***Whodunnit in a wintry Alaskan town with LeAnn Rimes***

Eddie Cibrian costars as the Police Chief newly arrived from Baltimore in this television flick based on Nora Roberts’ 2004 novel. Rosanna Arquette is also on hand as the mother of Rimes’ bush pilot character.

The author was obviously inspired by the TV show Northern Exposure when she wrote this but, then again, so were the writers of Michael J. Fox’s “Doc Hollywood.” The movie nevertheless stands on its own as a drama/romance/suspense murder mystery. It’s sort of like a Western in the modern day with the new sheriff coming to town and dealing with rascals, intrigues and ladies thereof.

Sure, the script is contrived with almost zero sense of subtlety, but the snowy locations of the Great Northwest are awesome. I found myself involved in the lives of the characters, caring about the outcome of the protagonists, not to mention wanting to know who the murderer was amidst several suspects.

Someone complained about a certain couple hooking up prematurely, but it’s not like people jumping the gun with sex is rare, particularly in the modern age. Besides, it arguably reveals what the so-and-so learned from so-and-so. Speaking of which, there’s a good peripheral lesson on the reasons behind a loose sexual lifestyle, not to mention how genuine love paves the way for redemption.

It runs 1h 32m and was shot in late 2008 at Bragg Creek, Alberta, and 30 miles to the east in Heritage Park, Calgary, such as the historical Wainwright Hotel.

GRADE: B