Synopses & Reviews
Chee-Chalker: a newcomer to Alaska and the Klondike; an Indian word meaning one who is inexperienced or has no knowledge; a tenderfoot.
Bill Norton might be new to Ketchikan but he’s no tenderfoot. In fact, he’s one of the sharpest FBI agents this side of the Yukon—savvy, tough and resourceful, like Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan in Clear and Present Danger.
Norton’s come to this rough-and-tumble town to look into a case of a missing person—his own boss—who vanished investigating a heroin smuggling operation. What Norton finds is a string of corpses, a gallery of rogues, and a fleet of fishing boats that specialize in red herrings. He also finds himself warming up to the heart-stopping halibut heiress Elaine Halloway.
But is Elaine mixed up in the heroin trade . . . or a victim of it? To find the truth Norton will have to make living men sweat—and dead men talk. Because every body fished out of the icy waters has a story to tell, and it will take all of Norton’s CSI-like skills to squeeze it out of them.
Hubbard wrote The Chee-Chalker in 1940 while on his Alaskan Experimental Radio Expedition. One of its main purposes was to test an experimental radio navigation system enabling the user to locate the source of radio transmissions. While in Ketchikan, Ron used this equipment to assist the US Army Signal Corp, Coast Guard and local FBI. In the process he helped uncover a Nazi saboteur who had invented a device to interfere with radio transmissions between Alaska and the continental United States. So it’s not surprising that a radio station plays a significant role in this story.
Review
"His stories could be counted upon to give you a little chill and a little laugh also." —Ben Endick
Review
“Bill Norton, the hero of this adventure, is anything but a tenderfoot. A hero of the classic adventure mold, Norton is tough and rugged, and has a strong sense of honor.” —The Strand
Review
"This layered tale takes listeners to Ketchikan, Alaska, where FBI agent Bill Norton finds himself in the middle of a heated investigation involving a group of heroin smugglers. The recording production is the highest quality, filled with realistic sound effects and a powerful musical score. But the ensemble cast lacks the spark of excitement usually found in Galaxy Audio’s productions. Though Hubbard’s prose is terse and witty as always, the performances are flat and uninspired. Perhaps this particular story lacked the command to captivate the cast’s full energy." —Publishers Weekly
Review
“Eerie, foreboding music sets the scene as FBI agent Bill Norton, referred to by locals as a chee-chalker, or newcomer, arrives in Ketchikan, Alaska, to search for his boss, who disappeared while investigating a heroin ring. Norton and his eager assistant don’t receive much help from the locals as the two agents consider shady halibut fishermen, a beautiful fishing fleet heiress, and a local businessman as possible suspects. In this multicast recording, Norton’s flat, serious tones contrast with the innocent voice of heiress Elaine Halloway (portrayed by Meskimen). Excellent sound effects, including slamming doors, blaring ship horns, and fighting fists (complete with realistic punches, groans and thuds), accompany the dialogue. Peals of thunder and pouring rain add to the gloomy atmosphere. The stereotypical depiction of drunken Indians is reflective in the 1940s setting, the era in which this was written. Reminiscent of old-time radio and television dramas, this is most entertaining.” —Booklist
Synopsis
A Chee-Chalker is a newcomer to Alaska; an Indian word meaning one who is inexperienced or has no knowledge.
Bill Norton might be new to Ketchikan but he's no tenderfoot. In fact, he's one of the sharpest FBI agents this side of the Yukon--savvy, tough, and resourceful, like Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan in Clear and Present Danger.
Norton's come to this rough-and-tumble town to look into a case of a missing person--his own boss--who vanished investigating a heroin smuggling operation. What Norton finds is a string of corpses, a gallery of rogues, and a fleet of fishing boats that specialize in red herrings. He also finds himself warming up to the heart-stopping halibut heiress Elaine Halloway.
But is Elaine mixed up in the heroin trade ... or a victim of it? To find the truth Norton will have to make living men sweat--and dead men talk. Because every body fished out of the icy waters has a story to tell, and it will take all of Norton's CSI-like skills to squeeze it out of them.
Hubbard wrote The Chee-Chalker in 1940 while on his Alaskan Experimental Radio Expedition. One of its main purposes was to test an experimental radio navigation system enabling the user to locate the source of radio transmissions. While in Ketchikan, Ron used this equipment to assist the US Army Signal Corp, Coast Guard, and local FBI. In the process, he helped uncover a Nazi saboteur who had invented a device to interfere with radio transmissions between Alaska and the continental United States. So it's not surprising that a radio station plays a significant role in this story.
Synopsis
In Ketchikan, Alaska, FBI agent Bill Norton discovers an heiress to a bankrupt fishing fleet, a missing G-man and a string of corpses dismissed as “accidental drownings” . . . all leading him to a murderous heroin smuggling ring.
Synopsis
Discover this suspensful tale. FBI agent Bill Norton has been sent to Ketchikan, Alaska to track down his former boss, who's vanished while investigating a heroin smuggling ring. Norton instantly suspects the smugglers are operating from inside the local fishing fleet. But six months and a string of declared "accidental" drownings have failed to turn up any clues.
Norton's cold case heats up when the local radio station owner emerges, floating face-down at the docks, and a heart-stopping heiress to the halibut trade makes a maelstrom of trouble. The fact that Norton is well dressed and neatly shaven causes some of the local toughs to mistake the agent for a "chee-chalker"—or newcomer—much to their regret. "Bill Norton, the hero of this adventure, is anything but a tenderfoot. A hero of the classic adventure mold, Norton is tough and rugged, and has a strong sense of honor." —The Strand
Synopsis
Chee-Chalker: a newcomer or tenderfoot. Bill Norton might be new to Ketchikan but he’s no tenderfoot. In fact, he’s an FBI agent—savvy, tough and resourceful, like Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan in Clear and Present Danger. Norton’s looking for his boss, who vanished investigating a heroin smuggling ring. What Norton finds is murder . . . and a heart-stopping heiress. But is she, too, mixed up in the heroin trade? It will take all of Norton’s CSI-like skills to squeeze out the truth.
About the Author
With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 230 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most acclaimed and widely read authors of our time. As a leading light of American Pulp Fiction through the 1930s and '40s, he is further among the most influential authors of the modern age. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard.