Interruptions

by Susan Froetschel

Marcy and Davy James have an idyllic life in the stunning and remote island community of Sitka, Alaska. The small town of 8,000 people is bitterly divided over a federal highway that would cut across the island’s wilderness – and Marcy leads the fishing community’s fight against the road construction. Her 12-year-old son, Gavan James, also resents any intrusion into the lush temperate rainforest. Precocious and with a tendency to find trouble, he urges his best friend to skip school and hike into the Tongass National Forest to spy on the road’s engineering consultant and gather any evidence to stop the construction. Not long afterward, the proposed road is the scene of brutal murder – and Marcy receives an anonymous threat to leave town. A mother and son work separately and at cross purposes to find the killer and expose secrets behind an unnecessary road that would forever change the character of an Alaskan community. Author Susan Froetschel was a reporter for five years in Alaska and most recently assistant editor of YaleGlobal Online. "Solid environmental mystery."

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2004

About the author

Susan Froetschel is the author of five mystery books. The most recent is Allure of Deceit, set in rural Afghanistan, about how charity can have a hidden agenda and lying is a form of self-defense.

Reviews

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about a murder of a boy and the politics in building a road to nowhere. The story begins very slowly but then builds to a good ending. A couple of sub-stories are not resolved, but overall, this is very good. Recommended.

[Steph Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine mystery featuring a mother and son working to stop construction of a road in Alaska. Froetschel includes elements of small town community relationships as well as corruption and environmental concerns that add up to a compelling story. I enjoyed the book more than I expected to.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way ahead of her time on exposing Alaska politics. Must read!

[Katie Kopp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, quick read.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

GOOD READ

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not set in the Alaska I know and love...

[Bcoghill Coghill · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fable of Alaska trying to deal with ever so many issues. To me these are important issues, whether discussing ritilan or development in the Tongass. They are just complex.
I hear about pushy schools or social workers but often suspect they are just the bug-a-boo of our times.
The Pristine wilderness has a value to the world. Jobs have value to individuals. This is tricky.
Sports fishing vs. the fishing industry is likewise more complex than the author discusses.
And! the author ignored some of my favorite sights in Sitka. Shame!