The Curious Eat Themselves: An Alaskan Mystery [Hardcover]

John Straley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993

An investigator for the public defender of Alaska, Cecil Younger investigates the sexual assault and then the murder of a cook employed at an isolated mining site. 25,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With the second adventure of Cecil Younger, a PI in southeastern Alaska, Straley reconfirms his claim to the regional territory he staked out in The Woman Who Married a Bear . Louise Root, who was raped at the Global gold mine where she worked as a cook, hires Cecil to gather evidence of the crime, although she won't tell him who assaulted her. Only days later, Louise's body is pulled from a river, her throat slit. Cecil is soon hired by Global's Lee Altman and Charlie Potts, who want to know "everything" about environmentalist Steven Mathews. They pay in cash, want no written records of the transaction and warn Cecil to "stay clear of this Louise Root thing." But social worker Hannah Elder, Cecil's former lover and Louise's childhood friend, has no qualms about involving Cecil in her probe of Louise's death, especially after she discovers in Louise's things letters addressed to Steven marked "return to sender." Once past the gimmicky assignments that initiate the plot, Straley's atmospheric prose takes hold and the action hums along, through unethical dealings and more killings, to the rugged, backwoods Alaska finale. Author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Alaskan private investigator Cecil Younger has troubles with his autistic roommate, with ex-love Hannah, with any form of alcohol, and with the special assistant in charge of Louise Root's murder case. Louise hired Carl to find the men who raped her at the Otter Creek gold mine, but someone kills her before he has a chance. Cecil approaches his work at an angle: desiring a source of drink or food, he locates instead a likely source of information. A love and appreciation of Alaska shine through Straley's quietly compelling prose. For all collections.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: Soho Press (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 093914994X
• ISBN-13: 978-0939149940
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,123,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Prose, Absorbing Mystery., August 3, 2003

By 

B. Clothier (Tacoma, Wa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Curious Eat Themselves (Paperback)

Investigator Cecil Younger is called into action to solve the brutal killing of Louise Root in The Curious Eat Themselves. Root, a former client of Youngers, suspected corporate cover-ups at a remote mining camp where she was employed. Before Root could bring her evidence of environmental abuses to light, she is physically assulted, then murdered. Younger, along with a colorful cast of characters, vibrant landscape, and detailed plot line plunges headfirst into uncovering the truth.

Author John Straleys prose simply stated is beautiful. His writing is well researched, intelligent, at times intellectual. His characters are three dimensional and pragmatic. Main character Cecil Younger is a recovering alchoholic, has an autistic roommate, and fights depression. Straley does not pretend to make his protaganist a hero who solves the murder and gets the girl in the end. Instead, Younger is given a life full of serious flaws. For the mystery reader who grows tired of having nothing more than a love interest for the protagonist to attain insight into their private lives, you will find the life of Cecil Younger refreshing.

In addition, Straley is a genius at bringing the landscape and people of Alaska alive. Those elements become essential parts to the mystery. Through the rugged nature of Alaskan geography, and the spirit of the Alaskan, Straley brings high drama and a strong storyline to The Curious Eat Themselves. Unquestionably, his mysteries are unique to their setting, and profit from the elements that are native to Alaska.

The Curious Eat Themselves was strong, well-written novel rounding out this book into one absorbing read. Straley is a real writer with a flare for the English language not often seen in modern mysteries. This Alaskan adventure is a book well worth perusing.

About my grading system: I interpret Amazon.coms five-star ranking system as follows: 1 star = far below standards, 2 stars = below standards, 3 stars = meets standards, 4 stars = exceeds standards, 5 stars = far exceeds standards.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, April 13, 1999

By 

Susan Bumbalo (Camden, Maine USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Curious Eat Themselves (Paperback)

What an excellent story! Cecil is a great, believable character, the mystery is puzzling, and the descriptions of Alaska are evocative. Straley's writing is magical and sometimes stopped me cold. His prose is just as fine as James Lee Burke's.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading! I live in SE Alaska and loved this book!!, February 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Curious Eat Themselves (Paperback)

Very good mystery. I am impressed with John Straley's writing!! I was born and raised in SE Ak and the attention to area was very well done!! Keep the books coming!