ISBN: 0-312-20548-1 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com
A suitably tense and twisty plot, a solid background of Alaska life and mores, and gritty, appealing characters make this a satisfying read.
Reviewed by David on September 21, 2004
Genre: Mystery (Private Investigator, Alaska)
Synopsis: Kate Shugak, a private investigator in Alaska, has a couple of self-imposed assignments. One is to retain an experienced park ranger in place despite an unsypathetic political administration. Another is to raise the son of her dead lover in his beloved Alaska, against the wishes of his vindictive mother.
However, the most challenging assignment comes when a long-time park resident is murdered.
Full Review: Kate is a very appealing character. Scarred by her memories of loss, she is still optimistic enough to fight for the right things. Her loyalty, intelligence and strength make her attractive, just as her stubborn, ornery nature make it difficult to love her.
Still struggling with her grief for Jack Morgan, her dead lover, as well as her growing attraction to Trooper Jim Chopin serve as a useful background to Kate's investigation of the personalities and history of the victims.
The climax seems a bit contrived, but most of the book is well drawn and well paced, and the solid, likable characters make reading this tense mystery a very pleasant experience.
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 6; Style: 6; World-building: 6.5; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 2002, St. Martin's Press (St. Martin's Minotaur), 2002, Cloth, 211 pages
ISBN: 0-312-20548-1 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com