Beneath the Ashes:: An Alaska Mystery

book is in very good condition for being used.It was sent and received in a timely fashion

Well, although I love Jessi, I am very sad to see Alex leave the series. The series has gone from being mostly Alex (like in Termination Dust), to fully Jessi and I really missed the romantic bits the couple shared. Although the mystery was good as usual, I am dissapointed with the loss of Alex.

Spring is the time of year that Jessie Arnold uses to train her young sled dogs for the coming season. After a long spate of rain, Jessie goes to Oscar's Other Place to unwind with her friends. Later that night the place is burned down and a body found in the ruins. An old friend asks Jessie to shelter her and hide her from an abusive spouse, so she does. This friend, Ann Holman, was suspected of setting a fire that killed two small children ten years before. The arson investigator is sure that Ann is involved in this case also, and will do anything to prove it.This mystery was very enjoyable. I loved the setting and the main character's unusual occupation, training and racing sled dogs. I missed the Alex Jensen character at first, but soon forgot about him in the excitement of the plot. This is a fastmoving story with lots of twists and turns.

I always enjoy Sue Henry's books and really liked this one as well. She knows how to tell a good story and her descriptions of Alaska and mushing just keep getting beter. I felt like I was on the sled with Jessie.

The call from old friend Anne Holman came out of nowhere since kennel owner and dog trainer Jessie Arnold had not heard from her in years. A frantic Anne told Jessie she was coming to Alaska to spend a few days. That night, a fire rages at Oscar's Other Place killing someone.Upon seeing Anne at the Anchorage Airport, she looks anorexic and so different that Jessie fails to recognize her. The scars and visible bruises inform Jessie that Anne is an abuse victim who apparently is running away from her husband Greg. Soon the fires begin in earnest including Jessie's house with the canine trainer inside. Jessie begins to wonder if Annie is a victim or a culprit causing arson and death.BENEATH THE ASHES is an exciting Alaskan mystery that focuses on the relationship between Anne and Jessie. The story line grips the reader as the audience wonders whether Anne is a lunatic or the prey of some unknown assailant. Though different from her usual superb Sue Henry mysteries, fans of the series and regional tales will find great joy from this excellent tale.Harriet Klausner