On Thin Ice

I liked the first book of the ice skating series and this second book didn't disappoint. While the mystery is pretty shallow and the identity of the murderer is pretty obvious immediately the book does have some twists and turns that I never saw coming. I like the character of Bex a lot, even if some of the choices she makes are reckless at best. I am looking foward to reading the next two books in the series.

The Antonia Wright character is based on a Real Woman, who was finally, belatedly, inducted into the Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1997. Her name was Mabel Fairbanks, and she DID break the "color barrier" in ice skating, not for herself, but for her many students. Anyone who wants to know more about her can start with this article: [...] I love Alina Adams's Figure Skating mysteries...I was lucky enough to avoid the weird world of amateur competition by becoming a professional skater the minute I graduated from high school in 1957. But the worlds do have their similarities, and I felt like I'd come "home" while reading this novel. Ms. Adams has the personalities and politics down pat. The touches of humor ring true, too. Mostly, though,I love the fact that Ms. Adams cares enough about Mabel's life story to create a fictional character based on her. IMO, everyone should know more about this remarkable woman.

Bex Levy is a figure-skating researcher for the 24/7 network. Toni calls and asks her to come do a segment on thirteen-year-old Jeremy Hunt. He may be the future of skating. Unfortunately his father is refusing to allow him to compete at Nationals. First Bex has to convice her boss that this story is worth covering. To do so, Bex has to make some agreements and put her job on the line. Once Bex arrives, she agrees with Toni that he is great on the ice. Before she can do much filming or ask any questions, his father stops her. Then he and Jeremy disappear. Bex thinks there is more to this story than just a father not wanting his son to compete. Then she decides to do a story on other skaters that appeared to be up and coming and then disappeared from skating. She begins searching down these past skaters and interviewing them. Some are willing to be interviewed and others would rather not. When one of the skaters she recently interviewed is found brutally murdered, Bex realizes not all competition stops on the ice. She is afraid someone is willing to kill to get their hands on Jeremy for themselves. Can she uncover the truth before anyone else becomes a victim? Alina was once herself a figure-skating researcher and it shows in her story that she knows the business. It is very well written. I enjoy the characters and their interactions as well as the skating intertwined with the mystery. The story is well crafted. There are plenty of suspects so that it is difficult to determine who is guilty before it is uncovered. I also enjoyed her first book, but it isn't necessary to read it before this one. It is a series, but they can be read independently. I highly recommend this book, as well as Murder on Ice.

If you like cozies then this series is for you. The mystery isn't very challenging but the characters are fun. Bex is a great amatuer sleuth, a 24/7 researcher who tries to uncover a ten-year old scandal of a past champion skating couple that results in a brutal murder. No hint of a romance as yet but I didn't miss it. Recommend. Looking forward to DEATH DROP.

Skating Coach Antonia Wright calls 24/7 Sports Network researcher Rebecca "Bex" Levy to inform her that student is the best young skater in America. Bex sees a great story in the making so she meets thirteen years old Jeremy Hunt. The teen asks her to talk to his father Craig, who does not want his son competing in the Nationals. After watching how magnificent Jeremy skates, she talks with Craig; he blows her off. Later she learns father and son vanished. Deciding on a documentary on past skating greats and where they are now, Bex interviews Robby Sharpton who failed to get a medal in the Olympics. Following the end of his career, Robby went to jail for spousal abuse. His skating partner Rachel Rose disappeared leaving him to pursue a single's career. Bex ponders whether Robbie killed Rachel so she searches for his missing partner, whom she finds in the Pocono's. A few days later Rachel is murdered; Bex believes her story was a factor in the homicide. When she returns to Rachel's home, she shockingly finds Jeremy and Craig live there. Alina Adams, an expert on figure skating, brings the behind the scenes support needed to compete or put on a competition without prettying up the rivalry and pressure; that helps readers to better understand the Harding-Kerrigan incident without excusing the criminality. The protagonist may not be a licensed sleuth, but her work has given her the experiences that enable her to act like she is a professional detective putting together various threads into a cohesive picture. Skating fans will enthusiastically give a 10 to ON THIN ICE, but so will amateur sleuth fans. Harriet Klausner