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Jessie Arnold & Alex Jensen #1
Murder on the Iditarod Trail: An Alaskan Mystery
"Adrenaline-pumping . . . [A] polished action mystery . . . [with] dazzling Arctic sights." --Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review
Winner of the Macavity Award and the Anthony Award
Murder on the Iditarod Trail is a gripping mystery set during Alaska's world-famous a grueling eleven-hundred-mile dogsled race across hazardous Arctic terrain.
It is an arduous sport, but not a deadly one. But suddenly the top Iditarod contestants are dying in bizarre first a veteran musher smashes into a tree, then competitors begin turning up dead, with each murder more brutal than the last. State trooper Alex Jensen begins a homicide investigation, determined to track down the killer before more blood stains the pristine Alaskan snow. Meanwhile, Jessie Arnold, Alaska's premier female musher, has a shot at winning for the first time. But as her position in the race improves, so do her chances of being the killer's next target.
As the mushers thread their way through the treacherous trails, Jessie and Jensen are drawn deep into the frozen heart of the perilous where nature can kill as easily as a bullet and only the Arctic night can hear your final screams.
"Engrossing . . . The howling winds, the snow, the ice, the dancing away from wolves, the crazing fatigue, the welcome heat and food, are almost palpable." --Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Excellent . . . well-paced, well-conceived, engrossing . . . moves along like a healthy, well-trained dog team." --The Anchorage Times
"A book that will give you a feel for how the Iditarod is . . . Sue Henry has a genius for characterization, plot, and setting." --Mystery News
Winner of the Macavity Award and the Anthony Award
Murder on the Iditarod Trail is a gripping mystery set during Alaska's world-famous a grueling eleven-hundred-mile dogsled race across hazardous Arctic terrain.
It is an arduous sport, but not a deadly one. But suddenly the top Iditarod contestants are dying in bizarre first a veteran musher smashes into a tree, then competitors begin turning up dead, with each murder more brutal than the last. State trooper Alex Jensen begins a homicide investigation, determined to track down the killer before more blood stains the pristine Alaskan snow. Meanwhile, Jessie Arnold, Alaska's premier female musher, has a shot at winning for the first time. But as her position in the race improves, so do her chances of being the killer's next target.
As the mushers thread their way through the treacherous trails, Jessie and Jensen are drawn deep into the frozen heart of the perilous where nature can kill as easily as a bullet and only the Arctic night can hear your final screams.
"Engrossing . . . The howling winds, the snow, the ice, the dancing away from wolves, the crazing fatigue, the welcome heat and food, are almost palpable." --Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Excellent . . . well-paced, well-conceived, engrossing . . . moves along like a healthy, well-trained dog team." --The Anchorage Times
"A book that will give you a feel for how the Iditarod is . . . Sue Henry has a genius for characterization, plot, and setting." --Mystery News
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
206 people are currently reading
2234 people want to read
About the author
Sue Henry
37 books216 followersSue Henry is the author of 17 novels in two award-winning Alaska mystery series. Her first book, "Murder on the Iditarod Trail" (1991), was well reviewed and won both the Macavity Awards and Anthony Awards for best first novel, prompting the author to develop a series based on this book's characters, Alaskan state trooper Alex Jensen and Jessie Arnold, a sled dog racer.
In 2005, she started a new mystery series featuring a 63-year-old widow, Maxine McNab, travelling in her Winnebago with a miniature dachshund, Stretch. Maxine had appeared in Dead North (2001) in the first series.
Murder on the Iditarod Trail was filmed for television as The Cold Heart of a Killer (1996) starring Kate Jackson, who bought the rights to the book. Sue Henry lived in Alaska for more than a quarter of a century, and brought history, Alaskan lore, and the majestic beauty of the vast landscape to her mysteries. She also taught writing at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
In 2005, she started a new mystery series featuring a 63-year-old widow, Maxine McNab, travelling in her Winnebago with a miniature dachshund, Stretch. Maxine had appeared in Dead North (2001) in the first series.
Murder on the Iditarod Trail was filmed for television as The Cold Heart of a Killer (1996) starring Kate Jackson, who bought the rights to the book. Sue Henry lived in Alaska for more than a quarter of a century, and brought history, Alaskan lore, and the majestic beauty of the vast landscape to her mysteries. She also taught writing at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
February 12, 2023
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.
July 23, 2016
“I did, I did, I did the Iditarod Trail!” Sue Henry’s Murder on the Iditarod Trail, which was first published in 1991, is labeled as a cozy mystery, but to me it was much more intense than a cozy. Spread out over twelve days and one thousand miles, the famous Alaskan dog sled race provides an exciting backdrop for murder. When a musher is found dead on the trail, it appears to be an accident, but things begin to look more suspicious when more contestants die. In this ultra-competitive event, state trooper Alex Jensen wonders, are these deaths sabotage gone awry, or are they murder?
