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Nathan Active Mystery #5
Tundra Kill
Nathan Active, the top cop in a swath of the Alaskan tundra that is larger than15 U.S. states, has a new mystery to unravel after a dog musher is killed by a snowmobile. When the case is connected with Alaska’s gorgeous female governor, Active is swept into the bizarre family affairs and outsized political ambitions of the most dangerous woman he has ever met. Now the counter-moves that have been put into place by the governor threaten the lives of both his beloved Grace Palmer and her daughter, Nita. With his career on the line, Active has to outwit the governor and save the people he cares for most before time runs out.
307 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2016
35 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Stan Jones
20 books54 followersStan Jones is a writer of mystery novels, and is co-author of a non-fiction oral history book.
He has written seven books in the Nathan Active mystery series. He is also the co-author (with Sharon Bushell) of The Spill: An oral history of the Exxon Valdez disaster.
THE SAND GARDEN, installment No. 1 in his Dana Forsythe Mysteries was published in November 2023. It's based in the Palm Springs area and features a female private detective. Mary Wasche was his co-author on THE SAND GARDEN.
He was born in Anchorage, Alaska, where he lives today.
He has written seven books in the Nathan Active mystery series. He is also the co-author (with Sharon Bushell) of The Spill: An oral history of the Exxon Valdez disaster.
THE SAND GARDEN, installment No. 1 in his Dana Forsythe Mysteries was published in November 2023. It's based in the Palm Springs area and features a female private detective. Mary Wasche was his co-author on THE SAND GARDEN.
He was born in Anchorage, Alaska, where he lives today.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 29, 2015
Nathan Active, the Inupiat cop, is back in Tundra Kill, the engaging fifth installment of Stan Jones’ series. With a new promotion to top-cop and just as he is moving in with his girlfriend, the resilient Amazing Grace, Nathan has finally made a home in Chukchi and life is good – until Alaska’s gorgeous governor, Helen “Wheels” Mercer shows up and threatens to undo it all.
Nathan is a fish-out-of-water protagonist, having been born to a teenager mother in Chukchi, adopted by white school teachers and raised in urban Anchorage. When he joined the state troopers, his first post was back in Chukchi, a town clinging to the northwest coast of Alaska and a place he did not want to be. He didn’t speak the language or know the customs. The only person he knew was the mother who’d given him up. And because of his foreignness, the locals referred to him as naluaqmiiyaaq, someone who acts almost as white (not a compliment). In those early days, he dreamt of a new post somewhere closer to civilization.
Now in book five, Nathan has “missed too many planes” and Chukchi has become his home. Through his eyes, the reader is treated to frighteningly unforgiving terrain, the deadly weather and the complex and complicated Inupiat people. Straddling two cultures and two eras, the Inupiat travel on dogsleds as well as snowmachines. They hunt and fish as the old-timers did and work at the giant Gray Wolf mine. They eat whale blubber and seal oil or sometimes go out for Chinese.
When Helen Mercer arrives towing one lone videographer, her teenaged son, to shoot promotional footage for her next bid for national office, she cuts a swath of damage as wide as the state of Connecticut. A white woman raised in Chukchi, Helen married Brad Mercer, a local Inupiat, who is racing his dogs in the Isignaq 400 and expected to win. Claiming concern for her personal safety in a place where she is largely avoided, Helen demands that Nathan act as her body guard as she flies over the race course following the dogs and making personal appearances in the villages. That’s when things – bad things – begin to happen.
Stan Jones’ prose gives dimension to the untouched beauty of northwest Alaska like photographs can never do and skillfully brings to life the people of Chukchi in this compelling page-turner. If you want to meet new people and see new places from the comfort of your reading nest, this book is for you.
Nathan is a fish-out-of-water protagonist, having been born to a teenager mother in Chukchi, adopted by white school teachers and raised in urban Anchorage. When he joined the state troopers, his first post was back in Chukchi, a town clinging to the northwest coast of Alaska and a place he did not want to be. He didn’t speak the language or know the customs. The only person he knew was the mother who’d given him up. And because of his foreignness, the locals referred to him as naluaqmiiyaaq, someone who acts almost as white (not a compliment). In those early days, he dreamt of a new post somewhere closer to civilization.
Now in book five, Nathan has “missed too many planes” and Chukchi has become his home. Through his eyes, the reader is treated to frighteningly unforgiving terrain, the deadly weather and the complex and complicated Inupiat people. Straddling two cultures and two eras, the Inupiat travel on dogsleds as well as snowmachines. They hunt and fish as the old-timers did and work at the giant Gray Wolf mine. They eat whale blubber and seal oil or sometimes go out for Chinese.
When Helen Mercer arrives towing one lone videographer, her teenaged son, to shoot promotional footage for her next bid for national office, she cuts a swath of damage as wide as the state of Connecticut. A white woman raised in Chukchi, Helen married Brad Mercer, a local Inupiat, who is racing his dogs in the Isignaq 400 and expected to win. Claiming concern for her personal safety in a place where she is largely avoided, Helen demands that Nathan act as her body guard as she flies over the race course following the dogs and making personal appearances in the villages. That’s when things – bad things – begin to happen.
Stan Jones’ prose gives dimension to the untouched beauty of northwest Alaska like photographs can never do and skillfully brings to life the people of Chukchi in this compelling page-turner. If you want to meet new people and see new places from the comfort of your reading nest, this book is for you.
October 30, 2015
Maybe a little less, due to two gratuitous sex scenes. The context was right, they fit into the character narrative, but they were unnecessarily graphic. Nevertheless - this is the fifth in a WONDERFUL series. If anyone wants to know what life is like in the REAL Alaska - the one off the road system - that person could read many, many weighty texts and still not "get it," or, that person could read the five Nathan Active books. This series is HIGHLY recommended to all - and there is a good mystery, as well. And, that person will easily learn some wonderful "Village-speak." READ THESE BOOKS!!!!!!!
August 12, 2016
A dog musher is found dead outside Chukchi. Nathan Active is working to solve this mystery. The femme fatale Governor, Helen Mercer, is spending more and more time in Chukchi, and with Active; there's speculation that she might announce a bid for a national office.
Jones does Alaska, bush pilots, the Inupiat and suspense well. On the down side, at times, the story line seemed erattic and in some areas the credibility was an issue (psychological and legal issues for example).
An enjoyable read.
Jones does Alaska, bush pilots, the Inupiat and suspense well. On the down side, at times, the story line seemed erattic and in some areas the credibility was an issue (psychological and legal issues for example).
An enjoyable read.
January 14, 2020
I’ve had a good time binging my way through Stan Jones’ mystery series featuring the adventures of Nathan Active, formerly a state trooper and now a police chief. Although born into the Inupiat tribe, Active was adopted by a white couple and brought up in Anchorage. Now he’s living in the place where he was born, the little village of Chukchi, but still feels a bit like an outsider.
This is No. 5 in the series. Tundra Kill features a woman governor who is an unsubtle takeoff on Sarah Palin. If you don’t happen to be a Palin fan you probably won’t mind the depiction of Gov. Helen Mercer as vicious, grandstanding, lying, maneating (in the sexual sense), vindictive, etc., etc. Her visit to Chukchi coincides with a death by snowmobile in which a musher was run over and left to die in the snow. When Nathan tries to investigate, Mercer brings out the claws in more than one sense. Quite a few depictions of sex in this one too.
This is No. 5 in the series. Tundra Kill features a woman governor who is an unsubtle takeoff on Sarah Palin. If you don’t happen to be a Palin fan you probably won’t mind the depiction of Gov. Helen Mercer as vicious, grandstanding, lying, maneating (in the sexual sense), vindictive, etc., etc. Her visit to Chukchi coincides with a death by snowmobile in which a musher was run over and left to die in the snow. When Nathan tries to investigate, Mercer brings out the claws in more than one sense. Quite a few depictions of sex in this one too.
