The name Aaron Stander brings to mind a skilled interviewer of authors on Interlocken Public Radio, a resident teacher of writing at that Michigan academy, an admired reviewer of mystery novels and an editor widely treasured by authors and publishers. In addition to these roles Stander is an accomplished author of mysteries set in the wonderful north County of Leelanau, Michigan. Here then is book number four, Shelf Ice, again featuring Sherriff Ray Elkins who takes us into new, very unpleasant situations. This Sherriff Elkins remains in the mold of previous novels: Summer People, Color Tour and Deer Season. But Elkins has now matured within a much richer mosaic and shows development of a harder edged pragmatism. The central plot moves around the beating to death of an artist in her cabin in the woods on a snowy night. In responding to a call for assistance for Brenda, Sherriff Ray Elkins starts a very bad day. In quick order he is called out in the storm, is crashed into by a crazed snowplow driver, has his primary assistant incapacitated by the crash, encounters a badly beaten and dying young woman, collapses on duty from the crash ending in the hospital and is informed by his major love interest that she is leaving town. With this start the plot winds around some interesting characters including a TV evangelist, a frightened single mother, a town drunk, a brain damaged paranoid, an attractive female cardiologist who is hooked on kayaking and Sue, his chief investigative detective who is about to crack from overwork. As Sue and Sherriff Adkins peel away one suspect after another the author demonstrates an amazing breadth of knowledge. We learn much about climbing, medicine, the polygraph. sermons, snowshoeing, ice rescues, kayaks, cooking and dog psychology.....and many other subjects except British sports cars. This is woven among characters and situations in a most appealing manner. Stander also demonstrates his ability to describe within a broad range of ambients from rough action to quiet contemplation. This novel is a welcome addition to the mystery scene. Each new novel by Stander demonstrates a remarkable increase in composition craft and writing skills. Number four, Shelf Ice, dovetails beautifully with this pattern of growth, particularly in the character build out of Sherriff Elkins. This novel by Aaron exhibits his much greater comfort, satisfaction and enjoyment as an author. He once again demonstrates his deep understanding of the geographic area and total fabric of northern Michigan. And he successfully melds this within a natural ability to tell a good yarn. Shelf Ice is an impressive addition to the literary offerings from Aaron Stander of Interlocken!