Ms. Henry is no stranger to Alaskan culture; she’s lived there for decades and teaches writing at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. She obviously did her research on this grueling, time-honored event, right down to the basics of mushing, trail checkpoints, and even the personalities of racers. I liked many of her characters, although I had trouble keeping some of them straight. There were three potential killers with very similar temperaments, and that added to the tension, as one of the female challengers, Jessie Arnold, was always in the thick of things and therefore, in need of watching. At least that’s what Trooper Jensen seemed to think. Jessie is determined to prove otherwise. The development of their relationship was fun too.
I would consider this to be mostly an adventure mystery, since the plot focuses so much on the race itself. Some readers might be put off by the details that the author uses to explain the history of the event and the particulars of life on the trail, but I found it quite fascinating. Perhaps it’s because I remember Libby Riddles and Susan Butcher breaking the gender barrier back in the mid-1980s when I first heard of this crazy endurance race. The name itself comes from the native word “Haiditarod, ‘the faraway place.’” If you like reading about tests of endurance with a tinge of mystery thrown in, this may tick those boxes for you. A word of caution: dog lovers will not love one particular part of this book early on. It’s not extremely graphic, and it’s over quickly. However, it cost a star in my rating.
I do have to say that I read this book in the midst of a brief July heat wave, and that made it even more enjoyable. I loved reading the weather reports at the beginning of each chapter that listed a high of something like minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of minus 22. Severe wind gusts with near-blizzard conditions. Lots of steaming hot coffee is consumed. Lots. I’m not ready for summer to end yet, but reading Sue Henry’s Murder on the Iditarod Trail was a pleasant way to chill out for a day.
4 stars
Ms. Henry is no stranger to Alaskan culture; she’s lived there for decades and teaches writing at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. She obviously did her research on this grueling, time-honored event, right down to the basics of mushing, trail checkpoints, and even the personalities of racers. I liked many of her characters, although I had trouble keeping some of them straight. There were three potential killers with very similar temperaments, and that added to the tension, as one of the female challengers, Jessie Arnold, was always in the thick of things and therefore, in need of watching. At least that’s what Trooper Jensen seemed to think. Jessie is determined to prove otherwise. The development of their relationship was fun too.
I would consider this to be mostly an adventure mystery, since the plot focuses so much on the race itself. Some readers might be put off by the details that the author uses to explain the history of the event and the particulars of life on the trail, but I found it quite fascinating. Perhaps it’s because I remember Libby Riddles and Susan Butcher breaking the gender barrier back in the mid-1980s when I first heard of this crazy endurance race. The name itself comes from the native word “Haiditarod, ‘the faraway place.’” If you like reading about tests of endurance with a tinge of mystery thrown in, this may tick those boxes for you. A word of caution: dog lovers will not love one particular part of this book early on. It’s not extremely graphic, and it’s over quickly. However, it cost a star in my rating.
I do have to say that I read this book in the midst of a brief July heat wave, and that made it even more enjoyable. I loved reading the weather reports at the beginning of each chapter that listed a high of something like minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of minus 22. Severe wind gusts with near-blizzard conditions. Lots of steaming hot coffee is consumed. Lots. I’m not ready for summer to end yet, but reading Sue Henry’s Murder on the Iditarod Trail was a pleasant way to chill out for a day.
4 stars
September 23, 2023
New to me author: Alaskan author, Sue Henry
Book 1: Alaska Mysteries
Action mystery
I’ve discovered that I enjoy adventure mysteries that are a little edgier than cozy mysteries!
Does anyone else remember reading about Balto or watching the movie? I’m not a dog lover, but I remember being fascinated by learning about sled dogs while doing a book report on this book in elementary school. Recently, I met Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the Iditarod race, and have been obsessed with Alaska and the race ever since. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s a sled dog race run every March between Anchorage and Nome and covers a distance of 938 miles.
I was encouraged to read this book by another passenger on our Alaskan cruise and I’m glad I took a chance. I stood out in the cold in Juneau snagging free wifi (I have it on the ship, but can’t connect my Kindle…don’t know what that’s about…obvs the Kindle owner’s skills!) outside the library and almost skipped back to the ship clicking my heels like the leprechaun from the Lucky Charms commercial. I was so excited to download my ARCs and this book.
In short: someone is killing mushers as they compete in this grueling race
Things I enjoyed:
✔️the author lives in Alaska and knows the setting well
✔️the author put lots of detail about the race into the story
✔️each character had a unique voice
✔️lots of red herrings
✔️process of paring down the potential killers
✔️a little romance development
✔️author’s ability to immerse me in the setting
✔️vivid descriptions
Be forewarned: it’s not a cutesy cozy with recipes.
