? One that picks up immediately after this one ended? Pretty please, Mr. Freeman … 🙏🏼
The Ursulina is the prequel to Deep Snow. Like any good prequel, it answers a lot of questions from the original book. What I found interesting about this book is that it is very different from the first book. It’s deeply disturbing and graphic and also mythical. I don’t want to give away anything but reading this book, it’s still not clear if there was an actual physical beast. It’s sort of left to the reader to interpret what happened. And the twist?! I honestly never saw it coming and that is rare. But this book is more than just the twist. It’s beautifully written. The last few pages I read with my heart in my throat. It was so emotional. Dare I hope for a third installment? One that picks up immediately after this one ended? Pretty please, Mr. Freeman … 🙏🏼
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