This is the first state where I think the location, Sitka, is essential to the story. Cecil Younger, an investigator who leaves something to be desired, his own assessment, has a difficult time disengaging from a case where he worked for the defense and got the accused off for killing four people and setting the fishing boat on fire, hence the name of the book.
Survivors, witnesses, and family members of victims end up dying, and money from tabloids for the "true killer," disturbed children and the suspicion of drug money interweave the main plot, as do other Alaskans, frustrated, isolated blues harmonica enthusiasts, etc.
The author does interject into Cecil's voice some classic murder mystery structural issues. From the end of the first chapter: "In a story, you expect that every single person will be part of the plot, but how does that happen? If your life is a story, a story you revise over and over again in your memory, how do you choose the themes? How do you choose the people?" Straley does an excellent job of connecting the people with the plot and the location.
The subplot of George Doggy, a retired former investigator with big time political connections echos the idea of how to elicit the story. Doggy is admired and still involved in police matters and when he turns the interrogation of the ultimate suspect over to Cecil, the plot comes to closure.
COMMENT FROM HIDING IN HAMAGRAEL:
I finished Cold Water Burning and then went to the blog. Agreed with your analysis, particularly about importance of setting. A very small, very insular and isolated community has more than usual influence/impact/direction on our lives. I think there's more to the title than the obvious boat burning. The actual phrase came up when Cecil was in the water. The odd placement struck me, but I haven't figured out yet why and what was implied.
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