Matt GoldmanRecensioni

Mystery

3.5⭐

45-year-old Joey Green, a divorced father of two, travels from Chicago to Beaufort, South Carolina to help his mother take care of his 75-year-old father, Marshall, who has recently been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. His father, a doctor by profession, spent his whole life tending to the needs of patients in a free clinic for the less privileged and moved back to Beaufort after a long career in Chicago. Marshall's illness has adversely affected his short-term recall but his ability to recollect events from his past is stronger and he is able to describe his memories from decades ago with astonishing clarity. Marshall also experiences bouts of hallucinations wherein he strikes up conversations with people from his past. As Joey spends more time with his father, Marshall shares his memories of his own life as a child growing up in Beaufort and often brings up fond memories from Joey's and Joey's sisters' childhoods.

“My father had lost most of those distractions. He couldn’t hold anything in his head long enough to anesthetize himself with the simple diversion of thinking ahead. His past was his only safe haven. He could linger there to relive what he’d already lived. His present offered nothing but giant steps toward the end.”

When an affluent and influential member of the community is found murdered and clues point to the murder weapon being a pistol owned by Marshall, it is up to Joey to prove his father’s innocence as the police seem to close in on Marshall as a suspect. He is aided by Leela, also divorced and the daughter of his parents’ neighbors, with whom both sets of parents are intent on setting him up. From his father’s recollections, Joey also learns of two previous murders, dating back decades, of people close to Marshall. Joey must figure out whether the present-day murder is in any way connected to the events in his father’s past.

Matt Goldman’s Carolina Moonset is a beautifully penned novel. The setting is atmospheric and I loved the descriptions of the coastal town and the community. Goldman’s writing is impressive as are the characterizations. Both Joey’s and Marshall’s characters are very well–developed. Though the plot has a murder mystery at its core, the novel touches upon themes of love, family, community and aging. While I did enjoy the banter between Leela and Joey, I felt that the romantic track was unnecessary and rushed. The author paints a moving picture of the emotional toll that Marshall’s diagnosis has on his family and Joey’s helplessness as he witnesses his father’s health deteriorating and his desire to cherish every moment he can with his father is heartbreaking. Given that the story vacillates between the impact of Marshall’s illness on the Greens’ lives and the murder mystery, the pace does fluctuate which is not a problem. The author does a fine job of balancing both aspects of the story. The interactions between Joey and his father were deeply moving as was the bond the Green family shared with their friends and neighbors.The final reveal is a surprise and I enjoyed the build-up . This is my first Matt Goldman novel and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

“There are moments in life when you feel a truth so irrefutable that every thought and emotion you’ve ever experienced, every joy and hardship, falls into alignment. In that pinhole of time life makes sense.”

Title: A Good Family
Author: Matt Goldman
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"A Good Family" by Matt Goldman

My Sentiments:

We find this story quite intriguing while being a dramatic domestic suspense-thriller that deals with Kate Kuhlmann, her husband, Jack, and their two children [Elin & Kaleb]. Everything seemed to be going ok for this Kuhlmann family that lived in Edina, Minneapolis [on the outside...perfect couple, house, and neighborhood] until her husband started acting strange and getting worse as the marriage continued. Was t his job, or was he having an affair? Yes, ate had formed a friendship with a guy that started because she loved skiing, and it seemed like her husband had no time for her being 'touchy, angry, and so secretive,' and this was even to the two children. This was funny because he had the nerve to be concerned about her relationship with her ski buddy. Then this family has a friend from college, Adam Bagman Ross, that came for an uninvited visit and ended up staying with them. As the story continues, something is quite strange about this marriage, her club friends, neighbors, the man not living with them in his particular place... all was strange. Finally, promo ng Kate to ask for a divorce because she knows that something is wrong. She couldn't get any answers that she believed from Jack. What was this big secret that Jack was hiding with their friend Adam that had moved in and lived over their garage in their guest house? This story will be long, but by the end, the reader can see why the reader will have to keep up due to so many twists and turns coming out of this story. I liked the flashback of Katte's life with her parents and twin brothers. I guess she thought that marrying Jack would solve all of her problems [due to the fact he had money], different from living with her grandparents after the death of her parents. I loved how Kate fooled her husband, naming the kids after...well, I will stop here and say you must pick up "A Good Family" and see how this author brings it out, giving us a wow of a good ending for the reader.

Thank you, NetGalley, for eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A slow-moving domestic thriller that, in some places, is right up there with the movie Gaslight.

