Nordic Nights

Drawing on her intimate knowledge of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Lise Mcclendon has crafted a dark tale of theft, murder, art, and archaeology. It begins with Alix Thorssen's stepfather discovered standing over a corpse of a visiting Norwegian artist, refusing to say a word in his own defense. It falls to Alix to clear him and uncover who sent Glasius Dokken, a painter of myths, to Valhalla. With ancient legends seeming to come to life around her, and with very contemporary bullets being fired through the windows of her art gallery, Alix's investigation could end with a Viking funeral... and it may all hinge on what the rune stones say.

Alix Thorssen, gallery owner and sometime sleuth (The Painted Truth) in Jackson, WY, fends for her stepfather when he is jailed for the murder of a famous visiting Norwegian painter. A local festival involving a parade, ice sculptures, ski races, and rune-stone readers serves as background for the action. The victim's painted murals depicting Norse mythology fit right in. As she looks for the real culprit, Alix deals with an out-of-town boyfriend, an in-town wanna-be lover, a worried and cranky mother, the gallery, and increasing danger to herself. A solid, enticing addition to the series. -- Library Journal