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Edie Kiglatuk #3
The Bone Seeker
The intrepid Edie Kiglatuk discovers one of her female students dead in a toxic lake in her third arctic mystery
In the third novel in this highly praised mystery series that will appeal to fans of The Killing, Top of the Lake, and The Bridge, Edie Kiglatuk works as a summer school teacher in the Canadian arctic. When one of her female students is found dead in nearby Lake Turngaluk, Edie enlists the help of Sergeant Derek Palliser to pursue the case, promising the girl’s Inuit family that they will uncover the truth. Meanwhile, lawyer Sonia Gutierrez investigates the toxicity of the lake and suspects that there might be a larger conspiracy involved. As the three clamber over rocky terrain under twenty-four-hour daylight they start to unearth secrets long frozen over—risking their own lives in the process. With stunning prose, M. J. McGrath delivers another thrill ride through a hauntingly beautiful landscape.
In the third novel in this highly praised mystery series that will appeal to fans of The Killing, Top of the Lake, and The Bridge, Edie Kiglatuk works as a summer school teacher in the Canadian arctic. When one of her female students is found dead in nearby Lake Turngaluk, Edie enlists the help of Sergeant Derek Palliser to pursue the case, promising the girl’s Inuit family that they will uncover the truth. Meanwhile, lawyer Sonia Gutierrez investigates the toxicity of the lake and suspects that there might be a larger conspiracy involved. As the three clamber over rocky terrain under twenty-four-hour daylight they start to unearth secrets long frozen over—risking their own lives in the process. With stunning prose, M. J. McGrath delivers another thrill ride through a hauntingly beautiful landscape.
341 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
64 people are currently reading
1252 people want to read
About the author
M.J. McGrath
7 books114 followersM.J. McGrath is an award-winning writer of non-fiction and crime novels. She is an experienced journalist, broadcaster, teacher, event organizer and speaker, with particular interests in London, literature, crime, feminism and psychology.
As Melanie McGrath she wrote the critically acclaimed and bestselling family memoir Silvertown. As Mel McGrath she writes crime novels including the psychological thriller Give Me The Child. McGrath lives in London and on the Kent coast.
As Melanie McGrath she wrote the critically acclaimed and bestselling family memoir Silvertown. As Mel McGrath she writes crime novels including the psychological thriller Give Me The Child. McGrath lives in London and on the Kent coast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
May 21, 2014
The Bone Seeker – An Arctic Thriller
If you are looking for a crime thriller that has bodies dropping left right and centre and car chases and hard men then this book is not for you. If you want a well thought out plot a feel of the desolation for being a forgotten people and governmental cover-ups and being at the end of the world then this is the book for you. The Bone Seeker by M.J McGrath is set in the arctic world of Ellesmere Island and the Inuit people who are the unwitting victims as a murder of a young girl is covered up by a Government Department.
Edie Kiglatuk is up on Ellesmere Island for the summer as a teacher at the local school. Summer on Ellesmere Island is never ending daylight and living amongst the tundra life is hard for the Inuit population. Edie is living at the Police Detachment with local police sergeant Derek Pallister. They had both worked together previously on a murder case where he had used Edie’s tracking skills.
A local girl Martha Salliaq is found murdered in horrible circumstances near an old radar station in one of the stagnant poisonous lakes, which is due to be cleared up of contamination after along campaign. As the investigation continues the local army base takes an unhealthy interest in what happens especially when the Defence Department steps in and seems to be hampering the investigation. It is when the Defence Department take over the investigation and close it down Pallister and Edie decide to continue to investigate but keep it quiet.
As they continue their investigation they are getting shut down by the local commander under orders from above. They will not stop especially the closer they get to the truth and uncover some truths they can see why the Department for Defence wants to keep people in the dark. Whilst solving the murder and finding the real murderer they themselves become targets. There is someone who does not want the truth to come out. Who will survive and will they survive is the biggest question and can the Department of Defence be brought to book is the big question.
This is a fantastic crime thriller that opens up in the coldest setting of all the arctic circle and also examines how the Inuit population are treated and disregarded by various governments. While there is a murder of a young woman we are also asked how far will a government go to use the murder to cover up an even darker crime. This is a really gripping story and the endless days of summer give it an haunting atmosphere as if stuck in the same bad dream.
If you are looking for a crime thriller that has bodies dropping left right and centre and car chases and hard men then this book is not for you. If you want a well thought out plot a feel of the desolation for being a forgotten people and governmental cover-ups and being at the end of the world then this is the book for you. The Bone Seeker by M.J McGrath is set in the arctic world of Ellesmere Island and the Inuit people who are the unwitting victims as a murder of a young girl is covered up by a Government Department.
Edie Kiglatuk is up on Ellesmere Island for the summer as a teacher at the local school. Summer on Ellesmere Island is never ending daylight and living amongst the tundra life is hard for the Inuit population. Edie is living at the Police Detachment with local police sergeant Derek Pallister. They had both worked together previously on a murder case where he had used Edie’s tracking skills.
A local girl Martha Salliaq is found murdered in horrible circumstances near an old radar station in one of the stagnant poisonous lakes, which is due to be cleared up of contamination after along campaign. As the investigation continues the local army base takes an unhealthy interest in what happens especially when the Defence Department steps in and seems to be hampering the investigation. It is when the Defence Department take over the investigation and close it down Pallister and Edie decide to continue to investigate but keep it quiet.
As they continue their investigation they are getting shut down by the local commander under orders from above. They will not stop especially the closer they get to the truth and uncover some truths they can see why the Department for Defence wants to keep people in the dark. Whilst solving the murder and finding the real murderer they themselves become targets. There is someone who does not want the truth to come out. Who will survive and will they survive is the biggest question and can the Department of Defence be brought to book is the big question.