There are plenty of issues with this book; for example, Katie seems to be heavily in denial. We can almost understand why, but I can't buy it - not completely. I had to stretch my credibility muscles quite a bit during parts of this novel. Katie just seemed too naive to be a higher-up at General Mills.

I can not say that this was a bad read-it really wasn't, and it kept me turning pages avidly. I really wanted to know how and why Jack kept disappearing and why Bagman just suddenly showed up with not a peep from Jack or Katie at the lateness of the hour.

This was worth the time it takes to read and will keep you guessing even if the ending is a little too pat for my comfort. I will most likely be reading the next book Mr. Goldman produces.

ARC* was supplied by the publisher Forge Books, the author, and NetGalley.½

I had no idea what this book was about but just got caught up in it and listened half the night to finish it! Joey is visiting his parents in Beaufort, SC. His father, Marshall, who was a loving and caring doctor his whole life is now suffering from Lewy Body Dementia. While his short term memory is gone, his long term memory is excellent. He's starting to talk to dead people from long ago that Joey has no idea who they are. When a very wealthy well known man is shot with a pistol belonging to Marshall, a very old mystery needs to be solved to keep him out of jail. I spent some time in Beaufort when my parents lived in Hilton Head so I really enjoyed the setting in this book!½

Wow! Great well thought out mystery with likable characters and excellent writing and storytelling.
I mystery of a wealthy man shot in a peaceful Beaufort neighborhood, a man with severe dementia who disliked the dead man, and who doesn’t remember the night the man died, not where his gun is.
I will definitely look for other books by this author

A Good Family, by Matt Goldman, is a very well-written suspense novel that had me intrigued from cover to cover. It moved a little slow in the beginning, which I appreciated so I could make sure I knew and understood the characters. Well-developed plot, great characterization and easy to read. Highly recommend!

First book in the series, Nils Shapiro is a PI asked to help on a murder of a woman in Edina, MN. Nils is divorced from his wife, and is trying to find fulfillment in a loving relationship. As he delves into the mystery of this woman's murder, who is covered with dust, he is reunited with some childhood friends. He uncovers a secret relationship that the deceased, Maggie Somerville, had with a young Somali American woman. He also works to find the real killer, although there are some red herrings thrown in along the way.
I enjoyed this first book, and will look for the next in the series.

A changing present and an unreconciled past
“Carolina Moonset” is a story of a pearl-handled gun, the consequences of choices made, and the cost of justice delayed. The title of the book, “Carolina Moonset” is also the title of a painting of the marsh. While the marsh is beautiful during the day, this painting of the marsh at night is frightening. It shows the creek’s muddy bottom, an expanse of reeds, and the dark shadow of an immense home. In the painting and in life, many secrets are hidden in the marsh. Those complex secrets have substantial consequences in the present.
The story unfolds in Joey Green’s first person narrative, what he thinks, what he says to people, and what they say to him. He talks directly to the reader, sharing and remembering. Readers learn about his life, (both past and present) his insecurities about the future, and his loyalty to his family in Beaufort, South Carolina. Gradually, readers meet all the residents of the town, those from the past as well as those living there currently. Green is returning to Beaumont to assist his parents; his dad has Lewy Body Dementia. There is no hope of stopping memory loss; it just keeps eating away until there’s nothing left. While his dad’s short term memory is deteriorating, his long-term memory has improved; he shares previously forgotten past events that reveal questions that now require answers.
Goldman creates a compelling narrative filled with characters who are complicated and at the same time familiar. The story balances the changing present with the unreconciled past. I received a review copy of “Carolina Moonset” from Matt Goldman, Forge Books, and Macmillan Publishing.

“Carolina Moonset” is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, and anywhere you get your books.
For those readers who just MUST know, Chocolate Gators and Goo Goo Clusters can be purchased from several online candy stores.

#BookReview #CarolinaMoonset #MattGoldman

This is a bit different than the author's previous Nils Shapiro mysteries. In this story, Joey Green returns to Beaufort, South Carolina to help care for his father, Marshall, recently diagnosed with Lewey Body Dementia. Seeing that his mother could use a break, he encourages her to join a friend in a pickleball tournament in Florida.

Marshall has almost no short term memory, but he has clear recall of events that occurred decades ago. And he exhibits some animosities along with some hallucinatory arguments that Joey finds puzzling and out of character with the dad that he knew. As Joey cares for his father, he discovers that an old pistol that his father kept hidden in his fishing tackle box has gone missing. As Joey is trying to piece together the past and people who have been murdered or gone missing, a new murder occurs.

Past become present as Joey tries to unravel the old secrets and animosities that have led to current events.