I’d eagerly read another of Sue Henry’s books.
Book 1: Alaska Mysteries
Action mystery
I’ve discovered that I enjoy adventure mysteries that are a little edgier than cozy mysteries!
Does anyone else remember reading about Balto or watching the movie? I’m not a dog lover, but I remember being fascinated by learning about sled dogs while doing a book report on this book in elementary school. Recently, I met Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the Iditarod race, and have been obsessed with Alaska and the race ever since. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s a sled dog race run every March between Anchorage and Nome and covers a distance of 938 miles.
I was encouraged to read this book by another passenger on our Alaskan cruise and I’m glad I took a chance. I stood out in the cold in Juneau snagging free wifi (I have it on the ship, but can’t connect my Kindle…don’t know what that’s about…obvs the Kindle owner’s skills!) outside the library and almost skipped back to the ship clicking my heels like the leprechaun from the Lucky Charms commercial. I was so excited to download my ARCs and this book.
In short: someone is killing mushers as they compete in this grueling race
Things I enjoyed:
✔️the author lives in Alaska and knows the setting well
✔️the author put lots of detail about the race into the story
✔️each character had a unique voice
✔️lots of red herrings
✔️process of paring down the potential killers
✔️a little romance development
✔️author’s ability to immerse me in the setting
✔️vivid descriptions
Be forewarned: it’s not a cutesy cozy with recipes.
I’d eagerly read another of Sue Henry’s books.
August 6, 2022
The Iditarod Race, the 1100 miles dog sled race between Anchorage and Nome, is a hard a grueling endurance event, but it has never been deadly for humans - until now. First, someone falls asleep on his sled and winds up crashing into a tree. State trooper Alex Jensen is brought in to figure out what happened, but before he can make a complete determination, another body turns up dead. He takes the offer of help from musher Jessie Arnold willingly. But will that be enough to keep anyone else from dying?
I read this book on my recent Alaska cruise, and I think that helped me get into the story. I found all the facts about the race and the various setting fascinating. Outside a couple of characters, I had trouble keeping everyone straight, but I really did care for Jessie and Alex. I did find some of Alex’s behavior unrealistic, but I do get the dramatic tension it was creating. The race takes over from the mystery as the main driver of the plot at times, but I got caught up in the action and the climax was a page turner. Overall, I enjoyed this one, and book two came home from my trip with me as a souvenir. Hopefully, I can get to it soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I read this book on my recent Alaska cruise, and I think that helped me get into the story. I found all the facts about the race and the various setting fascinating. Outside a couple of characters, I had trouble keeping everyone straight, but I really did care for Jessie and Alex. I did find some of Alex’s behavior unrealistic, but I do get the dramatic tension it was creating. The race takes over from the mystery as the main driver of the plot at times, but I got caught up in the action and the climax was a page turner. Overall, I enjoyed this one, and book two came home from my trip with me as a souvenir. Hopefully, I can get to it soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
July 1, 2019
I really, really wanted to like this book. I have read other books in the series but had to wait for this to come out in Kindle form just yesterday. I just finished it and am sitting here scratching my head. I know that others loved this book, and I wonder if they read it when it first came out and it may have been more germane at the time? I did learn a LOT - somewhat more than I wanted to know about the Iditarod Race.
Unfortunately, this left little time to really search for clues as to who had been the murderer and why. this book left State trooper Alex Jensen, looking like a very weak character and Jessie Arnold, Alaska’s premier female musher, seemed to not have even been needed in this book.
My biggest complaint -and I admit this may all be my fault- is that the author introduces so many characters in this book, uses the first name's sometimes and last names other times, that I couldn't keep them straight.
I ended up not wanting to finish simply because I lost all interest in the murders...the murderer was fairly easy to figure out and the conclusion, while exciting for a brief moment, was all in all unsatisfactory.
Unfortunately, this left little time to really search for clues as to who had been the murderer and why. this book left State trooper Alex Jensen, looking like a very weak character and Jessie Arnold, Alaska’s premier female musher, seemed to not have even been needed in this book.
My biggest complaint -and I admit this may all be my fault- is that the author introduces so many characters in this book, uses the first name's sometimes and last names other times, that I couldn't keep them straight.
I ended up not wanting to finish simply because I lost all interest in the murders...the murderer was fairly easy to figure out and the conclusion, while exciting for a brief moment, was all in all unsatisfactory.
January 30, 2017
I felt like I was on the Iditrod Trail along with Jess. This was a great read and I was intrigued with everything on the trail. ( google was in over time ) The touch of murder just added to it and you have to love the dogs and the damn hard slog it takes out of all the Mushers and everyone around them.
December 27, 2022
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/su...
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/su...
