Interruptions (An Alaskan Mystery)

Interruptions is a mystery novel that grabs your attention, but not only for the mystery aspects of it. There is much more involved in the plot - the political and social issues of the development in Alaska and 12 year old Gavan's troubles at school and the question of medicating him. Gavan is precocious and entertaining, and you only see his weaknesses near the end of the book as the truth about what happened to his murdered friend becomes clear. Though a murder mystery, the book is not gory, nor is it fraught with detective detail and police involvement. Instead, the mystery is solved through the eyes of the real family and friends involved and who have a stake in what has happened. Overall, this makes for a compelling read, especially as the reader is confronted with creative twists.

Marcy and Davy James along with their intelligent twelve year old son Gavan enjoy living in Sitka. However, the James family are upset over a proposal to build a road across the island, in their opinion destroying much of the beauty of the Tongass National Forest. Others like Jeremy Bander, the father of Gavan's best friend Tim, believe that progress means money to be made by everyone, but especially him. Gavan and Tim follow engineering consultant Dennis Kovach into the forest. While Dennis catches and lectures Gavan, Tim steals his back pack. When Marcy learns that Gavan stole the backpack, she makes Gavan return it. Dennis decides to learn what Gavan knows by taking him into the forest with Marcy's permission. Tim secretly follows, but someone serendipitously trailed the threesome and kills Tim. As Marcy is threatened and the police investigate the homicide, Gavan feels guilty and tries to uncover the identity of the murderer. This is an intriguing amateur sleuth environmental vs. development tale that grips readers when the first confrontation on the road occurs at a town hall meeting. The story line focuses on the questionable goings on more than just the question of economic growth at what cost, but does not neglect that issue through the divided cast. Obviously since Marcy and Gavan are opposed to the construction, that side receives the stronger supporting argument. Readers who appreciate a fine who-done-it within the context of a major society issue will want to read INTERRUPTIONS, a solid environmental mystery. Harriet Klausner