This book was terrific! I went into this book without any expectations since I hadn’t heard a whole lot about it. It didn’t take me very long to determine that I had stumbled on an absolute gem. This book blends several genres seamlessly and is filled with realistic and likable characters. Once I started reading this book, I did not want to put it down.

Joey Green is on a visit to the small town of Beaufort, South Carolina, to spend some time with his father who is suffering from Lewy’s body dementia. He encourages his mother to take a trip since he can watch out for his father for a few days. Everything seems to be going well until a murder in the neighborhood brings the police to their front door. Joey’s father is stuck in the past since he has lost his short-term memory and seems to be talking to people from the past who aren’t there. Are the events from the past connected to the current murder? What exactly does Joey’s father know?

I thought that this book was incredibly well written. I was hooked by this book from the very start. The family drama surrounding the decline of Joey’s father and the toll it has taken on his mother was really well done. The change in Joey’s father’s mental status was upsetting not only for the family but for him as well. The mysteries from the past and the current murder kept me guessing and I enjoyed trying to figure out exactly what happened and how things might be connected. There is even a bit of romance between Joey and the neighbors’ daughter, Leela. I thought that Joey and Leela were great together and made a great team in trying to solve the mysteries. I really liked that they are a bit older and had a lot to figure out if they wanted to try to make a relationship work.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this story was an incredibly enjoyable read that left me thinking about the story anytime I had to set the book aside to deal with life. I will have to check out some of Matt Goldman’s other works.

I received a review copy of this book from Forge Books.

Title: Carolina Moonset
Author: Matt Goldman
Publisher: Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Forge Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Carolina Moonset" by Matt Goldman

My Assessments:

A well-written story of what happens when Joey Green comes back home to Beaufort, SC, to help his mom and take care of his father, who is suffering from Lewy body dementia. We find Marshall-Green, who is suffering from dementia, has no short-term memory, but surprisingly he can remember things from years ago...a murder that took place over fifty years ago in this small town. The author did an excellent job describing the ups and downs of dementia. To Joey's surprise, his father started telling him stories that he hadn't heard of, his hallucinations and changing moods, often talking with people from his childhood. While this is going on, Joey also meets the daughter, Leela, of the neighbor next door when there is a murder that takes place a few blocks from where they live. Now, who had killed this Thomas Hammond, a prominent member of society whom his father Marshall had hated for so long. So why did the police now focus on Marshall-Green? There will be some interesting characters in this read that add an exciting flow.

I enjoyed how Joey's mom and the neighbors played matchmakers in getting Joey and Leela together. However, the teaming-up process showed that things were not as they seemed, as Joey had to prove his father's innocence and uncover his secrets. So how will this all turn out? To get the answers to these questions and more, you will have to pick up "Carolina Moonset' and see how it all comes out to the reader.

Be ready for many twists and turns before all this mystery, suspense, and the love story is worked out. The author does an excellent job at giving the reader a beautiful South Carolina setting with 'sways with palms and waves, boats, and beauty, the integument of love between races, unrequited love, a new love, and an old love' that comes together giving the reader quite a beautiful, and heartbreaking good read till the end. The 'Carolina Moonset' picture was also so beautiful; it explained how it was given to Marshall-Green and who had painted it.

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and Matt Goldman, for the ARC.

Joey Green is visiting Beaufort, South Carolina to help his aging parents. His father has dementia and is mother has caregiver's burnout and needs a break. Joey's father has no short-term memory, yet has a vivid, detailed recall of the past. Before leaving for the weekend, his mother instructs Joey to always lock his father in the house, so he can't wander. One night, there is a thunderstorm, and Joey forgets to lock the back door. He also realizes that his father's pistol is missing from the garage.
That night, Thomas Hammond, a prominent local businessman is found murdered by gunshot. Joey's father has expressed antipathy toward Hammond, but there are many in town who could be considered his enemies. The gun that killed Hammond matches the missing pistol and the police close in on Joey's father. Joey fights to prove his father's innocence, while unearthing the long-buried secrets of this atmospheric, southern town.
Carolina Moonset is a well written, immersive, and fast-paced mystery. The author's portrayal of the toll dementia takes on a family, added depth and emotion. The romance in this story was fun and believable. Joey's character is likeable, and it feels like he is taking you into his confidence. The reader can't help but root for the investigative team of Joey and his intelligent, strong girlfriend, Leela.
I appreciated the diversity and inclusivity in this story. The author skillfully confronts the issues of racism and anti-Semitism and includes an asexual character. Carolina Moonset is a great combination of suspense, romance and family drama.

family, family-dynamics, secrets, lies, dementia, murder, misconduct****

First reaction? I wanted Nils Shapiro!
Next reaction? This is a good novel, and it brings back the kind of issues that we used to have to deal with when I worked memory care and Alzheimer's units (sometimes acute care as well), and now I'm seeing in old friends and their families. Nothing as conflicting as possible current murder like in this novel, but there have been devastating things that happened.
This novel has solid characters, flawless world building, and thorough plot development. It is a good read for most, but a chilling one for some.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Forge Books via NetGalley. Thank you.

