Member Review

Bear Witness by Lark O. Jensen is the debut of An Alaska Untamed Mysteries. I like the premise of Bear Witness. The author’s detailed descriptions allowed me to visualize traveling on the boat. I could envision the beautiful Alaskan countryside along with the flora and fauna. I did feel that the author used too much detail at times. We really do not need to know what Stacie is wearing every day, where Sasha goes to the bathroom on the boat (or how it is cleaned up), the details of getting from work to home (driving down this street, getting out keys, opening door, taking off shoes), or about Stacie’s stomach problems (TMI). I thought Stacie’s dog, Sasha was a sweetie. Huskies are intelligent and loving dogs. I enjoyed learning about the various Alaskan wildlife. I can tell the author did her research for this book. I thought the characters lacked depth (they were as flat as cardboard). The emotions are lacking. We are told details, but they are not felt. We are told Stacie loves wildlife, but it does not come across. I want personality and depth in the characters. The mystery has Stacie asking questions and searching for clues. She feels the need to help because she loves her job and cares about her employers (she is a wee bit too perky). The whodunit has several suspects along with a few clues (I mean hardly any) to help readers solve the crime before the suspenseful reveal. I like how Sasha helps Stacie with her investigation. I was surprised that Liam allows Stacie to help out (he does try to warn her off in the beginning). He also shares details of the case with her. I like that they get along, but I expected Liam to be more professional. Stacie lacks subtlety (her sleuthing style resembles badgering). I wish the mystery had been more complex. I identified the killer before they found Truit’s body (it was obvious). A romance springs up between Liam and Stacie. I did feel it was a little rushed for a cozy mystery. There is a great deal of repetition (how much she loved her job, information about animals, details about her job and bosses, how handsome Liam is, etc.). From a seasoned author, I did not expect such repetitiveness. There is mild foul language in this story. I wonder what adventure Stacie will have in the next An Alaska Untamed Mystery. Bear Witness is a wild tale with scenic cruises, a dead deckhand, a helpful Husky, a striking trooper, a careful killer, and wandering wildlife.