September 11, 2017
I am so disappointed in Stan Jones. After waiting years for the next Nathan Active installment he publishes this sorry piece of pornographic drivel. At first it was funny the way he riffed on Sarah Palin but then it just became a trite and overused plot device. He was obviously too unimaginative/lazy to create an original character. The amount of extremely graphic pornography that went on for pages was shocking. I believe that he needed to fill up more pages for his publisher and was slap out of character development and further narrative. Stan Jones days as a fiction writer are over.
October 13, 2017
Nathan Active and Grace Palmer are trying to kindle a sex life in spite of the violations she suffered as a child from her father, a subplot of sex scenes quite awkward in the detail of their description. Nathan is now the chief of police of the Chuckchi region, so when the governor flies in to see the end of a race in which her husband is mushing Nathan gets stuck with her security. Her character turns out to be so depraved that I felt the need for a shower after finishing the book.
December 3, 2016
The author managed to convey something of the immense grandeur of the Arctic landscape, and the rugged simplicity of life there, revolving, as it does, around the moods both frivolous and awesome, of mother nature. The plot is well-paced and credible, but characterization falls a bit short. An interesting read.
July 29, 2021
Nathan Active gets drug into state and local politics where Noone seems to fight fair. Dealing with blizzards and bears is one thing, but politicians may be more than he can handle! A fun read although I found myself getting mad at some of the characters. The main character is finally developing somewhat of a personality.
November 20, 2016
A body is found that was run over, and Nathan Active is on the case, with political complications due to Alaska's female governor, her husband, and all of this is set in the Alaskan northwest. The 5th in the author's Nathan Active series.
January 30, 2020
I guess it’s tough to come up with a series of stories. Jones does a better job than most but this one got almost comical at times. Still, the story held together and had some great twists and turns. The sex scenes didn’t hurt, either.
April 21, 2022
This would have been an excellent mystery if Stan had stuck to the mystery and not included the issue of abuse and difficulties of sex by having such graphic sex scenes. I would have preferred to learn more about the culture and the police procedure used in the north.
July 13, 2017
First book by author and in series found good and entertaining.
July 5, 2018
I missed the detailed descriptions of Alaska landscapes and native culture in the earlier stories. It was good, sort of funny, but I prefer the first 4 more. Worth a read tho.
December 14, 2018
Such a disappointment. A thinly disguised diatribe merely serving as a vehicle to share the author’s poor opinion of Sarah Palin. Unimaginative, trite slop.
April 16, 2019
More more more.
February 25, 2021
I'm not a fan of Sarah Palin. But this was just . . . unrealistic. And predictable.
April 24, 2021
I've never understood the lens through which he writes women, and that's extra apparent in this installment. As a mystery it's fine.
May 13, 2024
I could do without the sex scenes. The mystery was nice and twisty. I thoroughly enjoyed the spoof of the wing-nut Governor.
July 10, 2016
Who Murdered the Musher
Stan Jones doesn’t squander an Alaskan minute. In Tundra Kill murder splashes onto the page before the first, short chapter wraps up. As well, in his inimitable style, Nathan Active, a star Iñupiaq top cop, makes his understated entrance, giving readers a succinct glimpse of the disarming police chief tasked with unraveling the snowmobile hit-and-run of an unidentified man in the tundra, miles from nowhere.
Tundra Kill is the fifth entry in the Nathan Active series. For those of us who haven't read one of the earlier books, (Never Mind, Doesn’t Matter); Jones’ latest adventure lets us all jump in and enjoy the fun about to ensue. From these opening pages we know we’re in the hands of a skilled mystery/crime writer. Without mincing on tone or texture, Jones’ writing displays a telling tautness, complemented by comic riff nuances of a dry-witted humorist. When any author gambles by listing the key plot elements (or those most likely to attract attention) on the cover flap, they’re raising the stakes. And from a cursory overview his cover flap tells it all. In short order we learn that Helen Mercer, Alaska’s governor, is the key suspect in this hit-and-run. Not only is she at the top of the list but to extricate her political career from this maelstrom, she's willing to accuse Active of raping her and reopening a murder case involving the woman he loves. In the hands of a lesser author, sharing that much detail upfront might pose a bet too big to cover.
