Sleeping Lady

Jessie Arnold & Alex Jensen #3

by Sue Henry

Sue Henry's first book, Murder on the Iditarod Trail started a career off with a bang. In Sleeping Lady, Alaska State Trooper Alex Jensen is once again faced with a confounding puzzle set in the splendor of the Alaskan countryside. The melting snow reveals a small aircraft. Strapped in the passenger's seat is an unidentified corpse.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Suspense, Crime

308 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Sue Henry is the author of 17 novels in two award-winning Alaska mystery series. Her first book, "Murder on the Iditarod Trail" (1991), was well reviewed and won both the Macavity Awards and Anthony Awards for best first novel, prompting the author to develop a series based on this book's characters, Alaskan state trooper Alex Jensen and Jessie Arnold, a sled dog racer.

In 2005, she started a new mystery series featuring a 63-year-old widow, Maxine McNab, travelling in her Winnebago with a miniature dachshund, Stretch. Maxine had appeared in Dead North (2001) in the first series.

Murder on the Iditarod Trail was filmed for television as The Cold Heart of a Killer (1996) starring Kate Jackson, who bought the rights to the book. Sue Henry lived in Alaska for more than a quarter of a century, and brought history, Alaskan lore, and the majestic beauty of the vast landscape to her mysteries. She also taught writing at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't 5 stars because it is the best book. It's 5 stars because I loved this. It reminded me so much of home. My biggest problem with Alaska based books is that they sound hokey with the obvious animal elements. Also, when listening to the audios, the narrators usually butcher the Alaskan names. This one had none of those problems.

It might have been on the borderline of too much detail, but I think that helped my own memories wake up. She mentioned street names that I am so familiar with, the Iditarod, the animals, bush pilots, the troopers....and on and on. I really loved this book. I'm now even more excited about taking my family to visit this coming summer.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good adventure/murder mystery book set in Alaska. The first Sue Henry book I have read, I found it quite enjoyable. Alex Jensen and the wife of a missing pilot search the Alaskan wilderness trying to find out what happened to him. Great locations, good writing and good plot twists make this recommendable.

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this book was okay. I usually like Sue Henry's books set in Alaska more than this. The story line just never really grabbed me. A body was lost and found, and interspersed in the reading was the waking of a grizzly bear. I did like the commentary that grizzlies and other creatures shouldn't be hunted to near extinction - I agree with that.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Norm Lewis disappeared in the fall. Now his plane is found in an Alaskan lake off the path of his flight plan, but his body is missing. The body of a woman identified as an undercover fish and wildlife agent is found in the passenger seat. The plane had been shot down, but the autopsy finds she was beaten, likely dying from that, before the gunshot wound occurred. What happened to the pilot? His wife Rochelle flies to the location to try to locate her husband. Trooper Alex Jensen talks Rochelle into going home while they continue to gather evidence. She discovers a break-in at their home. Alex gets an uneasy feeling about the flight she's supposed to be making to take clients hunting, but he figures his remaining questions for her can wait until the next day. When her flight plan is checked, he discovers she was bound for the site the plane went down and was planning to be gone a week. He and his pilot are joined by a man who identifies himself as a colleague of the murdered agent. Alex has some doubts about his identity though. Will they catch the poaching entourage before they end up becoming food for the bears? What an unexpected turn at the end! I enjoyed the setting of this one, but I suspect I enjoyed it more in audio format than I might have in print. I was a little disappointed Jessie didn't figure more prominently in this one, but we got to know Alex a little better in this one.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an ending! I would give it 5 stars except it was pretty slow going for awhile. So 4.5.
Sad that she’s not writing anymore, but happy that I have many more to read.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I won't ever leave you, not really, you know."

WOW. Sue Henry has yet to disappoint me with this series. While there is a ton of exposition and setting up the plot it ends up making me feel prepared for the eventual mystery and how it plays out. I never feel left out and I enjoy that we tend to know who the bad guys are but have to do some old fashion police work to get there. Jessie wasn't really involved in this one but some nice character development along the way.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful!

Easy quick read that is suspenseful. Good cast of characters and plot with a believable number of twists and turns.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and concise mystery set in Alaska. Fast paced with exciting characters. Great mystery. There was a lot of Alaska in this novel--big bears and airplanes, for example, that make it a unique story. Characters are well developed and believable. My first Sue Henry novel and I believe I'll try some more.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total surprise ending in this book 3 of the Jessie Arnold series by Sue Henry!
I went through the whole book, truly immersed and did not suspect the real killer. I loved this book, its a great edition to an already fantastic series.