I got hooked on this book - especially Joey Green, the main character, in the first chapter and my love of this character never diminished. This book has it all - family dealing with an aging parent, love, a bit of sex and a mystery that gets deeper as the book goes on and ends with a surprise ending. The other plus for me were the beautiful descriptions of Beaufort, South Carolina, one of my favorite cities to visit.

Joey is a 45 year old divorced man with two children. He's come to visit from Chicago to help his mother take care of his father who has advanced Alzheimer's. As his father's short term memory disappears, his long term memory comes alive. Most days, he can't remember eating right after he finishes a meal but he can tell long and involved stories about his childhood. At first it seems like a blessing to have his long term memory become so vivid. But when he starts talking to old friends that aren't there, secrets from his youth come to light. Even though his hallucinations are from years earlier, the truth could cause damage to many people in town. Joey starts investigating when an enemy of his father gets shot and his father's gun is missing. As Joey talks to long-term residents of Beaufort, the mystery slowly unravels but it needs to be better understood so that the wrong people don't get blamed for what happened.

This story really touched my heart and, yes, caused a few tears. From what Joey said, his father used to be a strong dedicated doctor who took care of the poor. To see what was happening to him due to his disease was difficult and I felt the love that Joey had for him and the despair that he was feeling about his disease. Joey believed that he was not an empathetic person but he was wrong, The empathy that he showed his parents at this dark time in their lives was wonderful.

Matt Goldman is a new author for me and this book impressed me so much that I plan to read his earlier books soon.

Thanks to Bookish Firsts for a copy of this book to read and review.

Don't you just love it when you read a really good book by a new-to-you author, and now you get to read his previously unknown-to-you books? That's how I feel now. I just read the really good CAROLINA MOONSET by Matt Goldman, a new-to-me author who previously wrote four books I now get to read. And, if author blurbs mean something to you, I'm joined in my praise by William Kent Krueger.

Joey, a 45-year-old divorced father from Chicago, is visiting his parents in South Carolina. His father is suffering from dementia, and his mother needs a break. While there, Joey meets Leela, the daughter of his parents' next-door neighbors. She is also in her 40s and divorced, and she also has children. Together they discover secrets about long-ago unsolved murders in this area. Then another murder occurs, and the police want to accuse Joey's father, who is not only physically and memory impaired but will die in a few years. So Joey and Leela investigate further and find even more secrets in this town, most from long ago, all involving his father and friends and rich brothers and their women.

Oh, so what if parts of the story sound a bit soap opera-ish.

From CAROLINA MOONSET's first page, I knew I was going to like the book. Goldman's writing is superb, and it grabbed me right away. Pay attention, even in Chapter 1, to every little thing. These are clues to what comes later.

I won an advance reading copy of CAROLINA MOONSET through bookishfirst.com.

I received an advance copy of this book. Thank you.
There is mystery, family connections, family secrets and second chances in this book. Joey Green returns to Beaufort, SC to help his mother take care of his father, who is suffering with Lewy Body Dementia. As his dad's short-term memory fades, his long-term memory gets sharper. His father hallucinates, talking with people from his childhood. Joey wonders about who these people are, and why his dad is drawn to them. Shortly after arriving, his mother plays match maker, and this time, she may have gotten it right. Literally the girl next door. Neither he, nor Leela, really want to start anything after their divorces, but they come to count on each other as the week goes by. Joey's mom takes a long weekend trip, and while she's gone Beaufort's most influential citizen is murdered. Joey realizes he wasn't with his father every minute and doubts begin to creep into his mind as to whether his dad could have been involved. Joey and Leela team up to prove that things are not as they seem, and secrets from long ago are rising up.
Great Read.

