 Murder on Mt. McKinley (A Summit Murder Mystery) by Charles G. Irion and Ronald J. Watkins Publisher: Irion Books LLC Paperback 170 Pages, 6x9 $19.95  |
Description:
Once again Scott Devlon is thrust into the middle of a murder mystery atop one of the world’s Seven Summits. In Murder on Mt. McKinley, the chief executives of two rival oil companies attempting to construct a new Alaska pipeline opt to merge their efforts, and reap billions in profits. During the process, in celebration, they decide to climb Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in North America. What they don’t expect are deaths. But they have enemies at every turn and one by one, that’s what begins to happen. Can they all be accidents? Competitors, Russians, Native American cultists, and environmental extremists, all have motives. But would any of them stoop to murder to stop the development of another oil field in Alaska? Or are the executives knocking each other off? As the climbing team descends from the summit engulfed by a violent lightning storm it becomes clear that murder is exactly what is occurring.
Reviews:
The Summit Murder Mystery series premise of climbing each continent's highest peak accompanied by murder and modern day issues is an entertaining saga as the authors are three for three. The story line is fast-paced with plenty of action from nature and humans. Once again fans will feel they are scaling the mountain with storms, bitter cold and climbing safety rules. However, the key to this great whodunit (and the previous entries) is the ability of Charles G. Irion and Ronald J. Watkins to incorporate local contemporary arguments into the climb and the subsequent whodunit. -- Harriet Klausner,
Amazon.com #1 Reviewer
A fun read with no shortage of adventure. Mountain climbing is something very dangerous innately, when murder enters into it, it grows even rougher. Murder on Mt. McKinley: A Summit Murder Mystery is another entry into the Summit Murder mystery series, spinning a murder mystery around a mountain climbing expedition, focusing on each of seven major mountains around the world. A fun read with no shortage of adventure, "Murder on Mt. McKinley" will prove a top pick. -- Midwest Book Review
Mr. Irion and Mr. Watkins have done it again. Which doesn't surprise me in the least. The series is called The Summit Murder Mysteries and the books all take place on the highest point of the world's seven continents. This is the third in the series. So, just know that this is a wonderful adventure and remember there is more to come. Messrs Irion and Watkins have a lot more undertakings to write about in the next books. Keep in mind there are seven major mountains in the world and four more wonderful books to come. Each summit is found in a different corner of the world and each mystery will be unique to the next. Not knowing anything about mountaineering at all was not a problem as the authors explain every fact of the climbs. Which is a good thing for me as I only like to look at snow out the window. I'm also eagerly awating the next volume which is called Murder on Puncak Jaya (Oceania). -- Mary Lignor, BookPleasures.com
Murder on Mt. McKinley continues to thrill the readers of the Summit Murder Mystery Series! In this novel Scott Devlon again finds himself atop on of the highest mountain in the world only to find a murderous plot. Amidst Russian and American oil companies, environmental protection groups and angry local Alaskan tribes, Scott can barely make it out alive. One of the best qualities of the novels in the Summit Murder Mystery Series is the research and history that are weaved into the storyline. Murder on Mt McKinley is no exception. After reading Murder on Mt McKinley, I had a much better understanding of Alaska and its internal problems. This information adds to the story so that readers feel like they are there! I highly recommend anyone to read Murder on Mt McKinley, it is a page turner and you won't put it down until you have read it all and are wanting more. -- Erika, Amazon.com Reviewer
Scott Devlon finds himself in the middle of chaos once again, on another one of the world's seven continental summits. This time, Devlon is climbing Mt. McKinley, and his group includes an unethical reporter, rival oil companies that don't disguise their disdain for one another, environmental protection groups, and angry local Alaskan tribes. It isn't long before murder and mayhem take place, and Devlon is doing everything he can to just stay alive. These novels just keep getting better and better. The history and research that the authors do to add to their story is evident, and only makes it better. I'm looking forward to the next installment! - Jennifer, Amazon.com Reviewer
Excerpt:
The very ease with which the climb was perceived led to so many deaths as was the case with Elbrus. In the 11 days since we've been at this, the trek had been across wide plains of fresh snow or along narrow ridges, neither of which was more than moderately inclined. But now we were at the end and the route was beginning to rise sharply. With the cloud and cold that numbed gloved hands, we'd reached the most dangerous time.
From my experience most of those on the team would not understand that. They were tired, even exhausted. The goal was all but in sight. The tendency was to banish any negative thoughts as well as genuine concerns from your mind and press on. None of them would be considering the reality that once we reached the summit we were only half done. We still had to get down alive and uninjured.
Stern was making good time, too good, and I found it difficult to catch up with him. The route was taking us along a traverse. The mountain rose sharply to my right, very steeply down the glacier to my left. Such places can be quite treacherous. There was nowhere I could reach and talk to him safely so I decided to wait until after the next point when I need to disconnect and reconnect.
That spot was about 10 feet away when Stern was suddenly engulfed in a sea of white and vanished. Without warning the falling while enveloped me, shutting out the light as it swept me away. There was no time to shout, no time to react. I found myself plunging into thin air, trapped in the deadly embrace of an avalanche.