[Laddie Tabor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Sue Henry novel. I found it to be fast paced and enjoyed her characters. She also provided a food for thought finish - did she or didn't she? I would certainly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys good crime novels!

[David Malmberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great mystery that takes place in the Alaskian out-back.

Suspense, thrills, mystery - what more could you ask for? I had forgotten how good Sue Henry could be as a story-teller. This book reminded me.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Sue Henry mystery I ever read. Absolutely loved the Alaskan setting and Alex Jensen. I definitely wanted to continue with all of Ms. Henry's other books!

[Karren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading these Alex Jensen and Jessie Arnold mysteries. I find it extremely enjoyable how Henry gives the reader a real sense of Alaska in her writing

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the best in the series so far. The focus was more on Alex than Jessie and revolved around a missing pilot. Good book that certainly kept my interest.

[Johnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great wilderness adventure/mystery

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO much great natural history and geography in this mystery! Parts are a little bit grizzly, but understandable. Learned more about Alex and Jessie's relationship.

[Scilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flyer, Norm Lewis, disappeared six months before, and his plane is finally found in a remote lake. Alex Jensen is in charge of the case. Norm's wife Rochelle, also a flyer, has been very concerned and she shows up at the site as well. When they get the plane out of the lake, they see a woman in the passenger seat, no pilot, and the plane has been shot. However, they can't find any signs of what happened to Norm.

When someone searches the Lewis house, Rochelle does her own search and finds a locked box with an insurance policy. Alex continues to try to keep Rochelle safe as well as investigating more. When Rochelle was seen flying off, Alex, his friend Cas, and a US Game Warden follow her to the site where they found Norm's plane. It appears that all four of them are in deep trouble!

It seemed a little slow getting started, but turned very exciting at the end!

[carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years ago, we listened to 2 of Sue Henry's Alaskan based audiobooks, which my husband and I both enjoyed. About two years ago we picked up two more of Sue Henry's older titles at a book outlet, which also we both adored. Last summer, while on an Alaska cruise, we purchased a few more of her books in a bookstore in Juneau. Needless to say, we are fond of Sue Henry's stories some of which take place in Alaska. This one certainly did not disappoint.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's four stars, except for the surprise ending. This police procedural has suspense, danger, all bolstering the author's knowledge of Alaska - making it a very compelling read. When pilot Norm Lewis disappears on a flight, his wife Rochelle Lewis, along with Alaska state trooper Alex Jensen, try to find out what became of him. There are a few trustworthy souls among the range of untrustworthy characters encountered here. How does the ending tilt the scales?

[Brenda Gunier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book with Alaska State Trouper, Alex Jensen. Wonderful the way, the author describes the setting. A charter pilot disappears in the fall and is not found till spring at an obscure lake. Pilot Norm is still missing, but his passenger is dead and it is evident that the plane was shot down. So the search not only for Norm but the killers, too.

[Leah Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man an his plans disappear.

When spring was near, the plane with a woman's body is found in a lake. The man nowhere in sight. You will be pretty sure he is dead because of a bear. Yet, you and the law want to understand. A good read.

[Linda Pobanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady

It was an impressive book. It was informative as well as great. It was a shame about the grizzly, not that it didn't need to happen. She should have been punished too, because Alex knew, and so did Jesse, though not directly. It left me hanging.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable mystery series set in Alaska. A plane that was lost is found downed in a small lake with a dead body inside and the pilot missing. Even more peculiar is that the plane had bullet holes in it. Alex Jensen, an Alaska state trooper has his hands full working to solve this mystery.

[Spuddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Meh. Meh. Meh.

Also, Meh.

[Tomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you think when your husband's plane is found with dead lady in the passenger seat? This is a well-written mystery that will keep you guessing. I'm really enjoying this series.

[Nancy Higgs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading lots about Alaska now to prepare for trip in May! It was ok- I do like Sue Henry as an author.

[Reader57 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could not get through it. I like to learn even if fiction, but this felt like I was listening to a documentary half the time.

[Becky Almon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a re-read for me. Still found it a good read, and I like the continued cast of characters.

[Paige Kuether · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favorite authors, another suspenseful mystery with lots of facts and information about Alaska.