Book Review: Trial by Ice and Fire

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

Trial by Ice and Fire     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Clinton McKinzie
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Legal Setting   Thriller   Sports
Series: Antonio Burns # 3

Antonio Burns is a special investigator for the state of Wyoming, and has been dispatched to the resort communities near the Grand Tetons to guard a local district attorney who is being threatened by an unknown stalker who has attempted to break into her house.

Burns carries some baggage with him - an earlier investigation ended tragically with the death of the three suspects and Burns is regarded as a murderer by some of his coworkers and some portions of the public. In another case, he uncovered corruption by a newly elected state official, but the court proceedings which concluded the case did not achieve the justice Burns was hoping for. He is not always able to receive instant total cooperation from local law enforcement, and the course of his assignment doesn't run smoothly.

The rock climbing scenes in this book are more believable than in the earlier novel in this series. We are treated to late spring forays into the high country of the Tetons, an avalanche deliberately set off, and a fire set by an arsonist which ignites the dry high country grass in the valleys.

Burns also copes with a rogue brother, a reluctant girl friend, a new canine companion, and other small mountain community characters.

Nicely plotted, a quick somewhat unengrossing read.

Woodstock - RAM

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