Who killed Tully? 

"Black Ice" takes place in the town of Fog Point in the middle of winter.  The cold and the bleak and the dangerous ice that builds up along the coast lead the locals to believe something terrible is going to happen.  Or at least something incredible.  And then a young girl is found dead in the snow outside a bed and breakfast. 

Black Ice tells the story of a small town full of people who want what is best for their respective families, sometimes believing the worst and trying to save them from themselves.  As the story unfolds, the death of the stranger touches each of these families, starting with the owner of the B&B who discovers the body.  Worried that her two grown sons are involved in the girl's death, she moves the body, and now the town's people speculate that the dead girl is an angel and swarm to the death site in hopes of a miracle. 

The story is like an elegantly woven quilt, bringing disparate people together in common threads.  From the aging man with Alzheimers who knows the truth, to the private detectives searching for truth, to the minister and his family struggling with teen angst.  Everyone has a secret and each find friends in unlikely places as they face the common challenges of everyday life. 

I would highly recommend Black Ice.  For people who might shy away because it is inspirational, the story is not preachy or "in your face."  It is a neatly crafted "who-done-it" that emphasizes the importance of family and the sadness of "throw away" children.  Linda Hall is an excellent story teller and I look forward to reading more about the people of Fog Point.

November 12, 2007