"fine amateur sleuth"
Skating Coach Antonia Wright calls 24/7 Sports Network
researcher Rebecca "Bex" Levy to inform her that student
is the best young skater in America. Bex sees a great
story in the making so she meets thirteen years old Jeremy
Hunt. The teen asks her to talk to his father Craig, who
does not want his son competing in the Nationals. After
watching how magnificent Jeremy skates, she talks with
Craig; he blows her off. Later she learns father and son
vanished. Deciding on a documentary on past skating greats and where
they are now, Bex interviews Robby Sharpton who failed to
get a medal in the Olympics. Following the end of his
career, Robby went to jail for spousal abuse. His skating
partner Rachel Rose disappeared leaving him to pursue a
single's career. Bex ponders whether Robbie killed Rachel
so she searches for his missing partner, whom she finds in
the Pocono's. A few days later Rachel is murdered; Bex
believes her story was a factor in the homicide. When she
returns to Rachel's home, she shockingly finds Jeremy and
Craig live there. Alina Adams, an expert on figure skating, brings the
behind the scenes support needed to compete or put on a
competition without prettying up the rivalry and pressure;
that helps readers to better understand the Harding-
Kerrigan incident without excusing the criminality. The
protagonist may not be a licensed sleuth, but her work has
given her the experiences that enable her to act like she
is a professional detective putting together various
threads into a cohesive picture. Skating fans will
enthusiastically give a 10 to ON THIN ICE, but so will
amateur sleuth fans. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 8, 2004
SummaryBex Levy has seen her share of skating stars. But thirteen-
year-old Jeremy Hunt may be the best of the best, with his
winning smile, flawless technique, and more talent than
most skaters twice his age. So, when his strangely
protective father refuses to allow him to go to Nationals,
and the two vanish, Bex knows there's a better story off
the ice than on.
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