What do you think?
Rate this book
Alaska Wild #5
Lost Hours
The fifth installment in the gripping, atmospheric Alaska Wild series.
A year after arriving in Benedict, Beth Rivers is feeling very at home in Alaska, even as outsiders are starting to return to enjoy the brief summer perfection. Beth feels like she’s finally let go of most of her demons. She’s even found her father, Eddy Rivers—or, rather, he found her—and she's trying to find the middle ground between anger and forgiveness.
One sunny July day, Beth boards a tourist ship to see the glaciers, the main reason visitors venture to the area, and something Beth hasn’t attempted until now. But when the captain has to navigate to an island, a bloodied woman is found standing on the shore, waving for help. When she’s brought aboard, she claims she was kidnapped from her home in Juneau three days earlier, and that a bear on the island killed her captor. She, however, is unharmed.
The woman, Sadie, finds a sympathetic ear in Beth. She tells her that she’s been in Juneau under witness protection, and that the Juneau police don’t like her. When another kidnapping occurs, Beth and police chief Gril can’t help but think the two cases are interwoven, though the clues to solving them will be harder to unravel.
A year after arriving in Benedict, Beth Rivers is feeling very at home in Alaska, even as outsiders are starting to return to enjoy the brief summer perfection. Beth feels like she’s finally let go of most of her demons. She’s even found her father, Eddy Rivers—or, rather, he found her—and she's trying to find the middle ground between anger and forgiveness.
One sunny July day, Beth boards a tourist ship to see the glaciers, the main reason visitors venture to the area, and something Beth hasn’t attempted until now. But when the captain has to navigate to an island, a bloodied woman is found standing on the shore, waving for help. When she’s brought aboard, she claims she was kidnapped from her home in Juneau three days earlier, and that a bear on the island killed her captor. She, however, is unharmed.
The woman, Sadie, finds a sympathetic ear in Beth. She tells her that she’s been in Juneau under witness protection, and that the Juneau police don’t like her. When another kidnapping occurs, Beth and police chief Gril can’t help but think the two cases are interwoven, though the clues to solving them will be harder to unravel.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2023
117 people are currently reading
3966 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews
November 14, 2023
Paige Shelton brings atmosphere, mystery, and danger to
Lost Hours
, the fifth book in the Alaska Wild series set in fictional Benedict, Alaska. This well-written novel combines traditional police detective work and amateur sleuthing. Secrets, murder, and a horrific experience that continues to haunt and traumatize the main character make for a suspenseful and riveting read.
Beth Rivers, a successful thriller writer known as Elizabeth Fairchild, is still recovering in Alaska following her abduction a year ago. Until recently, only a few locals knew Beth’s story including police chief Gril Samuels and his deputy Donner. She now feels at home in Alaska, even as tourists return to the area for the summer. When she and Tex, Beth’s boyfriend and local search and rescue expert, decide to take a tour boat to view the glaciers, the boat is diverted to an island to rescue a woman covered in blood and waving for help. She claims she was kidnapped from her home in Juneau and that a bear killed her captor.
Beth’s character is well-developed. She continues to be a flawed protagonist who has shown some growth through making friends and learning to deal with her traumatic past, but she still finds it hard to trust people. However, readers will see a dynamic character change in attitude and outlook as she responds to events. She is curious, somewhat nosy, and has become an amateur sleuth. Several of the secondary characters gained depth in this book as secrets are revealed. This is especially true of Tex as well as Viola, the owner of the house where Beth rents a room. There are numerous characters in this story, but many of them were introduced in the earlier books so it felt like I was catching up with old friends.
The author’s writing style continues to hook me quickly, and the story builds momentum that leads to an action-filled conclusion. It’s suspenseful and there are twists and turns and surprises along the way in an intricate plot that kept me guessing. The atmosphere is tense and serious throughout the novel. From the quirky and eccentric residents to the descriptions of Alaska to the various mysteries, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The author does a great job of portraying the lack of amenities as well as the friendships, pace of life, the wonders, and the dangers of living in and around Benedict. I could easily visualize the setting and felt transported to Alaska. I also enjoy the way she works with the local police. My biggest quibble is that the ending was more telling than showing. While the mysteries in this story were nicely wrapped up, the set-up for the next book also occurs leaving this reader anxiously awaiting book six in the series. Several themes run through the tale including death, trust, found family as well as biological family, disappearances, secrets, lies, family dynamics, vengeance, and much more.
Overall, this enjoyable mystery was engaging, suspenseful, atmospheric, and full of adventure. Darker than many cozy mysteries, the well-developed ideas with good pacing from scene to scene kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy well-written amateur sleuth mysteries, then I recommend you check out this series. The books are best read in order. I’m looking forward to book six.
St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and Paige Shelton provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for December 05, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
---------------------------------------
My 4.19 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Beth Rivers, a successful thriller writer known as Elizabeth Fairchild, is still recovering in Alaska following her abduction a year ago. Until recently, only a few locals knew Beth’s story including police chief Gril Samuels and his deputy Donner. She now feels at home in Alaska, even as tourists return to the area for the summer. When she and Tex, Beth’s boyfriend and local search and rescue expert, decide to take a tour boat to view the glaciers, the boat is diverted to an island to rescue a woman covered in blood and waving for help. She claims she was kidnapped from her home in Juneau and that a bear killed her captor.
Beth’s character is well-developed. She continues to be a flawed protagonist who has shown some growth through making friends and learning to deal with her traumatic past, but she still finds it hard to trust people. However, readers will see a dynamic character change in attitude and outlook as she responds to events. She is curious, somewhat nosy, and has become an amateur sleuth. Several of the secondary characters gained depth in this book as secrets are revealed. This is especially true of Tex as well as Viola, the owner of the house where Beth rents a room. There are numerous characters in this story, but many of them were introduced in the earlier books so it felt like I was catching up with old friends.
The author’s writing style continues to hook me quickly, and the story builds momentum that leads to an action-filled conclusion. It’s suspenseful and there are twists and turns and surprises along the way in an intricate plot that kept me guessing. The atmosphere is tense and serious throughout the novel. From the quirky and eccentric residents to the descriptions of Alaska to the various mysteries, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The author does a great job of portraying the lack of amenities as well as the friendships, pace of life, the wonders, and the dangers of living in and around Benedict. I could easily visualize the setting and felt transported to Alaska. I also enjoy the way she works with the local police. My biggest quibble is that the ending was more telling than showing. While the mysteries in this story were nicely wrapped up, the set-up for the next book also occurs leaving this reader anxiously awaiting book six in the series. Several themes run through the tale including death, trust, found family as well as biological family, disappearances, secrets, lies, family dynamics, vengeance, and much more.
