Devotees of Henry's Alaska mysteries will be delighted to see 63-year-old Maxine "Maxie" McNabb, the Winnebago-driving, free-spirited widow introduced in Dead North (2001), starring in this gentle whodunit, the first of a new series. Summoned from Alaska to Grand Junction, Colo., to the bedside of her ailing old friend Sarah Nunamaker, Maxie and her adorable mini-dachshund Stretch wheel in just in the nick of timeâ€"or do they? Sarah's final words to Maxie seem urgent, but leave her little to go on in order to investigate the wrongs to which Sarah mysteriously alludes. Much to the dismay of Alan, Sarah's adopted son, Maxie discovers she's been appointed Sarah's executor. She must also contend with a break-in at Sarah's home and her late friend's penchant for secret hiding places and secrets in general. Then Ed Norris, a college mate of Maxie and Sarah, drops a real bombshell when he reveals the identities of Alan's biological parents. A box of photos, an address on a card and a surprising stranger later leadâ€"or misleadâ€"Maxie and Stretch to Salt Lake City, where Maxie faces even greater dangers. Cozy crime fans of a certain age will love to live vicariously through Maxie and Stretch in what promises to be a long and popular run of adventures.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Retiree Maxie McNabb, a spry 63 years old, gets a call for help from her old friend Grace and immediately sets off in her Winnebago on the lengthy jaunt from Alaska to Grand Junction, Colorado. When Maxie arrives, Grace is hospitalized, muttering deliriously about secrets--and then she dies abruptly. This mystery starts a new series by Henry, author of the popular Jessie Arnold novels. She appears to have another winner on her hands. The strong older characters are well developed and will appeal to fans of Mrs. Pollifax and Peter Abresch's Jim Dandy mysteries. The story builds suspense effectively, and the descriptions of the West, particularly the national parks, will draw the Nevada Barr crowd. There's even an appealing dog, a dachshund named Stretch, to attract canine mystery readers. Only a less-than-convincing ending keeps this one from straight As, but it's still a fine series debut. John Rowen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful new heroine, April 28 2004

By	Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Maxie McNabb is an independedent 63-year-old woman who enjoys living in Alaska, traveling in her RV and owning a mini-dachshund named Stretch. When her old college chum, Sarah, becomes terminally ill, Maxie goes for a last visit to Sarah's Colorado home. Sarah has said that she needed to confide something to Maxie, but she is very seriously ill by the time Maxie arrives. One of the women's old college friends, Ed, appears on the scene and he and Maxie spend some time exploring the area together. Before long there are complications about Sarah's sizeable estate and there are questions about who her heirs really are. Maxie does some investigating and soon is receiving threatening letters from an unknown source. This is the first book in a new series by Sue Henry who has written another series about Alaska. Maxie is a delightful character and there seems to be a lot of potential for her to find further adventures in future books.

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4.0 out of 5 stars A fine mystery, April 6 2004

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

Sixty-three years old Maxie McNabb enjoys hitting the road with her RV accompanied by her mini-dachshund, perhaps the only Alaskan resident not to have a husky. When Maxie learns that her friend Sarah Numamaker is dying, she decides to visit her pal in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Sarah is elated that Maxie is coming to see her, but not just because she enjoys her company, which she does. Sarah needs Maxie to help her with a problem, but will not explain what it is until her visitor arrives. Maxie finds Sarah's house has been turned upside down and her buddy is in the hospital. Sarah dies, but not from her illness but because someone killed her. As the executor, Maxie must settle Sarah's estate, which she has left to her adopted son and any natural children of her own, of which Maxie did not know any existed. Ed Norris claims that Sarah's adopted son, Alan, is actually his; Alan denies any blood ties while openly acts hostile towards Maxie and Ed. As Maxie tries to learn who killed her friend, she also researches relationships to see whether Ed or Alan is telling the truth even while wondering what Sarah needed for her to do.

Though the story line moves at the pace of driving an RV from Alaska to Colorado, fans will appreciate this entertaining cozy due to the delightful sexagenarian charmer Maxie. She makes for a fine tale with her friendly open approach to people even when she is rebuked by her friend's son. Sue Henry, known for her scenic Alaska mysteries, shows she can entertain readers with a lower Forty-Eight tale.

Harriet Klausner

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