This is a fantastic crime thriller that opens up in the coldest setting of all the arctic circle and also examines how the Inuit population are treated and disregarded by various governments. While there is a murder of a young woman we are also asked how far will a government go to use the murder to cover up an even darker crime. This is a really gripping story and the endless days of summer give it an haunting atmosphere as if stuck in the same bad dream.
September 7, 2015
enjoyed this crime thriller based in ellesmere island but felt it was abit slow to start off with though. thought was interesting the sub plots within the whole story and didn't disappoint once the story got going though and made you wonder who the murderer was.
June 6, 2014
I was surprised when I read The Bone Seeker at how wonderfully well this book is written. The book starts out with an Inuit student of Edie Kiglatuk being found dead. While trying to untangle the case, it is dicovered what appears to be a big conspiracy involved. The descriptions of the Canadian artic and the people who live there is excellent. Since this is the 3rd Edie Kiglatuk mystery, I shall be on the search for the first 2. I higly recomment this book to any who love a great mystery!
May 20, 2015
What a remarkable story.
McGrath has taken her Edie Kiglatuk series to new heights and created an account, although centred on a small Inuit community that is representative of the wider world; its corruption; the desire to cover up secrets and lies.
The brutal killing of a young native girl; a bright and beautiful pupil Edie had pleasure in teaching shocks the community. Suspicion falls on the outsiders from a near-by military camp where soldiers are drawn into town for alcohol. and more serious vices
Edie is called to assist her friend responsible for upholding law and order. She is steeped in the old ways and the simple solutions don't fit too well with her instincts and traditional ways.
She must use all her hunting skills as suddenly danger is found at every turn and she wonders who she can really trust.
I love McGrath's writing and insights into life and struggle to survive in the high Artic. The difficulties outsiders have to assimilate into and settle fully in this unique environment. The influence on them is disproportionate often to the impact they have on the environment and the townships they live alongside.
I am drawn to the writing and was fully caught up in the mystery of solving the murder. The implications and further dangers that follow makes the final third of the book a fast paced thriller that the author handles equally as competantly.
A terrific plot which has time for reflections on the location, language and customs of this wonderful place and the people who live on the edge between life and death. An enjoyable and remarkable read. It contains great insights into how we perceive fear and comments on the unfairness of interacting socities,that might find a common understanding but have different experiences of how words are interpreted in action. For example as discussed through characters in the novel about sharing resources.
I warmly commended this book; the third in a must read series.
McGrath has taken her Edie Kiglatuk series to new heights and created an account, although centred on a small Inuit community that is representative of the wider world; its corruption; the desire to cover up secrets and lies.
The brutal killing of a young native girl; a bright and beautiful pupil Edie had pleasure in teaching shocks the community. Suspicion falls on the outsiders from a near-by military camp where soldiers are drawn into town for alcohol. and more serious vices
Edie is called to assist her friend responsible for upholding law and order. She is steeped in the old ways and the simple solutions don't fit too well with her instincts and traditional ways.
She must use all her hunting skills as suddenly danger is found at every turn and she wonders who she can really trust.
I love McGrath's writing and insights into life and struggle to survive in the high Artic. The difficulties outsiders have to assimilate into and settle fully in this unique environment. The influence on them is disproportionate often to the impact they have on the environment and the townships they live alongside.
I am drawn to the writing and was fully caught up in the mystery of solving the murder. The implications and further dangers that follow makes the final third of the book a fast paced thriller that the author handles equally as competantly.
A terrific plot which has time for reflections on the location, language and customs of this wonderful place and the people who live on the edge between life and death. An enjoyable and remarkable read. It contains great insights into how we perceive fear and comments on the unfairness of interacting socities,that might find a common understanding but have different experiences of how words are interpreted in action. For example as discussed through characters in the novel about sharing resources.
I warmly commended this book; the third in a must read series.
August 4, 2017
Edie Kiglatuk has gone to teach summer school in Kuujuak in the high arctic on Ellesmere Island, and her most promising student, Martha, disappears only to be found murdered. When Edie and Derek begin investigating, they are hampered by a lawyer's push to get an environmental clean up going as soon as possible. The lawyer is working with Martha's family, because her father has been fighting the Canadian government for this clean up for decades. However, he also wants justice for his daughter.
Things are not simple as the military, who are in the area, become involved. There are culture clash, underlying agendas and strong personalities that are soon clashing in the still rather harsh summer climate of the far north where those from the south can't sleep much because it never gets dark.
Things are not simple as the military, who are in the area, become involved. There are culture clash, underlying agendas and strong personalities that are soon clashing in the still rather harsh summer climate of the far north where those from the south can't sleep much because it never gets dark.
September 18, 2020
M.J. McGrath's Edie Kiglatuk series ended at three books, but as far as I'm concerned it could have continued for much, much longer. The three books (White Heat and The Boy in the Snow are the first two) not only have absorbing mysteries to solve, they also give readers a vivid, fascinating picture of life in the Arctic Circle and of the Inuit culture. (Please do not call them "Eskimos" because that word means "lice" in another language.)
It's summer in the Arctic, and one of the things McGrath has her characters show us is how people deal (or don't) with twenty-four-hour-a-day sunlight. Camp Nanook is a summer military encampment not far from the village where Edie is teaching, and I was shocked to learn that "...thirty per cent of Arctic postings returned to the south with some kind of mental disorder." Scary stuff, right? The mystery is a good brain teaser for armchair sleuths since it involves the history of the Distant Early Warning line formed by Canada and the U.S. during the cold war. Not only are there Inuits involved in Martha Salliaq's murder, but readers also have to navigate suspicious governmental goings-on.
The investigation is hampered, as always, by the government consistently giving the Inuit the short end of the stick. Edie and Sergeant Palliser have to wait days to receive extra help such as the most basic forensics equipment, and all the while, officers in nearby Camp Nanook are working in the shadows to find out what Edie and Palliser know-- and how to prevent them from learning anything more.