Overall, this enjoyable mystery was engaging, suspenseful, atmospheric, and full of adventure. Darker than many cozy mysteries, the well-developed ideas with good pacing from scene to scene kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy well-written amateur sleuth mysteries, then I recommend you check out this series. The books are best read in order. I’m looking forward to book six.
St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and Paige Shelton provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for December 05, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
---------------------------------------
My 4.19 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
June 5, 2023
Do you enjoy
✔️Edgy cozy mysteries?
✔️Remote locations/small towns?
✔️Mysteries/secrets to uncover?
✔️Amatuer sleuths?
✔️Female-centric books?
✔️Taut plotting and layered characters?
Then you’ll surely be charmed by the local magic permeating the lovely community known as Benedict, Alaska. It’s literally surrounded by mountains and lies amidst some of the most impressive and majestic scenery and pristine wilderness areas left in the world. Benedict, although fictional, is based on Gustavus, a community situated at the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park. A plus for this series? The author has spent time there!
In addition to the rugged landscape, the community is also a star in this series. It’s comprised of an eclectic and realistic mix of cultures and varying ages. Shelton’s top-notch exploration of this community reveals its mystery and how its members support each other as a means of survival. She shows readers why community is so important and highlights the concepts of trust and care. With weather that can be unpredictable, a cell phone service that is almost non-existent, a remote location, and a life of co-existing with wildlife, survival means working together.
People often arrive in Alaska to get lost and are careful to cover their tracks; not so for a few of the characters in this book. Yes, they’ve come to get lost but they weren’t as careful as they thought. Add this to the small community setting where everyone has secrets and a rooming house where everyone is in everyone else’s business and you have a great setup for suspense and mystery. Not everyone is who they pretend to be!
We spent two days cruising Glacier Bay last week and a large majority of my time, when not snapping photos of the glaciers, was spent reading this book set in this very wilderness. Yes, I too, found myself grabbing the binoculars and scanning the shorelines of the islands for evidence of life - not necessarily wildlife. Why? Well, I was reading about people on the run, kidnapped people, escaped convicts, WITSEC, bear attacks, and close calls in Glacier Bay.
I’ve been following this Alaska Wild series since book 1 and find that it just keeps getting better. I hope there are more books planned for this series because I don’t want to say goodbye to Beth � yet.
Yes, this book can be read as a standalone but I think you’ll appreciate the build-up of community and character by starting with ‘Thin Ice.�
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
✔️Edgy cozy mysteries?
✔️Remote locations/small towns?
✔️Mysteries/secrets to uncover?
✔️Amatuer sleuths?
✔️Female-centric books?
✔️Taut plotting and layered characters?
Then you’ll surely be charmed by the local magic permeating the lovely community known as Benedict, Alaska. It’s literally surrounded by mountains and lies amidst some of the most impressive and majestic scenery and pristine wilderness areas left in the world. Benedict, although fictional, is based on Gustavus, a community situated at the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park. A plus for this series? The author has spent time there!
In addition to the rugged landscape, the community is also a star in this series. It’s comprised of an eclectic and realistic mix of cultures and varying ages. Shelton’s top-notch exploration of this community reveals its mystery and how its members support each other as a means of survival. She shows readers why community is so important and highlights the concepts of trust and care. With weather that can be unpredictable, a cell phone service that is almost non-existent, a remote location, and a life of co-existing with wildlife, survival means working together.
People often arrive in Alaska to get lost and are careful to cover their tracks; not so for a few of the characters in this book. Yes, they’ve come to get lost but they weren’t as careful as they thought. Add this to the small community setting where everyone has secrets and a rooming house where everyone is in everyone else’s business and you have a great setup for suspense and mystery. Not everyone is who they pretend to be!
We spent two days cruising Glacier Bay last week and a large majority of my time, when not snapping photos of the glaciers, was spent reading this book set in this very wilderness. Yes, I too, found myself grabbing the binoculars and scanning the shorelines of the islands for evidence of life - not necessarily wildlife. Why? Well, I was reading about people on the run, kidnapped people, escaped convicts, WITSEC, bear attacks, and close calls in Glacier Bay.
I’ve been following this Alaska Wild series since book 1 and find that it just keeps getting better. I hope there are more books planned for this series because I don’t want to say goodbye to Beth � yet.
Yes, this book can be read as a standalone but I think you’ll appreciate the build-up of community and character by starting with ‘Thin Ice.�
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
June 13, 2024
4/5 🌟
4/5 ❤️�
1/5 🥰
0/5 🌶�
4/5 🔎
3/5 😰😱
2/5 🎭😂
3/5 🎭😭
0/5 👻
2/5 🔬
3/5 🔫
2/5 🏥
4/5 ✍�
0/5 🥱
⚠️ؔ️ոҳҷ鳧:ؔ️⚠️
Murder
Death
Blood
Gore
Mention of Rape
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯�
Lost Hours is the fifth instalment in Paige Shelton's gripping, atmospheric Alaska Wild series.
A year after arriving in Benedict, Beth Rivers is feeling very at home in Alaska, even as outsiders are starting to return to enjoy the brief summer perfection. Beth feels like she’s finally let go of most of her demons. She’s even found her father, Eddy Rivers―or, rather, he found her―and she's trying to find the middle ground between anger and forgiveness.
One sunny July day, Beth boards a tourist ship to see the glaciers, the main reason visitors venture to the area, and something Beth hasn’t attempted until now. But when the captain has to navigate to an island, a bloodied woman is found standing on the shore, waving for help. When she’s brought aboard, she claims she was kidnapped from her home in Juneau three days earlier, and that a bear on the island killed her captor. She, however, is unharmed.
The woman, Sadie, finds a sympathetic ear in Beth. She tells her that she’s been in Juneau under witness protection, and that the Juneau police don’t like her. When another kidnapping occurs, Beth and police chief Gril can’t help but think the two cases are interwoven, though the clues to solving them will be harder to unravel.
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 47 REVIEWS
Moods
mysterious 83%
tense 66%
adventurous 61%
challenging 27%
dark 22%
emotional 22%
hopeful 11%
inspiring 11%
reflective 11%
sad 5%
Pace
medium 60%
fast 35%
slow 5%
Average rating
3.82 ⭐️
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I am truly enjoying this series but I dread having to now wait till December for the next book. I would like to see a little more of Tex and the budding relationship between him and Beth. While this series has been entertaining it saddens me that it hasn’t become more popular.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️� Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶� Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 🫣/Գ澱dzܲ😱 - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 dz😂/հ😭
-based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
👻 Ǵǰ😵�/🧟♀� -based on if this had any occult or paranormal themes and if those elements creeped me out or gave me anxiety!
🔬 Sci-Fi -based on the Science Fiction in the book as well as the Dystopian elements.
🔫 Action/Thriller -based on if I thought this was more of a spy action type of thriller.
