Synopsis

 

It's 1867 and in the heart of a raging blizzard, Dorian Creedy, a pursued U.S. Civil War deserter, clings to life on a frozen cliffside in the Canadian wilderness. Fast-forward to 1999 and Aaron Faulk, a wealthy New York businessman, struggles to hold his family together. His boyhood friend mysteriously drowns and through events that follow, the Faulks are pulled northward to live a simpler life at the Muskokian, Aaron's childhood home. The past and the present converge as Aaron's sons, Ewan and Matthew, are drawn into the darkness of their family's past.

 

The dream of a gentler life quickly

becomes an adversarial nightmare
and a fight for survival. Against the

backdrop of the rugged Muskoka

wilderness, the boys become reluctant

participants in an ancient supernatural

conflict, a quest for hidden riches, and

a search for truth about their father and

grandfather. Ultimately the perilous

path they trace leads them to unearth

more than they could ever imagine.

 

 

This book, The Muskokans, by Artis Fricbergs, had me captivated right at the start. A wonderful story set in the Muskoka area of Northern Ontario. There is history, legend, adventure, greed, suspense, ghosts, weird dreams and humour, all within the covers of this book.  Thank you Goodreads, Muskox Publishing, and Artis, for selecting me to review this book. 

 

A father said to his sons, " always do the right thing, no matter how difficult, never compromise", found on page 638. I never realized the history about Muskoka, the huge ships that came and went to bring the rich and famous to the grand hotels that were on the various islands. Some of those grand hotels are still there, but many were lost to fire over the years.

Artis, I do hope that you will write another book.

Elaine Tucker, London, Ontario - Goodreads Contest Winner

 

The Muskokans is a great tale; full of mystery, adventure and history. It captured my interest immediately and kept me guessing throughout the twists and turns. The detailed description
created vivid images of the beautiful scenery in my mind and I loved the characters, particularly
the brotherly bond between Ewan and Matthew. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and
recommend it to lovers of suspense and action. Brilliant story.

Lauren Algeo, Author - Hikers Series, The Perfect Date, Survive the Night

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Murder, suspense, greed, ghosts, lucid dreaming, stepping back in time – all with sprinklings of candid humor – this book takes turns that you just don't see coming. Fricbergs' ability to verbally paint pictures made me feel like I was actually in the story. Loved the characters, the Muskoka setting, and the mix of fact and fiction. Reading it was like watching a movie in my head. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If it comes out in print I'll have to pick up a copy to put on my shelf.  It's a keeper.

Brian Coughlin, Stouffville, Ontario

 

Loved the book. Was drawn into the story right from the start. Suspense, mystery, adventure and history all in one. Felt a closeness to the characters as if they were my own friends. Twists and turns throughout keeping you guessing as to which character is trustworthy and which ones were going to end up deceiving you. The "Cats in the Cradle" feeling convincingly presented. There were chilling times when I felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The beauty of the Muskokas has piqued my interest in going there and experiencing it for myself. I felt like I was there breathing it, smelling it, admiring the scenery. The story left me wanting more. I want to meet up with those characters again.

Michael Kibsey, Mississauga, Ontario

 

Aaron Faulk is a man of business, his life filled with the trials and tribulations faced by many of us. His life takes a turn and he reconnects with the Muskokas. Artis is a wordsmith. His book is crafted with care and is free of the sloppy errors all too common in fiction today. Good work.

Jerome Brooke, Author

 

A family that lived in New York come back to the father's past history and move to the Muskoka region. For Aaron, the father, it means going back to the place where he was young and happy. We won't know much about the mom's feelings, because this book is not about her. For the teen boys, it implies a complicated mixture of feelings. They are enthused by the feeling of freedom it gives them, but scared at the mount of physical work it will imply to restore the old place.

Still, Matthew and Ewan begin running around, discovering all the nature around them and they soon become part of an amazing adventure playing with time, where their friends are ghosts, memories of the past. A bond unites the two boys and the land, with so many mysteries it makes their heads spin. I enjoyed the thrilling and scary tale they live, as well as the time travel part. I got scared with them, laughed with them and learned with them. A few times,
you must pay attention not to get mixed up between past and present, but it never gets
really awkward.

 

The problem I had ( and it's not the author's fault! ) is mostly that it is not my past,
my memories. I believe for people who grew up close to that wilderness, close to the lakes,
there must be a magical link with the way they discover life. If a book existed to take me
on such a path along the Mediterranean sea, I could feel it better. 

 

The book mixes normal teenagers' lives with fantastic encounters and obviously memories from the author. The result is a dreamlike adventure that will mark the boys for the rest
of their lives... and maybe more.

Anne Martin, Niagara Falls, Ontario - Goodreads Contest Winner

 

A Canadian Adventure! The Muskokans was a joy to read, but such a roller coaster ride! Interesting characters with integrity, paranormal activity, a history that runs deep below
the rocks of the Canadian Shield, all wrapped in a wonderful family adventure in Muskoka. 
I really enjoyed the writing style, as I felt I was there! I will say little as to not give anything away, but I am eagerly anticipating the next novel!

Amazon.com Customer

 

Fantastic Book! I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway. I have no
hesitation in giving this book 5 stars - the plot has clearly been thought out which I believe contributes to the ease in which the book can be read (I found that I would have read 100-150 pages before even realising). All the characters are described well and the family bond between Anne/Aaron/Ewan and Mathew is clear to see. I have never been to Canada however it was
easy for me to imagine the surroundings as the descriptions the author provides are so vivid.
I do hope that the author writes another book.

Eleri Jenkins, Great Britain - Goodreads Contest Winner 

 

I need to read more by this author. I loved this book so much it had me hooked and when it ended I really wanted more. The best aspects for me were the characters and the writing.
I really enjoyed the main characters and the writing style was brilliant. I can't wait to
read more by this author.

April Fitzpatrick, Great Britain - Goodreads Contest Winner

 

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. This book had everything ... suspense, paranormal events, violence, history, absorbing family dynamics ... in a way, it had too much.
I took me some time to plow through this book; it never seemed to go where I thought it would. At times, that was interesting but, at other times, that was frustrating. I was involved in following the story but I also felt that there was some overhead that could have been
eliminated to make the story sharper. I liked the well drawn characters. I especially
enjoyed the brothers, Ewan and Matthew. And I have to say that the ending left me
dissatisfied but I suspect it was intended to do so.

Liz Niner, Ormond Beach, Florida - Goodreads Contest Winner

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