Fire and Ice: A Liam Campbell Mystery

Liam Campbell Mysteries, Book 1

By: Dana Stabenow

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

In this mystery series by Dana Stabenow, the Edgar Award-winning author returns to the Alaskan setting she's famous for, with a wonderful character - state trooper Liam Campbell. Liam's just been transferred from Anchorage to the small fishing village of Newenham, Alaska - where a local pilot seems to have lost his head.

©1998 Dana Stabenow (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Excellent!

A great mystery/suspense with a hint of romantic context and an engaging Alaskan setting. Good narration.

Reminiscent of Louise Penny’s Three Pines Inspector Garmsnche books

I really enjoyed the first in the Liam Campbell series. It has the same authentic spirit that I love in Louise Penny’s Garmanche books, but very Alaskan. Not a bistro but a bar; not gourmet but burgers and fries. The narrator is excellent; the plot interesting and unexpected, the characters real and likable, like Penny’s books. I liked the similar pace, too. Just finished the first in the series and am going to download the second RIGHT NOW!

Had me guessing to the end!

Pretty shocking start, and end, honestly, but had me pretty riveted. The setting was excellent and the story was pretty unique and believable for me, as I do have some acquaintances who live and mush dogs in rural Alaska. Appreciated the indigenous perspective and characters. I’ll read more of these!

Not sure I like Liam but I enjoyed the book

I downloaded the “Fire and Ice” the first book in Dana Stabenow’s Liam Campbell series, to help bridge the gap while I wait for the Brilliance Audio version of “Killing Grounds”, book 8 in the series Kate Shugak series, to come out in January 2014 to get another slice of Alaskan life.

What I got was something quite different from the Kate Shugak series, even down to the writing style but something that gave me another view on what Alaska can mean to people.
Liam Campbell is a newly-demoted State Trooper, who steps off the plane at the remote town he has been exiled to, and steps into a storm of violence, eccentricity, lust and death.

The story is well-plotted, seasoned with humor and chaos, stuffed with larger-than-life characters that we know will be in all the future books and it gives a vivid view of what it feels like to take on the potentially lethal task of “herring spotting” from a light plane in an overcrowded sky.

Stabenow’s books are never just about finding out who killed whom. They are an exploration of why people live the way they do and what it is about Alaska that drives particular behaviors.

In this book Alaska is being shown as a place where people go to make a new start. It’s also shown as place with all the usual problems of violence against women, alcohol addiction, child abuse and the pressures of a small town to make you behave “appropriately”.

I couldn’t quite bring myself to like Liam Campbell, the man with a tragic past and a grief-filled present. Then I realized that this was what Stabenow intended. I couldn’t like Liam because he doesn’t like himself. His distaste for himself at first appears to be a reaction to things he couldn’t control but feels accountable for: death’s on his watch, a tragedy in his family; things that would damage any man. As the book progresses we realize that the fundamental source of internal disgust is that he is a man who has betrayed himself and everyone he loves and he can’t forgive himself for that. The problem was, I couldn’t forgive him for it either.

There are some signs that Liam is on a journey of redemption. In future books, I hope to see something about him that will make me care. I’d like to see his self-pity and self-absorption replaced by some passion for making a difference by actually doing his job. Perhaps the reason Stabenow keeps Campbell out of his uniform for most of the book, is to signal his failure to engage and to become who he should be.

The sex scene at the beginning of the book caught me by surprise. It is graphic without being gratuitous but it goes way beyond anything you’d find in a Kate Shugak novel. The scene is actually well written – it describes arousal without being arousing. It is necessary because the sexual attraction between Campbell and the Wy is central to how Liam came to be where he is. I like the fact that Stabenow sets this up so that we understand that lust does not explain or excuse Liam’s actions any more than alcohol explains why someone is a drunk.

I enjoy Marguerite Gavin as the narrator of the Kate Shugak series. I wish someone else had been chosen to read the Liam Campbell series. I think a male reader would have been more appropriate and would have made a clearer separation between Liam and Kate. She didn’t distract me from the book, but she didn’t add to it either.

I'm not a fan of Liam Campbell

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I did not realize this was not a Kate Shugak story when I bought it. I had some trouble getting into this one, as I did not find the character of Liam engaging. I will pay more attention now that I know the author has another character in the mix.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Honestly, I don't recall finishing it. If I did, I was not sufficiently impressed to recall.

Which character – as performed by Marguerite Gavin – was your favorite?

Again, I do not recall the specifics, but I DO like Marguerite Gavin's performances. It took a while to get used to her, as sometimes the inflexions seem out of character or inappropriate, but her depictions of the Alaskan natives, and their mannerisms is spot on!

Any additional comments?

I am not saying it was a bad book or story, or that you should NOT take it on. For me, this character simply cannot compete w/ Kate Sugak, which is what I was expecting. Some readers/listeners may prefer Liam to Kate. It just depends on the listener.

Slow in beginning

I was going to return this book. A lot of swearing and slow in the beginning. I stuck with it. The later 2/3 was ok.

Characters are so realistic

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The writer of this novel knows her characters. You also find yourself involved in their lives.
These types of books are why there are 30 plus novels of Eve Dallas, Jack Reacher, and some of our other favorite people.

What other book might you compare Fire and Ice: A Liam Campbell Mystery to and why?

Lee Child's character's, James Lee Burke's character's, you become attached to these people in their novels

What about Marguerite Gavin’s performance did you like?

Distinctive voices for the characters. Descriptions of the area allows you to visualize it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and did

Any additional comments?

We get lost in the adventures and want one more when that book ends. Wonderful, keep them coming.

Stabenow and Gavin a winning combination

Dana Stabenow is one of my favorite authors, her stories keep you wanting more and Marguerite Gavin has a way of making the entire thing come to life.

Really enjoyed it

Excellent story. I really loved the characters. It took a bit to start, but was drawn in. Will definitely read the next one in the series.

A real page turner

I truly enjoyed this story. I listened to it after I listened to the first book in the Kate Shugak series. I loved the well developed characters and plot. The story started out fast and kept that pace throughout the book. I was happy that I was able to take this book everywhere. I bought the next book before I finished the first.