Alaska State trooper Nathan Active is Inupiat but raised by whites. He is assigned to his native village where the repatriation of a native burial and artifacts leads to a burglary followed by a murder. A local man who opposed the display of the mummified body in a museum is suspect in both cases but Active's investigation leads him to a conflict dating back three generations, from before the arrival of the whites.

I like this series. I'm a little confused that goodreads calls this #3 when every other source calls it #2. Whatever, I shall read them in the author's order. ( )

I enjoyed this series...this is #2 ( )

A tribal leader is murdered with an antique harpoon that was recently returned under the Indian Graves Act, and State Trooper Nathan Active must delve deep into Iñupiat myth and legend to find the culprit. The description of the northwest Alaskan landscape is what really stands out in this installment, along with its people and language. The mystery itself is interesting as its solution veers into Iñupiat legend, making the story reminiscent of Hillerman's Navajo series, and the last third is really fast-paced and engaging. I felt that I got a better grip on the main character in this book than in the first, but it's still the secondary characters, like Cowboy and Lucy, who I prefer; I wish I was more fond of Nathan, but it's not a requirement before I pick up another installment in this interesting series. ( )

I enjoyed this book not only for the mystery, but for its view of life in rural Alaska among native people. The protagonist's status as a native-born villager who was adopted by white teachers and raised in Anchorage, but who has now joined the state police and been assigned to his native village, makes for many interesting conflicts. I recommend this one. ( )