This was one cold hearted book. The writing was exceptional, and the story quite interesting. I like stories that layer in history or some element, in this case fly fishing, that draws my attention, makes me think, and where I may actually learn something. I can only think of about 2 books related to fly-fishing that I have ever read. The first is The River Why which I read about 40 years ago... along with everyone else on the planet (who was old enough to read anyway). More recently the most heinous true crime novel and worst natural history disaster ever: The Feather Thief.

The Feather Thief will forever leave me jaded when it comes to fly-tiers and everything that it encompasses, but I was truly fascinated with the rendering of the art, skill, and obsessions as laid out in this book. I couldn't help it because the book is just that damn good. I felt that all of the characters were expertly drawn, no weak links there. ( )

This is the sixth book in the Sean Stranahan mystery series. Stranahan is a private investigator and fly fisherman in Montana. Author Keith McCafferty is the survival and outdoor skills editor of Field & Stream magazine.

The mystery is based on a true, but little known incident. Ernest Hemingway loved Montana and Idaho; he also loved fly fishing. On one of his trips to Montana, his steamer trunk of expensive, custom fly fishing gear disappeared en route, never to be found again. Hemingway's son has stated that an unpublished short story may also be in the trunk.

Suddenly, it seems that the trunk has been found, as bits of custom vintage fishing equipment, some marked 'EH' begin to turn up in Sean's area. And bodies begin to accumulate.

It starts out with a grisly tale of having to survive a freak spring storm inside a horse carcass a la Luke Skywalker on the Ice Planet. Unfortunately, while the author may be a survival specialist, I don't think he's a horseman, as the horse details are a bit off.

I was also annoyed that Stranahan had women throwing themselves at his feet, or, rather, his bed. Perhaps the author believes he is writing strong, independent women with non-traditional careers, but since none of the women actually talk to another woman in the book, it fails the Bechdel test.

I loved the outdoor details and I was not aware of the Hemingway lost trunk. All in all a decent enough mystery, which perhaps I would have appreciated more if I had read the previous titles, and not jumped in mid-series. ( )

Even with perhaps one too many twists and one too many turns, McCafferty's Cold Hearted River is a well paced who-done-it, with a wealth of nature's vocabulary. Having an Ernest Hemingway angle does anything but hurt. ( )

McCafferty has penned another great mystery. The series follows the adventures of Sean Stranahan, an artist/fly fisherman/private detective. This time, the story incorporates Ernest Hemingway into the fold. The author is a wonderful writer, his descriptions (especially of the rivers Stranahan is fishing) make you feel like you are there. The character development, even of the minor ones, is thorough, you are made to feel like you actually know the people. The stories flow very well, and I especially appreciate that McCafferty manages to wrap up all the loose ends in his books, and doesn't leave you hanging at the end.
The only complaint I can make about this book is that the main character, after several books, is getting a bit stale. The eventual seduction of every interesting woman he meets is cliche, almost like the author wants him to be James Bond. Other than that observation, the book is very good.
Cold Hearted River is the latest in the series, but it could be read as a stand-alone book.
I received an advance copy of this book from "First To Read" in exchange for a fair review. ( )

While Cold Hearted River is the 6th book in the Sean Stranahan mystery series, it served as my introduction to the series, and I look forward to going back and reading the rest (I actually went to our local bookstore as soon as I finished this one to buy the first two for my husband to take on our family vacation). The stories take place predominantly in Montana and remind me somewhat of C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett series though the particular crime at issue in Cold Hearted River is more literary oriented than the crimes in Box’s books. This mystery features Ernest Hemingway extensively, specifically his fishing gear and a potentially undiscovered manuscript; a subject matter that delighted me to no end. McCafferty’s characters are an interesting bunch (in a good way), indicative of individuals I would expect to find in rural Montana. The mystery is intriguing if a bit drawn out; I loved the Hemingway storyline and its various components, but I was ready for it to be over before it was.

As I frequently mention, I am a huge fan of cool book covers and prefer covers that relate to the story inside. This series contains distinct, unique covers that are very appealing and represent the tale being told. I always love that.

Cold Hearted River was a nice change of pace for me; McCafferty writes beautifully, and the book was a joy to read. Thanks to First to Read for this ARC. ( )