When Craig Moore drowns in a lake, Andy Crowl is surprised to learn that his cousin left him his few possessions despite their not seeing each other for years because of a childhood rivalry. Andy  and his sister Kate, go to Craig’s house in Mortom to sort through the inheritance when they come upon a dead rat with a key in its mouth. It turns out someone has set up clues for Andy to follow. But who is behind this, why was this game set up, and where does it lead to?

In their quest to solve the mystery, Andy and Kate get to know the people who were closest to their cousin: his mother Mary, his friend Debbie, his neighbor and employer Ricky, and his poker partner Harlan. Mortom also plays a big part in the story, being a small town where people know everybody’s business.

Mortom is a suspenseful read, and the ending is unexpected and satisfying. In addition, the mystery of Craig’s paternity ties in neatly with the game. However, I didn’t understand why Kate was so angry at Andy at the beginning of the book. Maybe the author could have added some background information to explain their relationship?

Mortom is Erik Therme’s first published work, and he has hinted that there might be a sequel to this book. It would be interesting to know more about Andy and Kate, especially as the author left some questions unanswered concerning Kate.

Mortom by Erik Therme was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

Fun facts about the book and the author:

• Mortom is a fictional town based on Farmington, Iowa.
• Erik Therme likes to write in a dark room listening to loud music.
• The author is a fan of Stephen King.
• He started writing when he was 15 years old.

About the author and his work: Erik Therme’s website

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