Wreaking Vengeance: A Joe Erickson Mystery

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By SM Harrison

There’s something unsettling about Wreaking Vengeance: A Joe Erickson Mystery that sticks longer than the usual crime story. It’s not just the violence or the shock of the opening case. It’s the way the story refuses to give you easy footing, like you’re always a step behind something you can’t quite name. That tension is what makes it stand out, it doesn’t rely on noise, it leans into unease.

Reading it feels slow in a deliberate way, like you’re being pulled deeper into the investigation whether you’re ready or not. There is a steady build-up of pressure, not from sudden changes, but from small details that don't quite fit together at first. It creates this quiet frustration that turns into focus. You start trying to solve it alongside Erickson, even when the pieces don’t cooperate.

At its core, the story leans into control and the illusion of it. The notion that even organized systems, such as law enforcement, may find it challenging to manage unpredictable elements. There's also a thread about patterns, how people look for meaning in chaos, and how they sometimes make connections that aren't there. That tension feels like something I've been through before. It echoes how people deal with uncertainty in general, trying to impose order where there isn’t much.

Lynn-Steven Johanson writes with a steady hand. The pacing doesn’t rush, and that choice works in the book’s favor. It gives space for the investigation to feel real, even when the crimes themselves push into something more extreme. The language stays grounded, almost restrained, which makes the darker moments hit harder. There’s no need to over explain, and that restraint adds weight to what’s left unsaid.

It doesn't feel like a clean ending at the end; it feels more like a hard-earned understanding. It makes you think about how fragile the line between order and chaos can be. If you like mysteries that don't just entertain but also get under your skin, this is a good book to read.

About The Author

Lynn-Steven Johanson

Lynn-Steven Johanson is an award-winning playwright and novelist whose plays have been produced on four continents. Born and raised in Northwest Iowa, Lynn holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He lives in Illinois with his wife, and they have three adult children.