November 4, 2022
The Iditarod. The very name conjures images of an unbelievably difficult sled dog race of over 950 miles from Anchorage to Nome Alaska, through rugged landscapes of tundra and spruce forests, over hills and mountain passes, across rivers and even over sea ice. Howling blizzards that cause whiteout conditions, sub-zero temperatures and gale-force winds which can cause the wind chill to reach −100 °F (−73 °C) greet those mushers willing to risk it all for the euphoria of completing the grueling distance.
So, adding murder to the mix just doesn’t seem fair.
Jessie Arnold is racing in her sixth Iditarod with her best dog team ever, thinking she may have a fair chance to win it all. But as mushers start dropping out one by one, from apparent “accidents” and sabotage, and at least one definitive murder, she has to wonder if she might be next. State Trooper Alex Jensen is determined to follow the clues and identify the culprit before anybody else gets hurt, especially Jessie, for whom, he has developed a certain fondness.
This is billed as a “cozy” mystery but it’s not like any other cozies I’ve ever read. No cookie recipes or hometown antique stores to be found here. Rather, it’s a straight up murder mystery with plenty of thrilling action, especially as we get closer to the end of the race where I felt my own adrenaline surging to see how it would all sort out. Along the way I learned a lot about the race itself, its history and the incredible challenges it presents to the racers, mushers, and dog teams alike. I’ve been to Alaska and seen sled dog teams in action but still came away from this novel with a deep appreciation for their training and loving care by their humans.
A good start to this series and I will be looking to read more Sue Henry novels in the future.
So, adding murder to the mix just doesn’t seem fair.
Jessie Arnold is racing in her sixth Iditarod with her best dog team ever, thinking she may have a fair chance to win it all. But as mushers start dropping out one by one, from apparent “accidents” and sabotage, and at least one definitive murder, she has to wonder if she might be next. State Trooper Alex Jensen is determined to follow the clues and identify the culprit before anybody else gets hurt, especially Jessie, for whom, he has developed a certain fondness.
This is billed as a “cozy” mystery but it’s not like any other cozies I’ve ever read. No cookie recipes or hometown antique stores to be found here. Rather, it’s a straight up murder mystery with plenty of thrilling action, especially as we get closer to the end of the race where I felt my own adrenaline surging to see how it would all sort out. Along the way I learned a lot about the race itself, its history and the incredible challenges it presents to the racers, mushers, and dog teams alike. I’ve been to Alaska and seen sled dog teams in action but still came away from this novel with a deep appreciation for their training and loving care by their humans.
A good start to this series and I will be looking to read more Sue Henry novels in the future.
September 5, 2013
I really wanted to give this book 3.5 stars, but had to go with 3. It was good, but as others have mentioned, I had a lot of trouble keeping the characters straight. So many characters are introduced in a short space of time without really defining characteristics for all of them. Plus, the author will refer to characters by first name at times and by last name at other times, increasing the confusion. Yet, despite the large number of characters, the number of suspects quickly narrows down and to me it was fairly obvious who the killer was mid-way through the book. I usually don't try very hard to figure out who the killer is, so when I figure it out early, it was fairly obvious.
Despite this it was a good read and fast moving. I enjoyed the descriptions of Alaska and Sue Henry has a good writing style. The main characters, Alex and Jessie, are likable. I haven't decided if I will read the next book in the series or not, I probably will but it's far down my priority list.
Despite this it was a good read and fast moving. I enjoyed the descriptions of Alaska and Sue Henry has a good writing style. The main characters, Alex and Jessie, are likable. I haven't decided if I will read the next book in the series or not, I probably will but it's far down my priority list.
December 20, 2021
I'm reading a little lighter than usual for the holidays. I had just heard a presentation from a woman who races in the Iditarod, so I was delighted to find that there's a mystery in that setting.
I found the story enjoyable because I love reading about Alaska. The detective is a man who is fine with strong women. The women running in the Iditarod are portrayed as strong, as they should be. One of the main characters is a woman in the Iditarod. Only one male musher is protrayed as being misogynist.
Most of the mushers clearly love their dogs and take good care of them.
I especially liked the story because I had just seen a presentation on the Iditarod and could picture the scenes where it took place. I'm not sure I would have liked the book as much if I hadn't.
I found the story enjoyable because I love reading about Alaska. The detective is a man who is fine with strong women. The women running in the Iditarod are portrayed as strong, as they should be. One of the main characters is a woman in the Iditarod. Only one male musher is protrayed as being misogynist.
Most of the mushers clearly love their dogs and take good care of them.
I especially liked the story because I had just seen a presentation on the Iditarod and could picture the scenes where it took place. I'm not sure I would have liked the book as much if I hadn't.
