Cold Storage, Alaska

Cold Storage, Alaska follows Clive McCahon as he returns to his remote Alaskan hometown after serving time in prison. His arrival in the dying fishing village of Cold Storage disrupts the quiet routines of its eccentric inhabitants, including his brother Miles who works as the town's health aide. The story tracks multiple characters whose lives intersect in Cold Storage, from a determined state trooper to local fishermen to the proprietor of a make-shift bar. Through their interactions, secrets emerge about both past events and current schemes involving drugs, money, and survival in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness. The narrative balances crime story elements with moments of dark humor and stark natural beauty. This creates a portrait of a place where the line between law and lawlessness blurs, and where community ties are tested against individual desires. At its core, the novel explores themes of redemption and belonging, questioning whether someone can truly return home and start fresh. The harsh Alaskan setting serves as both refuge and prison for characters seeking second chances or escape from their pasts.

Readers appreciate the quirky characters, dark humor, and vivid descriptions of small-town Alaska life. Many connect with the authentic portrayal of tight-knit community dynamics and family relationships. The dialogue receives frequent mentions for its realism and wit. Common criticisms focus on the meandering plot and slow pacing, with several readers noting it takes time to become invested in the story. Some found the multiple character perspectives hard to follow. A few readers noted the book didn't meet their expectations for a crime thriller, as it focuses more on character development than suspense. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (100+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (50+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Captures the essence of Alaska's fishing communities" - Goodreads "Characters feel like people you'd meet at the local bar" - Amazon "Too slow in the middle sections" - LibraryThing "More literary fiction than crime novel" - Goodreads

The Big Both Ways by John Straley A tale of survival follows a union worker and a woman with a dark past as they navigate 1930s Alaska's dangerous waterways while fleeing law enforcement.

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🌲 Author John Straley served as Alaska's Writer Laureate from 2006-2008 and spent 25 years working as a criminal defense investigator in Sitka, Alaska. 🌲 Cold Storage is a real place in Alaska, located on the western shore of Prince of Wales Island, though today it's largely abandoned with only a handful of year-round residents. 🌲 The novel weaves together elements of crime fiction with magical realism, a style that earned Straley the nickname "Alaska's William Faulkner" from some critics. 🌲 The book is part of a loose series set in Cold Storage, Alaska, with characters reappearing in Straley's "What Is Time to a Pig?" published in 2020. 🌲 Many of the unusual events and eccentric characters in the book were inspired by Straley's real experiences working in small Alaskan coastal communities.