Jun 13, 2014

COLD STORAGE ALASKA by John Straley

 *Grab a book, any book. *Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader  *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you. *Post it. *Add your (url) post in Linky at Freda's Voice Also Book Beginnings by Rose City Reader.

Cold Storage Alaska
I have loved all of John Straley's crime books, his prose often like poetry, his characters unusual and memorable; and I have no reason to think Cold Storage Alaska is any different. The setting is Alaska, a land of starkness, in people and place.
page 56:
"I'm sorry," Jake Shoemaker simpered in an uncommonly polite voice. "I know this must be inconvenient for you." Oscar sat on the couch, his hands tied behind his back. "I mean it's more than just inconvenient; this is frightening, I'm sure."
Book beginning:
Anabelle had put the tea kettle on just moments ago. Now it was whistling, yet she didn't get up to attend to it. Recently the past had become a hallucination constantly intruding into the present moment, so she wasn't certain what really needed doing. 
Book description:
"An offbeat, often hilarious crime novel set in the sleepy Alaskan town of Cold Storage from the Shamus Award winning author of the Cecil Younger series. 
Cold Storage, Alaska, is a remote fishing outpost where salmonberries sparkle in the morning frost and where you just might catch a King Salmon if you’re zen enough to wait for it. Settled in 1935 by Norse fishermen who liked to skinny dip in its natural hot springs, the town enjoyed prosperity at the height of the frozen fish boom. But now the cold storage plant is all but abandoned and the town is withering.

Clive “The Milkman” McCahon returns to his tiny Alaska hometown after a seven-year jail stint for dealing coke. He has a lot to make up to his younger brother, Miles, who has dutifully been taking care of their ailing mother. But Clive doesn’t realize the trouble he’s bringing home. His vengeful old business partner is hot on his heels, a stick-in-the-mud State Trooper is dying to bust Clive for narcotics, and, to complicate everything, Clive might be going insane—lately, he’s been hearing animals talking to him. Will his arrival in Cold Storage be a breath of fresh air for the sleepy, depopulated town? Or will Clive’s arrival turn the whole place upside down." (goodreads)

 What do you think? Is this a book you'd keep reading?
Thanks to Soho Crime for a review/feature copy of this book.

13 comments:

  1. The plot really sounds fun. The talking animals especially so. I also really like the beginning, especially the allusion to the past.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the setting...and the excerpts are fascinating. I want to know more!

    Here's mine: “NANTUCKET SISTERS”

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds like a book I'd enjoy. The beginning drew me in -- I want to know what's going on with Annabelle, and the small-town Alaska setting is intriguing. Reminds me of the old TV series "Northern Exposure."
    Here's the link to my Friday post: STELLA IN STILETTOS.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds interesting! I hope you are enjoying it. Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the Native artwork on the cover. Being Native that caught my eye immediately. Sounds like an interesting read too.

    Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the cover. Haven't read any of this series.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great excerpts! I love books set in Alaska.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great cover.

    I hope the book is good and a good cup of tea was shared. :)

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really like the beginning. I've experienced the past intruding in the present. That's a really good beginning.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Of course, it's frightening. It's not like he's sitting there eating a bowl of jello.

    ReplyDelete
  11. By the way, I like the cover of this book. It makes me think of Alaska. Don't get the wrong impression. I haven't been to Alaska, but have seen stuff on the internet, t.v. movies, books.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'd keep reading, I like the sound of the sleepy Alaskan town.

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comments and thoughts...

Three Novels: Japanese Mystery; Family Drama; Ecuadorian

  Books in the mail The Night of Baba Yaga  by Akira Otani (translated from the Japanese). July 2, 2024, Soho Crime This is an unusual novel...