April 24, 2010
In Murder on the Iditarod Trail, the vicious weather of an Alaskan winter is not only the setting but also one the the main antagonists. The plot and characterization are competent, but what makes this a terrific, timeless book is the way the reader gets to go along vicariously on the grueling, two-week race.
With her expertise on the Alaskan wilderness in general and dog-sledding in particular, Sue Henry provides her readers with the gift of insight into a real world completely different from the one most of us inhabit.
With her expertise on the Alaskan wilderness in general and dog-sledding in particular, Sue Henry provides her readers with the gift of insight into a real world completely different from the one most of us inhabit.
August 28, 2012
A lot of so-called "Cozy" mysteries leave me cold, not cozy. I can't stand really implausible scenarios or cutesy gimmicks. Sue Henry's books, however, are interesting and literate, but the pulse is not so heart-pounding and frantic that it keeps me from falling asleep at night.
This one's setting is self-evident, and the climax will keep you on the edge of your seat (or bed), though. Once you're about 60 percent finished, don't pick it up again till you're ready to finish it!
This one's setting is self-evident, and the climax will keep you on the edge of your seat (or bed), though. Once you're about 60 percent finished, don't pick it up again till you're ready to finish it!
September 27, 2018
The description give to details made me feel like I was there. Thank goodness I wasn't. The suspense and excitement kept me on the edge of my seat. This was murder, mystery, adventure, and romance all rolled not one. The last twenty two miles of the race seemed the longest part of the story. Set back read and enjoy.
August 2, 2024
I first read this when it came out in 1991, and I've remembered it ever since. When I saw it on the shelf at the thrift store I was very happy to have a chance to read it again. Of course, you never know if a book you read years ago will hold up, but this one definitely did.
What I remembered so clearly was the race itself, with the details of what it might feel like to run it, as well as the likable MCs. Jesse Arnold is a veteran Iditarod racer, and through her eyes we not only get a better understanding of how the race works, but we also get to see the scenery and ever-changing weather of Alaska. We also meet other racers, and it didn't take long for me to worry about who might be injured or killed next. I did think I remembered the baddie, but I wasn't sure; sometimes I remember the person I suspected, instead.
All in all this was a very satisfying book that I'll gladly add to my shelf for rereading. It's a great mix of nature and mystery with plenty of thrills, from the murderer and the race itself.
What I remembered so clearly was the race itself, with the details of what it might feel like to run it, as well as the likable MCs. Jesse Arnold is a veteran Iditarod racer, and through her eyes we not only get a better understanding of how the race works, but we also get to see the scenery and ever-changing weather of Alaska. We also meet other racers, and it didn't take long for me to worry about who might be injured or killed next. I did think I remembered the baddie, but I wasn't sure; sometimes I remember the person I suspected, instead.
All in all this was a very satisfying book that I'll gladly add to my shelf for rereading. It's a great mix of nature and mystery with plenty of thrills, from the murderer and the race itself.
November 26, 2025
Zoomed through this book on a cruise!! It would’ve been a 5 if the amount of characters weren’t confusing and had to suspend disbelief on some things. Learned a ton about the Iditarod Race!
January 23, 2025
Quick read. Fast paced. Lots of twists & turns. Loved it! Inspired to read it after my own dogsledding experience in Alaska. Now I want to see this race! So inspiring!
November 6, 2016
I was very pleasantly surprised at how quickly this book went and how hard it was to put it down each time I had to. It was first and foremost a story, but it imparted a lot of information about the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, and Alaska in general, that I sort of knew in a vague way. The landscape itself was a character in the book, and far from being tiresome in its descriptions of the race, the mushers, the equipment and the racing strategy, the minute details actually made the story all the more interesting.
I've had this book on my 'to read' list for several years, passing it over many times, thinking it would be another boring cookie-cutter cozy type mystery transplanted to an interesting setting. It was far from that...it wasn't really a cozy at all, but neither was it super-edgy and grisly with details. The well-fleshed and interesting characters that I found myself caring about right from the beginning, and feeling like I had made some friends by the end were great. The mystery--someone is killing off mushers on the Iditarod trail in ways made to look like accidents--was fairly well hidden. As I often do, I had an inkling about the bad guy, but in this case, I didn't really know why.
Bravo, definitely looking forward to the next one.
I've had this book on my 'to read' list for several years, passing it over many times, thinking it would be another boring cookie-cutter cozy type mystery transplanted to an interesting setting. It was far from that...it wasn't really a cozy at all, but neither was it super-edgy and grisly with details. The well-fleshed and interesting characters that I found myself caring about right from the beginning, and feeling like I had made some friends by the end were great. The mystery--someone is killing off mushers on the Iditarod trail in ways made to look like accidents--was fairly well hidden. As I often do, I had an inkling about the bad guy, but in this case, I didn't really know why.