The Bone Seeker benefits from an exceptionally strong cast of characters. Derek Palliser, derisively called "Lemming Police" by the locals, finds himself upping his game in light of Edie's passion for the truth even though he's hampered by insomnia. Edie's hunting skills translate well into a homicide investigation, and well, she's just a force of nature. "Only set of rules I know is mine...And I don't have any." A welcome addition to the cast is the lawyer Sonia Gutierrez from Guatemala. She has her own shadowy past, and after working for years on a lawsuit to force the government to clean up this area of Ellesmere Island, scarcely anything gets past her razor-sharp intellect and unflinching gaze. Whatever you do, don't mess with Edie and Sonia!
There's more than meets the eye to the title of this book, and when you come to that part (as I hope you will), you may find a chill running down your spine and a tear in your eye. The Bone Seeker works well as a standalone, but if you love mysteries with strong unconventional characters and learning about other cultures, I highly recommend that you read all three books in order. Then you will join me in wishing Edie Kiglatuk would appear to solve another mystery up at the Arctic Circle.
It's summer in the Arctic, and one of the things McGrath has her characters show us is how people deal (or don't) with twenty-four-hour-a-day sunlight. Camp Nanook is a summer military encampment not far from the village where Edie is teaching, and I was shocked to learn that "...thirty per cent of Arctic postings returned to the south with some kind of mental disorder." Scary stuff, right? The mystery is a good brain teaser for armchair sleuths since it involves the history of the Distant Early Warning line formed by Canada and the U.S. during the cold war. Not only are there Inuits involved in Martha Salliaq's murder, but readers also have to navigate suspicious governmental goings-on.
The investigation is hampered, as always, by the government consistently giving the Inuit the short end of the stick. Edie and Sergeant Palliser have to wait days to receive extra help such as the most basic forensics equipment, and all the while, officers in nearby Camp Nanook are working in the shadows to find out what Edie and Palliser know-- and how to prevent them from learning anything more.
The Bone Seeker benefits from an exceptionally strong cast of characters. Derek Palliser, derisively called "Lemming Police" by the locals, finds himself upping his game in light of Edie's passion for the truth even though he's hampered by insomnia. Edie's hunting skills translate well into a homicide investigation, and well, she's just a force of nature. "Only set of rules I know is mine...And I don't have any." A welcome addition to the cast is the lawyer Sonia Gutierrez from Guatemala. She has her own shadowy past, and after working for years on a lawsuit to force the government to clean up this area of Ellesmere Island, scarcely anything gets past her razor-sharp intellect and unflinching gaze. Whatever you do, don't mess with Edie and Sonia!
There's more than meets the eye to the title of this book, and when you come to that part (as I hope you will), you may find a chill running down your spine and a tear in your eye. The Bone Seeker works well as a standalone, but if you love mysteries with strong unconventional characters and learning about other cultures, I highly recommend that you read all three books in order. Then you will join me in wishing Edie Kiglatuk would appear to solve another mystery up at the Arctic Circle.
May 13, 2018
The Bone Seeker by M. J. McGrath is book three in the Edie Kiglatuk series of mysteries based in the Canadian wilderness among the Inuit people. Edie is a powerful character, one foot in her traditions and another in the changing world around her. Yet never truly part of one or the other.
Edie works as a summer school teacher when one of her students goes missing. She enlists the help of Sergeant Derek Palliser and together they find the body of the young girl, brutally murdered. Drugged, stabbed and left to bleed out. Edie joins Palliser in pursuit of the truth of what happened to the young girl. But the truth is hidden among the many shades of what is real and what is superstition. Hidden among the past and the waiting future of her own future and the Government they must depend on to care for them. A Government with secrets of its own to keep.
Sonia Gutierrez is a lawyer investigating the toxic levels of Lake Turngaluk where the girl's body was found. She begins to believe that there may be a connection between the murdered girl and the use of the military station by the lake. A connection between the rate of illness and miscarriages from the native people. A connection no one wants her to make.
Now the trio are on the run with no one to turn to. Not the Government, not the military and not the very people they are trying to protect. But for the truth to remain buried, they know, that they cannot be allowed to survive.
The Bone Seeker is a crime thriller that weaves between the Inuit traditions and folklore to very modern and terrifying aspects of the residue of the cold war. In the arctic wilderness that surrounds the community, there is enough isolation and mistrust to create a vacuum of rationality. It is in this world that Edie takes on the challenge of working the case of her murdered student. Allowing herself to be deputized and taking on both the girl's family and the military who seem to have far more knowledge of what had happened than they are letting on. When the suspects turn out to be two young soldiers then the racial divide between the military and the Inuit takes a dangerous turn. But for Edie the truth is not that simple. It is not the long held belief that the Inuit are good and all outsiders are bad and for her, the facts just don't line up so easily.
In the end, the Bone Seeker becomes about much more than a murdered girl. It is about truth and holding accountable those people who would hide it from the light of day. It is about tradition and a fast moving modern world that has little or no respect for traditions. It is about the value of human life, whether in pursuit of a killer or pursuit of science.
It is in short, a damn good read.
Edie works as a summer school teacher when one of her students goes missing. She enlists the help of Sergeant Derek Palliser and together they find the body of the young girl, brutally murdered. Drugged, stabbed and left to bleed out. Edie joins Palliser in pursuit of the truth of what happened to the young girl. But the truth is hidden among the many shades of what is real and what is superstition. Hidden among the past and the waiting future of her own future and the Government they must depend on to care for them. A Government with secrets of its own to keep.
Sonia Gutierrez is a lawyer investigating the toxic levels of Lake Turngaluk where the girl's body was found. She begins to believe that there may be a connection between the murdered girl and the use of the military station by the lake. A connection between the rate of illness and miscarriages from the native people. A connection no one wants her to make.
Now the trio are on the run with no one to turn to. Not the Government, not the military and not the very people they are trying to protect. But for the truth to remain buried, they know, that they cannot be allowed to survive.
