The Boy in the Snow

An Edie Kiglatuk Mystery, Book 2

By: M. J. McGrath

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Edie Kiglatuk's discovery along Alaska's Iditarod Trail leads to a massive, far-reaching conspiracy.

M. J. McGrath's debut novel, White Heat, earned both fans and favorable comparisons to bestselling Scandinavian thrillers such as Smilla's Sense of Snow and the Kurt Wallander series.

In The Boy in the Snow, half-Inuit Edie Kiglatuk finds herself in Alaska with Sergeant Derek Palliser, helping her ex-husband Sammy in his bid to win the famous Iditarod dogsled race. The race takes a grim turn when Edie stumbles upon the body of a baby left out in the forest. The state troopers are keen to pin the death on the Dark Believers - a sinister offshoot of a Russian Orthodox sect - but Edie's instincts tell her otherwise. Her investigations take her into a world of corrupt politics, religious intolerance, greed, and sex trafficking. But just as she begins to get some answers, Edie finds herself confronted by a painful secret from her past.

©2012 M. J. McGrath (P)2012 Blackstone Audio

Critic reviews

"The two-week 1,150-mile Iditarod dog sled race from near Wasilla to Nome, Alaska, forms the backdrop for McGrath’s outstanding second mystery featuring half-Caucasian, half-Inuit Edie Kiglatuk…. McGrath has a firm grasp on a little known culture, its values and language, and excels at bringing to life such characters as conniving Anchorage mayor Chuck Hillingberg and his power-hungry wife, Marsha. This affecting novel should melt even the most frozen human hearts." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Edie is fierce in her desire for justice…. [She] finds herself at mortal risk from the cold, so masterfully described that it chills the reader." ( Booklist)

Somber Alaska mystery

Would you listen to The Boy in the Snow again? Why?

Yes. Although the major steps in the clue process are relatively simple, you get a lot of illumination on local culture and the nature of the characters.

What other book might you compare The Boy in the Snow to and why?

Oddly, it reminded me of 'The Maltese Falcon' and other classic mysteries from the early 20th Century. It has a sense of film noir about it.

Have you listened to any of Kate Reading’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've listened to part of "The Gathering Storm" and her voice work was good on that one as well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The discovery of the small child. You want to know who could do something awful to a baby.

Any additional comments?

I like this series a lot, and I can't wait for the next volume.

Greenland comes to Alaska

Satisfying well conceived story. Characters well developed, nuanced and no nonsense. Captures cross cultural differences well. Recommended. Looking for more

What a wonderful story and performance!!!

I listened to this on a snowy weekend …
The story is a wild ride! I binge listened!! Could nor put it down!!
It has so many layers not just the crime story.
There are beautiful pearls of wisdom interspersed that offer aha moments that can be applied to my own experience of life.

Well done! Kate readings narration is flawless
Her reading is so good I felt submerged in The story. Truly excellent!!