Bravo, definitely looking forward to the next one.
February 1, 2015
I had to read this book for my job, and it wasn't the most entertaining thing to read. I've never read crime/mystery before this, so I disn't know if all books in this genre have major events (like many people dying) within the first 40 pages, and then the rest of the book is pretty slow and cheesy as the characters talk about who the murder could be. Most of the dialogue felt fake/forced, and a lot of times it didn't even move the story along whatsoever. There were so many characters and they were referred to by first name, last name, and sometimes nickname, so it was very hard to keep everyone straight. To be honest, I just read to the end because I had to, and I didn't really pay attention to who any of the characters were because the author never took the time to give them an insightful backstory that I could even remotely connect to. The ending was very unsatisfying, as the consequences for the villain were summed up in a few quotes.
November 21, 2017
If the villain hadn't wasted so many hours sabotaging the other racers he would have easily won the race by a long shot instead of being minutes behind the leader. It reminds me of Dr. Evil who has a legitimate businesses making billions but he just needs to be... well... evil.
December 28, 2015
A good murder mystery with lots of suspense and adventure. You get to learn about dog racing and Alaskan wilderness too. Yet another US State Challenge book for me.
September 30, 2015
The setting is brilliant and that really makes this story. The mystery isn't as strong as the setting.
May 23, 2022
I liked the Alaskan settign and learning more about the Iditarod. I'll continue with the series
April 22, 2024
Fun murder mystery during the middle of an Iditarod race with a little romance thrown in. The murders pop up in sudden and brutal ways causing the 'da da dummmmm' tones to go off in my head. (Do other people hear that too when someone dies in a book?)
I liked the book well enough to give it 5 stars but the author crosses the line that all dog lovers detest. It is perfectly fine to kill as many people as you want between the covers of a book, but if you hurt or kill a dog, even we just don't like it. Yah, brutal deaths of people or dogs can have a big emotional impact, but still no.
I did find some good quotes to share. Here is some of the more interesting brutal details:
'His headlamp shattered as it hit. So did his nose and cheek. A wicked, foot-long limb projected from the side of the trunk. Cold and sharp, it entered his closed right eye and pushed through his brain until it hit the back of his skull. There it stopped. His body hung against the trunk of the spruce until his weight broke the limb and he fell slowly onto the trail.'
'The sled was flung out and over the edge of the cliff by the violence of the parting. had only a breath to realize she was airborne as the sled left the trail and fell, tumbling down the side of the hill, toward the icy river six hundred feet below.'
Then mysteries always have their common little sayings:
“I think you better take this,” she said, her eyes wide. “There's been another accident. In Happy Valley.”
“Murder is what’s going on. I can’t say it plainer. Someone is killing mushers. We don’t know why, or who. But we will. I just don’t want any more of you to die. If we stop the race now, the deaths will probably stop too. You had all better think about that carefully.”
I liked this next little expression that you need to get a clue on who and what is going on to build a murder case. Don't know if it is new from this book or what:
'“Whoa. You can’t build a fence without posts,” Alex cautioned him.'
the book is filled with great authentic details on Alaska and the race. I liked this bit on the operators of the snow machines who clear the paths for the race:
'The snow machine drivers, dressed in layers of outer. wear to repel the worst the Arctic can deliver, may cover the full thousand miles without a good night’s sleep and with few hot meals. A bed becomes something they dreamed of once; a hot shower, only a memory. They develop shoulders the envy of linebackers. But when they try to explain the pale, empty nights on the ice of Norton Sound, or the northern lights so bright they reflect off the snow in the Farewell Burn, wistful looks come over their wind and sunburned faces and they drift into silence or stammering attempts at description. Many come back year after year, addicted to the trail.'
And my last and favorite quote which I am sure contains the way I am sure racers feel about the race:
'“I told you this is my fifth Iditarod. I don’t think you understand what that means. It means I’ve been breeding dogs, raising them, working with them all these years to prepare for this race. Every race is this race. As soon as | got home from my first race I started putting together the best team I could train. Every year I do that.
“I’ve bought dogs, traded them, tried them out, found out what kind of pups turn into good racers, sold and gotten rid of as many as I kept. With a lot of hard work, I’ve built a racing machine. I know which dogs will go in any kind of cold, which run best in the wind, and which can take the weather without dehydrating. We understand each other. Tank knows, almost before I do, what I want and what to do about it. He’s a great leader. And the rest know me, trust me and what I ask them to do. They love it, the running, as much as I| do. I Jove it, Alex, or I wouldn’t do it.'
Ratings are often hard. I could have given this book 5 stars but chose to give it one less as a warning to others that dogs die. But besides that, great book :-)
I liked the book well enough to give it 5 stars but the author crosses the line that all dog lovers detest. It is perfectly fine to kill as many people as you want between the covers of a book, but if you hurt or kill a dog, even we just don't like it. Yah, brutal deaths of people or dogs can have a big emotional impact, but still no.