The Bone Seeker is a crime thriller that weaves between the Inuit traditions and folklore to very modern and terrifying aspects of the residue of the cold war. In the arctic wilderness that surrounds the community, there is enough isolation and mistrust to create a vacuum of rationality. It is in this world that Edie takes on the challenge of working the case of her murdered student. Allowing herself to be deputized and taking on both the girl's family and the military who seem to have far more knowledge of what had happened than they are letting on. When the suspects turn out to be two young soldiers then the racial divide between the military and the Inuit takes a dangerous turn. But for Edie the truth is not that simple. It is not the long held belief that the Inuit are good and all outsiders are bad and for her, the facts just don't line up so easily.
In the end, the Bone Seeker becomes about much more than a murdered girl. It is about truth and holding accountable those people who would hide it from the light of day. It is about tradition and a fast moving modern world that has little or no respect for traditions. It is about the value of human life, whether in pursuit of a killer or pursuit of science.
It is in short, a damn good read.
November 16, 2014
McGrath returns with another thrilling Edie Kiglatuk mystery, set in Canada's Arctic. When Kiglatuk discovers one of her female students dead in a toxic lake, she enlists the help of Sergeant Derek Palliser, part of the local police force, as well as a close friend of Kiglatuk, known to series readers. Promising to uncover the truth, Kiglatuk vows to the victim's family that she will stop at nothing until the killer has been apprehended. While the murder investigation continues, lawyer Sonia Gutierrez investigates the toxicity of the lake and suspects that there might be a larger conspiracy involved. After Canadian military officials make federal claims to the area, thereby putting a kibosh to the murder investigation, Kiglatuk, Palliser, and Gutierrez all must question if everything is as it seems. Two men are fingered for the crime, but their involvement may be a means of sweeping the truth under the rug. Sometimes, uncovering the truth has more consequences than not rocking the boat. McGrath treats readers, both series regulars and newbies alike, to a great story set far away from the big city and bright lights. Captivating in its narrative and story progression, it will pique the interest of the curious reader.
I have always loved the McGrath books for their complete divorce from what I know and love, both in life and through the books I have read. I thoroughly enjoy not only the Canadian setting, but also the Arctic twist on things, where seals and walruses abound and what we take for granted are high luxuries. How McGrath can weave together such a captivating story with such a backdrop is no surprise to me, what with her past profession, but that she can easily bring it off the page so effortlessly makes the book all the more exciting. Nuances found within the text, as simplistic as a meal, make for such entertainment that all readers ought to enjoy, should he opportunity arise. Furthermore, utilising this novel to act as a soapbox as it relates to US nuclear testing, as well as the complicity of the Canadian Government to the horrific testing and its fallout, McGrath makes the case that shame need be placed at the feet of both groups, though the decades that have passed since its commencement leaves few around who might be worthy of having their heads surrounded with a noose.
Kudos, Madam McGrath for such a wonderful addition to the series. I cannot wait to see what else you have to offer.
I have always loved the McGrath books for their complete divorce from what I know and love, both in life and through the books I have read. I thoroughly enjoy not only the Canadian setting, but also the Arctic twist on things, where seals and walruses abound and what we take for granted are high luxuries. How McGrath can weave together such a captivating story with such a backdrop is no surprise to me, what with her past profession, but that she can easily bring it off the page so effortlessly makes the book all the more exciting. Nuances found within the text, as simplistic as a meal, make for such entertainment that all readers ought to enjoy, should he opportunity arise. Furthermore, utilising this novel to act as a soapbox as it relates to US nuclear testing, as well as the complicity of the Canadian Government to the horrific testing and its fallout, McGrath makes the case that shame need be placed at the feet of both groups, though the decades that have passed since its commencement leaves few around who might be worthy of having their heads surrounded with a noose.
Kudos, Madam McGrath for such a wonderful addition to the series. I cannot wait to see what else you have to offer.
May 16, 2014
Full disclosure - I won a copy of the book in a Goodreads contest...
This is the first time I've read a novel by this author. The story was good & it did move along; however, because my lifestyle is SO different from the main character's - Edie Kiglatuk I found this to be a difficult read mostly because I had difficulty relating to the lifestyle, the food, even the characters names & language. I like to be absorbed by stories so much that I lose track of myself & the world I live in. While reading this novel, I found myself grimacing while reading descriptions of food choices, wondering how clogged the arteries are of those who live in the arctic (assuming the food is an accurate depiction of normal diets), stumbling over pronunciations, etc. Don't get me wrong, I love to learn about new cultures but this one is so radically different from mine that I found myself stopping to think about implications. And I realize how different food choices must be in a terrain that brutal & in a culture that values every bit of an animal given the scarcity of goods. But as a reader I don't enjoy the jolt of leaving my artificial world abruptly & thinking how it relates (or doesn't relate) to my real world. I like getting lost in stories. In one way - making me stop & think isn't a bad thing - using your brain never is. But I found it to be disruptive which made the story hard to read for me.
Another difficulty I had was likeability/believability of the main character. Perhaps the author went more into the psyche of Edie in prior books since this is the 3rd in the series. Or perhaps it was the non-demonstrative nature of the Canadian arctic culture that made it hard for me to get drawn in. Or maybe it was combination of all these points that just made the novel harder to read than I typically like. For newer readers, I do suggest the author take more time in future novels to make the reader understand & like the main character.
Overall - I'm happy I read it. I enjoyed the experience. Not so sure I'll run out to buy any future novels though.
This is the first time I've read a novel by this author. The story was good & it did move along; however, because my lifestyle is SO different from the main character's - Edie Kiglatuk I found this to be a difficult read mostly because I had difficulty relating to the lifestyle, the food, even the characters names & language. I like to be absorbed by stories so much that I lose track of myself & the world I live in. While reading this novel, I found myself grimacing while reading descriptions of food choices, wondering how clogged the arteries are of those who live in the arctic (assuming the food is an accurate depiction of normal diets), stumbling over pronunciations, etc. Don't get me wrong, I love to learn about new cultures but this one is so radically different from mine that I found myself stopping to think about implications. And I realize how different food choices must be in a terrain that brutal & in a culture that values every bit of an animal given the scarcity of goods. But as a reader I don't enjoy the jolt of leaving my artificial world abruptly & thinking how it relates (or doesn't relate) to my real world. I like getting lost in stories. In one way - making me stop & think isn't a bad thing - using your brain never is. But I found it to be disruptive which made the story hard to read for me.
