A really enjoyable mystery that takes place during Alaska's Iditarod race. At times I did get a bit overwhelmed with all the details about the Iditarod, and trying to keep track of all the characters, but the unique setting and good story held my attention and made this an interesting read. ( )

The author really puts you on the sleds right along with the mushers and their dogs! The mystery is good but there were two passages that were slightly messed up, as if the author’s attention slipped and the mistakes weren’t caught by editors, and it spoiled the flow of the story temporarily but the strength of the writing was so good that it didn’t matter. Highly recommended. ( )

I don't remember how I learned about this title but I purchased it as a Christmas gift for my mother as I was in awe of her description of being taken for a short sled ride when she was the only volunteer to get on the sled as part of an excursion tour during an Alaska cruise. I was surprised to see this title again recently when one of the characters in another novel was said to be reading this book. In the past few days it has been my turn to read it. I don't think I've imagined being that cold since reading "61 Hours" (Jack Reacher, Book 14) by Lee Child as that novel's setting is during a brutally cold winter in South Dakota.

Although I had certainly been aware of the Iditarod Trail Race prior to my mother's trip, I don't think I had thought about the severity of the unforgiving cold temperatures. Sue Henry brings to life with vivid descriptions the trail terrain, the brutally cold temperatures, the dedication of the mushers not only to the sport of the race but to their prior strategy planning with flexibility during the race, and to the training and ongoing care of their dog teams with special attention given during the race itself. Within this extraordinary annual race setting, the author has created an engrossing, page-turning mystery with the murders of Iditarod participants along the various legs of the grueling race.

In searching for biographical information about the author after reading this novel, it came as no surprise to learn that Sue Henry lived in Alaska for over 30 years. With her words as her artistic brush, she paints the majesty and beauty of the landscape and portrays respect for the land and its perils as only someone could portray with a personal experience of living in this state through many seasons. Another gift of this reading experience is the interspersed history of the trail points and race itself that flows naturally within the storyline without sounding like bullet points from a fact sheet. I have never had the desire to travel and visit Alaska, not even after reading this novel. Still, it has given me a new appreciation for everyone who lives in Alaska and to hold in awe all that choose to participate in the Iditarod Trail Race.

https://poisonedpen.com/2020/11/30/sue-henry-r-i-p/?fbclid=IwAR0gAXRGqX0t5VckU_D... ( )

Good fast paced read with plenty of action. The scenes where a murder or "accident" occurred are riveting. Reading about the winter blizzard even made me cold! My hats off to the people that compete in the Iditarod! ( )

The Iditarod Trail is Alaska’s famous dog sled race that takes two weeks to cover 1040 miles. It is a very difficult sporting event for the musher and his/her dogs who faces the extremely cold temperatures causing frost bite plus the fatigue resulting from the physical challenges and lack of sleep.
While no competitors have ever died during the event’s history, in this novel three top competitors appeared to have been murdered while on the trail. Sergeant Alex Jensen tries to figure out who is the killer before he or she kills again. Alex connects with Jessie Arnold who is a top musher and who seems to be on the killer’s hit list.
Lots of action and multiple suspects keep the action flowing while the listener learns about the rules and the difficulties a competitor faces while participating in the Iditarod. ( )