• Bad Blood

  • A Kate Shugak Mystery, Book 20
  • By: Dana Stabenow
  • Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin
  • Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (355 ratings)

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Bad Blood  By  cover art

Bad Blood

By: Dana Stabenow
Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin
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Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Dana Stabenow's latest, Bad Blood, finds Kate Shugak entangled in a bitter tribal rivalry and murder.

In Alaska, 100 years of bad blood between the villages of Kushtaka and Kuskulana come to a boil when the body of a young Kushtaka ne'er-do-well is found wedged in a fish wheel. Sergeant Jim Chopin's prime suspect is a Kuskulana man who is already in trouble in both villages for falling in love across the river. But when the suspect disappears, members of both tribes refuse to speak to Jim. When a second murder that looks suspiciously like payback occurs, Jim has no choice but to call in Kate Shugak for help. This time, though, her Park relationships may not be enough to sort out the truth hidden in the tales of tragedy and revenge.

©2013 Dana Stabenow (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

What listeners say about Bad Blood

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To Be Continued

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

If she had finished the book

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not Dana Stabenow

Any additional comments?

I've been a fan of Dana Stabenow's books for many years and this is the first tme she's disappointed me. She left the story hanging like the last season episode of Dallas. Shame on you Dana, it's not like you have to force your readers to return by leavng a story unfinished!

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Another Great Kate Shugak Story

This 20th book in the story of Kate Shugak and Alaska is another winner, though much of the story is actually about Jim Chopin. The plot, straight out of Shakespeare, involves the feud between two villages in the Park, and the problems of young love in the midst of feud fueled by profound cultural and socio-economic differences.
This book ends with a rather controversial ending that I will not describe or comment on to avoid spoiling the book. Suffice it to say, it's a shocker.
But even knowing that, I am extremely glad to have read this book, and, as usual, Marguerite Gavin's superb narration adds to the enjoyment and understanding.

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4 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Wait for the next book in the series

I love the Shugak series. I listen to them again and again...but I won't bother with this one. It's stuffed with poofy purple prose and so much description that one is ready to gag on it.

In general, it's a Romeo and Juliet rehash with star-crossed lovers from two different villages that have traditionally feuded with each other. Gack. I don't care for this kind of storyline. I might as well be reading about a grizzly dating a beaver.

We've also got multiple murders, bootlegging, Erland Bannister is once again on the loose (he's tried to kill Kate before), and Jim Chopin is losing his ability to interact with hostile locals. His skiff is sabotaged, leading to a sinking in an icy cold river and potential hypothermia. Some one -- or everyone wants him to stop investigating the man who drowned in a fish wheel and the man who died, nailed into a crawlspace.

I don't need to hear stuff reiterated. Hearing the same details repeated inside of 5 or 10 minutes regarding Chopper Jim or Kate or two villages having a pissing match gets old. Really old. I usually listen to these books in a day, two at most. It took me a week to keep interested in this long enough to get to the bitter end.

It ends with a cliffhanger that's definitely dirty pool. Bullets are flying and two characters are hit. Then it ends. If my favorite character dies, I won't return to these books.

Wait for the next volume so that you can find out right away who lives, dies, whatever. It would also be a good idea to switch back to the ebook version so that you can flip pages with rapidity instead of listening to hours of blaah. A print version should be only an hour's read. At the very least, use your iPod and jack up the speed to "faster, must go faster!"

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed the cliffhanger.

Unlike other reviewers of this book, I liked the cliffhanger. Dana has never shied away from shocking twists -- like letting Jack die! For me it makes the books far more real and likable. Life isn't easy, perfect or rolled up into little pretty packages in the end. In life loved ones die, people hurt one another and we often hate our jobs. That is something Ms Stabenow does well. Am I anxious to know the outcome from this cliffhanger? Yes, I am. And I like that.

Regarding the rest of the book. This mystery was less interesting to me than the last two. And, unfortunately the things I like best about the Kate Shaguk series are mostly absent. There was less development of the Jim/Kate storyline; Johnny was absent, and Bobby too; Alaska is less of a character in this story. So, I cannot give it more than 3 stars.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

CLIFFHANGER!!

I love the Kate Shugak series and was under the impression this was the last book. The ending was a terrible shock and I was royally p***ed…then after checking Diana Stabenow's web site, I find that she's working on the 21st book in the series!! Thank god! That shocking ending was the only reason for a lost star on the story. Love Kate and Mutt and Chopper Jim!!

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

will never read this author again

What disappointed you about Bad Blood?

I recently found this series and have listened to most of her books. They are an easy entertaining listen. I assume she ended the book this way to make the reader anxious to read the next book to see how it turns out. I felt cheated and will never buy a book by Stabenow again.

What could Dana Stabenow have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

finished the story

What about Marguerite Gavin’s performance did you like?

good performance

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Wait..wha???

Let me preface this by saying, I grew up listening to audio books my dad had checked out from the library and my favorite series was always this one. Now as an adult I've followed this series all the way through and re-listened to them many times. But this book has completely ruined the whole series for me. I may never go back to enjoy any of the Kate books again and its highly unlikely I'll buy another of Dana Stabenow's books again, that's how awful this book was.
The majority of the book was alright, I don't have much complaint about 95% of it. However the ending is so awful I will never re listen to this book and I may not listen to another Dana Stabenow book again. The ending is such a jolting moment that you have to rewind it and listen again because surely I missed something that did not seriously happen.
Not only are you (at least me) left feeling angered at what the author did to the two main characters, but that anger at the author is stretched further by the cliff hanger she left at the end. Worst. Ending. Ever.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Losing it’s energy

I’ve bought all the Kate Shugak series up to now, but this is the first book where I felt like the series is losing its appeal. This story is flat and could barely hold my attention. The plot is average and the characters are undeveloped and weak. The relationship between Kate and Jim is becoming extremely boring. Chopin is not a strong enough character to be with
Kate. I never understood why the author put these two together in the first place. Also, like others have said, Stabenow pulls a low stunt by ending the story right in the middle of a scene as if she simply ran out of pages. Had I not bought books 20 and 21 at the same time, I would have just called it quits. As is, I’m going to try to exchange both.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Go Alaska

At their core Dana Stabenow's books are about Alaska, the land, the people and throw in a mystery to be solved by the indomitable Kate Shugack.

I listened to this book while in Alaska. It brought the land and the people to life. While not a taut thriller it was still an enjoyable listen. If you like the series, you will like this one, too.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

good book, good narration

The narration was much better in this book than in the last one. Liked the story; did not like the ending but I guess I'll have to see. Have liked all of the Kate Shugak novels. Read/listen to them in order.

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