Gandy Dancer by Doc Richter

Content warnings: rape, serial killer

An intense historical thriller set along the Alaskan Northern Railway

Now that Josh Spark has come of age, he’s going to work harder for a better life. He can’t stay working on Uncle Harry’s fox farm any longer. To gain more opportunities, Uncle Harry encourages Josh to pursue rigorous work as a Gandy Dancer for the Northern Alaska Railway, which will change the trajectory of his life forever.

This hardworking and intelligent young man excels in his role and finds a way to build a promising future for himself and his newly forming family. While he knows he faces danger on the job, he does not anticipate what kind is lurking in the background.

It turns out: a serial killer known as “The Wolf” is wreaking havoc on the community. The Wolf is raping and murdering young women, and he has a personal vendetta against Josh. Josh’s family is right in the killer’s sights.

Told from three viewpoints, Josh, The Wolf, and Constable Bud Jameson, this novel puts us on the inside of the intensity. Josh and Bud are both likable and well intentioned, and their segments offer no resistance to empathy. The Wolf’s segments, however, are unsettling and hard to stomach. A sharp, eye-opening contrast.

The Wolf’s narration makes it for a challenging read at times; the rape and murder scenes are included in detail, so buckle up if you’re ready for it. His voice is cold and detached, not sympathetic in the least. He views women as playthings to mutilate and discard, and he hunts them like sport. It can be jarring to go from the gentler sections to one so explicit and obviously harmful, but this contrast successfully puts us on edge and makes us constantly root for Josh.

A unique twist to this mystery is that the audience learns the killer’s identity early on. When it’s made clear who The Wolf actually is, it makes complete sense and helps explain the assumed personal grudge he holds against Josh. While it takes away from a reveal or misdirection for the mystery-thriller fan, the early reveal adds a different kind of suspense as he hunts Josh’s family. The early reveal is a good move overall, something that works in the narrative’s favor so we can focus on survival.

The history is also deeply compelling. Richter covers a part of American history not always talked about. The development of the Alaska Northern Railway and the start of WWII are woven seamlessly into this murderous thriller. Richter’s depictions of the work on the railroad add to an overall gritty, textured atmosphere. It is easy to understand how difficult and dangerous this work is through the sharp, vivid imagery.

Gandy Dancer is an evocative thriller with a hair-rising plot and some truly fascinating history, an intriguing summer read.

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