Another difficulty I had was likeability/believability of the main character. Perhaps the author went more into the psyche of Edie in prior books since this is the 3rd in the series. Or perhaps it was the non-demonstrative nature of the Canadian arctic culture that made it hard for me to get drawn in. Or maybe it was combination of all these points that just made the novel harder to read than I typically like. For newer readers, I do suggest the author take more time in future novels to make the reader understand & like the main character.
Overall - I'm happy I read it. I enjoyed the experience. Not so sure I'll run out to buy any future novels though.
December 11, 2019
Edie is enlisted to help investigate the murder of a young inuit girl. Hint. The Government is a baddie in this one.
October 15, 2022
‘That Friday afternoon in late July was the last time Edie Kiglatuk saw Martha Salliaq alive.’
This novel is set on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic. Edie Kiglatuk is working as a summer schoolteacher. When Martha Salliaq, one of her students is found dead in nearby Lake Turngaluk, Edie is determined to find out the truth. Edie seeks help from Police Sergeant Derek Palliser and together they investigate what is quickly shown to be a brutal murder. The girl’s Inuit family is devastated, and deeply suspicious. Suspicion falls on the soldiers at a nearby military camp.
Lake Turngaluk is toxic and is scheduled to be cleaned up after a long campaign. As the investigation into Martha’s murder continues, the Department of Defence takes an interest. Sonia Gutierrez, the lawyer who has championed the clean-up, wonders if Martha’s death is part of a larger conspiracy. Efforts are made to shut down the investigation, and Edie, Sonia and Derek are in danger.
‘People call it the bone seeker.’
This is a complex, multi-layered mystery which contains many uncomfortable truths. Solving Martha’s murder sheds light on government cover-ups and exploitation of the local Inuit community. While Edie and Derek are both regarded as outsiders, they manage to gain the trust of at least some of the local Inuit.
The environment, with the endless days of summer, is a key part of the story. This is the third (and I believe final) book in this series by Ms McGrath. I hope to read the first two. The world described is utterly foreign to me, and Ms McGrath bring it to life.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This novel is set on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic. Edie Kiglatuk is working as a summer schoolteacher. When Martha Salliaq, one of her students is found dead in nearby Lake Turngaluk, Edie is determined to find out the truth. Edie seeks help from Police Sergeant Derek Palliser and together they investigate what is quickly shown to be a brutal murder. The girl’s Inuit family is devastated, and deeply suspicious. Suspicion falls on the soldiers at a nearby military camp.
Lake Turngaluk is toxic and is scheduled to be cleaned up after a long campaign. As the investigation into Martha’s murder continues, the Department of Defence takes an interest. Sonia Gutierrez, the lawyer who has championed the clean-up, wonders if Martha’s death is part of a larger conspiracy. Efforts are made to shut down the investigation, and Edie, Sonia and Derek are in danger.
‘People call it the bone seeker.’
This is a complex, multi-layered mystery which contains many uncomfortable truths. Solving Martha’s murder sheds light on government cover-ups and exploitation of the local Inuit community. While Edie and Derek are both regarded as outsiders, they manage to gain the trust of at least some of the local Inuit.
The environment, with the endless days of summer, is a key part of the story. This is the third (and I believe final) book in this series by Ms McGrath. I hope to read the first two. The world described is utterly foreign to me, and Ms McGrath bring it to life.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
January 7, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this dark murder/thriller set on Ellesmere Island in Canada's frozen north.
Once I became accustomed to the Inuit names and terminology and the rather slow-paced start, the plot developed into an intriguing mystery around the disappearance of a young female student of teacher, Edie Kiglatuk, in the remote settlement of locals and nearby military Camp Nanook. Initially, Police Sergeant Derek Palliser believes the girl was killed by two soldiers, but Edie helping in the investigation has other suspicions. A human rights lawyer in the area, Sonia Gutierrez, who is endeavouring to have the decommissioned radar establishment in the area cleaned up, becomes involved when the girl's body is discovered in a polluted lake nearby and suddenly the area is cordoned off by the military. The Inuit believe the lake to be inhabited by evil spirits. Maybe that is not so far from the truth. There are many secrets around the old radar station, the purpose of the military camp and the work of the American researcher, who is Edie's current lover.
A fast-paced, unexpected conclusion had me unable to put the book down. And the Spoiler Alert right at the end gave some bone-chilling facts, which were background information to the fictional story.
I learned a lot about Inuit anthropology. An enthralling and educational read.
Once I became accustomed to the Inuit names and terminology and the rather slow-paced start, the plot developed into an intriguing mystery around the disappearance of a young female student of teacher, Edie Kiglatuk, in the remote settlement of locals and nearby military Camp Nanook. Initially, Police Sergeant Derek Palliser believes the girl was killed by two soldiers, but Edie helping in the investigation has other suspicions. A human rights lawyer in the area, Sonia Gutierrez, who is endeavouring to have the decommissioned radar establishment in the area cleaned up, becomes involved when the girl's body is discovered in a polluted lake nearby and suddenly the area is cordoned off by the military. The Inuit believe the lake to be inhabited by evil spirits. Maybe that is not so far from the truth. There are many secrets around the old radar station, the purpose of the military camp and the work of the American researcher, who is Edie's current lover.
A fast-paced, unexpected conclusion had me unable to put the book down. And the Spoiler Alert right at the end gave some bone-chilling facts, which were background information to the fictional story.
I learned a lot about Inuit anthropology. An enthralling and educational read.