I did find some good quotes to share. Here is some of the more interesting brutal details:
'His headlamp shattered as it hit. So did his nose and cheek. A wicked, foot-long limb projected from the side of the trunk. Cold and sharp, it entered his closed right eye and pushed through his brain until it hit the back of his skull. There it stopped. His body hung against the trunk of the spruce until his weight broke the limb and he fell slowly onto the trail.'
'The sled was flung out and over the edge of the cliff by the violence of the parting. had only a breath to realize she was airborne as the sled left the trail and fell, tumbling down the side of the hill, toward the icy river six hundred feet below.'
Then mysteries always have their common little sayings:
“I think you better take this,” she said, her eyes wide. “There's been another accident. In Happy Valley.”
“Murder is what’s going on. I can’t say it plainer. Someone is killing mushers. We don’t know why, or who. But we will. I just don’t want any more of you to die. If we stop the race now, the deaths will probably stop too. You had all better think about that carefully.”
I liked this next little expression that you need to get a clue on who and what is going on to build a murder case. Don't know if it is new from this book or what:
'“Whoa. You can’t build a fence without posts,” Alex cautioned him.'
the book is filled with great authentic details on Alaska and the race. I liked this bit on the operators of the snow machines who clear the paths for the race:
'The snow machine drivers, dressed in layers of outer. wear to repel the worst the Arctic can deliver, may cover the full thousand miles without a good night’s sleep and with few hot meals. A bed becomes something they dreamed of once; a hot shower, only a memory. They develop shoulders the envy of linebackers. But when they try to explain the pale, empty nights on the ice of Norton Sound, or the northern lights so bright they reflect off the snow in the Farewell Burn, wistful looks come over their wind and sunburned faces and they drift into silence or stammering attempts at description. Many come back year after year, addicted to the trail.'
And my last and favorite quote which I am sure contains the way I am sure racers feel about the race:
'“I told you this is my fifth Iditarod. I don’t think you understand what that means. It means I’ve been breeding dogs, raising them, working with them all these years to prepare for this race. Every race is this race. As soon as | got home from my first race I started putting together the best team I could train. Every year I do that.
“I’ve bought dogs, traded them, tried them out, found out what kind of pups turn into good racers, sold and gotten rid of as many as I kept. With a lot of hard work, I’ve built a racing machine. I know which dogs will go in any kind of cold, which run best in the wind, and which can take the weather without dehydrating. We understand each other. Tank knows, almost before I do, what I want and what to do about it. He’s a great leader. And the rest know me, trust me and what I ask them to do. They love it, the running, as much as I| do. I Jove it, Alex, or I wouldn’t do it.'
Ratings are often hard. I could have given this book 5 stars but chose to give it one less as a warning to others that dogs die. But besides that, great book :-)
October 3, 2019
First, wear a sweater while you’re reading this book, and keep it on. I don’t care where you live, you’ll feel cold deep in the heart of Alaska while author Sue Henry freezes your ass off while you journey with her on the annual, highly competitive 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail. You will feel like you’re one of the mushers with a team of dogs racing across some of the most brutal places where the temperatures seem always to be below zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Now, we’ve probably all at least heard of the Iditarod race. But a newspaper story can’t even begin to compete with the reality of what occurs and what’s necessary to survive in such a continually rough environment. Those who compete? It’s virtually a year-long training session even to prep for the brutal race.
In Henry’s novel? The Iditarod race is all the more perilous when several mushers are found dead in various places along the trail. One musher in particular seems targeted. That’s Jessie Arnold, one of but very few women who dare to compete. Figuring out who killed other mushers and who might be after Jessie falls to state trooper Alex Jensen.
I can’t tell you more without ruining the mystery, but I will tell you than Alex and Jessie appear to strike an almost immediate attraction to each other. It surprises them both and is built on the very few times they actually encounter each other, primarily at checkpoints all mushers are required to sign in at.
Oh, hell. Just go get the book. And don’t forget the sweater.
Now, we’ve probably all at least heard of the Iditarod race. But a newspaper story can’t even begin to compete with the reality of what occurs and what’s necessary to survive in such a continually rough environment. Those who compete? It’s virtually a year-long training session even to prep for the brutal race.
In Henry’s novel? The Iditarod race is all the more perilous when several mushers are found dead in various places along the trail. One musher in particular seems targeted. That’s Jessie Arnold, one of but very few women who dare to compete. Figuring out who killed other mushers and who might be after Jessie falls to state trooper Alex Jensen.
