Library Journal:Starred Review – When Vera Gamble learns that her brother Siggy’s body has been found, years after his disappearance, on the shores of Winter Haven, ME, she travels to the remote island to claim it. In examining the corpse, Vera is startled to discover that her brother had not aged since he disappeared. She also learns there are mysterious island legends about an uninhabited forest and supernatural entities out for revenge. Christy Award winner Dickson’s (River Rising) engrossing and taut novel pulls readers into the life of Vera and her quest to find out what happened to her little brother. Highly recommended for all collections.
Romantic Times: Top Pick! – Nothing is as it seems in this novel by a gifted writer. Readers will be swept along with the suspense and paranormal elements, and they’ll still be guessing until the last paragraph.
Christian Fiction Review: Five Stars – Dickson takes all the elements of a typical “gothic” mystery/horror story and mixes them together into quite the tale. It’s scary, but in a suspenseful way, with a growing sense of dread that’s an actual delight to experience. The conclusion is a twist of sorts, of course, as is to be expected in these stories. But it’s one that works exceedingly well with all the elements…. Highly Recommended.
World Magazine: …a page turning gothic tale, combining elements of romance, mystery and ghost story, that aspires to go beyond genre to explore God’s purpose in suffering.
Faithful Reader: In Winter Haven, master storyteller Athol Dickson returns to Maine, the setting of his last novel, The Cure, to spin the sort of hair-raising tale of suspense his readers have come to expect and enjoy…. You’ll feel the goose bumps begin to rise… As events spiral out of control, Vera wonders about a God who would make the coast of Winter Haven so gorgeous, yet allow her and her family to suffer endlessly. No easy question, and it remains a dilemma for Vera until the closing pages and another hook for faith readers. The last two chapters will please those who are looking for a redemptive ending to Vera’s story. Winter Haven is an absorbing suspense novel from one of Christian fiction’s most engaging writers.
Armchair Interviews: Athol Dickson is, in my opinion, simply one of the best modern-day writers and storytellers. He is able to draw in a reader and with his prose, you smell, feel and live what he writes about. His stories are complex, his characters richly drawn, and his plots are meticulous and believable…. Athol Dickson has scored a winner with Winter Haven. It is dark and haunting and reminiscent of stories like Rebecca and Wuthering Heights but with God at the center. It is also beautiful and hopeful. I believe Mr. Dickson will score another Christy nomination with Winter Haven. It is my favorite book of 2008 thus far…a must read.
Bookshelf Review: Athol Dickson is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Winter Haven is further proof of the depth of his talent and his storytelling ability. At its core this is a mystery novel, yet it is so much more. Dickson treats us to a wonderfully drawn story that includes suspense, chills, a hint of romance, and a search for spiritual truth that will resonate with the reader long after the last line.
CBA Retailer and Resources: This is first and foremost a captivating story, well told…. Dickson’s excellent descriptive prose paints pictures every reader can see. His story is filled with action, adventure, mystery, and, of course, romance. He explores themes of faith, fear, superstition, imagination, and family relationships. Every chapter ends with a surprise that propels the reader toward an unexpected conclusion. Winter Haven is a compelling read that appeals especially to women.
Library Journal: I was surprised at how suspenseful this book really was. It has a gothic feel to it, and I found myself very drawn into the story. One thing I was worried about was how Vera would be portrayed, but Mr. Dickson writes from the female perspective very convincingly. This book has mystery, suspense, and even some history and romance. I will be reading more of Athol Dickson’s work.
Minnesota Christian Chronicle: As usual, Dickson’s writing pulls the reader into his narrative. Particularly with this novel, Dickson is able to create, in the reader’s mind, the raw beauty and starkness of the island—from its wave-crashing shores to its ancient forest. The sounds and smells unique to this island come alive in Dickson’s narrative . . . It’s a story ripe with sense of place and a hunger for healing.
TitleTrakk.com: Mixing the lonely chills and eerie settings of Stephen King’s The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon with the gothic feel of the classic Rebecca, this novel moves from one side of the island to the other as Vera searches out the truth. Though a richly detailed and atmospheric story, the pace moves right along once you settle into its ethereal feel. The search for truth is multi-layered . . . Dickson’s mastery . . . makes Winter Haven rise above the standard fair of gothic suspense.
Endorsements
“Winter Haven is Mr. Dickson’s most compelling read yet. The setting is as much a part of the story as the well-crafted characters and plot. Winter Haven will take you to a vivid and unforgettable place, where things can’t possibly be as they appear—and yet they are. An extraordinary book!” – Maureen Lang, Author of The Oak Leaves
“Athol Dickson’s Winter Haven crackles with tension on every vividly drawn page. A master of misdirection and hidden meaning, Dickson draws the heroine ever closer to a shocking truth that will shatter lives or transform them, including her own.” – Jill Elizabeth Nelson, author of the To Catch a Thief series of romantic suspense
“Winter Haven is a melancholy gothic mystery beautifully told. The depth and resonance of Athol Dickson’s writing and the originality of his stories is always amazing.” – DeAnna Julie Dodson, author of In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed, and To Grace Surrendered
“Acclaimed author Athol Dickson has created a chilling, thought-provoking romantic mystery with a classic Gothic appeal. Winter Haven’s unique plot and vivid details will keep readers guessing and turning pages late into the night.” – Kacy Barnett-Gramckow, Moody Publisher’s GENESIS trilogy author
“Winter Haven is a brilliant book. Athol Dickson’s prose is sterling, his story pure gold. A must for readers of all genres. Expect to be surprised, stunned, and delighted.” – Kathryn Mackel, author of Vanished
“Athol Dickson spins a haunting tale in Winter Haven, drawing on historical, archaeological, and supernatural elements to hold the reader bound to each page. The sense of place is well-wrought, the characters hewn by their harsh and isolated environment until people and place merge into a force with which newcomer Vera Gamble must contend. A riveting suspense.” – Kristen Heitzmann
“Startling developments weave a delicious web of faith and disbelief! If you’re a reader with a wanderlust for mystery and the unexplained, make Winter Haven your next retreat.” – Ginger Garrett, TV Host and Author of CHOSEN: THE LOST DIARIES OF QUEEN ESTHER
“Winter Haven will grab you. This book won’t let you go until the last specter of the Maine forest is laid to rest and the final fear from the sea fades into the fog.” – Eric Wiggin, author of 14 novels set in Maine
