The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister

Greer Macallister has a delicious way of presenting her main character in tasty little bites of information that we can't entirely trust but we want to. Virginia led expeditions through the treacherous West to California. She was tough but had a great partner until he died in an accident. Now, she is summoned by a wealthy woman on the East coast to lead a group of women to the Arctic in search of a missing explorer (their patron's husband) and his ships. She is not very forthcoming about why she choose Virginia nor the women who have already been chosen to accompany her and she insists that her involvement remain anonymous. Every other chapter pivots from Virginia's past to the courtroom where she is on trial for murder. Only a handful came back and as we learn more of the expedition you are kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. It has an ending that you won't see coming which is another one of the author's gifts. These fascinating women are based on a montage of true events that make for one incredible historic mystery. Fans of unreliable female narrators, historical mystery and Macallister's other books will find this irresistible.  4 stars