October 1, 2020
Fascinating! The best yet in the series. I was so sad when I found it's the last book in the series.
July 31, 2019
All the unexpected twists makes this a fast-paced, fascinating read. Plus a bit of historical truth woven in the story compels me to do a bit more research on this book’s plot and setting.
June 19, 2014
Available now from Mantle
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy.
Edie Kiglatuk works as a summer school teacher in the Canadian arctic. When one of her female students is found dead in nearby Lake Turngaluk, Edie enlists the help of Sergeant Derek Palliser to pursue the case, promising the girl’s Inuit family that they will uncover the truth. Meanwhile, lawyer Sonia Gutierrez investigates the toxicity of the lake and suspects that there might be a larger conspiracy involved. As the three clamber over rocky terrain under twenty-four-hour daylight they start to unearth secrets long frozen over—risking their own lives in the process.
This is the 3rd in the Edie Kiglatuk series but actually the first one I have read – which made no difference at all, this can easily be read as a standalone, but I will definitely be heading backwards and picking the first two up.
This was a chilly and dark tale – magnificently atmospheric, bringing to life the difficult and lonely conditions in the Canadian Arctic, with a sharp focus on the people who live and work there. The relationship between the locals and the recent military addition to the environment is extremely well drawn and gives the whole story a more menacing edge as distrust is the default position. Edie, desperate to find out the truth behind the death of Martha, has some realistic and stark difficulties to overcome. It would be easy to blame an outsider, but there is a lot more going on here than first meets the eye.
Well plotted, some beautifully eclectic characters, a wild and dangerous backdrop, all come together to create an inventive intelligent tale that will keep you enthralled throughout. Excellent stuff can’t wait for more.
Happy Reading Folks!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy.
Edie Kiglatuk works as a summer school teacher in the Canadian arctic. When one of her female students is found dead in nearby Lake Turngaluk, Edie enlists the help of Sergeant Derek Palliser to pursue the case, promising the girl’s Inuit family that they will uncover the truth. Meanwhile, lawyer Sonia Gutierrez investigates the toxicity of the lake and suspects that there might be a larger conspiracy involved. As the three clamber over rocky terrain under twenty-four-hour daylight they start to unearth secrets long frozen over—risking their own lives in the process.
This is the 3rd in the Edie Kiglatuk series but actually the first one I have read – which made no difference at all, this can easily be read as a standalone, but I will definitely be heading backwards and picking the first two up.
This was a chilly and dark tale – magnificently atmospheric, bringing to life the difficult and lonely conditions in the Canadian Arctic, with a sharp focus on the people who live and work there. The relationship between the locals and the recent military addition to the environment is extremely well drawn and gives the whole story a more menacing edge as distrust is the default position. Edie, desperate to find out the truth behind the death of Martha, has some realistic and stark difficulties to overcome. It would be easy to blame an outsider, but there is a lot more going on here than first meets the eye.
Well plotted, some beautifully eclectic characters, a wild and dangerous backdrop, all come together to create an inventive intelligent tale that will keep you enthralled throughout. Excellent stuff can’t wait for more.
Happy Reading Folks!
June 9, 2014
3.5 Stars
There was a lot in this story that I couldn't relate to, and I really did not care for the main character, Edie. That sort of made it hard to really fall in love with this book. But, overall it turned out to be a pretty good read. The revelation of who the murderer was/what happened seemed a bit rushed... it was all over and done with in a page. It would have been nice to have some more insight and explanation into why the murder happened and was carried out in the way that it was - more of what was inside the killer's head. It just left me wondering "So... why did what happened happen, exactly?" / "Aw man. That's it? That's all there is?"
It was a little lacking in a thrilling, justice-is-served finale. Plus after the murderer is revealed, with that incomplete feeling it left me, the following chapters seemed unnecessary. I would have preferred that stuff come before (at least, some of it. A lot of it I didn't care about), then end the story with the killer being found and an explanation of events.
Also, I would have liked it more if the profanity was turned down a notch. (:
Notes: This story contains multiple F-words (far too many for my taste) and other language, as well as sexual encounters, but I wouldn't consider it "explicit". Unnecessary, but not explicit.
There was a lot in this story that I couldn't relate to, and I really did not care for the main character, Edie. That sort of made it hard to really fall in love with this book. But, overall it turned out to be a pretty good read. The revelation of who the murderer was/what happened seemed a bit rushed... it was all over and done with in a page. It would have been nice to have some more insight and explanation into why the murder happened and was carried out in the way that it was - more of what was inside the killer's head. It just left me wondering "So... why did what happened happen, exactly?" / "Aw man. That's it? That's all there is?"
It was a little lacking in a thrilling, justice-is-served finale. Plus after the murderer is revealed, with that incomplete feeling it left me, the following chapters seemed unnecessary. I would have preferred that stuff come before (at least, some of it. A lot of it I didn't care about), then end the story with the killer being found and an explanation of events.
Also, I would have liked it more if the profanity was turned down a notch. (:
Notes: This story contains multiple F-words (far too many for my taste) and other language, as well as sexual encounters, but I wouldn't consider it "explicit". Unnecessary, but not explicit.
September 13, 2017
This book like the previous tells us of the beauty and dangers of a place that few of us will ever see. It is one of those quickly vanishing parts of the Earth that the greed of mankind is destroying. Assuming the author has stayed true to the type of life people lead in the area, it is a brief study in Cultural Anthropology in addition to an intriquing mystery.
October 2, 2020
This book finds Edie Kiglatuk spending the summer teaching on Ellesmere Island, when one of her pupils goes missing. When she and police chief, Derek Palliser, find her body they stumble into a murder investigation that sets in motion a cultural clash between the Inuit villagers and soldiers at a nearby military encampment, where five hundred men are doing their summer training.
Meanwhile, a second plotline involves Martha’s father Charlie Salliaq. The old man has hired a lawyer called Sonia Gutierrez who has come up from Ottawa to make sure the military keep to the government’s promise to clean up the contamination. As Edie and Derek investigate they begin to wonder if the murder could be related to the decontamination efforts.
