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gracerichards11's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
outsmartyourshelf's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Officer Louisa Linebach works as a state trooper in Anchorage, Alaska. Most of the time the work is pretty mundane, but occasionally a case has the ability to surprise. When Louisa is asked to look into a missing person's case, she is eager to investigate but not happy to have to take a partner with her. Officer Michael 'Mikey' Harper is the only volunteer to work with Louisa so they head out. Lee Stanton was reported missing by his mother as she hasn't seen him in several days. This is unusual & compounded by the fact that Lee has been dividing up his belongings amongst his relatives & leaving them in labelled boxes, which makes Louisa suspect a planned suicide.
They just start to investigate when they get a call about another missing person, Branden Halifax. People go missing in Alaska all the time & most are never found - some get caught out by the terrain & weather, whilst others disappear on purpose, but two men of a similar age from nearby settlements within days of each other? As Louisa & Mikey dig into the backgrounds of the missing men, there are more links than they initially thought. Did Lee & Branden get caught up in illegal activity & did it lead to their disappearances?
I love thrillers set in places like Alaska or Antarctica. Something about the sheer cold wilderness & the harshness of nature there & humankind's struggle to survive in these environments - I don't know, I just can't get enough when it comes to reading about it. This book turned out to be a great example of the thriller genre. The book has quite a slow pace but the investigations start to bring in some twists & turns. The author has done a great job of writing two characters (Louisa & Mikey) that the reader can become invested in & I really liked the hesitant friendship that gradually developed. There's even an aspect of romance (not between the officers thank goodness) with Louisa meeting Anna, the local medical examiner. It's kept quite light though & doesn't detract from the main story line.
Overall, I really liked this one but for one thing - the ending is left rather open & unresolved. I understand this is the first in a series but I felt a bit cheated in not having closure for the first case(s).
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Bold Strokes Books, Inc., for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
They just start to investigate when they get a call about another missing person, Branden Halifax. People go missing in Alaska all the time & most are never found - some get caught out by the terrain & weather, whilst others disappear on purpose, but two men of a similar age from nearby settlements within days of each other? As Louisa & Mikey dig into the backgrounds of the missing men, there are more links than they initially thought. Did Lee & Branden get caught up in illegal activity & did it lead to their disappearances?
I love thrillers set in places like Alaska or Antarctica. Something about the sheer cold wilderness & the harshness of nature there & humankind's struggle to survive in these environments - I don't know, I just can't get enough when it comes to reading about it. This book turned out to be a great example of the thriller genre. The book has quite a slow pace but the investigations start to bring in some twists & turns. The author has done a great job of writing two characters (Louisa & Mikey) that the reader can become invested in & I really liked the hesitant friendship that gradually developed. There's even an aspect of romance (not between the officers thank goodness) with Louisa meeting Anna, the local medical examiner. It's kept quite light though & doesn't detract from the main story line.
Overall, I really liked this one but for one thing - the ending is left rather open & unresolved. I understand this is the first in a series but I felt a bit cheated in not having closure for the first case(s).
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Bold Strokes Books, Inc., for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide
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