Book Review: Deadfall

Reviewed By: Carl Brookins - RAM

Deadfall     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Sue Henry
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Woman Main Character   Dogs
Series: Alex Jensen & Jessie Arnold # 5
Avon; 1998; pp 296

Sue Henry's imagination takes flight in this thrilling novel set against the awesome natural spectacle that is Alaska. This is number five in Henry's series that follows the adventures of Alaskan State Trooper Alex Jensen.

With her strong narrative sense in the forefront, Henry has fashioned a novel of real human dimension, which makes the contrast with the larger than life Alaskan reality all the more telling. Alex Jensen's close personal friend and champion musher, Jessie Arnold is being stalked by an unknown enemy. In carefully staged escalations, Jessie's dogs are threatened, her friends are menaced and Jessie herself must come to terms with increasing restrictions on her independent lifestyle, and to realize the frustration and then terror of trying to protect herself against an invisible enemy. The book also portrays the increasing anxiety and frustration of the police as Alex Jensen tries to identify the shadowy perpetrator and protect Jessie without upsetting their always tenuous relationship.

Henry builds the suspense in a surehanded way, and while the resolution may be a bit unfocused, overall, this is an excellent novel, well conceived and executed. Henry is an author who can be counted on to deliver the goods.

Carl Brookins - RAM

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