Shaman Pass

In this sequel to "White Sky, Black Ice," Alaska State Trooper, Nathan Active, an Inupiat Eskimo who was raised by white parents in Anchorage, makes the mistake of buying himself a purple snow machine, which as everyone in Chukchi knows, is the ladies' model. It's just one more indication that Nathan is the village naluaqmiiyaaq--the Inupiat word for an Eskimo who tries to pass as a white man. Nathan wonders if he can endure the teasing long enough to get his transfer back to Anchorage. His relationship with his roommate, Lucy Generous is cooling because of his refusal to talk to her about his recurrent nightmare. Ditto with his birth mother. Instead, Nathan confides in the Inupiat herbalist-cum-psychiatrist, Nelda Qivit, who offers him advice on his sex life and sourdock tea. And that's about it for the touchy-feely part of "Shaman Pass." So bundle up in your Refrigiwear overalls, your parka with the wolf-fur ruff, and your Sorel boots, because you're going to be spending the rest of the book on the tundra, the sea ice, and the arctic slopes of Shaman Pass. The adventure begins when the Smithsonian Institute returns an Inupiat mummy nicknamed Uncle Frosty to Chukchi, in accordance with the Indian Burial Act. Museum owner, Victor Solomon (a full-blood Inupiat) wants to put Uncle Frosty on display to draw in more tourist dollars. Young Calvin Maiyumerak wants to secrete the mummy out on the tundra, which is what the pre-Christian Inupiat used to do with their dead. The Law is on Victor's side, so Uncle Frosty is incarcerated in the museum and his proud new owner goes ice fishing. The next morning, Victor is found with his parka frozen to the ice next to his fishing hole. Uncle Frosty's ivory harpoon is imbedded in his chest. Uncle Frosty has vanished. Naturally Calvin Maiyumerak is the main suspect, but this mystery is much too subtle for a quick arrest. Nathan must first learn who Uncle Frosty was in life, and why Victor was found with a shaman's amulet in his frozen mouth. This is an unvarnished portrayal of the life and history of the native Alaskans. We are taken on a thrilling ride (even if it is on the purple ladies' model) through some of the harshest landscapes and seascapes on Earth. Author Stan Jones was born in Anchorage, and has worked as an award-winning journalist there for most of his career. He is also a bush pilot, and readers will be imbibing lots of authentic and hair-raising detail about Alaska and Alaskans, along with the bones of this well-plotted mystery.

Stan Jones has created a story that combines great story telling and a rather deep look at the culture of the Inupiats, a Native American tribe in Northwest Alaska. His plot is rich, dialogue is compelling and the characterization is exceptional. He manages to capture nuances of a culture that is quite alien to most of us. This includes subtleties of language as well as social differences among the inhabitants of that part of our country. I recommend the book highly.

I recently discovered the Nathan Active series by Stan Jones. Mr. Jones' portrayal of Eskimo life and the Inupiat culture is an added bonus to the fine mystery he has created. Shaman Pass is the second book of this series. I read it first and immediately picked up the first one, White Sky, Black Ice.Jones populates his town of Chukchi with memorable characters, and peppers the dialogue with words from the native language. His description of the Alaskan environment is crisp and succinct and enhances the story; it never gets in the way of the plot.I recommend both books, not just for mystery readers, but all readers in general.

I recently read Stan Jones' White Sky, Black Ice and Shaman Pass. I read a lot of crime/mystery novels for the suspense and pace. I enjoyed the education about native Alaskans, their history and the geography of northwest Alaska that is imbedded in Jones' novels. I have learned a lot about the American southwest, the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni from reading Tony Hillerman novels. Similarly, Jones educated me about the Inupiat and Northwest Alaska.Hillerman has been working on the Chee/Leaphorn chemistry for years which I find successful and rewarding. I suspect that future Jones novels will continue to enhance the Active/Silver chemistry. Alaska is a huge canvas which places no restraints on imagination as Jones has demonstrated.Jim DumasDenver, CO

This book is well written, well thought out, and the author knows what he is talking about. The characters are well developed, and the story has a flow that makes it hard to stop reading. In addition to the plot, there is also a great deal of information about northern Alaska and the Inupiat who live there. It was as much a learning experience as it was thrilling mystery. The imagery used to describe settings and situations stimulated my senses, and made me feel as if I were in the story. Jones paints a picture of the arctic winter landscape in the readers mind. I used to live in the Adirondacks of New York state's North Country, as it is called; and felt right at home with the pelting snow, subzero temperatures, and the nuances of living in hard winter weather. Overall, this is a great book that is worth reading.