IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLACIER

A plan to build both a memorial park for Vietnam draft dodgers and a fancy new resort tears a small Canadian town apart.

Constable Moonbeam “Molly” Smith is the daughter of Vietnam-era activists. Although her father has lost his taste for demonstrations, her mother is leading a pro-park, anti-resort group. When one of the men pushing to build the resort is found murdered, Molly is assigned to assist DS John Winters, an experienced investigator who’s not pleased with his rookie partner. Although the murdered man’s wife is dry-eyed, Winters rules out her and her dentist lover as suspects and looks instead for a possible connection with the protest movement. After a right-wing TV host stirs up trouble with his grossly one-sided reports, outside agitators arrive to fight against the park, which they consider an insult to veterans. Molly’s stolen bike is the least of her worries. Her parents, who’ve never approved her choice of profession, seem on the verge of divorce, and her best friend blames her when she’s badly beaten by a stalker Molly warned her against. But Molly slowly wins Winter’s respect. Despite her rookie mistakes, her local knowledge helps him track down a killer before the town explodes.

An exciting series debut from Delaney (Burden of Memory, 2006, etc.), featuring complex characters with plenty of room to grow.