Cold Company: an Alaskan mystery

Jessie Arnold & Alex Jensen #9

by Sue Henry

Multiple award-winning author Sue Henry once again carries us into the heart of America's last frontier with a gripping tale of suspense set in a land whose rugged, exquisite beauty appeals to the adventurous and strong ... and to those who are drawn to darkness. Cold Company The summer solstice is near -- bringing long sunlit days to the Alaskan wilderness -- and for famed musher Jessie Arnold, the time has come to put the past behind her and move on. Building a new home for herself and her sled dogs on the charred ashes of her old one, she plans to be finished well before the onset of the long northern winter. But her progress is halted -- chilling Jessie to the bone -- when the excavations unearth a skeleton entombed in a crumbling basement wall. Twenty years earlier, a serial killer brutally murdered a number of women in the area. One of the fiend's victims disappeared wearing a butterfly pendant -- a necklace similar, if not identical, to one discovered with the grisly human remains. A grim nightmare believed to be long over must now be revisited or, worse still, has been reborn. Because, once again, a local woman has disappeared without a trace. And, once again, Jessie is being pulled into a murder investigation against her will. Red roses are being sent to her anonymously -- the gifts of a secret admirer who may also be a stone-cold killer. In this stark and lonely place, in the first days of the all-too-brief Alaskan summer, the signs suggest the unthinkable: An insatiable human monster has returned ... and Jessie Arnold may well be his next victim. In what is perhaps her most unforgettable novel to date, the incomparable Sue Henry weaves a spellbinding tale of past sins and present-day evils, of humanity at its best and worst, and nature at its most powerful.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Dogs, Suspense

324 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Sue 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.

Reviews

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo è il primo libro di questa autrice che leggo e si trova nella seconda metà di una serie, ma non ho avuto problemi a seguire la storia. Avevo comprato questo e un altro paio di libri della serie perché li avevo visti scontati: posso dire che non me ne sono pentita. Devo dire che sono stata conquistata dal modo in cui l'autrice descrive il paesaggio: mi ha davvero colpito. La storia di per sé mi sembra procedere un po' lenta: si parla di più della costruzione della cabina della protagonista che dell'indagine vera e propria, se proprio vogliamo essere precisi, ma alla fin fine la lettura è stata piacevole.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. Jessie is such a strong character it was nice to see her being a little more vulnerable in this one. The story kept my attention and I enjoyed seeing it unfold.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christine Bryant
9:58 PM (39 minutes ago)
to me

Sue Henry
Cold Company
Start: 12/07/18
Completed: 12/09/18
Review: 4 1/2 - 5☆'s
Cold Company moved slowly in the beginning even though the descriptors of the Knik River Valley were amazing. It almost seemed like you were standing on the edge watching everything unfold as Sue Henry was describing it. The book basically was about the rebuilding of Jessie's cabin which took from early June to September to finish it. Other building took place during that time as well... Oscar's Other Place. The bar & roadhouse was rebuilt with the help of his patrons on Knik Road. But more sinister things happened as well... a copycat killer who murdered young ladies of the night & those who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Collectively it took Jessie, Trooper Phil Becker & Pat, Hank Peterson & Dell Mitchell even though they were suspects at one time, to solve the case & catch the murderer. And true to form, Jessie Arnold was injured yet again & had to sit out finishing her new cabin. By the time the book ended, I would have rated it 5☆'s.

[Carolyn Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I listened to this on audiobook, and the narrator sounds like she is reading a child's book. That was more than a touch annoying, enough so that I lowered my rating from a 3 to a 2. Anyhow, back to the book. I didn't read this in series order, but I don't think that affected how I felt about the story. The plot wasn't bad, but I had the villain figured out not far into the book. And again Jessie insisted on inserting herself and playing detective in a dangerous situation. Thankfully one of the law enforcement read her the riot act and told her exactly what I've been waiting for her (and characters in many other books!) to be told. I don't care for the fact that she refers to her dogs as "mutts." Most mushers I interact with would never call their dogs "mutts." I also have to wonder how she had time to do the daily care and give the dogs proper attention with all she was involved in. A minor point for a book, but one that irritated me a little. So I might read another of this series in the future, but I will be sure to read the actual book and not listen to it. That might have made a difference in how I viewed this one.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good fast read and a very clever mystery. Not much to explain the solution but good none the less.

Jessie is without Alex and rebuilding her cabin after the old one burned down when a body appears on her property. It is the corpse of an old man but there is also a butterfly necklace, a piece of jewelry that once belonged to a young woman believed to have been killed by a family Alaskan serial killer, but whose body has never been found.

Meanwhile, Jessie has started to receive single red roses and she can't figure out who they are from. The flowers and a middle of the night visit by a stranger, set off warning bells and Jessie has to decide whether it is better to be safe or independent and how much independence will do her with a phantom.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessie is happy to be putting the past behind her and rebuilding her cabin after it was destroyed in a fire. She is staying in a camper on her property so that she can oversee the build and take care of her dogs. While excavating for the basement, a dead body is found, delaying construction while it is investigated. The person had been dead for quite some time and was most likely buried by the previous property owner. Jessie has an admirer who sends her a single red rose. When a woman disappears, Jessie finds herself pulled into another murder investigation and the roses may mean that she is a future victim. Another good story by Sue Henry. I will definitely be reading the next in the series.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue is a great writer. I love her characters, plots and settings. I've learned so much about Alaska. This was a book I had tried earlier but put down when I foresaw violence that might cross the line for me. This time I persisted, and while scary, like Sue usually does, the actual violent scenes weren't detailed.

[Linda Pobanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death and Destruction

It was a good book and full of excitement. I didn't even figure out who did the killing until towards the end. Although I did figure out the glacier crash (in a manner of speaking) . I was sad that the other woman died. I will tell others about this book because I found it interesting.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really should write a full review for this one, but since I won’t be posting reviews for every book in this series on booksta for it, I’m not going to.

Quick & simple: I love Jessie & Alex, and this whole series, and I do enjoy this one! Though I will admit, Jess makes me mad quite a few times in this one by inserting herself into the investigation when she shouldn’t. But overall, I’ll always love a book in this series.

[Leah Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Building the cabin and bones

Bones are found when they were laying the foundation of the cabin. Then girls started missing, and it seem that a serial killer had returned to the area. Through no fault of her own, Jessie ends up in the middle of it.

[Sydney Haskell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nail biter to the end.

Poor Jessie Arnold, our heroine, took a real scare and bruising in this thriller. Once again beautiful Alaska comes alive from early spring to the falling leaves of fall as Jessie’s new log cabin goes up. This book is truly an all night page turner.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is told very well and gives you a good idea of what life is like in Alaska. The plot was very well constructed and well thought out. I like the characters and they mystery.

[Peggy Kralka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!!!

[Jinianne Gorg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really tried to like this, but found it difficult to follow.

[phillip d ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner

Couldn't put the book down. I even woke up at 1am three mornings in a row just to read more. Another winner Mrs. Henry!

[Diana Biggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a total Sue Henry fan, love her books. She was recommended to me in a little book shop in Alaska & I'm forever thankful!

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

As expected in this series. Nicely plotted. Interesting characters. Wonderful descriptions of Alaska and its historical places and events.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nameless dead women. Ms Henry, you're better than that.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue Henry Delivers Again

Edge of the seat adventure delivered again by Sue, leaving me reading breathlessly until the end! She never fails to excite my day!

[Michelle Mallette · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining mystery with familiar characters, and great descriptions of the Alaskan spring and summer.

[Jacquelyn Schingeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second Sue Henry book and I have already ordered a third. I am finding the mystery including the Alaskan wilderness very interesting and it adds another component to the story.

[Sandra Futch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great nature writing and a good mystery.

[Mckenna Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie Arnold lives on Knik road, Alaska. All over there has been several killings of women and all of them get the same red roses before something happens to them. This book is told very well and gives you a good idea of what life is like in Alaska. The plot was very well constructed and well thought out. I had no idea what was going to happen next it was perfect for a mystery book. The setting was very authentic because the author lives in Alaska. I have read most of Sue Henry's books and the characters are very well developed. The writing style is very engaging and interesting I couldn't put it down. The 3rd person point of view was perfect for this mystery book. I would highly recomend this book for anyone who loves mystery books.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Alaska mystery. Dog musher Jessie Arnold is rebuilding her cabin after a fire and a skeleton is found on her property. Police discover the remains are about 20 years old and along with the remains is a token from another missing person of the same time. While investigating the old deaths a serial killer is killing young women and mysterious deliveries of roses are being sent to cold country women. Suspensful and descriptive, the book got a little slow during the middle, but then wraps up nicely with the adventures of Jessie's curiousity, an adventurous airplane ride and survival in the wilderness against a new killer.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is summer in Alaska, the days are long, and the nights are more dusk than dark at this latitude. Jessie Arnold is rebuilding her cabin in this latest book in the series by Sue Henry, Cold Company. I'll give it a sold 8 of 10. Jessie is a dog sled racer and an independent woman living in the middle of some of the most beautiful land in the country training her dogs for the next opportunity to race in the winter months at the Iditarod or the Yukon quest. I have listened to several previous books of this series on audio, read by Mary Peiffer. I hear her voice in my head as I read even when I am not going the audio route. recommend.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sue Henry has a good knack for describing the geological and ecological details of Alaska. Her heroine is a dog musher, trying to rebuild her cabin and life after a devastating fire. Unfortunately, too many underdeveloped plot lines interfere with a good story line. The usual serial killer angle was especially trying. This was an author that one shouldn't waste a second book on.

[Sandy Duke · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most interesting part of this book was the description of building a log cabin. A fictional account of the work of a real serial killer, the outcome is predictable. Several characters were left undeveloped until the end of the book when their roles come into prominence. I believe more development of these characters would give the reader more empathy and/or understanding of their plight.

[Karren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm on a mission to finish this series. I really like the characters, wish I could give it a 3.5 really only because I found Jessie to be a little self absorbed in this one. I know she's probably meant to be given her current circumstances, but I found it annoying. Characters and plot were good though

[Robert Van Tuyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like books that just pick up where the last book left off. Jessie, our protagonist, attracts problems like girls to Clark Gable. Unlike most straight-forward mysteries, Jessie more or less stumbles to a good solution with some good guy casualties along the way.

[LInda L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one has everything -- the heroine is a musher in Alaska, there's a serial killer, a copycat serial killer -- it has it all!! I loved it.