Jones defuses that risk straight off by laying out a story with characters so compelling, you’re willing to wait for the promised hype. These folks rise above the high expectations created by a potentially murderous, power craving governor who bears an uncanny resemblance to She Who Must Not Be Named. In stark contrast to the surreal antics of this nearly cartoonish publicity seeker, the citizens of Chukchi possess personalities that pop from the page, immediately engaging and captivating the readers’ interest, while also serving as an effective counterpoint to the satirical depiction of our former governor. Jones’ playful inclusion of a Palin clone does not detract a whit from the intricacies of the webs weaved by this amoral, über ambitious politician. Nor does Jones want anyone to think for an instant these allusions are accidental. His Mercer is a former high school basketball star who ran the court with power and authority. Mercer shot from small town mayor to Governor and is married to a husband renowned for his professional athletic prowess. She’s also gorgeous and has a thing for high fashion stilettos. Her comic caricaturization combined with the reality that we know all too well that these grossly exaggerated pols are traipsing across our political landscape today only serves to heighten the tension driving Jones murder mystery forward.
And these other people, the more normal ones who call Chukchi home, are as mesmerizing and memorable as any you’d meet, from Grace Palmer, the love of his life, who is in the midst of bouncing back from a searing childhood trauma, to Cowboy Decker, the iconic bush pilot who flies Active in and out of his danger zones. In the process of lining up these relationships and layering them with the complexity necessary to believe these are real, flesh and blood inhabitants—not merely figments of Jones’ fertile imagination—his craftsmanship seals the connection. Very early on in the story’s development he needs to introduce important background on a pivotal character that contains sensitive, intimate, painful facts: Her “house was far up the street … It shared an alley with the high school where her father had been a teacher, then principal, until her mother had shot him to keep him from molesting … the daughter he sired by …” He conveys so much in that passage with so little. It should be used in writer’s workshops to teach the value of less is more.
Above and beyond the colorful characters and intricate plotting, perhaps the real test for a gut-satisfying conclusion to a criminal murder mystery is whether or not the ending eludes detection and delivers the proper big bang. Is there that moment at the plot’s denouement or in that penultimate scene where you gasp and go, "didn’t see that coming?" Well, don’t take my word for it when I tell you the ending of this one is a humdinger—go read it and find out for yourself.
Originally published in the Anchorage Press on April 14, 2016
Stan Jones doesn’t squander an Alaskan minute. In Tundra Kill murder splashes onto the page before the first, short chapter wraps up. As well, in his inimitable style, Nathan Active, a star Iñupiaq top cop, makes his understated entrance, giving readers a succinct glimpse of the disarming police chief tasked with unraveling the snowmobile hit-and-run of an unidentified man in the tundra, miles from nowhere.
Tundra Kill is the fifth entry in the Nathan Active series. For those of us who haven't read one of the earlier books, (Never Mind, Doesn’t Matter); Jones’ latest adventure lets us all jump in and enjoy the fun about to ensue. From these opening pages we know we’re in the hands of a skilled mystery/crime writer. Without mincing on tone or texture, Jones’ writing displays a telling tautness, complemented by comic riff nuances of a dry-witted humorist. When any author gambles by listing the key plot elements (or those most likely to attract attention) on the cover flap, they’re raising the stakes. And from a cursory overview his cover flap tells it all. In short order we learn that Helen Mercer, Alaska’s governor, is the key suspect in this hit-and-run. Not only is she at the top of the list but to extricate her political career from this maelstrom, she's willing to accuse Active of raping her and reopening a murder case involving the woman he loves. In the hands of a lesser author, sharing that much detail upfront might pose a bet too big to cover.
