Book Review: Trempealeau

Reviewed by Audrey Davis

Thrilling sci-fi littered with dazzling secrets

In 1974, NASA’s Skylab released findings of an unexplained circular form seen from space, located on the southwest Wisconsin-Minnesota border. The announcement prompts local teens to search for it, but they wind up wandering into something much more mysterious and confidential than anyone had planned. 

Following the Skylab report is a series of disappearances from the area, one of which leaves local Jennifer von Guericke unable to trust, and ultimately drives a wedge between her and her mother. After almost 30 years, and her mother’s passing, Jennifer returns to her little hometown and is involuntarily swept back into the same abnormal happenings— but this time, she can search for the in-depth answers she deserves. 

“The tremors here that the professor had teased out of miles of seismograph paper across years of scratching, Frank had simply felt under foot in the past month.”

John Umhoefer’s debut novel certainly does not disappoint. The story skillfully weaves together facets of different genres—mystery, thriller, science fiction, and local legends all pressed into one action-packed tale. The addition of the real-life events, images, and transcripts add another level to the cryptic nature.

The chapters bounce back and forth between the present-day and flashbacks for different characters, which may feel a little bit off-putting at first, but the tension put on hold works incredibly well for it. 

“Jen climbed every inch of the valley trying to find something, to feel something, in the grit of the dirt and the cool of the limestone.”

The pacing fits the story perfectly, and with the aforementioned tension from the chapters, it provides a satisfying slow-burn. The reader learns information at about the same pace as Jennifer does, simulating her frustrated lack of knowledge, yet leaving it to be revealed as it becomes appropriate. The character development mirrors this in a way—characters are not introduced all at once, but are cultivated together so their development supports (or rejects) the others around them. 

” ‘Why do we have to grow up? Why does everybody think they have to leave?’ Paul said almost to himself. ‘I’d give anything for one more football game. One more long bomb.’ “

That being said, the descriptions and the scenery really make this story what it is. Regardless of if you have ever been to Wisconsin, you’re greeted with brilliant colors, sharp rock formations, bluff faces with crags and cuts, and perhaps trivial yet nonetheless familiar episodes that ooze the small-town America feel. Readers even get to see the inner workings of an award-winning, Wisconsin cheese factory, and the retail store and customers that usually come with it. The author’s familiarity with, and love for, the area is apparent, and this knowledge gives an air that the book itself knows all the secrets yet to be revealed.

“They made it back to Durand last evening as the sun was westering, and a thin band of fiery light appeared at the horizon after a day of drab clouds. When Ross and Marten entered the inn, a golden sunset washed the faces of a line of patrons at the bar, and each had pulled down their cap or turned away from the insult.”

This book is a great choice for those looking for authentic characters, well-paced suspense, and plenty of twists and turns. The book could stand alone as it is, but there are elements that beg to be continued, or perhaps even rediscovered.

---

Thank you for reading Audrey Davis’s book review of Trempealeau by John T. Umhoefer! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.