🏥 Medical Content -based on the amount and the accuracy of any medical content or if the book is supposed to be a medical style thriller.
✍� Writing Style -based on if I enjoyed the writing style or not and how the author portrayed the world, characters, concept, plot etc.
🥱 Boredom -based on if I was bored if it held my interest or if I’d rather be doing something else 😴
🙅🏻♀� DNF -based on if the book is just stupid, boring, childish, overly ridiculous etc.
4/5 ❤️�
1/5 🥰
0/5 🌶�
4/5 🔎
3/5 😰😱
2/5 🎭😂
3/5 🎭😭
0/5 👻
2/5 🔬
3/5 🔫
2/5 🏥
4/5 ✍�
0/5 🥱
⚠️ؔ️ոҳҷ鳧:ؔ️⚠️
Murder
Death
Blood
Gore
Mention of Rape
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯�
Lost Hours is the fifth instalment in Paige Shelton's gripping, atmospheric Alaska Wild series.
A year after arriving in Benedict, Beth Rivers is feeling very at home in Alaska, even as outsiders are starting to return to enjoy the brief summer perfection. Beth feels like she’s finally let go of most of her demons. She’s even found her father, Eddy Rivers―or, rather, he found her―and she's trying to find the middle ground between anger and forgiveness.
One sunny July day, Beth boards a tourist ship to see the glaciers, the main reason visitors venture to the area, and something Beth hasn’t attempted until now. But when the captain has to navigate to an island, a bloodied woman is found standing on the shore, waving for help. When she’s brought aboard, she claims she was kidnapped from her home in Juneau three days earlier, and that a bear on the island killed her captor. She, however, is unharmed.
The woman, Sadie, finds a sympathetic ear in Beth. She tells her that she’s been in Juneau under witness protection, and that the Juneau police don’t like her. When another kidnapping occurs, Beth and police chief Gril can’t help but think the two cases are interwoven, though the clues to solving them will be harder to unravel.
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 47 REVIEWS
Moods
mysterious 83%
tense 66%
adventurous 61%
challenging 27%
dark 22%
emotional 22%
hopeful 11%
inspiring 11%
reflective 11%
sad 5%
Pace
medium 60%
fast 35%
slow 5%
Average rating
3.82 ⭐️
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I am truly enjoying this series but I dread having to now wait till December for the next book. I would like to see a little more of Tex and the budding relationship between him and Beth. While this series has been entertaining it saddens me that it hasn’t become more popular.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️� Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶� Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 🫣/Գ澱dzܲ😱 - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 dz😂/հ😭
-based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
👻 Ǵǰ😵�/🧟♀� -based on if this had any occult or paranormal themes and if those elements creeped me out or gave me anxiety!
🔬 Sci-Fi -based on the Science Fiction in the book as well as the Dystopian elements.
🔫 Action/Thriller -based on if I thought this was more of a spy action type of thriller.
🏥 Medical Content -based on the amount and the accuracy of any medical content or if the book is supposed to be a medical style thriller.
✍� Writing Style -based on if I enjoyed the writing style or not and how the author portrayed the world, characters, concept, plot etc.
🥱 Boredom -based on if I was bored if it held my interest or if I’d rather be doing something else 😴
🙅🏻♀� DNF -based on if the book is just stupid, boring, childish, overly ridiculous etc.
August 4, 2023
Lost Hours is the 5th book in the Alaska Wild series. I have loved reading everyone of these books starting with Thin Ice. It takes place in the town of Benedict, Alaska. There are the main characters that make up the town as well as the new characters that add to the story. Beth Rivers is the main character who ran away to Alaska as she had been kidnaped and escaped from a man named Travis Walker and feared he was looking for her. She lives at the Benedict House in town run by Viola who runs the house for non-violent felons. She has lived under an assumed name until Travis was caught and is presently in prison. She has gone back to her real name and has resumed her life as an author.
Beth and her boyfriend, Tex are on a tour boat that went near the island Lillybook which is known for their caves. On the beach is a woman yelling for help. Captain Moorehouse sends a boat to the island and rescues her. They take her to the Benedict House. Her name is Sadie Milbourn who was kidnapped from CT and was put into the Witness Protection Program. Gril Samuels is the chief of police and is informed about her. She tells Gril that a bear was on the island and killed the man who kidnapped her. She did not know how she got the blood on her shirt.
Beth's father, Eddy Rivers, who was not in her life when younger has come to Benedict to get to know his daughter and hopefully make up for his not being in her life. He is now a fishing guide. He almost gets hit by the tour with his customers on it.
Viola tells Beth that Sadie will be staying at the house and might be in danger. Gril wants Beth to go elsewhere for her own safety but Beth refuses. Tex goes back to the island and finds a body which Officer Natno from the Juneau police tells Gril. The man was found with slashes not bear marks.
Eddie asks Beth to join him and his customers, Greg Dupont his wife Barbara and daughter, Gracie on his boat to go fishing. Their daughter is a fan of hers and would like to met her. Beth accepts and goes. She also wants to go back to the island to check it out again. After fishing they go to the island. His customers are taking a nap so both Beth and Eddie go to check everything out and to find a hidden cave. While there they run into two teenagers who are on the island. When they get back to the boat they find out that Gracie has disappeared. They call for help in finding her. The police arrive and all try to find her but she is not to be found. They all go back to Benedict.
This is where the reader is taken on an adventure that I will leave to the reader as it is too much going on to put on paper. The story has so many twists and turns that the reader is taken on a wild ride to the exciting conclusion. The ending is a surprise to Beth when Detective Major, she was originally on Beth's case with Travis, calls and tells her that Travis has escaped and was coming after her. She is on Eddie's boat with Tex and upon telling them they make a plan.
This will be an exciting adventure of the next story which I look forward to reading.
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.
Beth and her boyfriend, Tex are on a tour boat that went near the island Lillybook which is known for their caves. On the beach is a woman yelling for help. Captain Moorehouse sends a boat to the island and rescues her. They take her to the Benedict House. Her name is Sadie Milbourn who was kidnapped from CT and was put into the Witness Protection Program. Gril Samuels is the chief of police and is informed about her. She tells Gril that a bear was on the island and killed the man who kidnapped her. She did not know how she got the blood on her shirt.
Beth's father, Eddy Rivers, who was not in her life when younger has come to Benedict to get to know his daughter and hopefully make up for his not being in her life. He is now a fishing guide. He almost gets hit by the tour with his customers on it.
Viola tells Beth that Sadie will be staying at the house and might be in danger. Gril wants Beth to go elsewhere for her own safety but Beth refuses. Tex goes back to the island and finds a body which Officer Natno from the Juneau police tells Gril. The man was found with slashes not bear marks.
