Icy Clutches

Gideon Oliver #6

by Aaron Elkins, Joel Richards (Narrator)

On a trip to Alaska, Gideon Oliver becomes involved in a tantalizing mystery. Everyone finds it fortunate that the anthropologist/detective is nearby when human bones are found at an old avalanche site--except for the person who thinks that murder is the best way to cover up the past.

RUNNING TIME ➼ 8hrs. and 39mins.

©1990 Aaron Elkins (P)2019 Tantor

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Anthropology, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published August 1, 1990

About the author

Aaron J. Elkins, AKA Aaron Elkins (born Brooklyn July 24, 1935) is an American mystery writer. He is best known for his series of novels featuring forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver—the 'skeleton detective'. The fourth Oliver book, Old Bones, received the 1988 Edgar Award for Best Novel. As Oliver is a world-renowned authority, he travels around the world and each book is set in a different and often exotic locale.

In another series, the protagonist is museum curator Chris Norgren, an expert in Northern Renaissance art.

One of his stand-alone thrillers, Loot deals with art stolen by the Nazis and introduces protagonist Dr. Benjamin Revere.

With his wife, Charlotte Elkins, he has also co-written a series of golf mysteries about LPGA member Lee Ofsted. They shared an Agatha Award for their short story "Nice Gorilla".

Aaron and Charlotte live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.

Japanese: アーロン エルキンズ

Series:
* Lee Ofsted (with Charlotte Elkins)

Series contributed to:
* Malice Domestic

Reviews

[Karen Plummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I love about this series is that each book takes place in a different place; each place with an anthropological bent, lovely scenery, interesting characters, and intriguing situations. This sixth book in the series is no different.

Gideon is in Alaska where he expects to enjoy a relaxing week as the attending spouse. His wife Julie is attending a National Parks training seminar and since it was between semesters, Gideon decided to go along. Unfortunately, he finds himself bored after one day. He expected to go on tourist boats to see the glaciers, take long hikes along interesting trails, and spend some time reading, but instead he's there after the tourist season so the boats aren't running, there's only a couple of short trails, and the local gift shop which might have books is closed. The hotel itself would be closed if not for the seminar and the meeting of a special group of people.

Dr. Tremayne is the survivor of a horrible tragedy. He was the leader of a botanical group that was investigating plant life around the local glacier back in the 1960s. On their last day, his group of four was caught in a sudden avalanche and he was the only survivor. Now, many years later, he has written a book about the tragedy and with representative relatives of those who died plus two colleagues who also worked on the project, he has come back to the area to go through his book draft with those who knew the project and those who knew the three who died. They also plan to leave a plaque in honor of the dead at the scene of their death. Finding some bones and other indications of these three dead young people was not something they expected.

So Gideon's boredom is somewhat relieved by being asked to examine these bones and try to identify them as best he can. It all starts out simply enough until Gideon realizes that one of the bones does not indicate death by avalanche. As the investigation continues and the Park Service explores for more evidence, Gideon is convinced that one of the avalanche victims was murdered, but by who and why?

Lots of questions, a limited group of suspects who all might have had good reason to kill, and the unknown information that Dr. Tremayne has included in his manuscript leads to another murder and in comes Gideon's friend FBI agent John Lau. Between Gideon, Julie and John, these mysteries will be solved.

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what keeps this series from getting too repetitive? It's the plots and their surprising twists and turns that thwart you from guessing what happens next.

Although this one got off to a slow start, thanks to the annoying tv host/author and his group of whiners, but picked up once the murder happened. As always, I love the anthropological parts of the story and I always like seeing John Lau show up. And I did like the plot, both the avalanche investigation and the murder investigation. The only thing I don't care for is how Gideon always gets himself into a situation where he's attacked (why are there so many people attacking anthropologists?) which gets old and really, doesn't add much to the story for me. I guess I'm in it for the solution and the action is just superfluous in my mind. But overall, I did enjoy (most of) the story and as always, the conclusion was a surprise that left me reeling.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the Gideon Oliver series that takes our regular characters to Glacier Bay, Alaska. Initially Gideon accompanies his wife Julie who is attending a National Park Service training conference at the Glacier Bay Lodge. He had even begun to wonder if coming along had been a mistake as boredom starts to kick in when the opportunity to identify bones becomes a reality. School doesn't start for another week, so he has the time.
Following the usual pattern murder is on the menu and friend John Lau of FBI is called in. There is a great deal of bone talk, as usual, but we find that no matter how expert one may be...mistakes can be made.
The characters are interesting, the scenery described beautifully, the solution to the mysteries satisfying.

Loan from Friend (thank you!)

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Icy clutches by Aaron Elkins.

