Icy Clutches

Rating:
Summary: The best of "Gideon Oliver"
Review: As soon as I stumbled on my first book by Aaron Elkins, I raced through all of his others. I love the type of mysteries surrounding a character like his Gideon Oliver; an academic and forensic anthropologist rather than a cop. All of the G.O. mysteries are set in interesting places, and all have a good dose of physical anthropology. This particular one is set near a glacier (which holds the mystery) in Alaska. And in terms of suspense, setting, and how the science was used to "crack the case", I think "Icy Clutches" is the best of the series. MUCH better than the somewhat dragging "Old Bones", the one which won an Edgar Award. If you like the mystery genre and want some reading that is quick yet satisfying, I recommend all the Gideon Oliver books; but especially "Icy Clutches".

Rating:
Summary: Best of the Gideon Oliver Series
Review: For those who have read the more recent additions to the Gideon Oliver series by Aaron Elkins, I highly recommend they go back to this title and read it. Or even reread it! It is the best of the series and a synthesis of all that works for Mr. Elkins. The story is set in Alaska, a glacial country of brooding cold skies and even colder ice. The plot is perfect, combining just the right amounts of human foibles and motive, geological factoids, and of course, forensic anthropology. And there is an air of menace which pervades the book like no other in the series.

Rating:
Summary: My first-and not last-Elkins
Review: This is an excellent detective story from the glacial field of Alaska. Gideon Oliver is, for me, a new find and going to be an addition to my reading lists. Starting with Oliver's Sherlockian deductions based on a few skeletal remains to his final deductions and resolution of the case, there is excellent detective work. And my original prime suspect gets killed during the course of the story. Every mystery reader knows that feeling. I'll be backtracking to the earlier books in the series and bringing myself up to date real quick.