Local Sheriff Lee Torrens has a history with Jesse dating back to their childhood. She would like to make it something more but Jesse’s demons preclude much interaction with any other human being. She is a conscientious law enforcement officer so she reacts with diligence when the body of a skier is found dead in a gondola returning from the top of a mountain. Knowing Jesse has had much more experience dealing with violent crime than she has, Lee asks him if he will assist her in the case. Jesse has sworn off police work but he can’t resist the desire to come to the aid of a lifelong friend.

The case is complex. The killer has left no clues other than a faint trail in the snow indicating how he left the scene of the crime. The victim seems to have no ties to the local community and has not incurred the wrath of any local residents. Such a crime could remain unsolved until the killer decides to strike again using a similar technique.

Though both Jesse and Lee are perplexed they realize that somewhere within the paucity of information that they have gathered there remains a seemingly innocuous clue that will lead them to the perpetrator.

John Flanagan is a successful writer for young adults though this is his first novel for a different audience. With this knowledge in mind, it is understandable that he explains and provides much more information to the reader than most devoted adult mystery readers are used to or want. He reveals too much data about the killer – ergo the feeling of suspense is minimal. Readers can easily understand the perpetrator’s motive yet there is little motivation to develop either empathy or enmity toward him.

The emotional relationship between Jesse and Lee is treated as almost a subplot without any connection to the search for the perpetrator. While there are the obligatory torrid scenes between the two and the presence of the other woman to complicate the situation, the descriptions seem stilted and unnatural.

Though the basic premise of the plot is interesting – that there is a serial killer bent on murdering victims with no common factor among them – the sense of suspense is minimal. The reader knows too much while the main protagonists know nothing and have no leads (even false ones) to maintain the action.

While the setting is probably too familiar to avid skiers and other snow sports enthusiasts, those who consider snow as a form of torture brought on by Mother Nature on an altogether too regular basis may find the background information about the operation of a ski resort entertaining and interesting (especially when viewed from the comfort of an easy chair in a warm living room).

Author Flanagan has some good ideas for an adult audience but needs some time to develop his technique.

--Andy Plonka