UP Notable Book Club: The Crystal Falls Community District Library, in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA), has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List. The 63rd event is with Terri Martin, whose latest book Straw Horse continues the Kat Wilde U.P. Mystery series started with Gift Horse in 2025. Kat Wilde is a mid-twenties, Gen Z heroine whose appeal comes from being thoroughly ordinary—and then forced into extraordinary circumstances. She is a young woman trying to figure out what to do with her life, who unexpectedly discovers that she is much tougher, more resourceful, and more courageous than she thought. With some help from Nikko Olesen, the local woods cop and unexpected romantic partner, together they will prevail over life-threatening circumstances.
Here are your playback links, feel free to share on social media and forward to family, friends, colleagues:
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/dzu4Rql4eb0
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2JgcaaZ7CC7SUFwnFS1tTH?si=vBY_Aax_Sn6f4vVyiDOKgw
We recommend you borrow a copy of Straw Horse: A Kat Wilde U.P. Mystery from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
TERRI MARTIN started her writing career as a regular contributor to several Midwest publications. Her stories often reflect the culture and characters she has encountered during her twenty-five years of living in Upper Michigan. Terri and her husband enjoy watching the menagerie of freeloading wildlife from their home on the Silver River. While the winters are harsh, the soul never tires of the beauty of the Northwoods. Martin has a master’s degree in English and has taught college success courses, tutored English, and served as an aide for college composition classes.
Martin also has a full-length novel, Moose Willow Mystery, along with three anthologies of humorous stories. She received a previous U.P. Notable Book Award for her middle-grade children’s novel, The Home Wind, and has an additional middle-grade book, Voodoo Shack.
“Terri Martin’s Straw Horse is filled with intrigue, suspense and humor coupled with a blooming romance. The story takes place in the Northwoods at a fictional town called Peshekee located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (U.P.). The main characters in the book are Kat, Nikko, Sheriff Olsen, Raymond, Clay, Spiller, Aunt Lin, Varga, Gussy, Kat’s parents and other characters, such as horse owners and community service providers. Kat, the main character, feels threatened by an intimidating character who was linked to a couple who ended up dead in a remote location. Nikko and Kat discovered the dead bodies. Aunt Lin, an endearing person who lives with Kat and helps her at the Wildwood Stables. Nikko has taken a liking to Kat, and their relationship abounds with unknown possibilities. A straw horse was one that held no promise of winning. Many of the horses taken in by Kat did not stand a chance of winning but held a special place in Kat’s heart and the hearts of others. A multitude of disturbing things happened at Wildwood Stables from a fire, cut brake lines to runaway horses. Kat’s life was in danger from an unknown culprit(s) who may been associated with ancient civilization artifacts.” Read the rest of the story on U.P. Book Review
More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review, and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com
