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I'm so glad to see Nathan Active again. I was afraid that Stan Jones' White Sky, Black Ice might have been it from Soho Press, but this second book featuring a native state trooper in Chukchi does not disappoint. Active is referred to in his home village as a white man; although he is not, he was adopted as a boy by white parents and raised in Anchorage. He sees this assignment as temporary but is giving it his all; he's trying to learn native ways, he works his cases with everything he has; his own intelligence, sure, but he also knows when to ask experts for their help. Whether this expert is a local cop, or Nathan's grandfather (who was never too happy about the changes in his home when the white people came), Nathan has learned how to listen, even when stories don't make sense to him. A native mummy is being returned to Alaska by the Smithsonian. You'd think that would be a cause for celebration but this too has controversy. "Uncle Frosty" will end up in a museum; at least one very vocal local wants him to be put out on the ice, like it was in the old days, not locked up in a glass case. The mummy has been returned with artifacts, including a harpoon, and it is this old weapon that is found at the site of a murder. Somehow, this mummy's remains are involved in the crime. This book reminds the reader how different many things are in Alaska; like other mysteries set in non-urban settings, a reader can wonder how any crimes are solved because everything is so far apart, every trip takes planning and hours and miles. You wonder how anyone gets caught, if they can escape into the wilderness, or hide evidence out there, but well, everyone needs to come to ground sometime, get food and supplies. But we're reminded that like anywhere else, Alaska law enforcement faces a legislature that doesn't want to see money spent, and to find people - witnesses, victims, criminals - the police must use helicopters and sleds and experienced bush pilots (at a few hundred bucks an hour). It puts a unique angle on the crime-solving that I don't see in other, more city-oriented mysteries. There are legit reasons, I think, to compare this author to Hillerman (I tend to try to avoid comparing writers if I can); Jones treats native culture with respect, and he educates you. The natives aren't necessarily perfect.; maybe Active (or Jones) shows a little too much respect, but it's still cool to hear the stories of "before the whites came" and to learn about how people live, so I'm willing to put up with that; heck, I think I'd do it too. The story feels real, the setting is c-o-l-d, and the characters are truly often characters. But that's meant in a good way; the story is full of interesting personalities and informative moments. Active is a better cop, I think, than he gives himself credit for. I hope it doesn't take that long for the next book in this series to be published.
Reviewed by Andi Shechter, May 2003
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