The Woman Who Married a Bear

“We're 1950 models and Cancers.” Just like me.

This is an odd book because it's obvious that the plot was secondary to the prose. If you like really nice writing, then you'll enjoy this book. If you like a good mystery, then you won't. The plot is flimsy, the mystery predictable. The Woman Who Married a Bear could very easily have been a literary novel about an alcoholic in Alaska and his interactions with other people, including his born-again ex-wife. Why John Straley decided to make it a (nominally) mystery novel is the real mystery.

3.5 stars.