The Alaskan Bush is the sparsely populated remote area where communication is by radio and airplane. Modern day pioneers build the foundations of their homes with cinderblocks delivered one at a time by air, and indoor plumbing and electricity are mere dreams of another life.

Wyanet Chouinard is a single mother whose newly adopted son, Tim, was the victim of abuse. Tim’s natural mother still fights to be a part of his life with court ordered visitation. Wy is the owner of a small charter air service and has among her clients the postal service contract for the area.

Liam Campbell has been relegated to the Bush in disgrace by the state authorities, but has spent the time putting his life back together in spite of the crippling loss of his wife and son. Liam and Wy are involved and he is working on trying to get her to marry him as the book opens.

Wy discovers the first body when making a mail delivery to a distant settlement. The victim is the native postmistress and since it is within the vast area of Liam’s jurisdiction, he responds to the scene of the crime. Since the victim’s family was away and all together, they are quickly removed from the suspect list. Liam discovers that a few unique treasures have been stolen…a gold nugget and some ivory. He is not hopeful that he will ever discover the killer.

And then a gold prospector is killed in another out of the way area, and his wife has disappeared. Conjecture is that she murdered him in frustration, but Liam is suspicious of the odds when forensics matches the patterns of the two killings. He starts his search for the common thread that will link them.

Meanwhile the author introduces the killer to us by using an early chapter to set forth his inner dialogue. What is revealed is a twisted and tormented mind driven to commit unspeakable deeds, and who has been doing so for twenty years.

Dana Stabenow accomplishes so much in this book. She weaves mystery and suspense into beautiful scene descriptions highlighting the different ways of life in the Alaskan wilderness, while never missing an opportunity to add depth to the many characters. There are at least seven or eight more who play fairly major roles in the hunt for this serial killer, and Stabenow is able to humanize them with different insights into their lives.

It is clear that the author intends to continue with the Liam Campbell series, a fact that her rapidly increasing pool of fans will appreciate. With an inventive plot, compelling characters, brisk dialogue, and romantic tension set in an unforgettable environment, this is a highly recommended read.

--Thea Davis