Lost Hours

Shelton’s enticing fifth Alaska Wild mystery (after 2022’s Winter’s End) begins with thriller writer Beth Rivers embarking on a day trip to see the coastal glaciers near her home in Benedict, Alaska. As the tour boat approaches Lilybrook Island, Beth spots a bloodied woman standing on the shore. The woman—Sadie—claims to have been kidnapped and held prisoner, and to have escaped when her captor was killed by a bear. Beth befriends Sadie, who soon confesses that she came to Alaska as part of the witness protection program, though she won’t share why. A second kidnapping in the area leads Beth to believe that the two cases are connected, and she begins investigating alongside local police chief Gril Samuels. As the investigation unfolds, Shelton deepens Beth’s relationships to her boyfriend, Tex, and her estranged father, Eddy. While readers may wish Beth reached a few obvious conclusions more quickly, Shelton wraps up the central mystery with a satisfying and surprising conclusion. Series fans will find much to enjoy. Agent: Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary. (Dec.)