Customer Reviews

Better to Rest

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a good story, but, there is much in the story that emulates soap opera plotting. The ending seems rushed with the "aha" veiled in a rapid realization of the perp's identity. It would be best read in series since there is so much of the subplot that carries over from previous stories. Not having read the series will not hamper the reading but the reader is likely to feel ill at ease over not knowing the "inside" remarks. The author does a fine telling of Alaska land, climate and socio-economic problems. These elements are under-written but part of the fabric of the story's main plot. (And, the plot is quite interesting as well as thoroughly unique.) The relationships among the people are perhaps entirely within the social norms of the writer's experience. They are somewhat alien to my experience and seem extreme as to both alcohol usage and the sexual undercurrents. I believe that any new reader will wish to read the previous books in this series to flesh out this story. I await the next book in the series to see if it meets the level of the earlier books.

I am such a huge fan of Dana Stabenow's "Kate Shugak" series that I really wasn't much interested in starting another Stabenow series, I guess out of loyalty or something. But I picked up this book while waiting for somebody, and couldn't put it down.

Alaska trooper Liam Campbell is just wonderful, very much like the regulars in the Shugak series. And in fact, there is a very sly reference to Kate herself--not by name, but by inference ("I know somebody who carries a hand-carved otter in her pocket")--that just thrilled me!

Campbell's sweetie, Wy the pilot, is a typical Stabenow female: no-nonsense, tough, competent, and deeply in love with her man without wanting to reveal just how much.

The plot was a bit thin...a glacier melts enough to expose the remains of a World War II plane and its occupants...and a myserious gold coin. The discover may or may not be related to two terrible murders in town. It's a confusing plot, but as always, the Alaska lore of which Stabenow is a master far outweighs the story itself.

I plan to read all of the Liam Campbell books now, and just am happy that Stabenow is so darned prolific!

Dana Stabenow's Liam Campbell is on the case of the mysterious glacial crash of a WWII Lend-Lease cargo plane and current-day foul play. Is there a connection?

The Stabenow oeuvre (Campbell and Kate Shugak ) serves up fun geological, geographical, environmental and historical morsels and moving verbal snapshots of Alaska along with ice-cracklin' good "Whodunnits." At times, this one tilted too much toward Harlequin bodice-buster for my tastes. And, Hello? Is anyone listening? "Doing the box thing" (Campbell's diagramming of people and interrelationships involved in a case) would be much more effective if, like Ed McBain's 87th Precinct books, the author and publisher actually visually (not just a verbal description) SHOW the reader the document to which they refer.

I prefer Shugak's saga over Campbell's chronicles- so far Kate has more substance and less bodice-busting - but both series are good for cozy winter nights in front of a warm fire. They are best read in order to follow the escapades of this interesting, entertaining, and quirky bunch of inhabitants of the Land of the Midnight Sun. Reviewed by TundraVision

The mystery element of this book fell flat as it felt like it was shoehorned into a book about the people in this setting. The characters, with all of their traits and quirks, saved this book, making it enjoyable. A lot could have been done to marry the two parts of the book together. Instead, there were a lot of moments where there were great characters in pointless/bland situations.

Dana Stabenow writes about interesting characters in her books, and writes convincingly of Alaska geography and weather. I find her works entertaining.

There is some mystery here, but the book is written in a way that doesn't create any feeling of urgency. From my perspective, this book is a relaxing break from more energetic mysteries and thrillers. Most interesting is the portrait of life in the Alaska bush - the challenges and rewards of living there, and the colorful characters who inhabit Stabenow's books.

Liam Campbell and Wy Chouinard, tell their own story with the line, "...we're not the most decisive couple on the block, now, are we?" This is a title with too many issues, of which many are left hanging with no sequel.
World War II, two weeks after Pearl Harbor, a C-47 crashes into a glacier and there it rests for sixty years until the ice mountain begins to calve. The fast pace story is bogged down with too much time is spent on the backstory, while the ending is abrupt.
A good read in spite of the flaws.
Nash Black, author of Indie finalists WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and HAINTS.

A perfectly acceptable mystery, whose characters and plot have largely been recycled from the Kate Shugak series. If you don't feel cheated by the author's efforts to change the names and very little else, you may enjoy it.

Better to Rest is a nice addition to Stabenow's Liam Campbell series. The story is light and interesting, as is usually Stabenow's way, and contains a few good twists and gives readers a bit of insight into Alaska's culture and history.

Once Alaska state trooper sergeant Liam Campbell was on the fast track to success but tragedy struck, and he fell down on the job resulting in his exile to the small fishing town of Newenham, population 2000. He quickly distinguished himself by catching a serial killer leading to his superiors wanting him back in Anchorage.

Though he would have a more powerful position with more opportunities for promotion, Liam needs to think about the offer because the woman he loves has a home and business in Newenham. He also likes the townsfolk who honor and respect him and his badge. Before he can sort out his personal life, Liam is determined to find the killer of a seventy-four year old woman who he admired and was loved by most of the locals. It's a baffling case because there isn't any suspect or even a motive yet somebody is determined to keep the truth buried as that someone tries to kill Liam before he can unmask he perpetrator.

The beauty, the grandeur, and the danger of the Alaskan frontier come vividly alive through the writing of Dana Stabenow. The protagonist is a good person and an exceptional police officer because he believes in justice yet cares about the people depending on his protection. The absorbing and believable mystery is one of the better installments in the meritorious Liam Campbell series.

Harriet Klausner