Review of Alaska Deadly

[Devapriya Bhattacharya]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Alaska Deadly" by J.L. Askew.]

---

4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

The story begins with Race Warren, a private investigator, journeying to Alaska to solve his current and first real case: finding a missing husband. Warren's investigation gets complicated by his new acquaintances, a group of scientists on a mission of their own. Soon, a simple missing person case takes a dangerous turn, with layers of mystery involved and a number of other people playing into the picture. It seems the snowy lanes of Alaska are masking shocking truths and revelations beneath their disguise of white innocence.

Reading Alaska Deadly, one might get the feeling of sifting through a detailed travelogue of Alaskan towns at first, with its detailed descriptions of nature and scenic beauty. However, after the first few pages, Warren is quick to abandon the observation of natural surroundings in favour of the mystery at hand. The plot becomes more interesting with the individual characters and backstories. It helps in understanding character motivation as well as smoothing plot progression. Most characters are likeable with their strong sense of ethics and well-aligned values. This sense of having a common goal that is beneficial for the plot also weakens it. As it makes these characters homogenised and slightly one-dimensional in nature, hindering their individual development. The romantic interests sometimes seem forced without adding much to the plot itself.

In terms of thrills, Alaska Deadly has its moments with action-packed sequences and convoluted, layered mysteries, with an invisible thread connecting them all. Though a few questions remain unanswered, it provides us with adequate curiosity, served with a healthy dosage of excitement and anxiety. Therefore, the best feature of Alaska Deadly remains its ability to create a plot line beyond imagination with raw elements of surprise. As literary fiction, the thriller Alaska Deadly makes reading worthwhile.

******
Alaska Deadly
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon