The Woman Who Married a Bear

In Sitka, Alaska, the bizarre death of a big-game hunter years before is investigated by investigator Cecil Younger, who uncovers a many-layered mystery involving the folklore and mythology of the local Tlingit Indians.

Praise for John Straley

"Like the Coen brothers on literary speed, John Straley is among the very best stylists of his generation."
--Ken Bruen, Shamus Award winning author of "The Guard"

"Chandler, Ross Macdonald, James Crumley... Straley proves once again that he is up there with the great ones... His prose is as smooth as a well-tuned cello. He has tremendous feeling for the setting: not only the open waters and frosted countryside outside of Sitka and Juneau, but also the somewhat seedy streets of these cities."
--"Chicago Tribune"

"Superior thriller writing, once again by Straley--an excellent plot against Alaska's gigantic and bizarre backdrop."
--Janwillem van de Wetering

"Now and then a writer dares to flout the rules and in so doing, carves out a niche that belongs to him alone. John Straley's novels are like no others."
--"San Diego Tribune"

"Like James Lee Burke, Straley transcends the genre.... Marvelous."
--"The Tampa Tribune and Times"

"Straley's beautifully understated narrative, vivid sense of place and unapologetic, unadorned characters make this a riveting, unpredictable ride."
--"Publishers Weekly", Starred Review

"Outstanding.... satisfies on all levels."
--"The Kansas City Star"

"Strong and sobering... with his storyteller's sense of dramatic action [Straley's] in his glory."
--"The New York Times Book Review"

"Straley hits all the right notes"
--"Booklist", Starred Review

Praise for John Straley
"Lesser writers look to their characters' poor choices and attempts to rectify them, John Straley loves his characters for just those choices. Holderlin wrote: 'Poetically man dwells on the earth.' Some of us wind up in limericks, some in heroic couplets. But damned near every one of us, sooner or later, ends up in one of Straley's wise, wayward, wonderfully unhinged novels."
--James Sallis, author of "Drive "and the Lew Griffin mysteries"
""Like the Coen brothers on literary speed, John Straley is among the very best stylists of his generation."
--Ken Bruen, Shamus Award winning author of "The Guard"
"Chandler, Ross Macdonald, James Crumley... Straley proves once again that he is up there with the great ones... His prose is as smooth as a well-tuned cello. He has tremendous feeling for the setting: not only the open waters and frosted countryside outside of Sitka and Juneau, but also the somewhat seedy streets of these cities."
--"Chicago Tribune"
"Superior thriller writing, once again by Straley--an excellent plot against Alaska's gigantic and bizarre backdrop."
--Janwillem van de Wetering
"Now and then a writer dares to flout the rules and in so doing, carves out a niche that belongs to him alone. John Straley's novels are like no others."
--"San Diego Tribune"
"Like James Lee Burke, Straley transcends the genre.... Marvelous."
--"The Tampa Tribune and Times"
"Straley's beautifully understated narrative, vivid sense of place and unapologetic, unadorned characters make this a riveting, unpredictable ride."
--"Publishers Weekly," Starred Review
"Outstanding.... satisfies on all levels."
--"The Kansas City Star"
"Strong and sobering... with his storyteller's sense of dramatic action [Straley's] in his glory."
--"The New York Times Book Review"
"Straley hits all the right notes"
--"Booklist," Starred Review

Praise for "The Woman Who Married a Bear
""Atmospheric . . . vigorous prose."
--"The New York Times Book Review"
"Echoes of James Crumley . . . Flashes of the dark poetry of Ross Macdonald."
--"Chicago Tribune"
"Blazes a new trail through the dense, familiar forest of the mystery genre . . . A highly refreshing setting, a great cast of characters, and an intriguing plot . . . A winning combination."
--"The Bloomsbury Review"
"Outstanding . . . Satisfies on all levels."
--"The Kansas City Star"
"A rich stew of deception and menace . . . a superior mystery novel."
--"Anchorage Daily News"
"As great writers have always done, Straley breathes new life into a stock character by remaking an ancient myth."
--"The Vancouver Sun"
"Clear and crisp, like a Juneau morning."
--"Albuquerque Journal
"
Praise for John Straley
"Lesser writers look to their characters' poor choices and attempts to rectify them, John Straley loves his characters for just those choices. Holderlin wrote: 'Poetically man dwells on the earth.' Some of us wind up in limericks, some in heroic couplets. But damned near every one of us, sooner or later, ends up in one of Straley's wise, wayward, wonderfully unhinged novels."
--James Sallis, author of "Drive "and the Lew Griffin mysteries"
""Like the Coen brothers on literary speed, John Straley is among the very best stylists of his generation."
--Ken Bruen, Shamus Award winning author of "The Guard"
"Chandler, Ross Macdonald, James Crumley... Straley proves once again that he is up there with the great ones... His prose is as smooth as a well-tuned cello. He has tremendous feeling for the setting: not only the open waters and frosted countryside outside of Sitka and Juneau, but also the somewhat seedy streets of these cities."
--"Chicago Tribune"
"Superior thriller writing, once again by Straley--an excellent plot against Alaska's gigantic and bizarre backdrop."
--Janwillem van de Wetering
"Now and then a writer dares to flout the rules and in so doing, carves out a niche that belongs to him alone. John Straley's novels are like no others."
--"San Diego Tribune"
"Like James Lee Burke, Straley transcends the genre.... Marvelous."
--"The Tampa Tribune and Times"
"Straley's beautifully understated narrative, vivid sense of place and unapologetic, unadorned characters make this a riveting, unpredictable ride."
--"Publishers Weekly," Starred Review
"Outstanding.... satisfies on all levels."
--"The Kansas City Star"
"Strong and sobering... with his storyteller's sense of dramatic action [Straley's] in his glory."
--"The New York Times Book Review"
"Straley hits all the right notes"
--"Booklist," Starred Review

Praise for "The Woman Who Married a Bear
" Atmospheric . . . vigorous prose.
"The New York Times Book Review"
Echoes of James Crumley . . . Flashes of the dark poetry of Ross Macdonald.
"Chicago Tribune"
Blazes a new trail through the dense, familiar forest of the mystery genre . . . A highly refreshing setting, a great cast of characters, and an intriguing plot . . . A winning combination.
"The Bloomsbury Review"
Outstanding . . . Satisfies on all levels.
"The Kansas City Star"
A rich stew of deception and menace . . . a superior mystery novel.
"Anchorage Daily News"
As great writers have always done, Straley breathes new life into a stock character by remaking an ancient myth.
"The Vancouver Sun"
Clear and crisp, like a Juneau morning.
"Albuquerque Journal
"
Praise for John Straley
Lesser writers look to their characters poor choices and attempts to rectify them, John Straley loves his characters for just those choices. Holderlin wrote: 'Poetically man dwells on the earth.' Some of us wind up in limericks, some in heroic couplets. But damned near every one of us, sooner or later, ends up in one of Straley s wise, wayward, wonderfully unhinged novels.
James Sallis, author of "Drive "and the Lew Griffin mysteries"
" Like the Coen brothers on literary speed, John Straley is among the very best stylists of his generation.
Ken Bruen, Shamus Award winning author of "The Guard"
"Chandler, Ross Macdonald, James Crumley... Straley proves once again that he is up there with the great ones His prose is as smooth as a well-tuned cello. He has tremendous feeling for the setting: not only the open waters and frosted countryside outside of Sitka and Juneau, but also the somewhat seedy streets of these cities."
"Chicago Tribune"
"Superior thriller writing, once again by Straley an excellent plot against Alaska's gigantic and bizarre backdrop."
Janwillem van de Wetering
"Now and then a writer dares to flout the rules and in so doing, carves out a niche that belongs to him alone. John Straley's novels are like no others."
"San Diego Tribune"
"Like James Lee Burke, Straley transcends the genre.... Marvelous."
"The Tampa Tribune and Times"
"Straley's beautifully understated narrative, vivid sense of place and unapologetic, unadorned characters make this a riveting, unpredictable ride."
"Publishers Weekly," Starred Review
"Outstanding.... satisfies on all levels."
"The Kansas City Star"
"Strong and sobering... with his storyteller's sense of dramatic action [Straley's] in his glory."
"The New York Times Book Review"
"Straley hits all the right notes"
"Booklist," Starred Review"

Praise for The Woman Who Married a Bear
Atmospheric . . . vigorous prose.
The New York Times Book Review
Echoes of James Crumley . . . Flashes of the dark poetry of Ross Macdonald.
Chicago Tribune
Blazes a new trail through the dense, familiar forest of the mystery genre . . . A highly refreshing setting, a great cast of characters, and an intriguing plot . . . A winning combination.
The Bloomsbury Review
Outstanding . . . Satisfies on all levels.
The Kansas City Star
A rich stew of deception and menace . . . a superior mystery novel.
Anchorage Daily News
As great writers have always done, Straley breathes new life into a stock character by remaking an ancient myth.
The Vancouver Sun
Clear and crisp, like a Juneau morning.
Albuquerque Journal

