Books about gangsters, hiking intrigue Northern Michigan readers

Paul Welitzkin, The Petoskey News-Review
·4 min read

GAYLORD — Books about gangsters, a 1980s murder in Gaylord and some of the top hiking spots in the Lower Peninsula head the list of tomes that have intrigued the readers who frequent one Northern Michigan bookstore.

Lindsay Kline of Plot Bound Books at 131 W. Main St. in Gaylord has come up with a list of books that are popular with her readers.

"Anything about birds, trees and mushrooms seems to be popular," Kline said recently. When asked to narrow down the most popular books with a Northern Michigan connection, Kline came up with this list:

  • "Gangsters Up North" by Robert Knapp

  • "Wicked Takes the Witness Stand" by Mardi Link

  • "Tom Lake" by Ann Patchett

  • "50 Hikes in Michigan" by Jim DuFresne

  • "Finn has Anxiety" by Kiera Raymond

Here are some of the books that Lindsay Kline, owner of Plot Bound Books in Gaylord, said are favorites of Northern Michigan readers.
Here are some of the books that Lindsay Kline, owner of Plot Bound Books in Gaylord, said are favorites of Northern Michigan readers.

"Gangsters Up North"

Northern Michigan remains a popular four-season tourist destination and Robert Knapp's book helps readers discover the bootleggers, gamblers and gangsters who traveled north for pleasure and profit.

Knapp, a professor emeritus at the University of California-Berkley, told the News Review in 2020 that gangsters came north for the same reasons many others visit.

“They were interested fundamentally in two things; investment in gambling and recreation,” he said. There was also some interest in bootlegging during Prohibition. He says these lawbreakers however, “were not interested in murder and mayhem” in the north.

A story that does prove authentic is John Dillinger visiting Sault Ste. Marie in the company of one of his associates, John Hamilton, a native of the Soo. Dillinger and Hamilton traveled north in April 1934 looking to avoid detection, enjoying a brief reunion with Hamilton’s sister Anna Steve and her family.

Soon after, a local jury found Steve guilty of harboring the criminals, sentencing her to four months in prison. Hamilton died a short time later from wounds sustained in a gunfight with the FBI, though Dillinger remained at large until federal agents gunned him down in Chicago in July 1934.

"Wicked Takes the Witness Stand"

In a guest column for the News Review in 2015, former Herald Times reporter Vicki Naegele, who wrote extensively on this case for the newspaper, examines Mardi Link's book on the murder of Jerry Tobias, an oilfield worker whose body was found in the back of his pickup truck in 1986 behind the Gaylord Fire Hall.

"From that moment, the case would grab headlines for 10 years until the men imprisoned for the crime were cleared," wrote Naegele.

"Tom Lake," by Ann Patchett.
"Tom Lake," by Ann Patchett.

"Tom Lake"

Ann Patchett is the author of nine novels, including Tom Lake, a meditation on youthful love, married love and the lives parents have led before their children were born.

In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew, according to goodreads.com.

"50 Hikes in Michigan"

Author Jim DuFresne said he has a deep rooted passion for two things: sunsets and shoreline. "No doubt the result of living my entire life in the two states that have more coastline than any other, Alaska and Michigan," he said.

Each chapter begins with an overview of each hike ― the type of hike, total distance, time, difficulty, highlights, maps and trailhead GPS coordinates. Readers will learn the best way to access the trail, tips and suggestions, and key features to look out for along the way, such as scenic views, drinking water, rest stops, waterfalls and old growth trees.

DuFresne is scheduled to appear at 6 p.m. on March 19 at the Otsego County Library, 700 S. Otsego Ave. in Gaylord.

"Finn has Anxiety"

This is a children's book about a curious and adventurous cat named Finn who suddenly starts to experience feelings of anxiety. As Finn's world becomes filled with worry and fear, he struggles to understand what's happening to him, according to goodreads.com.

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Thankfully, Finn's loving parents are there to guide him through this difficult time. Together, they help Finn learn how to recognize and control his anxious thoughts and feelings. From deep breathing exercises to positive self-talk, Finn discovers a range of tools that he can use to manage his anxiety and regain control of his life.

With colorful illustrations and relatable characters, "Finn Has Anxiety" is a good read for any child who's struggling with anxiety or other difficult emotions. Author Kiera Raymond lives in Northern Michigan.

— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Books about gangsters, hiking intrigue Northern Michigan readers