The perfect storm A mystery

Shelton's taut sixth entry in the Alaska Wild series (after Lost Hours) pushes writer Beth Rivers to her breaking point. A year ago, Beth was kidnapped by Travis Walker, who held her captive for three days before he was arrested. Since then, Beth has found a new home and relative peace in Benedict, Ala., but the past resurfaces when Travis escapes from prison and leaves behind a note vowing to find and kill Beth. To evade him, Beth and her boyfriend, Tex, head to the remote community of Blue Mine, only to learn that locals are dealing with a spate of recent murders. Though one of the victims was stabbed, most residents believe the killings are the work of a Bigfoot-like creature. Beth and Tex launch an investigation, returning to Benedict to enlist help from their police contacts, but soon, one of their key witnesses disappears. Haunted by visions of both Travis and Bigfoot, Beth struggles to keep her head above water as she fights to stay alive and solve the murders. Shelton conjures a spooky atmosphere and near-unbearable suspense, and further develops the series' on-going story lines without alienating new readers. This series continues to impress. (Dec.)

A cat-and-mouse game must end with death in the latest installment of Shelton's Alaska Wild series. After her kidnapping and torture by Travis Walker just over a year ago, Beth Rivers managed to escape and flee to Benedict, Alaska, where she hid until Travis was caught and her story became big news. When Travis escapes during a prison transfer, she decides to stay in the town she's grown to love and where her friends have a plan to keep her safe, even though her location is no longer a secret. In addition, her long-missing father is back, and her mother, who spent years searching for him, suddenly turns up in Benedict, too. Deciding she needs to lay low for a while, Beth decides that a camping trip with her boyfriend, Tex, would be a good way to get out of town while having a new experience. Heading for a cabin very few know exists, Beth and Tex run into Jin, a woman who lives in nearby Blue Mine, and her horse, who's carrying a body she says is her husband, Brick, who she thinks was murdered along with several other local residents. They take Jin back to Blue Mine so that Tex can investigate before reporting to Gril, the local lawman. During an overnight stop on the way to Benedict, Jin vanishes in a violent storm along with the horse and the body. Back in town, Beth is enjoying the protection of her friends when Jin turns up again mentioning a newcomer to Blue Mine, a reclusive Benedict resident whose family once owned a mine he wants to reclaim. Searching for her dog, Beth almost drowns in a creek before she's rescued by a masked man she thinks is Travis. But why would he of all people save her? Wild adventures and conflicting stories meld in a breathless page-turner. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.