Winter's End: A Mystery

Description

It's springtime in Benedict, Alaska, and with it the warmer weather comes an unseasonably somber local tradition...the annual Death March. At the end of each brutal winter, citizens gather downtown and then break into groups to search the community for those who might have somehow gotten stuck at home. Beth Rivers sets off with her friend Orin and dog Gus, toward the cabin of an elderly resident, intending to check on him. As Beth and company make their way, Orin mentions he's concerned about two men who showed up for the March. Neither he nor the police chief, Gril, recognized the men. When they reach the cabin, the old man is alive, but not in the best shape. Beth stays with him while Orin hurries to town for help, but it's not Orin who returns. Gril comes back with the shocking news that one of the mystery men was just found dead in town and the other is missing. And now, Gril can't find Orin. Beth and Gril are both concerned, especially considering how cryptic Orin has been of late. When they discover that Orin has been doing some top-secret research, they start to worry he's been exposed, or worse. Meanwhile, Beth continues on her own search, for her father, who allegedly is alive in Mexico, but won't return her calls. Still, she's making progress in healing from her own trauma, though can't quite shake the feeling she's being followed...

In addition to the Alaska Wild series, PAIGE SHELTON writes the Scottish Bookshop mystery series, beginning with The Cracked Spine. Her other series include the Farmers' Market, Cooking School, and Dangerous Type mystery series.

"An excellent adventure tale set against the stunning backdrop of Alaska." --Kirkus "Captivating...The rugged Alaska landscape lends atmosphere, and while this entry can be enjoyed as a standalone, there's great pleasure in reading the series from the beginning and observing Beth, a wonderfully complex character, growing stronger and more confident with each book. Hopefully, she'll have a long run." --Publishers Weekly "Meaty plot lines, combined with the beautifully described rugged setting and the crisp depiction of the characters' individualistic lifestyles, add up to a satisfying mystery." --Booklist "Distinctive...descriptive and beautiful as always." --Library Journal Praise for Dark Night: "Splendid....With the tension of the thriller and the clues of a whodunit....Shelton's talent sizzles." --Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star "Atmospheric and dark...The isolated town of Benedict, with its eccentric characters, is the true star of this engrossing mystery." --Library Journal "Twistier than a path through the dark Alaska woods....Suspicions shift and suspense builds in this novel of discovery, growth, relationship building and investigatory hijinks....Captivating." --Shelf Awareness Praise for Thin Ice: "[A] riveting story with an unusual setting and cast of characters." --Library Journal (Starred, Pick of the Month) "A page-turner with an unusual location." --Kirkus "Readers are left wondering up to the last exciting page what the answers are, and will eagerly await the second in this new Alaska mysteries series from the author of the Scottish Bookshop mysteries." --Booklist "[With] murder, mayhem and heroics... an intriguing cast of characters." --Anchorage Daily News "Riveting. Suspenseful and intriguing...Shelton's fans are sure to enjoy this compelling departure from her typical writing style." --Shelf Awareness