Gideon Oliver was planning on a restful vacation accompanying his wife, Julie, on Glacier Bay, Alaska. The restful part of this vacation was short lived indeed. M. Audley Tremaine, a noted scientist and TV personality, is staying at this out of the way location as he puts the finishing touches on his memoirs of a prior expedition gone wrong. It seems that except for M. Audley Tremaine the rest of the expedition party was killed in an avalanche in that 1960 expedition.

The family members of those members killed have been requested to be present for the reading of Tremaine's book. Then something almost miraculous happens due to the global warming. the ice has receded and left exposed are bones that may be of those killed in the avalanche.

Gideon is asked to identify the remains...and so ends his thoughts on a restful vacation.

I was happy to find John Lau, Gideon's long time friend and FBI agent from Hawaii, was also called in to this investigation which made the story all the enjoyable.
A more than just another excellent read by Elkins. This is a story so involved that getting to the end was just as spell binding as finding the culprit.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. This one's set on an Alaskan glacier, with lots of bone analysis helping to solve a truly "cold case." I enjoy the sympathetic characters and positive overall view, and enjoyed the puzzle/mystery (which, involving murder, shows the most negative of human behaviors and motives). These mysteries often include hints at sensuality, usually more cute than offensive, but not always strictly moral.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Anthropology professor Gideon Oliver thought that accompanying his wife, Julie, to a forest rangers' conference in Alaska's scenic Glacier Bay would make for a restful vacation. Realistic enough, however, to know that vacations aren't always restful, Gideon did think he was far enough away from civilization to avoid university politics and the hefty egos that go along with them.

"But he hadn't counted on the presence of M. Audley Tremaine, TV's most popular science personality. The unctuous Tremaine has just completed his memoirs of a geologic expedition of thirty years earlier, when three people were killed in an avalanche -- and Tremaine himself barely escaped with his life. Now he and the other survivors -- as well as their late colleagues' heirs -- have gathered to review the manuscript and memorialize the victims.

"When human bones turn up at the avalanche site and the FBI quickly need expert analysis, everyone agrees how fortunate it is that famed skeleton detective Gideon Oliver is on the scene. Everyone, that is, except for the person who wants ancient history to stay that way. Everyone but the person who thinks that murder is the best way to cover up the past."
~~front flap

This one was off to a slow start, and I was beginning to get worried. The previous books had been page turners from page 1, but not this one. The book never did reach those dizzying heights, but it was good nevertheless, with his wife Julie and FBI agent John Lau joining the fun. As always, the interplay between Gideon and Julie is lovely (she's a great character!) and between Gideon and John is greatly entertaining.

The author obviously has been to this local, given the absolutely delicious descriptions of the scenery and weather. Makes me wish I could visit myself someday.

[Denise Spicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Gideon Oliver mystery is set in Alaska. Gideon has joined his wife Julie on her working vacation at the National Park Service location near Glacier Bay. The author does a good job of blending the modern-day mystery -- murder of author/T.V. personality – with a decade’s old mystery involving a possible murder in an avalanche. The main characters are interesting and the story moves at a fairly fast pace. For some readers there will be too much along the lines of descriptions of glaciers and description of bones, although the latter is certainly pertinent to a book about a forensic anthropologist.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed a number of books in the Gideon Oliver series. This one would not be at the top of my list but it is still an enjoyable read. Part of the reason I enjoyed it as much as I did may have been due to my recent trip through Glacier Bay. I think that Mr. Elkins does a great job of putting the reader in the location of his story. The end of the story felt rushed. The behaviour of the killer in one of the final events that leads to the unmasking of the killer didn't make a lot of sense to me.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Foul Play at Glacier Bay

As usual, Elkins is a fun read with a little too much showing off his esoteric scientific knowledge, something Gideon Oliver throws in even in casual conversations. The setting is Alaska, Glacier Bay, where Gideon's wife, Julie, is attending a Park Ranger conference and he has tagged along thinking it would be a nice vacation. Of course, some human bones show up in a melting glacier, believed to have been buried by an avalanche 30 years previous. And Gideon is called upon to try and identify whose of the three victims may be. Nothing is ever simple when Gideon is involved. A possible 30-year-old murder and a recent one that is most possibly related to the older one is a challenge needing solutions. And Gideon is at his best when a puzzle is there and calls for his help.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Така собі спроба перенести Одіссею в Америку 21го століття. Дуже така собі.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I appreciate the series that are (nearly) always set in the same location, I like that this series takes Gideon and Julie to a different place with each book. It allows us to learn a bit about the new location, in this case, Glacier Bay in Alaska. Hubby and I were just there last summer, so it wasn’t hard to visualize the fantastic scenery… and even feel the cold.