Praise for John Straley
Lesser writers look to their characters poor choices and attempts to rectify them, John Straley loves his characters for just those choices. Holderlin wrote: 'Poetically man dwells on the earth.' Some of us wind up in limericks, some in heroic couplets. But damned near every one of us, sooner or later, ends up in one of Straley s wise, wayward, wonderfully unhinged novels.
James Sallis, author of Drive and the Lew Griffin mysteries
Like the Coen brothers on literary speed, John Straley is among the very best stylists of his generation.
Ken Bruen, Shamus Award winning author of The Guard
"Chandler, Ross Macdonald, James Crumley... Straley proves once again that he is up there with the great ones His prose is as smooth as a well-tuned cello. He has tremendous feeling for the setting: not only the open waters and frosted countryside outside of Sitka and Juneau, but also the somewhat seedy streets of these cities."
Chicago Tribune
"Superior thriller writing, once again by Straley an excellent plot against Alaska's gigantic and bizarre backdrop."
Janwillem van de Wetering
"Now and then a writer dares to flout the rules and in so doing, carves out a niche that belongs to him alone. John Straley's novels are like no others."
San Diego Tribune
"Like James Lee Burke, Straley transcends the genre.... Marvelous."
The Tampa Tribune and Times
"Straley's beautifully understated narrative, vivid sense of place and unapologetic, unadorned characters make this a riveting, unpredictable ride."
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"Outstanding.... satisfies on all levels."
The Kansas City Star
"Strong and sobering... with his storyteller's sense of dramatic action [Straley's] in his glory."
The New York Times Book Review
"Straley hits all the right notes"
Booklist, Starred Review"

Praise for The Woman Who Married a Bear

"Atmospheric . . . vigorous prose."
--The New York Times Book Review

"Echoes of James Crumley . . . Flashes of the dark poetry of Ross Macdonald."
--Chicago Tribune

"Blazes a new trail through the dense, familiar forest of the mystery genre . . . A highly refreshing setting, a great cast of characters, and an intriguing plot . . . A winning combination."
--The Bloomsbury Review

"Outstanding . . . Satisfies on all levels."
--The Kansas City Star

"A rich stew of deception and menace . . . a superior mystery novel."
--Anchorage Daily News

"As great writers have always done, Straley breathes new life into a stock character by remaking an ancient myth."
--The Vancouver Sun

"Clear and crisp, like a Juneau morning."
--Albuquerque Journal

Praise for John Straley

"Strong and sobering . . . with his storyteller's sense of dramatic action [Straley's] in his glory."
--The New York Times Book Review

"Lesser writers look to their characters' poor choices and attempts to rectify them, John Straley loves his characters for just those choices. Holderlin wrote: 'Poetically man dwells on the earth.' Some of us wind up in limericks, some in heroic couplets. But damned near every one of us, sooner or later, ends up in one of Straley's wise, wayward, wonderfully unhinged novels."
--James Sallis, author of Drive and the Lew Griffin mysteries

"Like the Coen brothers on literary speed, John Straley is among the very best stylists of his generation."
--Ken Bruen, Shamus Award winning author of The Guard

"Chandler, Ross Macdonald, James Crumley . . . Straley proves once again that he is up there with the great ones . . . His prose is as smooth as a well-tuned cello. He has tremendous feeling for the setting: not only the open waters and frosted countryside outside of Sitka and Juneau, but also the somewhat seedy streets of these cities."
--Chicago Tribune

"Superior thriller writing, once again by Straley--an excellent plot against Alaska's gigantic and bizarre backdrop."
--Janwillem van de Wetering

"Now and then a writer dares to flout the rules and in so doing, carves out a niche that belongs to him alone. John Straley's novels are like no others."
--San Diego Tribune

"Like James Lee Burke, Straley transcends the genre . . . Marvelous."
--The Tampa Tribune and Times

"Straley's beautifully understated narrative, vivid sense of place and unapologetic, unadorned characters make this a riveting, unpredictable ride."
--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Outstanding . . . satisfies on all levels."
--The Kansas City Star

"Straley hits all the right notes."
--Booklist, Starred Review