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White Sky, Black Ice

Book 1 in the series:Nathan Active Mysteries

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'White Sky, Black Ice' by Stan Jones follows the story of Nathan Active, a young Alaskan State Trooper who is assigned to a remote town in Alaska where he was born. Nathan navigates between two cultures, the Inuit culture and the white man's culture, facing challenges such as alcoholism, environmental issues, and mysterious deaths. As Nathan investigates a series of deaths, he uncovers the dark secrets of the Grey Wolf mine, the impact of big business on the community, and the struggles of living in a harsh, isolated environment. intricately weaves together themes of cultural identity, environmental activism, and the complexities of rural Alaska, providing a compelling and immersive reading experience.

The writing style of the book is praised for its authenticity in portraying the Inuit culture, the Alaskan landscape, and the challenges faced by the characters. Readers appreciate the rich sense of place, the well-developed characters, and the nuanced exploration of cultural politics and community dynamics. Stan Jones skillfully captures the essence of rural Alaska, creating a setting that feels vivid and atmospheric, while also delving into the personal conflicts and moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist, Nathan Active.

Characters:

The characters, especially Nathan Active, embody the complexities of cultural identity and community issues, though some secondary characters lack depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by clear, evocative prose that effectively captures the starkness of the Alaskan landscape and the complexity of its inhabitants' lives.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a young state trooper investigating two suspicious deaths in a small Inuit town, highlighting themes of culture and identity, with a fairly predictable yet engaging narrative.

Setting:

The setting in a remote Alaskan town significantly impacts the narrative, highlighting the struggles and resilience of the Inuit community amid harsh conditions.

Pacing:

The pacing is slower than average for the genre, allowing for deeper character exploration while maintaining reader engagement.

Notes:

The book is set in a small Inuit town in Alaska called Chukchi.
The protagonist, Nathan Active, is a young half-Inuit Alaskan State Trooper.
Nathan was adopted and raised by white schoolteachers in Anchorage.
He struggles with his cultural identity and feelings of being an outsider.
The story revolves around a possible murder case disguised as a suicide.
The novel captures the bleak lifestyle in a subarctic town with limited resources.
Alcoholism and suicide are major issues in the community portrayed in the book.
Nathan's investigation leads him to the local Gray Wolf copper mine.
The book highlights the politics of resource extraction and its impact on local people.
Readers noted poor proofreading and formatting issues in the Kindle version.
The setting provides insight into the daily life and challenges faced by the Inuit community.
Nathan exhibits qualities of a dogged investigator despite his personal conflicts.
The author uses Nathan's dual heritage to explore cultural perceptions and community dynamics.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes medium content warnings for themes surrounding suicide, alcoholism, and the struggles within indigenous communities.

Has Romance?

There is some romantic development within the narrative, particularly involving the protagonist's growing connections to the community and other characters.

From The Publisher:

The first Nathan Active mystery

Born to a poor Inupiat girl in Chukchi, Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle, State Trooper Nathan Active was adopted and raised by a white family in Anchorage. Now, an unwelcome job reassignment has returned him to the stark, beautiful landscape of poverty-stricken Chukchi. Two suspicious suicides in the span of a week and rumors of trouble in the village and at the local copper mine lead Active to believe there is a killer at large. As a nalauqmiiyaaq , or someone regarded by the community as "halfwhite," he must fight for every clue before the killer strikes again.

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