Sue Henry: Beneath the Ashes

William Morrow (Hardcover), ISBN: 0-380-97662-5

Fire and ice. Arson in Alaska. And this time Jessie Arnold’s the victim of choice — or maybe just one of the victims. Or maybe not just a victim but also the perpetrator. One of the investigators, a man obsessed with finding an arsonist of fires past and present, certainly sees it that way.

Beneath the Ashes, the latest book in Henry’s Alaskan mystery series, promises chills, thrills and suspense. It delivers on all counts and throws in a healthy dose of arson, Alaskan spring, and murder — not to mention the sleuthing skills of Jessie Arnold, musher extraordinaire, some really spooky characters, some fairly normal ones, and a dog or two to warm your heart.

First the local drinking establishment burns to the frozen earth, leaving behind ashes and an unidentified corpse. Then Jessie grants old friend Annie Holman’s request for refuge and aid. The pitiful Annie and her sad tale of abuse elicit Jessie’s sympathy. But Jessie’s sympathy vanishes when flames engulf her cabin, and Annie does nothing to save Jessie’s home. Instead Annie sits in the snow and watches the cabin burn. Then Annie disappears. As if that isn’t enough, with Annie gone, Jessie becomes the chief arson suspect and the next target for murder.

Written with precision and a deep knowledge of Alaska in all of its many guises, Henry produces a word picture beyond compare. Jessie Arnold, her friends and enemies, and the culture they inhabit emerge fully-developed and believable. The intricately woven plot pulls the reader along as smoothly as a well-trained dog team pulls the sled. Sharp-edged, fiercely independent, the epitome of a loner, Jessie interacts better with her dogs than she does with most people, but she makes a heroine of note. If fire, ice, dogs, and an intriguing mystery suits your reading appetite, by all means, grab this book.

Patricia Lucas White

Patricia Lucas White’s latest historical novel, To Last a Lifetime, was an Eppie finalist for 2003. To Last a Lifetime and two of her fantasy romances, the Sapphire Award-winning A Wizard Scorned and The Godmother Sanction, can be ordered through Hard Shell Word Factory. Her recent contemporary, PS, I’ve Taken a Lover, is available from Lionhearted Books.