Stone Cross by Marc Cameron

​"Stone Cross" by Marc Cameron - Cold!

This book was published by Pinnacle in 2020 and has 400 pages. This is Book 2 of Arliss Cutter series. 

Sarah, recently married to David, lives in Alaska on Chagan lodge with her husband with no habitation for miles. One day the couple is kidnapped. Judge Markum is to go to Stone Cross for hearing, but someone has sent him a threatening letter. Supervisory Deputy Arliss Cutter and Lola Tieriki are assigned to accompany the reluctant judge.

Will the judge be harmed? Who has kidnapped the couple? Why? Can Arliss Cutter help?

Arliss Cutter series is set in Dark, cold, desolate wilderness of Alaska. Arliss is a US Marshall who gets a transfer to Alaska to help his recently widowed sister-in-law, Mim, and her three children. Arliss loves Mim, has always loved her, but his big brother swooped in and married her years ago. In the mean time Arliss has had four marriages. 7 years old Twin nephews of Arliss are adorable. His relationship with them is also special. 

At Stone Cross, they meet various people. There’s a lady who has grudge against the judge. There is a school headmistress, a Clinquet (Tlingit), woman who has suffered a lot but stands tall. Her daughter, a typical teenager. A wife beater. A convicted felon. Although Arliss is a US Marshall, not investigator, he ends up investigating as there aren’t many law enforcement personnel in remote Alaska. 

Alaska means snow and cold. So there is the paraphernalia of sledges, dogs, snow bikes, hypothermia, Caribou etc.

Note about the story, well there isn’t a story as such. That is the weakest link. So the story ambles along and keeps you just about interested. You don’t read late into night. 

In the first book Lola was divorced. I thought it has some significance. But doesn’t look like. Then why divorce her?

Why did I read this book? It was on hand.  

What I didn't like? Story or the lack of it. 

What did I like? Characters of Arliss and Lola

Give it a miss.