This novel is once again set in the High Arctic, providing an authentic feel of life for the Inuit. I thought it was humorous to hear Edie complain about the unbearable heat, while wearing her summer parka. Some of the meals Edie and Derek enjoy include nibbling on fried caribou ears, heating up blood soup, and "There might be a walrus head and a couple bags of seal meat in the freezer".
Edie Kiglatuk is a tough, resourceful, and tender hearted sleuth with a foot in two cultures. I wish there had been less focus on the conspiracy theory sometime, but that thread ultimately created tension and menace.
I listened to all three books in the series this year and enjoyed them so much. The narrator, Kate Reading, did a wonderful job and I loved hearing the Inuit language and then comparing it to the spelling in the book. I learned much about life in the High Arctic and hope McGrath decides to write another book sometime in the future. I'm not ready to say goodbye to Edie.
Meanwhile, a second plotline involves Martha’s father Charlie Salliaq. The old man has hired a lawyer called Sonia Gutierrez who has come up from Ottawa to make sure the military keep to the government’s promise to clean up the contamination. As Edie and Derek investigate they begin to wonder if the murder could be related to the decontamination efforts.
This novel is once again set in the High Arctic, providing an authentic feel of life for the Inuit. I thought it was humorous to hear Edie complain about the unbearable heat, while wearing her summer parka. Some of the meals Edie and Derek enjoy include nibbling on fried caribou ears, heating up blood soup, and "There might be a walrus head and a couple bags of seal meat in the freezer".
Edie Kiglatuk is a tough, resourceful, and tender hearted sleuth with a foot in two cultures. I wish there had been less focus on the conspiracy theory sometime, but that thread ultimately created tension and menace.
I listened to all three books in the series this year and enjoyed them so much. The narrator, Kate Reading, did a wonderful job and I loved hearing the Inuit language and then comparing it to the spelling in the book. I learned much about life in the High Arctic and hope McGrath decides to write another book sometime in the future. I'm not ready to say goodbye to Edie.
September 12, 2024
Final book in the Edie Kiglatuk trilogy. I'm currently making an effort to finish trilogies or grab the next in series that I liked but neglected to continue. 'Tis why I picked up The Bone Seeker. I'll start by saying that I couldn't put the book down.
Pro:
*Main character Edie (half Inuit) and secondary character Derek. Edie, flaws and all, makes a great female character.
*Contemporary fiction located within the *Arctic Circle on Ellesmere Island. Housing/food/way of life obviously differs.
*The respect given to beliefs still held by the Inuit people, particularly the elders, who can be torn between old vs. contemporary ways to do something.
*The mystery. I'll grant that it's a tad complicated, but note my five stars anyway.
Con:
*Those living in and about the settlement can have the same last name. Nothing you wouldn't expect with family members, but it doesn't make someone easy to place. Throwing similar last names into the mix makes it even harder. On the other hand, it's realistic for its setting, an exceedingly small close knit community.
Recommend: Strong yes. The Bone Seeker stands alone easily. I read the first two in the trilogy ten years ago. Needless to say, it's a good thing this one can stand alone. About all I remembered is that I liked Edie and loved the unique setting.
*Ellesmere Island is located within the Arctic Circle on Lady Jane Franklin Bay. Lady Jane Franklin funded numerous expeditions, searching for her husband John Franklin and his Lost Franklin Expedition. I had just read The Ministry of Time with its delve into that doomed expedition. So, weirdly, I've now spent reading time in the same general location in a second book.
Pro:
*Main character Edie (half Inuit) and secondary character Derek. Edie, flaws and all, makes a great female character.
*Contemporary fiction located within the *Arctic Circle on Ellesmere Island. Housing/food/way of life obviously differs.
*The respect given to beliefs still held by the Inuit people, particularly the elders, who can be torn between old vs. contemporary ways to do something.
*The mystery. I'll grant that it's a tad complicated, but note my five stars anyway.
Con:
*Those living in and about the settlement can have the same last name. Nothing you wouldn't expect with family members, but it doesn't make someone easy to place. Throwing similar last names into the mix makes it even harder. On the other hand, it's realistic for its setting, an exceedingly small close knit community.
Recommend: Strong yes. The Bone Seeker stands alone easily. I read the first two in the trilogy ten years ago. Needless to say, it's a good thing this one can stand alone. About all I remembered is that I liked Edie and loved the unique setting.
*Ellesmere Island is located within the Arctic Circle on Lady Jane Franklin Bay. Lady Jane Franklin funded numerous expeditions, searching for her husband John Franklin and his Lost Franklin Expedition. I had just read The Ministry of Time with its delve into that doomed expedition. So, weirdly, I've now spent reading time in the same general location in a second book.
Read
May 9, 2021I love that aha moment in stories when you realize why the book has that particular title. In the case of this third installment of the Edie Kiglatuk series, when the characters discover the real evil in their midst...the bone seeker...my hand went over my mouth and I groaned in horror. Then I had to sit down (was listening to audio book while getting ready to leave the house) and recover for a few minutes before heading out. That scene stuck with me for the rest of the day, it was such a sad realization, even though we kind of know it is coming from the investigation performed by the lawyer, Sonia Gutierrez.
The fortitude and resourcefulness that Edie displays in the face of all these harrowing events is quite inspiring, precisely because it doesn't come easy for her. The transformation that she undergoes when on the hunt is just as exhilirating for the reader as it is for the character.
What a powerful series, that I would recommend to anyone! Feeling grateful to M.J. McGrath for highlighting this region and the Inuits, prompting me to research and learn more. Wish there were more books in the series, but there's always the chance to re-read it...maybe on a hot summer day!
The fortitude and resourcefulness that Edie displays in the face of all these harrowing events is quite inspiring, precisely because it doesn't come easy for her. The transformation that she undergoes when on the hunt is just as exhilirating for the reader as it is for the character.
What a powerful series, that I would recommend to anyone! Feeling grateful to M.J. McGrath for highlighting this region and the Inuits, prompting me to research and learn more. Wish there were more books in the series, but there's always the chance to re-read it...maybe on a hot summer day!
January 25, 2021
This mystery was close to five stars for me, and I really hope the author writes another book in the series! The mystery itself kept me guessing, and there were some very engaging scenes (sometimes I was on the edge of my seat, and other times I was touched).
The book is set in Arctic Canada, with plenty of local color - such as unusual foods, traditions, challenges and landscapes. It also has some good recurrent themes:
- Environmental and wildlife protection, threatened by the activities of the "qalunaat" (non-Inuit)
- Native sovereignty, also threatened by the qalunaat ("You know why they shower these document blizzards down on us? It's so they can sneak in while we are blinded and do what they like.").
- Racism and skepticism towards outsiders. Skepticism was understandable, based on history. But it was sad that the local community rejected Derek (the policeman) because he was part-Cree and came from somewhere else. They repeatedly referred to him as "mixed dough."
In general, I really like the series. Why not give it a try?
The book is set in Arctic Canada, with plenty of local color - such as unusual foods, traditions, challenges and landscapes. It also has some good recurrent themes:
- Environmental and wildlife protection, threatened by the activities of the "qalunaat" (non-Inuit)
- Native sovereignty, also threatened by the qalunaat ("You know why they shower these document blizzards down on us? It's so they can sneak in while we are blinded and do what they like.").
- Racism and skepticism towards outsiders. Skepticism was understandable, based on history. But it was sad that the local community rejected Derek (the policeman) because he was part-Cree and came from somewhere else. They repeatedly referred to him as "mixed dough."
In general, I really like the series. Why not give it a try?
December 13, 2017
I liked that this mystery was set in the arctic among an Inuit settlement, and I felt that McGrath generally managed not to explain different cultural norms in too clunky a way. I could wish there were more books set in these communities that were by Inuit or people that had grown up in the region though I wouldn't say a British person couldn't or shouldn't necessarily write this book. My larger problems come with the plot. Based on this book and what I've gleaned of the plots of the previous two, McGrath falls into the school of needing to put her investigators in grave danger as they solve the mystery. I prefer my mysteries a little lower stakes all around - no death-defying chapters, no national conspiracies. Just good detective work will do for me.
August 15, 2018
I LOVE a good mystery and this is the greatest of the Edie Kiglatuk trilogy in its infatuation with farthest north Inuit culture of Ellesmere Island, new native word sprinkling, every-other-bird an auk. Lotsa red herrings in the mystery sense, though delectable edibles are blood soup, fish heads fried with the forgotten eyes popped out, moose ears in fridge kinda dried out but still...
Never saw the killer or hints of who it could be lotsa ...a treat for me though no spoilers for thee! I loved the intro...get the set as I did not...but became enchanted.
M.J. McGrath, I am limited in health but will have to travel to your story settings IF you don't write more about Edie...puh-leeze. Fascinated.
Never saw the killer or hints of who it could be lotsa ...a treat for me though no spoilers for thee! I loved the intro...get the set as I did not...but became enchanted.
M.J. McGrath, I am limited in health but will have to travel to your story settings IF you don't write more about Edie...puh-leeze. Fascinated.
November 16, 2020
This book is set in Northern Canada among the Inuit. Edie Kiglatuk is a tough woman working as a teacher who gets attached to the local police (the local police force at the time consists of just one man) when one of her students goes missing and is found to have been murdered. However this is not the only mystery and the author tells a compelling tale which goes much further than murder. I enjoyed this and will try and read some of the author's other books.
January 29, 2018
Today's News
This book deals with a subject as current as today's headlines.When a young woman's body is discovered in a radioactive lake in the Arctic the cause of death is first attributed to drowning. But a chilling discovery soon makes it clear that something more sinister is at work.
This book deals with a subject as current as today's headlines.When a young woman's body is discovered in a radioactive lake in the Arctic the cause of death is first attributed to drowning. But a chilling discovery soon makes it clear that something more sinister is at work.
October 18, 2018
It was okay. I found that the pacing a bit slow for my liking so I ended up skipping to the end about 3/4 of the way through the book, but it was a good ending. I found it was well researched too. One peeve I had is that the author uses the the phrase "staring into the middle distance" too much. Other then that it wasn't a bad story.
December 20, 2018
Excellent.
3rd in the series after White Heat, The Boy in the Snow. Set on Ellesmere Island in the High Arctic within a very small community of Inuit and Southerners. The setting, culture and customs of a remote community in a harsh landscape is fascinating. The story is so much more than a murder mystery. Really well written and researched with believable characters and plot lines.
3rd in the series after White Heat, The Boy in the Snow. Set on Ellesmere Island in the High Arctic within a very small community of Inuit and Southerners. The setting, culture and customs of a remote community in a harsh landscape is fascinating. The story is so much more than a murder mystery. Really well written and researched with believable characters and plot lines.
October 6, 2019
I happened upon this book then realized it was book three of a series I haven't read. I was afraid at first I would be lost, but the author did a great job in clarifying what was happening. I loved hearing the different languages for words. I have always wanted to visit the artic. It was nice to have the detailed images of the setting in my mind.
May 25, 2017
The Bone Seeker is a satisfying conclusion to the series, but I hope that there will be another book. The events within the story were sad. I did enjoy visiting and catching up with Edie and Derek. I enjoyed Kate Reading’s narration.
December 8, 2017
A Decent read
I would have rated this 4 stars had it been more tightly edited. Long sections of the book were quite unnecessary to the progress of the plot. Even so it was a fair read and developed with decent charcaters.
I would have rated this 4 stars had it been more tightly edited. Long sections of the book were quite unnecessary to the progress of the plot. Even so it was a fair read and developed with decent charcaters.
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