A Fatal Thaw

Kate Shugak, Book 2

By: Dana Stabenow

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

On her homestead in the middle of twenty million acres of national Park, Aleut P.I. Kate Shugak is caught up in spring cleaning, unaware that just miles away another Park rat is planning a massacre. When the sound of gunfire finally dies away, nine of his neighbors lie dead in the snow. But did he kill all nine, or only eight? The ninth victim was killed with a different weapon. It’s up to Kate and her husky-wolf sidekick Mutt to untangle the life of the dead blonde with the tarnished past and find her killer. It won’t be easy; every second Park rat had a motive. Was it one of her many spurned lovers? Was a wife looking for revenge? Or did a deal with an ivory smuggler go bad?

Even Chopper Jim Chopin, the Park’s resident state trooper, had a history with the victim. Kate will need every ounce of determination to find the truth before Alaska metes out its own justice....

©2011 Dana Stabenow (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Pretty Good

This is a very good story but I don't think I will read anymore in this series. It is always Kate to the rescue. The men in this series seem weak and lazy. As strong and intelligent as Kate is, she seems to be a weak idiot when it comes to the lead male character Jack Morgan. She gives in to him in more ways than one. Kate calls everyone to the carpet and lives her life by her own rules but as a strong female character I find her lacking. Like I said. The story is good. The plot is full of well developed characters. I love the dog Mutt. Ever since I started reading these books I have been wondering if I can move to Alaska and become a wilderness woman.

Good but not her best ...

Good story, very good narrator but I got so tired of hearing “epicanthic food” so often—couldn’t the author have found different ways to allude to the same thing?
I love these stories and the life depicted. It’s a great series especially the respectful representation of native peoples. Hopefully, they are correct.
And of course, Kate is a true superhero—she hunts, fishes, guides, tracks, builds, and is equal to any man she meets. Go Kate!

Reliably interesting, this meets expectations.

I have enjoyed a couple of these in no particular order. The mix of police procedural, cross cultural tensions and a unique landscape always provide a good framework for an entertaining read. I enjoyed this one as well.

Love Kate and Mutt

Excellent story featuring a strong, independent woman (Kate) and her faithful companion Mutt. The Alaskan setting was intriguing although I can't imagine living without indoor plumbing. An exceptional mystery with interesting friendships and non-violent romance for discerning adults. Thanks Dana!

Second in an Alaskan trilogy

I bought this from Audibles daily deals and was pleasantly surprised. The Alaskan setting is described very well, the great detail helped it to really become part of the story. The characters are believable, they fit right into the setting and you can see how their personalities are developed and influenced by their rural environment.

I liked Kate, the capable, independent gal that the police commission to root out, who among the locals may be a murderer. Her best friend and work partner is a female, wolf/husky, named Mutt who is quite a character. Kate's no nonsense determination makes it fun to follow her investigation.

Marguerite Gavin's narration was a little rough for me in the beginning but definitely grew on me as the book progressed. She adds a little something to Kate's Character. Overall a fun listen.

Strong Plot

This is the second in the Kate Shugak series and another fun read. Kate investigates a murder of opportunity. Good--Stabenow’s descriptions of a modern potlatch and spring in the Arctic. Marguerite Gavin, again, does a great job on the narration. Stabenow exquisitely describes the mountains in this tale--I wonder why she just doesn't use the real names? This second book in the series had a stronger plot than the first. Where's #3?

Murder in Alaska

Good story without a deep plot. Made you feel like you were there. Read if you like animals and being out in the wilderness.

very good book

I like reading about Kate more and more. she is complex and has values not necessarily in line with the law she sometimes enforces. I am not sure I like her, but her world is so different than mine, and I enjoy the mental and emotional exercise of wondering what I would do in her place.

Another solid, gripping mystery

Kate Shugak has had months of relative peace, unbothered by the demands of her former profession. That's broken by not jus t a murder in the park, but a massacre one bright, sunny, Alaska-spring morning. Kate is the last person he comes after, because she's warned of the shootings and the fact that the man is headed her way. She and her wolf cross, Mutt, manage to take him down alive.

There are nine dead. But did the man kill all nine, or only eight? One of the dead, a woman, was killed by a bullet from a different gun. Same type, same caliber, but not the same gun.

Two killers, with the same type of gun, the same sunny morning?

The woman killed by the second gun, unfortunately, had a host of people who might have wanted her dead, and they would all be local.

Kate gets the thankless task of finding, or not finding, this second killer.

This is, once again, a story of character and intricate social ties, with the questions of who and why the keys that open those questions. Kate and her friends, family, and colleagues are complicated people, filled with virtues and flaws, and so are their neighbors and friends.

A good read or listen. Recommended.

I bought this audiobook.

Tired of the GD word

Apparently the author loves the GD curse word. Got REAL tired of hearing it over and over. Tried 2 of her books in this series, apparently her characters' only repitoire of curse words is using God's name in vain in various ways.