THIN ICE by Paige Shelton, the first book in the new Alaska Wild Mystery series, grabs the reader from the very first sentence and continues with suspense that had me on the edge of my seat for the entire read. The multi-plots kept the action going and I didn’t want to put it down until I read the very last page. Even then, I wanted the story to continue. As each of the characters are introduced, especially protagonist Beth Rivers, aka novelist Elizabeth Fairchild, the reader is treated to layers of reveal. This amps the suspense up as we slowly find out what each multi-faceted person is hiding. Ms. Shelton does an outstanding job developing the characters and having them adapt as the situation calls for. Beth, recovering from a severe head injury sustained while she escaped from a horrific kidnapping, has blocks of memory missing. Her captor has disappeared, and in fear of her life, Beth flees to Middle of Nowhere, Alaska, using her research as a thriller writer to escape her tormentor while remaining incognito.

The author captures the setting of the Alaska wilderness in an effective way. The reader feels the remoteness and can envision the brutality of nature, along with the stunning beauty. The wildlife is plentiful and often fierce, and Beth must learn to adapt to her new surroundings in order to survive. In addition to the suspenseful mystery surrounding Beth’s kidnapping, she finds herself embroiled in the middle of an investigation surrounding a suspicious death. Although it’s been deemed a suicide, not one of the townspeople believe it. With her past experience working with her grandfather, who had been a small-town police chief, Beth pieces together the puzzle of the death. With a heart pounding reveal that solves the murder mystery, the story comes to an end and leaves me waiting impatiently for the next book in this series!

Beth rivers best known as thriller author Elizabeth Fairchild has become the victim of an obsessed fan. She was held captive in Levi Brooks’ van for three days. Finally managing to escape she is now on the run. She’s found a safe haven in a halfway house in Alaska. Amidst society’s castoffs she feels safer than she has in a long time. But then a local woman is found murdered and Beth has to wonder if her stalker has tracked her down. This story has all the beauty and wonder of Alaska combined with a hell of a plot line and a realistic and likable heroine