Hollywood, entitled-attitude, murder, murder-investigation, film-industry, false-information, falsely accused, flim-flam, friction, friendship, fugitive, funeral, ex-cop, extortion, attempted-murder, pretentious, private-investigators, procedural, snarky****

An extremely wealthy octogenarian matriarch is paying Shapiro to go to Hollywood to see if her grandson is wasting his inheritance. Said grandson is a mess because his fiancée has just died. Was it an OD, a byproduct of the thinness mentality of the film industry, or something altogether different? Shapiro knows he is in way over his head and just wants to go back home to his own fiancée. But he discovers another angle just about the time that the thirty something entrepreneur declares that he needs Shapiro's help. Then it turns into a Hollywood kind of mess, but at least the local police detectives definitely know what they're doing. Put all this mess alongside the issues that surround Shapiro's good friend who is having a PTSD meltdown and you have a good but crazy read.
Now that he's been on one coast, I wonder if he'll go to New Jersey and meet up with fellow snark king, Andy Carpenter.
Voice actor Bronson Pinchot was good as general narration and the voice of Shapiro, but his interpretation of the other characters both new and recurring made me want to find a good TTS robot.

private-investigators, law-enforcement, procedural, twin-cities, false-information, falsely accused, family-dynamics, family, friendship, friction, snarky, suspense, suspicion, thriller, murder, murder-investigation, rivalry, greed, politics, estranged, artist, wealthy, lawyers, ex-cop, small-town*****

Murder as a statement. Digging through the interconnected marital and business arrangements of the first deceased is quite a challenge, but when you add in the complicated post-divorce life of Shapiro, the squeaky clean personal and professional life of his private investigator business partner Anders Ellegaard, and an inadequate police force in a small town with no real crime, you have subtotal insanity. It moves along quickly and is as twisty as it is snarky. Plus, all the dead-end trails and red herrings. Just when I'd think that I had a handle on something, PLOT TWIST! Loved it!
The narration is well done (with only a few misses) by voice actor MacLeod Andrews and I truly enjoyed listening to his snarky narration.

hockey, false-information, falsely accused, family-dynamics, law-enforcement, friction, friendship, Minnesota, murder, murder-investigation, attempted-murder, private-investigators, procedural, rivalry, riveting, snarky, suspense, suspicion, thriller, greed, drug-trafficking, drugs-issues, teens, injury, nursing-care, interpersonal-problems*****

Uff Da!
Nils Shapiro and his private investigator business partner Anders Ellegaard get entangled in missing teenaged girls, an NHL hero, high school hockey tournaments, attempted murder (Nils) via arrows, several other murders (mostly via arrows), conflicting antagonistic law enforcement agencies, and the ongoing girlfriend issues (Nils), and some odd surprises. Law enforcement focuses on admissible evidence, while the PIs doggedly follow the evidence. It moves along quickly and is as twisty as it is snarky. Plus all the dead-end trails and red herrings. Just when I'd think that I had a handle on something, PLOT TWIST! Loved it!
The narration is well done (with only a few misses) by voice actor MacLeod Andrews and I truly enjoyed listening to his snarky narration.
Not unbiased review--very familiar with those parts of Minnesota, Upper Peninsula Michigan, and northern Wisconsin (and of Norwegian heritage).

private-investigators, law-enforcement, procedural, Minneapolis, St Paul, false-information, falsely-accused, family-dynamics, friendship, friction, snarky, snow-season, murder, murder-investigation, suspense, suspicion, thriller, FBI*****

Bought this audio on sale, actually twice (by accident). Money well spent for me.
While I have never actually lived in or around the Twin Cities, several family members and a few friends have lived and gone to university there while I remained near Milwaukee. Point being the nostalgia of listening to all the directions, neighborhoods, roadways, and winter weather.
As a procedural it was very well done and kept me guessing through the plot twists and red herrings. Lots of attention to detail in many aspects, including the characters. The tale is told as a narrative by Nils Shapiro, PI who is a very likeable, regular guy with personal problems like the rest of us. I am going to hunt down the rest of the series.
The narration is well done by voice actor MacLeod Andrews and I truly enjoyed listening to him.

Had to abandon even though I like these books - it's Bronson Pinchot's narration - absolutely horrible. I've never heard ANYONE talk like he's making everyone do. Hushed and stilted with a cadence I've never heard in my life. Rushes where there wouldn't be, pauses that make no sense. It's so distracting and terrible that I gave up.

The third Nils Shapiro mystery deals with politics and the related polarization in the US. Well done.

The fourth in the Nils Shapiro series. Nils heads to LA and gets involved with a group of screen writers and producers when he agrees to check on Beverly Mayer's grandson after the death of his fiance'. Nils suspects the death was suspicious....and it turns out he was correct.

First in the Nils Shapiro mystery series. Not great literature, but a good read.