Early on, she meets a young racer, Debbie Todd, whose step-father Jake is an old hand and a friend of Jessie’s. The first part of the race is smooth sailing, with only a few minor annoyances for Jessie. When she reaches one of the checkpoints, she learns that Debbie has been abducted, and the kidnapper insists on dealing only with Jake and Jessie and is adamant that no authorities be brought in. Jessie does discuss it with several of her team members and other racers, swearing them to secrecy. She also brings it to a detective friend of her lover, Alex, who also promises the utmost discretion.

However, Jessie has confided in the wrong person and soon the kidnappers are hot on her trail. First one of her runners is damaged and then, at a checkpoint, two of her dogs don’t scan with the proper electronic ID. Jessie soon realizes that her life may be in danger, along with Debbie's and even her team’s life may be threatened.

Murder on the Yukon Quest starts out as fast-paced and determined as the race itself, but quickly looses steam. Jessie spends more time telling people about the kidnapping than trying to figure out who did it and where they are keeping Debbie. When Jessie does find Debbie, it is pure dumb luck. Jessie has been left out in the wilderness to die and stumbles across the place the kidnappers are keeping Debbie. The way they are rescued is very dramatic and touching, but a bit unbelievable and Jessie even says she can’t believe that it did happen.

One of the kidnappers is very obvious early on and since someone very close to Jessie must be plying him with information, accomplices are also easy to pick out. The motive is harder to pick out and even after it is explained is not very clear.

Jessie is a fun character and the battle she has going with herself about her future with Alex versus her future in Alaska as a musher makes her very real, especially as she struggles with it during her solitary stretches while racing. Jessie’s fellow racers are a compassionate caring bunch that, for the most part, look out for each other and are courteous and considerate. They don’t let the competition between them put others at risk. The actual race and the harsh conditions the mushers must face are very vivid and would provide a good back drop to any mystery.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry