Sisters of the Midnight Sun: A Murder in Arctic Alaska

by Rebecca Wright Stevens

The stunning and complex story of a gruesome double homicide in the vibrant Inupiat community at the northernmost edge of the Alaska—and the public defender who represented the drifter at its center

In her early forties, Rebecca Wright, a defense attorney living in Olympia, Washington, found herself suddenly widowed and an empty nester. It was time for a radical change. She passed the Alaska Bar exam and accepted a Public Defender position in Alaska’s North Slope, an oil-rich area the size of Wyoming where the native Inupiat community holds great cultural, political, and economic power. Though Rebecca will always be a tanik—an outsider—through her hard work and dedication she gained the trust and friendship of both the Native and non-native folks who call this singular place home. When two well-known sisters, Bernice and Wanda Ipalook, are found murdered, Rebecca is tasked with representing Amos Lane, a drifter brought up on misdemeanor charges but rumored to be just days away from being arrested for the murders. With criminal charges looming and the midnight sun making it difficult for witnesses to confirm the time—or even the day—they last saw the sisters (or Amos), Rebecca must navigate a client who is giving her mixed signals, a prosecution willing to entrap her to get what they want, a budding romance, and a community that believes Lane deserves a different form of justice than what the legal system can provide.

Weaving a detailed portrait of Utqiagvik alongside Rebecca’s complex self-portrait, this true account addresses the epidemic of violence against indigenous women, indigenous teen suicide, the negotiations between competing value systems, and the limits of justice. Shot through with a redemptive throughline where individuals are judged not by their worst actions but by their best, Sisters of the Midnight Sun celebrates a community at the edge of the habitable world where unlikely partnerships are forged.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Crime, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Audiobook

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2026

Reviews

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be both interesting and insightful. I know very little about Alaska in general but even less about how it operates in terms of legal issues/ court cases.


Rebecca stevens is a retired public defender and this book tells the story of a double homicide that she defended one of the lead suspects in. We get to learn about the culture and how she had to navigate challenges defending this man while still respecting the Inupiat community.

One of the things I found most fascinating wasn't even the case but the Artic Summer and how at times there are periods of 24 hr sunlight! I can't imagine.

I have read quite a bit of true crime, and I have to say that the crime itself doesnt really hold center stage in this book. If you are wanting to read something super focused on the crime and trial in details, this really isn't that. It is more of a personal reflection but I found it to be captivating overall.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Non Fiction True Crime. I read this book by listening to the audiobook, and I loved the audiobook. This book is so well done, and it is one of the easiest to read non fiction books that I have picked up. I have picked up many non fiction books over the last few years, and I found this book to be my favorite one so far. This book reads like you are reading a fiction mystery book, and you can easily put yourself in the characters shoes. The story touches your heart, and I love a well written book that touches my heart and makes me really think about things. As a dog person I have to say I am so happy that she saved the dog. Great story. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Tucker Almengor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review
★ 3.08 stars ★

This book fell very middle of the road for me. The author did an excellent job taking a real experience/story and making it feel very narrative and novel like. Thus, it was entertaining and engaging to read.

Additionally, the small introductions to indigenous culture and traditions from an outside perspective was also interesting to read.

That being said, this particular set of crimes, while well portrayed, wasn't particularly interesting to me. That was a me issue though.

All in all, I definitely think this is a high quality true crime book. It just wasn't my flavor of true crime.

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[Ellen Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fascinating. Lots of emotions as I read.

[Margaret Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never read a book from the perspective of a real life public defender. So that fact alone gets it 4 stars. Also very interesting setting and people.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging true crime retelling, well worth a purchase for our library collection, as it should slot in nicely for fans of true crime and mystery looking for a nonfiction book.

With that said—the well-meaning but empty conclusions about a flawed beyond repair American criminal justice system leave a lot to be desired, and I can’t help but be skeptical of some of the recreated dialogue in this book, 30 years later with none of the other major figures still alive to vouch for the veracity of the author’s narrative. She is conscious of the potential white savior-ness of the narrative, but I don’t know that she quite avoids it all the same.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first picked up Sisters of the Midnight Sun, I expected the murder at the center of the story to be the main focus. Instead, I discovered something much richer.

The murder draws you in, but it quickly becomes clear that this book is really about Alaska—its breathtaking landscape, its Indigenous people, and the resilience of those who have learned to live in one of the world’s most challenging environments. Rather than dwelling on the crime, the story uses it to explore family, community, culture, and survival.

What stayed with me most was learning about the deep knowledge Indigenous communities developed over generations. Their connection to the land, respect for nature, and ability to adapt made me appreciate a way of life that is so different from my own. I found myself stopping to learn more about Alaska’s history, geography, and Native cultures as I read.

This book reminded me that history is more than dates and events. It’s about people, the places they call home, and the choices they make in difficult circumstances.

I finished the book wanting to learn more—not just about the characters, but about the real Alaska. Any book that leaves me asking questions and eager to keep exploring has done something special.

★★★★★ (5/5)

If you’re looking for a murder mystery alone, this may not be the book you expect. But if you’re looking for a story that opens the door to Alaska’s history, people, and culture, it’s a rewarding read.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the setting, the criminal case was a compelling story. The narrator was annoying and the writing itself was so-so.

“The Ipalook trial loomed on the horizon like an avalanche.” Does an avalanche loom on the horizon?

[Bookreporter.com Biography & Memoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1993, as the summer sun burned without setting in arctic Alaska, sisters Bernice and Wanda Ipalook were killed. Several people from the small city of Utqiagvik remembered seeing them close to the time of their deaths. They were heading home together happy and more than likely drunk.

But the blurring of night into morning, plus the way that time is reckoned in Indigenous Iñupiat culture, made it difficult to ascertain exactly when they were last seen and by whom. This made the job of investigators incredibly challenging, as well as that of public defender Rebecca Wright Stevens, who was tasked with the defense of a prime suspect in the homicide. Decades later, she revisits the murder, the investigation and her life in Utqiagvik in SISTERS OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN.

Wright Stevens (Wright at the time of the events in the book) is a young widow with two children in college and needing a change of scenery, plus a sizable paycheck, when she takes the job as a public defender over a large swath of mostly rural Alaska. She often deals with misdemeanors. But now she is assigned to work with Amos Lane, a man with a criminally violent past and a history of familial trauma who had been on a weekend pass from a rehab facility when Bernice and Wanda were killed.

Lane is not forthcoming with details, and Wright Stevens doesn’t ask many questions, but she does secure him immunity quite quickly when the investigation sets its sights on another suspect. She returns to the case and her defense of Lane throughout the book, but (despite the title) this is not the central focus here. It is more of a panoramic view of her nine years in the arctic and her life there as a tanik, a white woman and outsider.

During a big birthday party thrown by her friend and coworker, Liz, who knows she works too hard, Wright Stevens meets Michael, a charming, handsome and slightly younger man. They begin a romance that involves the attention of much of his extended family and seemingly most of the town. But Michael --- like Liz, Amos and even the Ipalook sisters --- struggles with addiction, and Wright Stevens is unable to help in ways that make a lasting impact. The beauty of the arctic is matched by its dangers. Above her soar snowy owls, and hungry polar bears occasionally wander into town. Violent men are master ivory carvers, and local sports heroes are on suicide watch. Bernice, Wanda and their family never find justice.

While the summer is one long day, the winter is one long night. Wright Stevens and others from the lower 48 are never in-step with the cultural and natural rhythms of the place. The system of law and society she represents is still a symbol of oppression, and even a well-respected individual remains an intruder of sorts. This tension may be compelling to some, but others may find it morally fraught and thus a difficult read.

Part true crime, part memoir, SISTERS OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN is a unique glimpse into a harsh and gorgeous landscape and a culture that unfortunately is all-too-little known or even considered. The writing here is conversational, and the lives recorded are interesting, though readers may wish they had gotten to know Utqiagvik better.

Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman

[Teresa Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something incredibly powerful about a true crime story told from the side we so rarely get to see. Sisters of the Midnight Sun by Rebecca Wright Stevens invites readers into the impossible position of a public defender tasked with representing the man everyone assumes is guilty. Knowing she lived this story gives every page added weight, and what unfolds is far more than a murder investigation. It is a deeply human exploration of grief, purpose, and what happens when an outsider steps into a community with its own history, traditions, and understanding of justice.
What captivated me most was the moral complexity. Stevens never offers easy answers. She examines the ethical responsibility of defending the accused while navigating prosecutors, cultural divides, and a legal system that doesn't always align with the people it is meant to serve. Set against the stark beauty of Arctic Alaska, where the endless daylight creates an atmosphere unlike anywhere else, the landscape becomes as unforgettable as the people living within it. I was lost in the details. Everything from the purple woolly lousewort to the way buildings needed to be above the permafrost layer took me as close to this area as I have ever been. Not only that, but all of this shapes the investigation, the relationships, and the emotional heartbeat of the story.
Stevens showcases an unwavering respect for the people and culture at the heart of the story. The Iñupiat community is not the backdrop of a crime. Instead, she thoughtfully explores the lasting effects of historical trauma, addiction, isolation, poverty, and the complicated relationship between Indigenous communities and the American legal system. The result is a richer, more honest account that challenges assumptions and underscores how culture, history, and community shape every aspect of the pursuit of justice.
This is true crime with remarkable depth that blends memoir, courtroom drama, and cultural history into a narrative that asks bigger questions about justice, belonging, and whose voices are heard. I finished this book with a greater appreciation for the quiet burdens carried by public defenders and for the complicated truth that justice and fairness are not always the same thing.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑺𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑺 𝑶𝑭 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑴𝑰𝑫𝑵𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 𝑺𝑼𝑵: 𝑨 𝑴𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝑨𝒓𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑨𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒂 𝒃𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒄𝒂 𝑾𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏, out July 14th, graciously #gifted by @counterpointpress & @brilliancepublishing.

I was drawn to this book because of my years of living there, albeit much further south than Utqiagvik, and my growing desire for understanding of cultures outside of my own. During my time in Kenai, I heard about the villages and how hard it is for a white person to make inroads, so I was extra curious about Rebecca Wright Stevens and her story.

This book is much more than just a true crime narrative, giving context of tribal history, native women's struggles, and personal lived experiences of Wright Stevens. This made for a deeper look into the struggles of one woman's fight for justice in a complicated arena.

Two sisters are found killed, and it becomes Wright Stevens's job to defend one man while searching for answers. The complicated layers of the US justice system and Native systems don't always work well together. The dogged determination to serve as well as knowing the limits of her understanding keep this narrative in a place of honoring and sensitivity.

I really appreciated so much of this book. It had nuggets of familiarity but taught me much, and law fans will be fascinated and frustrated in equal measure. This is not a true crime drama, but rather a look into a complex community from an outsider wanting to understand and help.

The audio was a fantastic addition to the physical book, adding clear pronunciation to the visible names and words in the Inupiaq language. A pairing made perfect for this book.

[Kendra Chura · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot about this story that interested me, but I kept wishing it would go deeper, especially when it came to the setting. The description promises a vivid portrait of Utqiagvik, but I never felt like I could fully picture the place.

I was expecting more of the book to focus on the girls, what happened to them, and the court case, but it was mostly about the author’s time in Alaska.

I liked that it read almost like fiction. It felt like a complete story rather than a memoir that only focused on a few isolated events, and the narration was good. Still, I wish she had described the setting more.

She talks about the lack of trees, the midnight sun, and the long hours of daylight, but she never really helped me picture what any of that looked or felt like. When someone shows up at her house at 4 a.m., is it already bright outside? How cold is it when they go play softball? What does the sky look like when it never gets completely dark? I wanted more details about the weather, the scenery, and what it was actually like to live there.

She describes one plane ride in more detail than almost anything else in the entire book.

She also talks quite a bit about ivory carving and hunting practices, but never really gets into their history or cultural significance as much as I would have liked.

Overall, it was an interesting story. It was a little slow at times, but it wasn’t bad, and the narration was easy to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the advanced listening copy.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the Audiobook ARC!

Rebecca Wright Stevens’s Sisters of the Midnight Sun is an engrossing, atmospheric blend of true crime, legal procedural, and personal memoir. Set in the remote Iñupiat community of Utqiagvik, Alaska, the book follows Stevens's real-life experience as a public defender tasked with representing a prime suspect in the tragic double homicide of two prominent local sisters. What follows is a morally complex, haunting exploration of justice at the edge of the habitable world.

The audiobook format is absolutely stellar for a narrative like this. The continuous 24-hour Arctic summer daylight acts almost as a character itself, completely warping the witnesses' sense of time and memory, which creates a fascinating, disorienting tension that translates beautifully to audio. Stevens writes with deep humility and sharp insight, balancing the tense "fish-out-of-water" reality of being a tanik (outsider) with the gritty, high-stakes drama of the courtroom. Listening to her navigate regional hurdles, uncooperative clients, and local culture feels incredibly intimate and atmospheric.

Sisters of the Midnight Sun is a thought-provoking and deeply respectful narrative that breathes new life into the true crime genre. It is perfect for fans of sharp legal thrillers who also appreciate a profound sense of place. Highly recommended on audio!

[Kate Belt · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me, this story falls less into the true crime genre, and is more a memoir about the author’s experience of living in a culture different from her own. Talk about strong sense of place! The location is the arctic edge of the United States The community includes the Inuit, other people from around the world, a Presbyterian church, and operates under two justice systems: local/US and Native. From the publisher: “Rebecca Wright is a defense attorney living in the Lower 48 when she suddenly finds herself a widow and an empty nester. In need of a radical change, she accepts a public defender position in Utqiagvik on Alaska’s North Slope, an oil-rich area the size of Wyoming where the Iñupiat community holds great cultural, political, and economic power. Though she’ll always be a tanik—an outsider—she works hard to gain the trust and friendship of the folks who call this singular place home.” The writing is excellent. It hooked me at page one. Kirkus gave it a starred review; NYT named it most anticipated book of the summer. I heard of the book from a Shelf Awareness ad.

[Mackenzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confused as to the reconstructed dialogue and, like another reviewer here said, it gets very tiring to hear the well-meaning but ultimately empty repeated points on how horrible the American justice system is (we know!). Also agree that while Rebecca Wright Stevens is cognizant of coming off as a white savior, she can't avoid it. I felt that a lot of the book was pretty surface level examinations of everything around her.

I have to say I thought it was pretty jarring to switch from the brutality of the crime to her birthday party or softball practice? I also thought there would be more of a focus on the Ipalook sisters (and Harriet Lane) considering she has a few paragraphs calling them "sisters of the midnight sun" — all horrifically victimized during that liminal period where witnesses lose track of time due to perpetual sunlight. But that framework comes right at the end of the book...

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected

I love to read, because you can share someone’s view or life experiences (fiction and nonfiction).

Welcome to Rebecca Wright’s experience living in Alaska. With beautiful transparency she lets the reader in on a significant life period. She does it in an honest and forthright manner that makes it clear that it is her experience and view. She does not appropriate the culture in Point Hope for her story telling needs but instead allows the reader to listen to her internal monologue of respect, confusion, and joy at being an outsider embraced into a level of insider— and her struggle and appreciation to know and be part of the community she lives in.

There are no easy answers as a public defender. There is no Better or Worse Justice. There is no Right or Wrong community, just people doing their best to face challenges and not be shunned out onto the tundra alone.

This book is going to stick with me for a long time.

[Julie Friar · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her husband’s death Rebecca Wright made the move to work as a public defender in Utqiagvik on Alaska’s North Shore. When Bernice and Wanda Ipalook are found dead she was representing Amos Lane for another case, but the authorities think he is involved. This novel explores how she represented him and the trial to come.

Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Excellent characters in a novel based on a true story. Living under the midnight sun and freezing cold results in many residents suffering mental health issues and substance abuse. They do not really trusting the police or the authorities. Well paced and intriguing novel.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of narrative nonfiction that I love--I binged it straight through. So from a reader's standpoint, I recommend it, although (spoiler!) you never actually find out who killed the sisters. It's a fascinating look at an outsider trying to survive on Alaska's North Slope.

What made me uneasy, as a lawyer, was the author disclosing conversations she had with her client. My understanding of attorney-client privilege is that it extends beyond the client's death. And since I don't practice criminal law, I also couldn't fathom how the suspect could get immunity if no one, including his attorney, knew what he was going to say on the stand.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Wright Stevens perfectly straddles the line of true crime and memoir in this engrossing story of her time as a public defender in northern Alaska. The novel follows her work on a double homicide, which she recounts in detail without getting stuck in the legal minutiae of the trial. She conveys what it is like to be a visitor in a harsh land, which was only granted statehood in 1959 and remains very isolated. This is a must-read for armchair detectives and travelers alike.

A special thank you to Counterpoint Publishers for sending me an ARC of this title for review.

[Becca Cadoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sisters of the Midnight Sun was a page-turner -- highly recommend. A fantastic blend of memoir, history, anthropology, Sisters of the Midnight Sun is a must-read for those interested in Alaska and native culture and/or true crime. The murders themselves are terribly sad; but Rebecca Wright Stevens beautifully weaves the legal story around the experiences of the community she lives in, her experiences living and working in such a unique place, and her own personal reflections, to deliver a thoughtful, suspenseful, and deeply human--and deeply important--work of nonfiction.

[Nikki Loves To Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing & Rebecca Wright Stevens.

I went into this book hoping it would spotlight the incredible amount of indigenous women being murdered and basically ignored.
Sadly it was more about the justice system and how they treat the accused. Which, yes is an issue too however I felt the crime the book was based around really wasn't even spoken about.
I understand she was the defense attorney in the case however I just feel like this book could have been about so much more.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this is nonfiction, it’s written so well that it reads like a legal mystery to be solved as it moves through the Alaskan North Slope. Rebecca is an easily likeable character, and I enjoyed getting to know her as she assimilated into her chosen community. Topics such as substance abuse, suicide, violence are a huge part of the story; they are woven into the story, without judgment, and presented well. This was a difficult case but just as equally fascinating.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the review copy.

[Caroline Blessing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book, well written.

Hooked me from the first page. Really brought the far north of Alaska to life for me and helped me truly grasp how metropolitan Fairbanks and Anchorage are now compared to the far flung villages. Time moves differently there. Even the sun itself is alien in a place with 24/7 daylight and you lose your sense of time and days. The murder mystery and trial was interesting and the lifestyle and history of the indigenous people was fascinating. Highly recommend this book.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the most unique books I’ve read in a while. The author really painted a picture about life in the Arctic, and I learned a lot about that part of the world. The setting became a character, which I love. It’s a book that makes you think and come up with your own theories about the events described. It was so compelling I kept forgetting it was nonfiction. Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book’s main focus is about a lawyer from the lower 48 living at the arctic circle in Alaska as a public defender. I started reading it expecting more about the trial of the double murder but it was so much more.
The most interesting parts were about the lawyer’s experience of living in an isolated Alaska area. She talks about the people there and their customs. The story does also include the difficulties of defending the people that live there. An interesting book.

[Scott Lovelace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very engrossing true crime / memoir. Set in Alaska, a deep dive into two murders, sisters Bernice and Wanda Ipalook, nearly thirty years ago. Filled with beautiful Alaskan scenery and a complicated legal system. This was a very human story, emotionally raw and extremely satisfying. Highly recommended.

[Andrea Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to listen to this book early thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I thought the audiobook was well done. I know next to nothing about the indigenous Alaskan world, so this was an insight into that. True crime told from the point of view of the public defender who is an outsider, representing a local in a double murder case. Expected publishing in the US 7/14/2026.

[Kay Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the premise of this audiobook and was excited to see where the story would go. There were definitely parts I enjoyed, but overall I was left wanting a little more from it.

It didn’t quite have the depth or emotional impact I was hoping for, but I can still see it being a great read for the right person. Not a bad listen at all, just not quite one that fully worked for me.

[Sherry Erdly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted more, liked the details of her personal life but wished for more of the story. I felt that Rebecca was overworked and didn't have reliable help. I was glad that see found another place to work. Didn't like where the pictures were located in the book, I would have liked to see them at the end.

[Rj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might be the most boring murder mystery book I’ve ever read. The ending is a complete and utter let down. Don’t waste your time. I gave it two stars to be kind and because the descriptions of the Arctic are beautiful and accurate.