Genre: Mystery
Trade Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9780738753973
Midnight Ink Publishing
312 Pages
$15.99; $11.99 Amazon
December 8, 2018
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As tour escort Emily Miceli leads her globetrotting band of Iowa seniors into the wilds of Alaska, she discovers that, in the land of the midnight sun, whales aren't the only killers on the prowl. When a tour member turns up dead on a mountainous hiking trail, Emily blames herself for the mishap - until she learns that something far hairier might be to blame.
One of the seniors snaps a photo of what looks to be Bigfoot, raising many questions about what happened to the victim. But the illusive sasquatch is just a legend, isn't it? Between whale-watching in the glacial waters near Seward and ziplining in the primal forests of Denali, Emily finds herself locked in a game of cat and mouse with a killer who's too clever to be mere myth.
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Emily Andrew-Miceli and her husband Etienne own a tour company that caters to a lively group of Iowa seniors, along with others who may sign up - and usually do. This time out they're traveling through Alaska, along with members of a local book club who are 'first timers' on the tour.
While Emily doesn't want any problems along the way, she always expects them, because that's pretty much been the luck of this luckless group. This time out the seniors are being a usual rambunctious bunch, as they always are, and along with the group are Emily's parents, Margaret and Bob. Margaret is there because she thinks she needs to keep an eye on Emily's Nana, her mother, who doesn't need help from anyone.
Yet while on a whale watching boat, Margaret is the one Emily needs to keep an eye on. When she senses danger ("Run for your lives!") where there is none, Emily fears that from this moment on the tour is going to be a disaster...and she's not far off.
Then there is an argument on a tram between a particularly nasty guest - Thor Iverson (who thinks he's smarter than anyone else) and a retired newspaper owner, Delpha Spillum, that doesn't end peacefully. Later that evening Delpha doesn't arrive for dinner and Emily is worried. But after texting her, Delpha texts back that she's decided to walk back to their lodgings instead.
So Emily relaxes for a little while...which is the wrong thing to do (of course) when Delpha's body is discovered on the trail. Yet no one seemed to have a reason to kill the woman, and while the investigation is ongoing, they continue on with their tour.
Along with this Emily's life is about to get even more complicated by her ex-husband Jack who's now female friend Jackie and an employee of their company. Emily has given her a fairly easy assignment: travel with a different group of seniors to a new Iowa amusement park that's centered around farming (yes, around farming). She thinks that will be easy enough...until the calls start coming in. It seems one of the seniors has had a slight skin reaction to one of Jackie's makeovers and is in the hospital. But that's minor compared to the rest of them...
Then there's the fact that a traveler whose wife had an emergency at the last minute and couldn't come isn't able to be reached; one of the travelers is making goo-goo eyes at Emily's hired tour escort Alison and won't let her out of his sight; her father seems to have inadvertently taken a picture of Big Foot and the press are following the group everywhere trying to get him to talk (which won't be easy considering the man doesn't make coherent sentences very often); and as if this wasn't enough, one more member of their group makes a trip with Destinations Travel a final destination...
While it seems like I've given a lot of background on this book, it's not enough. As you can tell, there's plenty going on, and I'm surprised poor Emily isn't in a wheelchair by now with everything her seniors put her through.
I've read every single one in this series so far, and I have to say that I've never been disappointed in any of them. The conversations between the seniors have me laughing out loud at times ("Hush, you Muskies!") and while they're quite a handful, I'd have the time of my life traveling with them anywhere they go.
I've actually become quite fond of Nana, the two Dicks, Tilly, and the others (even Bernice) and love being a part of their world. If this is your first foray into the domain of the Windsor City, Iowa seniors you're in for a real treat. If not, you probably feel much the same as I do.
While Emily is worried - because the police aren't sharing any information at this time - that Delpha's death wasn't merely an accident, she's not letting on to anyone except her ex-policeman husband Etienne. And if he knows anything more than her, he's not telling.
As always, Ms. Hunter does not disappoint in either humor nor action, and there are plenty of both. She writes with a definite flair and gives enough background on wherever they are at the moment that you almost feel as if you are traveling along with the group. The writing flows easily off the page and the tale is spun nicely.
In the end, when everything is starting to come together, there are more than a few surprises. Yes, there are a couple of things you can start to figure out on your own, but I will say that still I was surprised at the ending, and that's a good thing. The only problem I have is having to wait so long for the next installment of the series. Highly recommended.
https://www.amazon.com/Catch-Yukon-Passport-Peril-Mystery/dp/0738753971/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2475962993
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