Jimmy Baker is a former ice hockey player and current Zamboni driver for the amateur team in his small town of Bitterfrost, Michigan. Though he lives an isolated life, everyone knows him and his history. So far he’s been successful in sticking to his one drink and staying out of trouble. But one morning he wakes up with injuries to his face, sees blood that he isn’t sure is his, and no memory of what happened. He doesn’t know where his phone is or why his car isn’t parked where it normally is. And when two bodies turn up near his house with all signs pointing to him, Jimmy can’t be 100% certain of any sort of alibi to prove it wasn’t him. Defense attorney and legacy resident Devyn Payne, and friend of Jimmy, comes to his aid to try to clear his name. Not only does she have her work cut out for her, she’s racing against detective Garth Klimmek to find the truth. Bitterfrost by Bryan Gruley is a mystery thriller where generations of small town rivalries die hard, and one man’s past could come back to ruin his future.
Book
Dylan, in addition to being a lawyer, also plays hockey at the local rink where Jimmy works. In fact, her family has owned the rink for years. And the Paynes also have a generations-long rivalry with the Delaney family. Her current client keeps her plenty busy. But after taking on Jimmy’s case, she thinks that there’s connections between some of the well-known residents and what’s happening to Jimmy. And when she tries to connect the dots, local authorities and more mysterious characters warn her off.
Not only that, but Jimmy’s past is well-known and doesn’t help his case. He was known for getting brutal on the ice. So brutal that he nearly killed a man. Needless to say, many people know what he is capable of – and the evidence and memory loss only makes things worse.
Review
Gruley has a knack for writing a murder mystery with small town vibes in Bitterfrost. With multiple POVs and flashbacks, the author slowly delivers information that is sure to keep the reader guessing. However, the pace is almost too slow. Nearly halfway in, no one was getting closer to finding out what was going on. While some of the characters’ roles added complexity and suspicion to the story, they were nearly all one-dimensional. Plus there’s kind of a cliffhanger at the end but I’m not sure where the author would even go with it. Overall the book was enjoyable but the writing could be stronger. I’m not sure I’ll look out for the sequel though.
