I'm getting ready for the next Canadian Book Challenge (always supposing John Mutford will host another one). This year I've decided to read one mystery set in each of the provinces and territories. When I went looking for one set in the Yukon I kept seeing references to this author's books. I was able to get my hands on this copy through a used book seller on Amazon.ca. Now I just hope I can line up ones for the other territories as well.

This book was published in 1980 so I suppose it is rather dated. There are references to the Mackenzie Valley pipeline possibly bringing prosperity to the region (which we now know was the subject of an inquiry and much heated debate but was eventually disallowed) and the Alaska Highwy being dirt (whereas most of it is asphalt now). However, that doesn't detract from what was a good read for me. The synopsis on the back cover gives away the motive for the murder that takes place. This somewhat gave away the solution but I was still surprised by the identity of the culprit so it was indeed a whodunit.

An Italian restaurant owner is shot inside Kluane National Park while on an illegal hunting trip to get a grizzly bear trophy. The Indian who had guided the owner and his employee there ran away, leaving the restaurant owner dead and the employee lost. Fortunately RCMP officer Dominic on a hike spotted the employee and saved him. When the employee told Dominic that someone was dead but then passed out. Dominic was given the task of finding the body and the guilty party. He asked his old sidekick Stampede to help him and Stampede even thinks he knows who did it. An old partner has been living in the park and scaring off hunters with a shotgun. Stampede figures he went to far this time. Dominic and Stampede go to bring in Wilderness Willie but Willie is buried in a rock slide before they can talk to him. Then they get information that shows that Willie could not have killed the man so Dominic has to start over. After getting lost on a glacier in a blizzard, almost drowning in the glacier's meltwater and a wild kayak trip Dominic and Stampede eventually catch up to the killer. Even then things are not quite straight forward but eventually the Mountie gets his man.

I really liked the details about the wildlife and natural surroundings. The author has spent a lot of time in the arctic and his writing seemed authentic to me. According to the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia website, Jim Lotz is still alive and writing. He sounds like a fascinating person and I may have to see if I can find more of his books.

Arrived today, thanks so much for sending, gypsysmom!

I tried twice to read this book, but I just couldn't get into it. I found the writing style so clunky that I decided to stop reading. Sorry that I can't write a more positive JE, gypsysmom!

On the train yesterday morning.