Jones defuses that risk straight off by laying out a story with characters so compelling, you’re willing to wait for the promised hype. These folks rise above the high expectations created by a potentially murderous, power craving governor who bears an uncanny resemblance to She Who Must Not Be Named. In stark contrast to the surreal antics of this nearly cartoonish publicity seeker, the citizens of Chukchi possess personalities that pop from the page, immediately engaging and captivating the readers’ interest, while also serving as an effective counterpoint to the satirical depiction of our former governor. Jones’ playful inclusion of a Palin clone does not detract a whit from the intricacies of the webs weaved by this amoral, über ambitious politician. Nor does Jones want anyone to think for an instant these allusions are accidental. His Mercer is a former high school basketball star who ran the court with power and authority. Mercer shot from small town mayor to Governor and is married to a husband renowned for his professional athletic prowess. She’s also gorgeous and has a thing for high fashion stilettos. Her comic caricaturization combined with the reality that we know all too well that these grossly exaggerated pols are traipsing across our political landscape today only serves to heighten the tension driving Jones murder mystery forward.
And these other people, the more normal ones who call Chukchi home, are as mesmerizing and memorable as any you’d meet, from Grace Palmer, the love of his life, who is in the midst of bouncing back from a searing childhood trauma, to Cowboy Decker, the iconic bush pilot who flies Active in and out of his danger zones. In the process of lining up these relationships and layering them with the complexity necessary to believe these are real, flesh and blood inhabitants—not merely figments of Jones’ fertile imagination—his craftsmanship seals the connection. Very early on in the story’s development he needs to introduce important background on a pivotal character that contains sensitive, intimate, painful facts: Her “house was far up the street … It shared an alley with the high school where her father had been a teacher, then principal, until her mother had shot him to keep him from molesting … the daughter he sired by …” He conveys so much in that passage with so little. It should be used in writer’s workshops to teach the value of less is more.
Above and beyond the colorful characters and intricate plotting, perhaps the real test for a gut-satisfying conclusion to a criminal murder mystery is whether or not the ending eludes detection and delivers the proper big bang. Is there that moment at the plot’s denouement or in that penultimate scene where you gasp and go, "didn’t see that coming?" Well, don’t take my word for it when I tell you the ending of this one is a humdinger—go read it and find out for yourself.
Originally published in the Anchorage Press on April 14, 2016
May 11, 2024
Being an Alaskan, I am immensely enjoying Jones’ blatant ridiculing of Sarah Palin in the character of Governor “Helen Wheels” Mercer in this Nathan Active murder mystery.
March 15, 2024
Not quite as good as his other novels. While the setting of Chukchi (northern Alaska)and main protagonists are good, this story suffered from an annoyingly stereotyped character, "Helen Wheels", governor of Alaska who uses her position of power along with her feminine wiles to her advantage and seems to be able to twist men around her little finger.
July 21, 2016
After a very long seven-year gap, I was thrilled to see another installment of one of my favorite series. Stan Jones makes the remote regions of Alaska and the customs, food, language, and familial relationships of the Inupiat people come to life. He's the only author I've read who can actually make the Arctic ice speak. In Tundra Kill, Jones brings readers right into the heart of the wilderness in an iced-up Cesna-- an excellent section of the book.
Relationships play an important role here, and the relationship between Nathan and Grace is first and foremost. Tundra Kill is a bit more sexually explicit than I'm used to when reading mysteries, but it's in keeping with the story (and never goes overboard). Grace is a survivor of sexual abuse, and the intimate relationship Nathan has with the woman he loves is fundamental to their future together.
Jones has written a wonderfully twisty plot with touches of humor that can make readers laugh out loud. Nathan is up against some very devious people, and it is fun to watch how he deals with them. Long-time fans of the series-- like me-- are familiar with his naivete and will probably react strongly to some of the twists and turns in the plot. I know I did.
