Thank you to NetGalley for this ebook.
This book kept me sedentary until I finished it. The characters were well written and relatable, the setting was believable and not overwhelming. I loved it as much as any Val McDermott book of the same genre which is the highest praise I can give.

A number of years ago I was laid up, post knee replacement surgery, with more time on my hands than I ever had before. I started watching the reality television show Alaska State Trooper and I was quickly hooked. The heart stopping rugged beauty of the Alaskan wilderness is the backdrop to the sadness and despair of the people the troopers are called out to serve.

Come Find Me in the Midnight Sun brings that same scenic beauty along with the despondency and hardships faced by many Alaskans to the forefront of the story. Bridgewater sets a tone which carries an ingrained heaviness that defines both Trooper Louisa Linebach and her search for two missing young men in the Kenai Peninsula. The statistics of finding these lost men is against all odds. Either they do not want to be found or they are lost in the never ending wilderness. The search evolves into bodies being found who are not Louisa’s missing men, a potential drug trafficking ring and an attraction to the local medical examiner.

There are enough moving parts to hold your interest from cover to cover. For me, I was glued to the novel and anxiously await the sequel.

I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley.  I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Bailey Bridgewater is an excellent writer and has beautifully created the state of Alaska in this novel. It has an unsettling sense of doom around every corner. From the damaged cop, to the big wig city guy, and the slightly suspect local police chief, there’s a lot going on.

Louisa Linebach is sent with a colleague to Seward, to investigate the disappearance of a young man. The case rapidly expands into two young men but no one seems that bothered as young men often go missing in Alaska. This is where the unease creeps in. Is the community unconcerned because hundreds of young men go missing in Alaska every year? Or because they know something?

The characters are well developed and the descriptions of the scenes and locations is very well drawn. I felt Louisa’s angst. I also felt her annoyance and frustration. The love interest is well handled and has a nice slow burn, as it would do with Louisa’s history and the distance between them (physically and metaphorically).

My only concern was the unresolved ending. I appreciate that this is "Louisa Linebach Mystery 1" but a more complete conclusion would’ve bumped the book up a level for me. I will still be buying the next one, though, as I want to see how Louisa develops.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy in exchange for my review.

I love a good mystery and this story had me along for the ride. There were a lot of twists and turns that we experience along with Trooper Louisa Linebach and Mikey Harper as they investigate a missing person that quickly evolves into so much more. The cast, both the main characters and background, were varied and colorful. Seeing Linebach, a fish out of water after moving from DCS after a very rough last assignment, and Harper, a young buck of an officer, finding common ground, adopting Tails, and becoming partners and friends was a nice contrast to the bleakness of the case they are dealing with. And Mikey fully supporting Louisa and Anna was so sweet.
The romance between Louisa and Anna are very much second priority, but that doesn't mean the relationship isn't fleshed out. Their moments are far between, they are both working on this case after all, but Bridgewater makes every moment they do have together count. Both are opposite in physicality and emotion, but have enough similarities to make their romance believable.

Overall a great read that will keep you guessing until the end with characters you'll root for the entire way.

It is a thrilling mystery set in the beautiful but mysterious landscapes of Alaska. I really liked the book! The story follows State Trooper Louisa Linebach, who is investigating the disappearances of two guys, Lee Stanton and Branden Halifax. As she digs into the case, things get weird with alien theories, a strange town, and a mix of drugs and tourism in Seward. The author paints a vivid picture of Alaska, making it feel like I'm right there, seeing everything happen. The mix of mystery and a hint of romance keeps things interesting. Louisa's feelings for Anna Fenway add an emotional touch to the investigation. The characters are well-written, and the plot weaves together different elements smoothly. The only thing is, the story takes its time to unfold, and the slow pace might make it a bit hard to get into at first. But as you keep reading, the pieces come together, and it becomes a satisfying mystery. In the end, it is a great read for those who like mysteries in unique settings.

This was a really good book. I liked the speculative feel of this story. There's so many different things going on in this book, but it all works to make this a very good read. The Alaska setting was explained well by the author, and it made me feel like I was there and could see everything that happened in each chapter. This was a mystery with a side of romance and I loved the dog Tails he just made this story better. I would recommend this book to my friends and family, and I look forward to what's next from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Move over Sue Grafton and Patricia Cornwell, and make room for a new talent..

There is a new author in town, and she is sure to capture the hearts and minds of mystery and police procedural lovers everywhere!

An interesting mystery, backed with strong individual character development, which provides that magical quality only the very BEST novels share, ones which allow you to escape reality and get lost in the storyline. You feel almost as though you "know" the people the author created from her imagination. I finished this in one sitting and it left me wanting MORE.

This story is set in Alaska, which provides a fascinating backdrop for a breathtaking story.

A skillfully woven magical web of a mystery, written by an extremely talented author.

Until next time, dear readers, pick up a copy of this gem as soon as it hits the shelves!

So this synopsis intrigued me to the point where I wanted to read it. It seemed like a unique take on a police thriller category. The writing was great but it felt very slow moving which made it harder to dig into. Normally I'm pretty quick to read through a book in a day or so, but with how this was done, I had to force myself a bit. The drawn out story telling is great for a lot of readers but one that I struggle with. I'm rating this one a 3 due to my personal tastes on the flow but the story overall was unique and solid. I would recommend reading a sample of the story if possible before buying to see if Ms. Bridgewater's writing style is a good fit for you.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! Simply a well-done mystery/police procedural. Takes place in Alaska but written like some of my favorite British police procedurals You want to root for the main character, who is so realistic, flaws and all. You feel her panic, her awkwardness, her frustration, and ultimately her satisfaction. The WLW aspect was simply a part of her as a person, with a realistic dating progression, not just falling right into bed together. Also, the fact that mistakes are made in the relationship, but they work through it in the end. And a satisfying conclusion for all the multiple story threads. Awesome when you have a complete story that leaves very few dangling questions, but just overall satisfaction. Highly recommended if you like police procedurals and a bit of romance on the side that does not detract from the cases at hand.

2.5 stars.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Hundreds of young men go missing every year, so when both Lee Stanton and Brandon Halifax both disappear within days of each other, Louisa doesn't think too much of it. Until one of the deaths simply defies all possible explanation. Is it the local conspiracy theory surrounding aliens? Or anything to do with the signs of local drug trade weaved through the tourist industry?

Honestly, this one I was super stoked to read, but for me, it just takes too long for an of the true investigation to get anywhere that I kept losing interest in the story. I ended up staying for the cute relationship between Lousia and her golden retriever partner, Mikey Harper. As well as the slow, slow burn relationship with local medical examiner, Anna Fenway. I loved their background exploration while keeping the focus on the crime solving. I do have to compliment the incredible descriptions throughout the book, it really helps you feel like you're walking along the investigation. I loved the concept but ending felt lack-luster.

Officer Louisa Linebach works as a state trooper in Anchorage, Alaska. Most of the time the work is pretty mundane, but occasionally a case has the ability to surprise. When Louisa is asked to look into a missing person's case, she is eager to investigate but not happy to have to take a partner with her. Officer Michael 'Mikey' Harper is the only volunteer to work with Louisa so they head out. Lee Stanton was reported missing by his mother as she hasn't seen him in several days. This is unusual & compounded by the fact that Lee has been dividing up his belongings amongst his relatives & leaving them in labelled boxes, which makes Louisa suspect a planned suicide.

They just start to investigate when they get a call about another missing person, Branden Halifax. People go missing in Alaska all the time & most are never found - some get caught out by the terrain & weather, whilst others disappear on purpose, but two men of a similar age from nearby settlements within days of each other? As Louisa & Mikey dig into the backgrounds of the missing men, there are more links than they initially thought. Did Lee & Branden get caught up in illegal activity & did it lead to their disappearances?

I love thrillers set in places like Alaska or Antarctica. Something about the sheer cold wilderness & the harshness of nature there & humankind's struggle to survive in these environments - I don't know, I just can't get enough when it comes to reading about it. This book turned out to be a great example of the thriller genre. The book has quite a slow pace but the investigations start to bring in some twists & turns. The author has done a great job of writing two characters (Louisa & Mikey) that the reader can become invested in & I really liked the hesitant friendship that gradually developed. There's even an aspect of romance (not between the officers thank goodness) with Louisa meeting Anna, the local medical examiner. It's kept quite light though & doesn't detract from the main story line.

Overall, I really liked this one but for one thing - the ending is left rather open & unresolved. I understand this is the first in a series but I felt a bit cheated in not having closure for the first case(s). 4.5 stars (rounded down).

My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Bold Strokes Books, Inc., for the opportunity to read an ARC.

If you appreciate books that vividly describe the landscape, people, and surroundings, you might appreciate this writing style. However, the pace is slow, and the investigation takes a while to develop. The more complicated web of illegal activities and the mastermind behind it are left unresolved.

One of the best prologue’s I have read, coupled with the writers note at the start, I know the premise is sound. The writer in just a few short paragraphs sets the scene very atmospherically.
29% in and the romance from the blurb hasn’t happened yet, tho’ we have met her. I have to say I’m not missing it, because the blend part of the plot is holding my interest and also the interaction with the male police partner, as we see their friendship develop we learn more about the main, and also the police partner.
Just about half way through I think pacing slipped slightly. The romance is sort of building and the mystery is still going but I’m slightly less involved, more of a bystander.
I got right back in to it. Was gripped. Got to the last sentence and I am left high and dry. I was not aware this was episodic, all be it a good length novel. The blend part of the novel is incomplete. I am disappointed because I was not forewarned.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

(3.5 Stars) A police procedural novel set in Alaska. State trooper Louisa Linebach investigates a missing person around Seward, Alaska. Along with another investigator they learn many people disappear each year on the Kenai Peninsula. The story is set in 2004 and DNA processing is slow. So even when she finds a body it is hard to identify. When a second person goes missing at near the same time more questions are raised. There is a potential love interest with the medical examiner, but this isn’t a romance.

I love the descriptions of the buildings, landscapes and sea front. The characters interviewed are brought to life as well. The wildness of Alaska is a great backdrop for this story. But after all of the investigation and a few twists, I found the ending didn’t live up to the building up. The writing is engaging and I like police investigation stories. But if this is the end I didn’t get the closure I wanted. If there is another mystery for Louisa to investigate I will read it. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

Wow! This book didn’t disappoint at all! I loved the setting. It was so descriptive and detailed. The drama and angst between the characters was incredible. I definitely recommend this book!

If you like descriptive books detailing the landscape, the people etc then you’ll enjoy the way this book is written. However, for me it took too long developing the investigation(s)and add in a time jump forward which is when most of the ‘action’ takes place leading to outcomes for individuals but not for the the more complicated web of illegal activities and the ringleader premise that develops. There is also a potential romance but that is very ‘slow burn’. This is the first of a series so for me personally I’m hoping the second will have a faster pace to it.
This book was an ARC curtesy of Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley. I have given my honest opinion of the book.

State Trooper Louisa is assigned to investigate a missing man she teams up with a fellow co worker Michael. They both learn that another man went missing around same time as the first as they dive in they found a body with its missing head and can’t really identify which men it’s is. There was twists and turns that made you wonder if they were ever going solve the case because things didn’t seems add up. There is a little romance with Louisa and the coroner Anna as they get to know each other it was mainly in the background because this was more of solving case and getting to know how Louisa works.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Most Intriguing

Louisa is investigating the disappearance of two young men who have gone missing within days of one another. At first things appear simple until trying to explain one of the victim’s deaths seems impossible. As they continue their investigations, Louisa ends up in another complicated situation when she develops feelings for Anna, the medical examiner in Seward.

Such a great mystery story, with a little romance, but never detracting to much from the complexities of the case Louisa was investigating and the impact that had on her personally. I was most intrigued when it became clear something wasn’t quite adding up, it meant along with Louisa there were clues to find and people to be suspicious of. There was no guarantee of anything or even solving the case, which added extra challenges including in Louisa’s relationship with Anna.

The twists and turns throughout the story kept me hooked, and many of them were unexpected and took me completely by surprise. It had a sense of darkness, while not eluding to it, just something that gave you chills in a way. Nothing was straightforward, from the case, to Louisa’s feelings for Anna and so no guarantees meant, I was constantly waiting for something to go wrong or to discover Louisa has been taken off the trail to the answers she needed by anyone along the way.

I really enjoyed the story and everything came together but there I’m convinced there is something more waiting for Louisa and Anna that relates to this case somehow, and I hope there will be more stories so I can find out if that is true!

Wow!!! This was such a captivating book!!! This author has a bright future! I am looking forward to future books!