Eddie asks Beth to join him and his customers, Greg Dupont his wife Barbara and daughter, Gracie on his boat to go fishing. Their daughter is a fan of hers and would like to met her. Beth accepts and goes. She also wants to go back to the island to check it out again. After fishing they go to the island. His customers are taking a nap so both Beth and Eddie go to check everything out and to find a hidden cave. While there they run into two teenagers who are on the island. When they get back to the boat they find out that Gracie has disappeared. They call for help in finding her. The police arrive and all try to find her but she is not to be found. They all go back to Benedict.
This is where the reader is taken on an adventure that I will leave to the reader as it is too much going on to put on paper. The story has so many twists and turns that the reader is taken on a wild ride to the exciting conclusion. The ending is a surprise to Beth when Detective Major, she was originally on Beth's case with Travis, calls and tells her that Travis has escaped and was coming after her. She is on Eddie's boat with Tex and upon telling them they make a plan.
This will be an exciting adventure of the next story which I look forward to reading.
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.
March 20, 2025
Apparently, this book is part of the author’s Alaska Wild series, the 5th in the series. Which means, people like me, who haven't read 1-4, might be a little bit confused.
Who is who and what is what?
And…Who can anybody trust?
For those who are reading this mystery series for the first time, don’t start here.
Although…The scenic rugged setting of Alaska lends atmosphere�
Was it enough?
There were so many plotlines, I was getting whiplash trying to keep up. A character’s convoluted story of why she is where she is, a character’s disappearance, and the main protagonist having so many connections with her past and� (no spoilers)
So…Many secrets and back stories of residents. How could I keep step with all of this?
Plus…Then the author did what I absolutely hate�
She provided a cliffhanger ending.
Would it have been different had I read the earlier books?
I don’t know.
But…This book didn’t encourage me to feel any allegiance to the series, past or moving forward. Especially, with a cliffhanger ending.
Thus…This book for me is one and done.
By the way…Other reviewers felt differently.
So…If you are interested in considering this series, read their reviews first.
2.5 stars rounded down.
Who is who and what is what?
And…Who can anybody trust?
For those who are reading this mystery series for the first time, don’t start here.
Although…The scenic rugged setting of Alaska lends atmosphere�
Was it enough?
There were so many plotlines, I was getting whiplash trying to keep up. A character’s convoluted story of why she is where she is, a character’s disappearance, and the main protagonist having so many connections with her past and� (no spoilers)
So…Many secrets and back stories of residents. How could I keep step with all of this?
Plus…Then the author did what I absolutely hate�
She provided a cliffhanger ending.
Would it have been different had I read the earlier books?
I don’t know.
But…This book didn’t encourage me to feel any allegiance to the series, past or moving forward. Especially, with a cliffhanger ending.
Thus…This book for me is one and done.
By the way…Other reviewers felt differently.
So…If you are interested in considering this series, read their reviews first.
2.5 stars rounded down.
December 11, 2023
Lost Hours is the fifth in the Alaska Wild cozy mystery series by Paige Shelton but the first I’ve read. Much of the plot here was directly or indirectly related to events of previous books which could have been confusing. However, Shelton integrated past events in the story in a way that didn’t interfere with flow or continuity, making it easy to read as a standalone.
The story is told by the main protagonist, Beth who had been, in a previous book, a kidnapping victim. She has moved to Alaska to hide out although the kidnapper was arrested and is now in jail so when a woman, Sadie, is found on a small island covered in blood, claiming to be also a kidnap victim who had managed to escape, Beth believes she can help her. However, as the story progresses, Sadie’s story seems less and less plausible.
But this is just one of many plot lines and, although they are tied up fairly neatly at the end - well, except one that becomes a cliff hanger - I found it all suspended my disbelief almost to the breaking point. Still, overall, I did enjoy the book Beth made for a strong character and the mystery kept me reading but, perhaps most of all. I loved the descriptions of the Alaskan setting which Shelton does beautifully.
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
The story is told by the main protagonist, Beth who had been, in a previous book, a kidnapping victim. She has moved to Alaska to hide out although the kidnapper was arrested and is now in jail so when a woman, Sadie, is found on a small island covered in blood, claiming to be also a kidnap victim who had managed to escape, Beth believes she can help her. However, as the story progresses, Sadie’s story seems less and less plausible.
But this is just one of many plot lines and, although they are tied up fairly neatly at the end - well, except one that becomes a cliff hanger - I found it all suspended my disbelief almost to the breaking point. Still, overall, I did enjoy the book Beth made for a strong character and the mystery kept me reading but, perhaps most of all. I loved the descriptions of the Alaskan setting which Shelton does beautifully.
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
December 6, 2023
This is the fifth book in the Alaskan Wild series. I am beyond shocked to have only just heard of this series and must now go back to the start. Beth Rivers is a survivor and sleuth at heart and totally gives off edgy Nancy Drew vibes.
December 1, 2023
The fifth book in Shelton's Alaska Wild series gets off to a quick start, with a bloodied woman screaming for help as a ship approaches the island she's on. She insists that a bear attacked the man who was holding her captive but no bear can be found. She can't remember much because she was drugged and her story isn't making much sense. Is it true she was in witness protection in Juneau??
Author Beth Rivers, who was herself a victim of a kidnapping, is intent on digging deeper into the woman's story. Is someone using the plot of one of her thrillers in their own crime?
Shelton is a master of pacing and building tension as she moves towards the exciting ending. I find the characters very likable and believable and can't wait to see what happens next in the series.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new novel via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own. I'll be looking forward to that drink if I ever have the opportunity to meet the author. :-)
December 3, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
We return to Benedict, Alaska, where Beth Rivers has made her home since fleeing from the lower 48. She is fitting in well with the other residents and has relaxed since her ordeal a year ago. Her father, Eddie, is now in Benedict too. He has bought a boat and working as a fishing guide. She is really trying to forgive him but she will never forget him leaving her and her mother behind.
It is unseasonably warm for July so she decides to finally see the glaciers from the water. She and her "man-friend" Tex board a tour boat and are enjoying the ride and the scenery when the ship takes a "sharp right veer" and a siren starts blasting. When the siren stops they see a woman on the shore of a nearby island screaming and signaling for help. She appears to be covered in blood. Tex helps with the rescue and brings her aboard the boat and tells Beth he thinks she can help the woman. Her name is Sadie and she says she was taken from her home in Juneau and brought to the island.
Later a young woman goes missing from the same island. Are the events connected? Can Beth help Police Chief Gril untangle the clues? Or will the events be too close to what happened to her that she needs to back off to save herself?
______
The characters Ms. Shelton has created for this series get stronger and more fleshed out in each story. Beth has truly become a part of the community and she has earned the trust of Viola, Orin, and Gril. She also stands up for herself in ways she didn't in previous books. Her relationship with Tex is evolving in a way that makes sense for both of them. Her father, Eddie plays a large role in this story and it was interesting to watch the relationship start to move in a positive direction.
The mysteries in this story take the readers along with the characters on quite an adventure. Beth pushes to be involved and I love that. Clues are found in interesting places, some discarded at first come into play later. The story had many layers that needed to be peeled away to move forward. There are twists, turns, and strange connections that all lead to an exciting end. Beth traveled somewhere I never would have been able to go. Ms. Shelton's writing was so powerful in the whole book but especially in that scene, I had to put the book down and take a couple of deep breaths. The author sets a fast pace from the start so I was not surprised that I read the book all in one sitting.
Lost Hours is a compelling story filled with suspense and intrigue. I am totally invested in Beth's life and hated to leave Benedict because while Beth, aka Elizabeth Fairchild, finished her current book by the deadline Beth's story is nowhere near complete. I see more danger in her future so it's going to be tough waiting a year for Ms. Shelton's next book to be released but this has been the case when I finish each book in this series so I know it will be worth the wait. She is an outstanding storyteller. I will be including Lost Hours on my Best Reads List for 2023.
Note: Each book in this series can be read on its own but to really enjoy the series you have to know Beth's story from the start.
We return to Benedict, Alaska, where Beth Rivers has made her home since fleeing from the lower 48. She is fitting in well with the other residents and has relaxed since her ordeal a year ago. Her father, Eddie, is now in Benedict too. He has bought a boat and working as a fishing guide. She is really trying to forgive him but she will never forget him leaving her and her mother behind.
It is unseasonably warm for July so she decides to finally see the glaciers from the water. She and her "man-friend" Tex board a tour boat and are enjoying the ride and the scenery when the ship takes a "sharp right veer" and a siren starts blasting. When the siren stops they see a woman on the shore of a nearby island screaming and signaling for help. She appears to be covered in blood. Tex helps with the rescue and brings her aboard the boat and tells Beth he thinks she can help the woman. Her name is Sadie and she says she was taken from her home in Juneau and brought to the island.
Later a young woman goes missing from the same island. Are the events connected? Can Beth help Police Chief Gril untangle the clues? Or will the events be too close to what happened to her that she needs to back off to save herself?
______
The characters Ms. Shelton has created for this series get stronger and more fleshed out in each story. Beth has truly become a part of the community and she has earned the trust of Viola, Orin, and Gril. She also stands up for herself in ways she didn't in previous books. Her relationship with Tex is evolving in a way that makes sense for both of them. Her father, Eddie plays a large role in this story and it was interesting to watch the relationship start to move in a positive direction.
The mysteries in this story take the readers along with the characters on quite an adventure. Beth pushes to be involved and I love that. Clues are found in interesting places, some discarded at first come into play later. The story had many layers that needed to be peeled away to move forward. There are twists, turns, and strange connections that all lead to an exciting end. Beth traveled somewhere I never would have been able to go. Ms. Shelton's writing was so powerful in the whole book but especially in that scene, I had to put the book down and take a couple of deep breaths. The author sets a fast pace from the start so I was not surprised that I read the book all in one sitting.
Lost Hours is a compelling story filled with suspense and intrigue. I am totally invested in Beth's life and hated to leave Benedict because while Beth, aka Elizabeth Fairchild, finished her current book by the deadline Beth's story is nowhere near complete. I see more danger in her future so it's going to be tough waiting a year for Ms. Shelton's next book to be released but this has been the case when I finish each book in this series so I know it will be worth the wait. She is an outstanding storyteller. I will be including Lost Hours on my Best Reads List for 2023.
Note: Each book in this series can be read on its own but to really enjoy the series you have to know Beth's story from the start.
October 30, 2023
This is book #5 of the Alaska Wild series and it’s my very first book by this author. It read great as a stand-alone but now I want to read the first 4. Alaska - a place I dream to visit one day! This book just makes me want to go more! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published December 2023.
June 22, 2023
Beth's father Eddy is in Alaska and shes starting to get to know him. Even if she's still angry with him. Tex and Beth go on a tourist boat to see the glaciers and happen upon a woman covered in blood. The woman is claiming she's been kidnapped and the captor was killed by a bear. Beth talks to her and it brings a crazy mystery to Benedict. That all the local characters will have to ban together to solve.
I am in love with the series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the whole series. I could not put this book down. I had to know what happened and who was connected with it all. The mystery was fantastic and kept me on my toes.
I
I am in love with the series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the whole series. I could not put this book down. I had to know what happened and who was connected with it all. The mystery was fantastic and kept me on my toes.
I
September 21, 2023
I received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The title perfectly describes my feelings about this book. Convoluted plot, excess verbiage, uninteresting characters. I’m proud of myself for muddling through to the end.
February 14, 2025
I love Paige Shelton’s Alaska Wild series. There are a lot of puzzle pieces that must be fitted correctly to solve all the mystery going on in Lost Hours, and as usual, Beth is right in the middle of it. Beth’s father is slowly working on gaining her forgiveness for leaving her mother and her when Beth was a small child.
November 25, 2023
Lost Hours is the fifth book in Paige Shelton's unique Alaska Wild series and is available now. I have read every book in this series, and must admit that the first book, Thin Ice, is still my favorite. It's not quite a cozy series but even though it's often tense and suspenseful, there aren't any gory scenes.
The main character is author Beth Rivers who moved from Missouri to Benedict, Alaska after she escaped from a stalker who had abducted her. Beth learns to live in the extreme conditions of Alaska, edits the local newspaper, cautiously makes new friends, and helps the Benedict police chief investigate crimes. I have enjoyed watching Beth adjust to life in Alaska and forming close bonds with some of the people she meets. Lost Hours starts out strong when Beth gets involved helping a woman who says she was abducted, but was able to kill the man who took her.
The woman is fuzzy on the details and Beth helps law enforcement learn the whole story. That story is way more complicated than expected with seemingly unrelated subplots being folded into the main plot. It is often confusing and the middle portion of the book was a slow read for me as I tried to keep all the various characters straight. However, things pick up again and a development at the very end sets up the next book. Although there are others in this series I enjoyed more, I'm still looking forward to seeing what happens next for Beth!
I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Minotaur Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
The main character is author Beth Rivers who moved from Missouri to Benedict, Alaska after she escaped from a stalker who had abducted her. Beth learns to live in the extreme conditions of Alaska, edits the local newspaper, cautiously makes new friends, and helps the Benedict police chief investigate crimes. I have enjoyed watching Beth adjust to life in Alaska and forming close bonds with some of the people she meets. Lost Hours starts out strong when Beth gets involved helping a woman who says she was abducted, but was able to kill the man who took her.
The woman is fuzzy on the details and Beth helps law enforcement learn the whole story. That story is way more complicated than expected with seemingly unrelated subplots being folded into the main plot. It is often confusing and the middle portion of the book was a slow read for me as I tried to keep all the various characters straight. However, things pick up again and a development at the very end sets up the next book. Although there are others in this series I enjoyed more, I'm still looking forward to seeing what happens next for Beth!
I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Minotaur Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
December 21, 2023
While I've cherished the prior books in this series, this latest installment has been a bit of a nightmare. It's a confusing mess of events and suspicions, to the extent that even the author herself acknowledges it through the protagonist's voice a couple of times. The plot occasionally verges on the absurd, and the dialogues feel contrived and puzzling. Finishing it was a struggle. I persisted out of respect for the author's established reputation and the time I'd already invested. I'm unsure if I'll continue with the next book, I believe this signal the end of the series for me.
December 28, 2023
This seemed really short and ended in cliffhanger.
December 9, 2023
I have loved this series from book one and am so excited that it is continuing AND that I was able to read this new one as I R E A L L Y needed a good book to reignite the reading love; it absolutely did not fail me.
Get ready some vague reviewing [as I don't give spoilers], as this is absolutely one series that you need to read from book 1; if you start with this book you will be soooooo lost, but I don't want to give away anything major to those who DID choose to start with book 5.
Beth is finally in a good place. She really likes the life she has made in Benedict and even while she knows she will have to go back to Missouri at some point, she is content to continue on here in Alaska.
While on the first excursion she has been on since arriving a year ago [with her new boyfriend Tex] to see the glaciers, they come across a woman on an island, covered in blood, waving for help. And so starts a story that is perplexing from the moment they meet the woman until the very end, and will leave you wondering why people do the things they do and how our choices affect so many others and not just ourselves.
My *ONLY* complaint [seriously, there is just one. That is why I love this series, I never have complaints about them - the author is an excellent writer] is the end felt very rushed. I had to listen to several sections twice because I missed things in the rush of the reveal [and the most excellent end - for those who read these...you KNEW this had to happen right?? There had to be more of a conclusion than what we were initially given] and that was a bit frustrating for me. This was an excellently written mystery [which is why it is still a 5-star read for me] and I felt it deserved a less-rushed ending.
Really looking forward to book 6 and ALLLLLLL that will happen in that one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Paige Shelton, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Get ready some vague reviewing [as I don't give spoilers], as this is absolutely one series that you need to read from book 1; if you start with this book you will be soooooo lost, but I don't want to give away anything major to those who DID choose to start with book 5.
Beth is finally in a good place. She really likes the life she has made in Benedict and even while she knows she will have to go back to Missouri at some point, she is content to continue on here in Alaska.
While on the first excursion she has been on since arriving a year ago [with her new boyfriend Tex] to see the glaciers, they come across a woman on an island, covered in blood, waving for help. And so starts a story that is perplexing from the moment they meet the woman until the very end, and will leave you wondering why people do the things they do and how our choices affect so many others and not just ourselves.
My *ONLY* complaint [seriously, there is just one. That is why I love this series, I never have complaints about them - the author is an excellent writer] is the end felt very rushed. I had to listen to several sections twice because I missed things in the rush of the reveal [and the most excellent end - for those who read these...you KNEW this had to happen right?? There had to be more of a conclusion than what we were initially given] and that was a bit frustrating for me. This was an excellently written mystery [which is why it is still a 5-star read for me] and I felt it deserved a less-rushed ending.
Really looking forward to book 6 and ALLLLLLL that will happen in that one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Paige Shelton, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2024
LOST HOURS
So, this is book 5, but my first in the series. I was unaware it was a series when I picked it up at the library. I was attracted because of the Alaskan aspect. I am on an Alaska kick.
Starting in Book 5, I wasn't really up to speed on who and what Beth Rivers is. But it was clear enough that I caught on and could make heads and tails out of the book. I am not sure how I really feel about Beth, she is sort of a mixture of weak/strong character, but I can't say she is tough. It must have been ok because I kept reading. I mean she is an author, not a crime fighter and she has fairly good people-reading skills.
I ended up enjoying the book, I actually liked Sadie, I am going to get my skills checked tomorrow! I didn't like Gracie.. so I redeem myself there.
Good enough to see what book one is like.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
So, this is book 5, but my first in the series. I was unaware it was a series when I picked it up at the library. I was attracted because of the Alaskan aspect. I am on an Alaska kick.
Starting in Book 5, I wasn't really up to speed on who and what Beth Rivers is. But it was clear enough that I caught on and could make heads and tails out of the book. I am not sure how I really feel about Beth, she is sort of a mixture of weak/strong character, but I can't say she is tough. It must have been ok because I kept reading. I mean she is an author, not a crime fighter and she has fairly good people-reading skills.
I ended up enjoying the book, I actually liked Sadie, I am going to get my skills checked tomorrow! I didn't like Gracie.. so I redeem myself there.
Good enough to see what book one is like.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
August 19, 2023
Lost Hours is the 5th book in Paige Shelton's Alaska Wild series, but it is the first book in this series that I have read. I have read several novels in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. To be honest, the Scottish Bookshop series is a more interesting and better written series than this 5th novel in the Wild Alaska series. The Alaska Wild series was confusing, since I had no idea who some of the characters are, for example Orin? Lost Hours is not a stand-alone novel. I think readers will be better served by starting with book 1 of this series.
Beth is the narrator and central protagonist in Lost Hours. She has a complex background, which is not fully explained. Readers are expected to be able to fill in the blanks, but as a first time reader to her story, I seemed to only be getting part of the story, especially when it came to the characters, who surround Beth. The balance between telling too much and not telling enough can be difficult for writers to manage. In this case, more information about some of the peripheral characters would have helped.
There are a lot of different plots going on in Lost Hours. Keeping all this plots straight was confusing, and there were some gapping holes that Shelton tried to tie together at the end, but the result was a bit of a mishmash of plots. I did not think I needed to be diagramming the plots and connecting them to characters, as Beth finally seemed to be doing. I suspect that fans of this series will be more enthusiastic than I am about Lost Hours, since they will know these characters, but I was not captivated and had to force myself to finish this novel.
I do want to thank St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for providing this ARC. I wish I could be more enthusiastic about this novel, which ends with a cliff hanger, sort of like a TV show at the end of the season. Thank you also to NetGalley for facilitating access to this novel.
Beth is the narrator and central protagonist in Lost Hours. She has a complex background, which is not fully explained. Readers are expected to be able to fill in the blanks, but as a first time reader to her story, I seemed to only be getting part of the story, especially when it came to the characters, who surround Beth. The balance between telling too much and not telling enough can be difficult for writers to manage. In this case, more information about some of the peripheral characters would have helped.
There are a lot of different plots going on in Lost Hours. Keeping all this plots straight was confusing, and there were some gapping holes that Shelton tried to tie together at the end, but the result was a bit of a mishmash of plots. I did not think I needed to be diagramming the plots and connecting them to characters, as Beth finally seemed to be doing. I suspect that fans of this series will be more enthusiastic than I am about Lost Hours, since they will know these characters, but I was not captivated and had to force myself to finish this novel.
I do want to thank St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for providing this ARC. I wish I could be more enthusiastic about this novel, which ends with a cliff hanger, sort of like a TV show at the end of the season. Thank you also to NetGalley for facilitating access to this novel.
December 4, 2023
Beth is finally starting to relax and feel comfortable in her new home in remote Alaska, and even ventures out on a tourist boat to see the glaciers. While navigating around an island, a woman is seen standing on the shore, bloody and waving for help. She is rescued and taken to town � and everything changes for Beth and police chief Gril.
This is book #5 in this series, which I have loved since the first book � no great surprise, since I’m a big fan of Ms. Shelton’s work. The setting of these books, a small, remote town in Alaska, is described so well I can feel the cold and imagine the people who live there. I like Beth and have enjoyed watching her learn to trust again as the series has progressed. Most of the rest of the town’s residents seem like good people, although there are some who I’m not quite sure about yet.
There were several puzzles to be solved in this book, and they seemed to be intertwined, so there were plenty of twists in the story. I eventually gave up trying to figure out what was going on and who might be responsible for all of it and just went along for the ride. Because I was so befuddled, the eventual resolution wasn’t a great surprise, but the book ended with a hook that will necessitate reading the next book in the series. That’s not a hardship, since I would have wanted to read it anyhow, I just don’t like to wait!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This is book #5 in this series, which I have loved since the first book � no great surprise, since I’m a big fan of Ms. Shelton’s work. The setting of these books, a small, remote town in Alaska, is described so well I can feel the cold and imagine the people who live there. I like Beth and have enjoyed watching her learn to trust again as the series has progressed. Most of the rest of the town’s residents seem like good people, although there are some who I’m not quite sure about yet.
There were several puzzles to be solved in this book, and they seemed to be intertwined, so there were plenty of twists in the story. I eventually gave up trying to figure out what was going on and who might be responsible for all of it and just went along for the ride. Because I was so befuddled, the eventual resolution wasn’t a great surprise, but the book ended with a hook that will necessitate reading the next book in the series. That’s not a hardship, since I would have wanted to read it anyhow, I just don’t like to wait!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 12, 2024
This is a very twisty mystery. I enjoy these books, but it's not exactly a cozy series. Beth is still in Benedict, Alaska but no longer in hiding, as her kidnapper has been caught and is awaiting trial. Beth's on a boat tour when a woman emerges from the forest on one of Alaska's many islands, covered in blood. As the woman is brought aboard the boat, she claims she has been kidnapped and escaped because her abductor was attacked by a bear. Her story starts falling apart when she keeps changing it, or claiming to not remember certain things. Then another abduction occurs and Beth is certain the two crimes are related, but how? I couldn't turn the pages fast enough at the end.
December 13, 2023
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in this series. The characters are flawed and authentic, relatable even though they’ve been through unimaginable things. I’ve enjoyed the character development in this series and this installment was no exception. The case was interesting and started off with a bang. There were so many red herrings and everyone had me suspecting them at some point! I can’t wait for the next in the series.
February 1, 2024
The author pretty much summed it up near the end, “The pieces of that part of what felt like this never ending puzzle came together even more in my head.�
Just something about this book was off, the story line was confusing and by the end I really didn’t care who died and who the killer was. Lost Hours…perfect title for how I felt after I was finished.
Just something about this book was off, the story line was confusing and by the end I really didn’t care who died and who the killer was. Lost Hours…perfect title for how I felt after I was finished.
May 8, 2024
This is the 5th book of Paige Shelton in the Alaska Wild Series, and I believe as I have stated as I read each one, the best one yet! Ms. Shelton combines a murder mystery into her books, while also showcasing her new life in Benedict, Alaska after surviving a kidnapping. She intertwines the comings and goings of the town residents that we have come to know a little bit more with each book, and also introduces us to new characters who are involved with the current murder. As is usual with her books, I do not guess who the murderer is at all. She has such a knack for writing and intertwining so many facts and details into these murder mysteries with so many plot twists and turns that it is never like your typical NCIS or SVU episode where you have figured out the killer way before the end of the show. With every one of these books in the Alaska series, I have never been able to figure it out, and that is not like me. This installment brings her 20+ year missing father into the forefront, moving from where he had been hiding out in Mexico to live in Benedict and try and forge a relationship with his now adult daughter that he abandoned when she was 7, and he ends up getting involved in the murder mystery with Beth and the police. SPOILER: The last paragraph of this book let's us know that Beth's kidnapper has escaped jail in Missouri and left a note that he is on his way to find Beth in Alaska. We now have to wait until December 2024 for Book #6 in this series to be released. WOW.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2023
I won this ARC as a giveaway. Loved this book and authors writing style. Going to have to start at beginning of this Alaska series now. Great story with many plot twists and interesting narrative. I could barely put the book down. Was also in Alaska with military for period of time so reading book helped me reminisce on Alaska as well. Definitely going to start following this Author. Thrilled I won this book. I typically read a lot of Patterson, Grisham, and Baldacci. Paige Shelton is a top level Author in my opinion and everyone should read one of her books.
December 13, 2023
I have not read the previous books in this series, and likey that has some significance in my review.
The problem with jumping into a series is the character development happens at a glacial pace, over many books, so a single story won't have much growth for the characters, which is very true here. There were a few instances when the same word was used more than once in a sentence, though I cannot remember specifics. It was like "actually this happened actually" as if it needed some more stringent editing. And "perplexed" was used multiple times a few lines apart, like it was a vocabulary word being practiced. So those little editing things bugged me. The language was simple, nothing to think about, all telling and no showing. The story itself was slow and dull most of the time. The dialog was stilted, which was in part the narrator's flat tone and enunciation. There was not much emotion that made the characters seem connected to one another, and the alleged romance between Tex and Beth had zero warmth or heart. No chemistry, no spark. Lastly, how often does someone escape incarceration? What are the odds that two escapes would happen in a short period of time related to separate cases that involved Beth? Convoluted. A lot was convoluted, but I have to stop. I couldn't suspend disbelief enough to get invested in the book, and I just wanted it over.