To be honest, I could've done without the Sarah Palin-esque character in Tundra Kill, but Jones kept me from terminal eyes-rolling-back-in-the-head with his fast pace, devilish plot, and Nathan Active. I sincerely hope there isn't another seven years until the next book. This entire series is choice.
Relationships play an important role here, and the relationship between Nathan and Grace is first and foremost. Tundra Kill is a bit more sexually explicit than I'm used to when reading mysteries, but it's in keeping with the story (and never goes overboard). Grace is a survivor of sexual abuse, and the intimate relationship Nathan has with the woman he loves is fundamental to their future together.
Jones has written a wonderfully twisty plot with touches of humor that can make readers laugh out loud. Nathan is up against some very devious people, and it is fun to watch how he deals with them. Long-time fans of the series-- like me-- are familiar with his naivete and will probably react strongly to some of the twists and turns in the plot. I know I did.
To be honest, I could've done without the Sarah Palin-esque character in Tundra Kill, but Jones kept me from terminal eyes-rolling-back-in-the-head with his fast pace, devilish plot, and Nathan Active. I sincerely hope there isn't another seven years until the next book. This entire series is choice.
February 14, 2017
It was slow moving in spots for a mystery, but the Alaska setting kept it interesting and a good page turner. Enjoy!
March 31, 2016
#5 in the Nathan Active series. Nathan investigates a snowmobile hit-and-run killing in which the leading suspect is the governor's husband. After the first appearance of the governor, I defy any reader to avoid a mental image of Sarah Palin.
Nathan Active series - The former Alaska state trooper is the newly appointed chief of public safety for the Chukchi Regional Borough, a region "bigger than 15 of the [lower] United States." Active manfully strives to heal his partner Grace's trauma from childhood incest, while he investigates a hit-and-run snowmobile homicide. He must also fight off the advances of Alaska's gorgeous man-eating governor, Helen Mercer, who's making a publicity-driven visit to her Chukchi home while contemplating a run for national office.
Nathan Active series - The former Alaska state trooper is the newly appointed chief of public safety for the Chukchi Regional Borough, a region "bigger than 15 of the [lower] United States." Active manfully strives to heal his partner Grace's trauma from childhood incest, while he investigates a hit-and-run snowmobile homicide. He must also fight off the advances of Alaska's gorgeous man-eating governor, Helen Mercer, who's making a publicity-driven visit to her Chukchi home while contemplating a run for national office.
January 7, 2017
So far this is my least favorite book by Stan Jones.
I like the story plot, the characters are so believable and very well defined and the setting and the things I learn about this world so far from me are always welcomed.
This book, though, contains too lengthy and detailed sex scenes description, that it verges on pornography and I am not interested in that. I appreciate the complex story behing Grace and Nathan relationship, and it makes them more human, not to mention that gives me an insight on the horrible life of so many Native and non-Native women, but these scenes are really uncalled for.
Anyway, I will keep reading Jones' books, wishing this was just an unfortunate slip - his writing is always absorbing.
I like the story plot, the characters are so believable and very well defined and the setting and the things I learn about this world so far from me are always welcomed.
This book, though, contains too lengthy and detailed sex scenes description, that it verges on pornography and I am not interested in that. I appreciate the complex story behing Grace and Nathan relationship, and it makes them more human, not to mention that gives me an insight on the horrible life of so many Native and non-Native women, but these scenes are really uncalled for.
Anyway, I will keep reading Jones' books, wishing this was just an unfortunate slip - his writing is always absorbing.
June 18, 2016
Fun mystery, great character development. I enjoyed the Palinesque character, and loved the setting. Good suspense, and a fun novel to read.
April 21, 2016
Disappointing, not at all like the others in this series. More like reading a tabloid with his similarities to Sarah Palin!
November 12, 2016
I love the Nathan Active series. I'm ready for the next one!!
May 26, 2022
main character much too manipulative.
November 22, 2016
Fun read! Great characters!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews