Deadly Detail

A retired pilot, Porter writes gracefully about flying in Alaska in his soaring debut, evoking its breathtaking beauty and the joy of traveling across the state in a small plane. Unfortunately, the book becomes ungainly once his bush pilot hero, Alex Price, hits the ground, with more descriptions of food than character development. Alex, a partner in a charter business, flies several customers from Bethel to Fairbanks, where he has a rendezvous with his pal Stan, who works for a cargo company. Soon after Stan tells Alex that he's being followed, after possibly overhearing a muted conversation at work, Stan's truck explodes with him at the wheel. When Alex rushes to report the tragedy to Stan's Athabascan wife, Angie, professional hit men attack them. From that point on, Alex and Angie flee unknown pursuers and try to figure out what Stan overheard, whom he overheard and why it's worth murder. Porter explains everything clearly, avoiding lectures. The fast pacing and gorgeous scenery hook the reader from the beginning, but beware of some cardboard characters. Agent, Pia Hoffman at Sunshine Literary Agents. (Sept.)