The problem with jumping into a series is the character development happens at a glacial pace, over many books, so a single story won't have much growth for the characters, which is very true here. There were a few instances when the same word was used more than once in a sentence, though I cannot remember specifics. It was like "actually this happened actually" as if it needed some more stringent editing. And "perplexed" was used multiple times a few lines apart, like it was a vocabulary word being practiced. So those little editing things bugged me. The language was simple, nothing to think about, all telling and no showing. The story itself was slow and dull most of the time. The dialog was stilted, which was in part the narrator's flat tone and enunciation. There was not much emotion that made the characters seem connected to one another, and the alleged romance between Tex and Beth had zero warmth or heart. No chemistry, no spark. Lastly, how often does someone escape incarceration? What are the odds that two escapes would happen in a short period of time related to separate cases that involved Beth? Convoluted. A lot was convoluted, but I have to stop. I couldn't suspend disbelief enough to get invested in the book, and I just wanted it over.
September 4, 2023
3.5 / 5.0 stars
Having read books from Ms. Shelton's Scottish Bookshop series, I anticipated an equally engaging read in this fifth installment of her Alaska mystery series. This book proved to be more challenging in this regard. Perhaps it was foolish to start the series so far into it as it was a bit confusing and the relationships were apparently previously well established. It was also a touch grittier than I had anticipated.
Regardless, Ms. Shelton did a great job of beautifully describing the wild nature of a most scenic Alaska. The ruggedness of Benedict's residents was well communicated. The protagonist, Beth Rivers, (Elizabeth Fairchild, her nom de plume), after a year hidden in a remote village of Alaska, is still a bit fragile after her harrowing kidnapping experience. She is trying to ease back into the world with strained courage. While working on that, she is out on a harbor tour boat which is called to one of the islands to rescue a young woman in much distress. This girl claims to have been kidnapped and has escaped her captor whom she says was attacked and killed by a bear. Beth is called upon to assist in comforting and calming the young woman as they appear to have a shared experience. The young woman is brought to the same inn where Beth lives while the local authorities try to figure out what's what.
The story is told and guided by the protagonist and centered on how she felt and received the information within the story. In that regard, it was more like a psychological thriller than a straight mystery. It focused on Beth's relationship with her father, her man-friend, folks from Benedict and a few tourists. Yet, it also touches upon the mystery and inconsistencies of the young woman's story. As much as the two women had shared experiences, the stories didn't resonate together. To this reader, it felt more as though I was reading two books. I had a difficult time connecting with the characters, perhaps owing to not having read the previous four books.
In all fairness, it would serve any reader well to go back to the series' beginning and grow in understanding alongside the characters from the start.
I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publication Date: 12/05/2023
Publisher: Minotaur Books
ISBN: 978-1250846617
No. of pages: 288
Having read books from Ms. Shelton's Scottish Bookshop series, I anticipated an equally engaging read in this fifth installment of her Alaska mystery series. This book proved to be more challenging in this regard. Perhaps it was foolish to start the series so far into it as it was a bit confusing and the relationships were apparently previously well established. It was also a touch grittier than I had anticipated.
Regardless, Ms. Shelton did a great job of beautifully describing the wild nature of a most scenic Alaska. The ruggedness of Benedict's residents was well communicated. The protagonist, Beth Rivers, (Elizabeth Fairchild, her nom de plume), after a year hidden in a remote village of Alaska, is still a bit fragile after her harrowing kidnapping experience. She is trying to ease back into the world with strained courage. While working on that, she is out on a harbor tour boat which is called to one of the islands to rescue a young woman in much distress. This girl claims to have been kidnapped and has escaped her captor whom she says was attacked and killed by a bear. Beth is called upon to assist in comforting and calming the young woman as they appear to have a shared experience. The young woman is brought to the same inn where Beth lives while the local authorities try to figure out what's what.
The story is told and guided by the protagonist and centered on how she felt and received the information within the story. In that regard, it was more like a psychological thriller than a straight mystery. It focused on Beth's relationship with her father, her man-friend, folks from Benedict and a few tourists. Yet, it also touches upon the mystery and inconsistencies of the young woman's story. As much as the two women had shared experiences, the stories didn't resonate together. To this reader, it felt more as though I was reading two books. I had a difficult time connecting with the characters, perhaps owing to not having read the previous four books.
In all fairness, it would serve any reader well to go back to the series' beginning and grow in understanding alongside the characters from the start.
I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publication Date: 12/05/2023
Publisher: Minotaur Books
ISBN: 978-1250846617
No. of pages: 288
October 15, 2023
I think if you’ve been reading this series for awhile, you’ll be happy with this next installment. It’s a very quick read, with little dull moments. The writing didn’t really make me want to go back and read the previous books, or keep an eye out for the next one. There were a lot of repeat phrases that I found distracting, but that’s probably a me thing. For instance, characters would say “I don’t disagree� on various occasions. Just kind of a weird thing to repeat that stuck out to me.
Overall if you’re a longtime reader of the series, definitely give this one your attention. But if it’s new to you, I wouldn’t strongly recommend it.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Overall if you’re a longtime reader of the series, definitely give this one your attention. But if it’s new to you, I wouldn’t strongly recommend it.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
November 9, 2023
Beth is an interesting character. She has faced so many terrible challenges in her life and it’s left her with a wonderful empathy. In this case, it sure drew her into some strange situations.
I was lucky enough to get this book as a ŷ giveaway. I love visiting Benedict, Alaska and trying to learn how Beth’s life resolves!!!
I was lucky enough to get this book as a ŷ giveaway. I love visiting Benedict, Alaska and trying to learn how Beth’s life resolves!!!
November 8, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy of Lost Hours in exchange for a review.
The book has a cool setting- small town Alaska, and a nice community with interesting characters. It is the fifth book in a series, I had not read the first four books. Did not miss out on anything, as adequate descriptions of history and status was given. I enjoyed the book, would rate it as a cozy mystery, when at first I thought I was reading a thriller. Because of some of the improbability of the "nosy neighbor" being given free reign to all crime scenes and information regarding a murder and missing person, some suspension of reality is needed. The end got quite far fetched which did affect my overall enjoyment of the book, but overall it was a cute easy read. At the beginning I was thinking I would definitely go back and read the first books, but towards the end as the resolutions got more and more out there, I am not sure I will rush to pick them up. If the mood strikes, I still may. I am curious about the backstories of some of the town residents.
The book has a cool setting- small town Alaska, and a nice community with interesting characters. It is the fifth book in a series, I had not read the first four books. Did not miss out on anything, as adequate descriptions of history and status was given. I enjoyed the book, would rate it as a cozy mystery, when at first I thought I was reading a thriller. Because of some of the improbability of the "nosy neighbor" being given free reign to all crime scenes and information regarding a murder and missing person, some suspension of reality is needed. The end got quite far fetched which did affect my overall enjoyment of the book, but overall it was a cute easy read. At the beginning I was thinking I would definitely go back and read the first books, but towards the end as the resolutions got more and more out there, I am not sure I will rush to pick them up. If the mood strikes, I still may. I am curious about the backstories of some of the town residents.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.