R.E. Donald

author of the Hunter Rayne Highway Mysteries series

Sundown on Top of the World

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Sundown on Top of the World a finalist for the 2016 Whistler Independent Book Award in the Crime Fiction category!

Sundown on Top of the World is named for the Top of the World Highway that connects Dawson City, Yukon with the town of Tok, Alaska. The north is a wild and beautiful land, and the people who choose to live there are strong and resourceful. I’ve tried to capture the North’s unforgiving beauty and the individuality of its inhabitants in my story.

The story begins when former homicide investigator Hunter Rayne follows the white lines northward on the Alaska Highway. A truck breakdown forces him to take an unscheduled stop in Whitehorse, Yukon, where he had been stationed as a rookie cop. While his Freightliner is awaiting repairs, Hunter and fellow driver, Dan (Sorry) Sorenson, kill time with a side trip to the town of Eagle, Alaska in bush Alaska where a chance meeting with a young Alaskan woman awakens his interest in a baffling cold case. A reclusive trapper and his young girlfriend disappeared from a bloody cabin 25 years before, leaving their sled dogs chained outside.

Reawakened memories of his past coupled with a recent murder find Hunter back in investigative mode with the blessings of Whitehorse RCMP boss Bartholomew Sam, son of a shaman and Hunter’s old friend. He finds himself searching the banks of the mighty Yukon River for a tough old bush woman who may hold the key to more than one bloody death. It’s a vivid reminder that the breathtaking beauty of the northern wilderness camouflages its brutal indifference to human life.

This is the fourth novel in the Highway Mysteries series of character-driven traditional mysteries in a uniquely North American setting.

What readers are saying about Sundown on Top of the World:

From Dan Davidson, Yukon resident and book reviewer for the Whitehorse Star:

“There’s a lot going on in this book, and author Donald has done a great job of weaving it all together in an engaging way.”

See full review on Dan’s website.

From Amazon (US and UK) reviews:

“Perfectly written. I read every word so I wouldn’t miss anything.”

“I’d give 6 stars if I could. This was the best so far and I hope there will be another.”

“RE has moved to my short list of current favorite authors Love the characters and the settings.”

“I would be quite happy if the book was twice as long, just gently leading me through the life and experiences of the very likeable Hunter Rayne and his fellow cast members. The amount of research the author has put in definitely shows through …”

 

Where to find Sundown on Top of the World:

 

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The author visiting Dawson City, Yukon during a trip to Yukon and Alaska in the mid-80s.