Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Bear Witness (An Alaska Untamed Mystery) by Lark O. Jensen. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Bear Witness (An Alaska Untamed Mystery)
by Lark O. Jensen
Bear Witness (An Alaska Untamed Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Alaska
Crooked Lane Books (May 10, 2022)
Hardcover : 320 pages
Alaska tour boat guide Stacie Calder faces the deep freeze in this scenic cozy series debut perfect for fans of Paige Shelton.
No nine-to-five cubicle career will suit Stacie Calder—the naturalist much prefers working in the great outdoors. Specifically, the spacious and spectacular Alaskan wilderness, whose rugged charms she shares with sightseers on the top deck of the tour boat where she works. But one May afternoon, Stacie’s passengers see more than glittering glaciers, frolicking harbor seals, climbing bears and soaring seabirds…they also witness a man lying dead in the frigid Alaskan waters. And it seems likely that someone gave him a fatal push.
Stacie didn’t know the unfortunate victim, but he sure wanted to know a lot about her. He spent most of his final afternoon bombarding her with questions quite awkward to answer. And when he wasn’t in her hair, he was arguing incessantly with the boat’s beleaguered crew. Which makes for a suspect list about as long as the passenger manifest. Furthermore, as police helicopters relentlessly circle her boat in search of any clues, Stacie is shaken to find herself on that suspect list.
Before the tour boat reaches shore Stacie—accompanied by her beautiful blue-eyed husky, Sasha—must deduce just who sent the testy tourist tumbling into the turgid waters and have the authorities take custody. Because if she can’t, then the killer might aim a fatal ice-cold stare at Stacie.
My review of Bear Witness
Bear Witness is the first book in a new series starring Stacie, a naturalist and tour guide on daily Alaska nature cruises. Her husky Sasha travels with her on these daily cruises and is a calming presence for passengers. Stacie loves her job and has shared her love of nature on cruises for a long time, but there’s never been a murder on one! However, one unfortunate day, a passenger is murdered, and Stacie’s inquisitiveness leads her to snoop around and get the scoop on who may have wanted him dead.
I think that this series has a lot of potential, especially if the cruise ship isn’t the scene of the crime each time. Though I enjoyed Stacie’s descriptive narration during the tours, it could become a little tiresome for those of us who love reading all the books in a series if the cruises take the same route each trip. But since the tour company owns multiple boats, I’m anticipating fresh, new routes and beautiful Alaskan scenery in each book.
The mystery in Bear Witness is not an easy one to solve with its multiple red herrings As it turns out, many of the passengers had motive to murder…including Stacie. However, Stacie quickly becomes close to lead investigator Liam, who knows Stacie wouldn’t murder anyone. For those of you who don’t like closed door sex at all in your cozy mystery books, here’s a heads up. The couple’s closeness becomes intimate rather quickly in this book, so it may not be right for you.
In addition to getting to know Stacie and Liam, you’ll get a peek at the many side characters’ in Bear Witness. I’m sure it will be fun getting to know them all better in the books to come. I especially enjoyed Stacie’s young assistant who steps up while Stacie is away from the microphone. I appreciate how both Stacie and her assistant are so interactive with the passengers, taking and answering their questions. Having curious children on board was a fun addition to the story.
If you enjoy cozy mystery books set in Alaska and are okay with closed door sexual situations, I think you’ll enjoy Bear Witness for its lovely setting and puzzling murder.
About Lark O. Jensen
Lark O. Jensen is the pseudonym of Linda O. Johnston, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer. Lark has written Bear Witness, the first Alaska Untamed mystery for Crooked Lane. Linda has written the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series and the Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink and the Pet Rescue Mysteries and Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Linda also writes for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, and her stories often involve dogs.
Author Links
Website: www.LindaOJohnston.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaOJohnston/
Purchase Links
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Bear Witness TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 9 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 10 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW, GUEST POST
May 10 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
May 10 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
May 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
May 11 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST
May 11 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 11 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 11 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
May 12 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST
May 12 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
May 12 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
May 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 13 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
May 13 – Novels Alive – SPOTLIGHT
May 13 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
May 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
May 14 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 14 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – SPOTLIGHT
May 14 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
May 15 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
May 15 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
May 15 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
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