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Summary: An evocative and atmospheric mystery
Review: In the Outback town of Barrow, Alaska the Inupiat Native American relish the annual Nalukataq, a festival giving thanks to the whales. Ninety-seven-year-old Aana Clearwater strongly believes in the traditional ways. She opens her door to the gala attendees, but one of the revelers knocks her down and threatens her with a whaling knife. Her nephew Justin sees the wide open door, enters, and finds a trail of blood, a broken amulet, a swatch of his aunt's dress caught on the doorjamb.Inupiat officer Raymond Attla receives Justin's call. Raymond finds a murdered Aana stuffed upside down in a wheelbarrow inside the victim's shed. The culprit sliced off Aana wedding ring finger. Evidence points towards Ronald Pilchick as the killer, but Ray arrests him only after seeing Aana's finger in a jar next to the prime suspect's bed. Soon Ray begins to believe Ray is innocent and investigates with renewed vigor even if it places his life in danger. Torn between two worlds, the Inupiat straddle both taking what they need from both cultures to survive. Raymond Attla is an honest likable hero who is a modern person who scoffs at the old ways while unable to totally let go of them. Through him and other strong characters, Christopher Lane describes the whaling community so that the reader feels more like a participant rather than a watcher. Though reminiscent of the works of Dana Stabenow, SILENT AS THE HUNTER has a freshness of its own that will provide much pleasure to fans of Alaskan police procedurals. Harriet Klausner
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