The book began with an avalanche in 1960 that supposedly killed several members of a collegiate research expedition, then jumped forward to 1989 when a survivor was preparing to release a book on the disaster. There were obviously several deaths right from the start, but whether they were all due to the avalanche or to other causes came into question as the book progressed. How convenient that Gideon, The Skeleton Detective, was on hand to help solve the puzzles :)

Several times, I thought I had it figured out but was proven wrong every time. Shortly before it was revealed in the book, I started to put it all together. Even that wasn’t quite correct, but it was close, and the motive was almost exactly what I had in mind.

I have most of the remaining books from this series in my Audible library, and I hope to listen to the next book sometime later this year. I haven’t looked at the book blurb, so I don’t know where Gideon ends up next, but I can’t wait to find out.

[M. O'Gannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Icy Clutches – A Gideon Oliver Series #6/The Skeleton Detective – Published 1990 – **** - Gideon Oliver tags along with his wife, Julie, to Glacier Bay, Alaska. And surprise – he runs into a cold case murder scene that he is uniquely able to solve. I like the book and the series but the contrivance for the plot is almost always hard to swallow in this series. Doctor Gideon uses his expertise to shed light on a 30 year old murder when bones of a missing scientific expedition are found in the melting glacier. As you might expect in this series, there is a lot of technical jargon and terms, which I pretty much ignore waiting for the layman version. There is light humor to offset the heavy subject. Gideon’s friend, John, is called to help when the case is handed off to the FBI. Much of the solution today would be done with DNA but for its 1990 publishing date, the methods worked. Julie disappears for a short while in the middle of the book – but she has the possible solution. Fun read if you skim the technical jargon.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Gideon accompanies Julie to Alaska, where she is participating in a forest rangers' conference, he's sure that he will be able to find something interesting to do while she's busy, but he never expects to be called on to help identify some bones, recently found at a nearby glacier. Twenty-nine years earlier a geologic expedition was caught in an avalanche there, and three members died. The leader, and lone survivor, along with two members who did not make that particular trip, have returned to the scene. The leader, now a popular television personality, is writing a tell-all book about the expedition. Also accompanying them are relatives of the three victims. Personality conflicts quickly become evident, as they were on the original expedition — but no one expects murder! Like all the books in this series, this is fascinating, with in interesting setting, well-drawn characters, and an imaginative plot. Highly recommended.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, there is not much to say about this one. I wanted to like, as I liked the others, but this one seemed to be lacking something. I enjoyed the scenes between Gideon and his wife, Julie, and the scenes with Gideon and John, but it really seemed the mystery was a bit all over the place. Maybe, it was me and the fact that I couldn't get my mind to focus. I don't know, but I do know that I didn't enjoy it as well as I enjoyed the others in this series.
Maybe later, I will give it another try. For now, I'll continue with this series just to see if it gets better. I do know that after a while a series seems to rehash mysteries and the characters tend to get dull. (Case in point: Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson. Though I do still enjoy those stories from time to time.) Anyway, I'm not sure how much to recommend this book, and again, if/when I give this another try, I may have a different view point.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gideon Oliver has followed his wife to Glacier Bay Lodge in Alaska to be with her during a training session she must attend. During the visit some bones are recovered from from an avalanche site and it just so happens that the one survivor of that avalanche is holding a meeting of the family members of the three people who died at the time of that avalanche.

Gideon is asked to identify the bones and doing so when he finds out that one of the deceased was very probably murdered and that leads to the murder of the lone survivor who was writing a book about the expedition and the loss of lives.

There are so many questions about that expedition now that the FBI is called. Who would kill the remaining member of the expedition and why? Could there be one really disgruntled family member when they are all disgruntled for one reason or another?

Another good read from Aaron Elkins.

[Julian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dubbed the Skeleton Detective by the press Oliver Gideon is accompanying his wife on a training course in Alaska. They are sharing the lodge with an odd group - the survivors and relatives of an ill-fated botanical expedition some 20 years earlier in which three people died. Leader of the expedition. amd organiser of the party, is now famed television scientist M Audley Tremaine who has written a book about that expedition.

My first experience of the Skeleton Detective - Gideon is a forensic archaeologist and he is asked to examine some bones rccovered when the 'book' party visits the glacial site. Somewhat at a loose end as 'accompanying spouse' he agrees - but his suspicions are aroused and he strongly suggests foul play.

An interesting variation on the usual detective story.

[Camilla Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book. Loving this series. Glad I came across this author at a book club in which I participate. I always prefer reading a series in order, but this one isn't going that way. Middle of the pack book first. It looks like our library system (which includes 17 branches) doesn't have the first book, so I read the second. Then skipped to this one. Good mysteries. And Gideon and Julie make such a good team. Then there's his FBI agent / friend. They are all very relatable, even if I'm not "up on anatomy and bones". Did not have the culprit pegged. The author is always keeping me guessing (which is good)!

[Liz V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver goes with his wife to her training session for park rangers at a remote lodge in Alaska. Also there are the scientists who survived, and family members of those never recovered from, an earthquake triggered avalanche almost 30 years before.

When the retreating glacier disgorges a few bones, the FBI is asked to assist in determining whether the bones are those of the missing scientists. With Oliver there, his help is enlisted, not without some trepidation as Oliver seems to out murder in even the most straightforward cases.

[K. East · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a new series for me, although it has been around for a while. This edition involves the discovery of bones "washed up" in an Alaskan glacier that appear to be the remains of 3 people killed in an avalanche some 30 years before. The book was written in 1990 so DNA testing wasn't an option.
Gideon Oliver is a forensic athropologist, ala the Skeleton Doctor, that finds clues in old bones. I'll be reading more of these and I'll be interested to see if DNA eventually plays a part.

[Carol Mello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaska, glaciers, bones, avalanche, murder: an interesting mystery

Written decades before the TV series "Bones", Professor Gideon Oliver is an anthropologist who is an expert on bones. He helps out the FBI.

I have read this before when it first was published. I purchased it for my kindle to read it again because I remembered enjoying it. It was just as good the second time around.

This mystery can be solved by readers who pay careful attention. The clues are there.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaron Elkins does not disappoint his readers in Icy Clutches set in Glacier Bay, Alaska. A few bones are dropped out of the Tirku Glacier and are expected to be scientists who died in an avalanche in 1960. Because Gideon just happens to be in Glacier Bay, he is asked to examine the bones for identification purposes which leads to some big surprises - and murder.

Read the book and enjoy the mystery.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gideon Oliver is stuck at Glacier Bay with nothing to do while his wife (a park ranger) is going through a week-long training session. Then bones are found at the edge of a glacier, tracing back to a thirty-year-old avalanche. The bines give Oliver something to do. But when an examination of the bones shows a thirty-year-old murder, things get complicated. The tone of the book is very much like BBC's "Midsomer Murders" or "Rosemary & Thyme." A nice easy read, well-written.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good one!

These have three or four main characters. Sometimes all four appear, but frequently it is only three of them. Abe and John are wonderful and when one or the other is absent, I miss them. Gideon and Julie are always present.
Icy Clutches has an intriguing plot and takes place in another wonderful locale with beautiful descriptions that are also quite informative. Great quick read!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the Gideon Oliver series! Good characters, tight plots, timing that moves the story almost flawlessly, and interesting backgrounds. The series develops the characters and their relationships, but the books all stand on their own as good reads. These stories are strong enough to stand up to re-reading, and not all mysteries can make that claim. I wish there were more this series. Elkins is a masterful storyteller.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gideon Oliver mysteries by Aaron Elkins never disappoint. I usually find myself reading them late into the night. I always learn a little bit of human physiology and psychology in each one. I recommend this series to any body who loves forensic shows. These books are a kind of "CSI" in a low tech manner--books instead of television, pre-DNA technology of the 1990s, and people who are not on their cell phones but are observing and noting events happening.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OK, not great. This is the first in the Gideon Oliver series I've read. I may or may not read some of the others. The characters seemed a bit flat, and the story had way too many details about the forensics for me (despite my pure enjoyment of the Kathy Reichs books).

I did find one line that I really liked that I wanted to capture: "Never arrive in a strange place at night on an empty stomach."

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Team work!

Julie is awesome. And John. I like all the secondary characters in this series, including the walk-ones. Gideon comes in a little later with the action, but again, like the previous books, the setting is a huge character in itself, and he’s fully involved in it. However, the right people do the right jobs, and I like that he doesn’t get full credit - it’s all teamwork.

[Toriana Zeyzus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fascinating mystery

Aaron Elkins hits the ball out of the park again with murder in Alaska. His descriptions of place and technical details add interesting dimensions to this very well written mystery, and his descriptions of food, too.
Elkins’ mysteries are gentle, with little violence and very little sex but he gets the point across every time. Elkins is a real treasure. Highly recommended.

[Andrea Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story and Joel Richards does a wonderful job narrating the story of Gideon Oliver, anthropologist/detective going on a trip to Alaska getting involved in an old mystery about human bones found at an old avalanche site. These stories have a lot of history and shows how an anthropologist/detective works and this is amazing. I always look forward to the next story in the series.

[M. White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating visit to Alaska

Another well written, cleverly plotted adventure for Aaron Elkins's "skeleton detective", Gideon Oliver. This time the story is set in ruggedly beautiful Alaska. The combination of a clever plot and fascinating anthropological information makes for a great read. I would definitely recommend this series to any mystery lover.