After his father dies trying to cross an icy stretch of the Arctic tundra, Sig must take care of the corpse in addition to his own grief. During this distressing time, a mysterious stranger comes to the door with questions, demands and a Colt revolver. According to this cagey stranger, Sig’s father owes him a large amount of gold from their days working in the Alaskan gold rush. Suspense slowly builds as Sig tries to find a way to protect his family from the bitter cold and the menacing villain in this expertly paced story. Fans of historical fiction will particularly appreciate the chapters set in 1899 Nome, while mystery fans will enjoy trying to piece the whole family’s story together. Although not for sensitive readers, this tense, atmospheric tale filled with difficult choices and their consequences is a definite page turner.
240 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0312547974
Recommended by Carrie Shaurette, New York City Librarian USA