I can’t tell you more without ruining the mystery, but I will tell you than Alex and Jessie appear to strike an almost immediate attraction to each other. It surprises them both and is built on the very few times they actually encounter each other, primarily at checkpoints all mushers are required to sign in at.
Oh, hell. Just go get the book. And don’t forget the sweater.
August 20, 2023
Enjoyed reading this fictional mystery which introduced me to much of what I know about the famed 1K dog sled race that takes place in Alaska annually. I chose to read this book to learn more about the race after seeing dog sledding ( on wheels) in Denali demonstrated by park ranger -and again in Fairbanks demonstrated by Susan Butcher's daughter. The book gave me a feel of some of the hardship and hazards the mushers and dog teams face on the very challenging trail.
October 19, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up because the writing was so good. I bought this for the title & cover, so I didn't expect much. But I really enjoyed it! It's basically a police procedural, but the setting in Alaska and the details of the Iditarod race made it a fascinating and gripping story. And I loved the character of Jesse, the gutsy female musher. The descriptions of her racing and caring for her dogs were wonderful. This is the best "first book" I've read in a long time.
April 30, 2020
Icy Cold Alaska
This was an interesting book. I learned a lot about Alaska and the Iditarod Trail. When accidents and deaths start happening it is difficult to know what to expect next.
This was an interesting book. I learned a lot about Alaska and the Iditarod Trail. When accidents and deaths start happening it is difficult to know what to expect next.
July 13, 2018
Excellent read. The story keeps you guessing until the end. I really enjoyed this book.
May 7, 2024
Jessie Arnold is one of the competitors in the famous Iditarod race, and when mushers start dying, detective Alex Jensen shows up to solve the case. He finds many interesting tidbits - including an interest in Jessie - but no obvious culprit, so he hops from stop to stop in the race to continue searching for clues.
My mom and I both read a lot of cozy mysteries. We buy them for each other for birthday/Christmas presents, and we also just buy them and pass them back and forth. My mom found this one at a bookstore recently and insisted I get it and read it because I'd like it. I totally see where this is one that should be up my alley - but it feel a little flat for me for a couple of reasons. While I like cozy mysteries, I'm more into the fluffiness of the story than the mystery itself. That part is interesting, but the story was probably 85% the police officers hopping from location to location to talk to people about the case. I like a little more fluff - I would have loved more background into a character, more about the race itself, more scenes from the race - more interactions between people - I don't know, something in addition to the case. Also - there was supposedly a romance between Alex/Jessie building, but it was really hard to tell that from the writing. Why were they suddenly interested? It was not a well written romance at all. I loved the set up of this book - Alaska, wilderness, racing, unique theme, but I just really wanted to learn more about that and get rid of most of the case in this one.
That being said, other than a bit of jumpy-ness, it was pretty well written. Just not my top preference for how a book is laid out.
My mom and I both read a lot of cozy mysteries. We buy them for each other for birthday/Christmas presents, and we also just buy them and pass them back and forth. My mom found this one at a bookstore recently and insisted I get it and read it because I'd like it. I totally see where this is one that should be up my alley - but it feel a little flat for me for a couple of reasons. While I like cozy mysteries, I'm more into the fluffiness of the story than the mystery itself. That part is interesting, but the story was probably 85% the police officers hopping from location to location to talk to people about the case. I like a little more fluff - I would have loved more background into a character, more about the race itself, more scenes from the race - more interactions between people - I don't know, something in addition to the case. Also - there was supposedly a romance between Alex/Jessie building, but it was really hard to tell that from the writing. Why were they suddenly interested? It was not a well written romance at all. I loved the set up of this book - Alaska, wilderness, racing, unique theme, but I just really wanted to learn more about that and get rid of most of the case in this one.
That being said, other than a bit of jumpy-ness, it was pretty well written. Just not my top preference for how a book is laid out.
October 8, 2014
This is a cracking good idea for a murder mystery - it is set amid the long, tough Alaskan race contested each year by champion mushers. There is enough information about dog sledding to satisfy anyone and great care is taken of the dogs themselves. They wear boots to protect their feet, and are vetted and removed if too tired. The mushers have to carry guns in case of enraged wildlife and as these are tough, determined people, tempers can run hot. One after the other three mushers are killed in different ways and contender Jessie Arnold has to do all she can just to survive, never mind try to win.
This is my favourite of the Arnold books so far. Readers may also enjoy Murder on the Yukon Quest.
The author has another series out about a senior lady who drives around in an RV. This is necessarily constrained by the character's being older.
Other Alaskan books are mysteries by Dana Stabenow - A Cold Day for Murder, Dead in The Water and so on, a very fine series about a female native PI Kate Shugak and her half-wolf dog Mutt. Start at the earlier ones. Another good wilderness mystery author is Nevada Barr who writes about a National Park Ranger called Anna Pigeon.
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