Dead in the Water

A Kate Shugak Novel, Book 3

By: Dana Stabenow

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Once, Kate Shugak was the star investigator of the Anchorage D.A.'s office. Now she's gone back to her Aleut roots in the far Alaska north - where her talent for detection makes her the toughest crime-tracker in that stark and mysterious land.

©2012 Dana Stabenow (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Kate Rocks the Boat

I never imagined that I would fall in love with a series set in Alaska (hate snow and cold weather) where the residents are either fishing, talking about fishing or eating fish (not a favorite).

After reading and listening to the entire Kate Shugak series at least 10 times, I can honestly say that these books just keep getting better with time.

Delightful heroine

Listened to this book during my hourlong commute to and from work each day. Kate is a compelling character and this is a gripping storyline.

love these books

my absolute favorite novels, the best series ever! I love the characters, the stories, and Alaska. makes you wish you lived in the Park with Kate & Mutt

So very addictive, I want more

Where does Dead in the Water rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book belongs at the top of all my audio books. I eagerly await any new Shugak novel.

The best of the first 3 books!

I began the Kate Shaguk mystery series recently so I have only read the first three. I love the Alaskan setting and feel it actually serves as a character of its own. And in this book we entered the world of crab fishing. It was a really great plot with all the tension needed to keep the mystery moving forward. Kate was in peril. Kate made new friendships. Alaska and its wether played a big role. The "bad guys" were really unlikable and the "good guys" were equally likable. It was good book. The only thing I wanted was more -- more book. The books in this series are short and I really wish they were longer.

Alaska to the Core

The reader gets a lesson on Aleut history and tradition and a good look at the brutal fishing industry. That backdrop is often as much fun as the whodunit portion of the story, as was in this case. Sasha, an Aleut deformed by fetal alcohol syndrome, tells stories about the tribe's history. As always, a gripping story in a reasonable time, 5+46.

Takes my mind off my troubles

Better than average—interesting story, excellent info on Inuit practices of weaving, story knives.
Though it’s hard to believe sometimes that Kate is fit enough to haul crab pots and work on a commercial boat And swim from said boat to shore and back in the dark frigid water And...the list is endless.
This is an entertaining read where evil gets its due and Kate lives to sleuth another day.

Kate goes fishing for killers

The Kate Shugak books are usually credible, compact mysteries, set against a backdrop of some significant aspect of life in Alaska. "Dead In The Water" has Jack Morgan getting Kate to go under-cover as crew boat fishing for crab off the Aleutian Islands, to investigate the disappearance of two former crew members.

What follows is a vivid description of what life on board is like and an mystery with enough twist and turns and action and physical danger to keep everything moving along nicely.

For me the "whodunit" aspects of the Kate Shugak novels are secondary considerations, a frame for hanging the important stuff from. When the book is back on the shelf and time has passed, it's not the plot twist that stay with me but the vivid scenes of Alaskan life and what I learn about Kate Shugak.

"Dead In The Water" has several of these memorable moments: Kate drinking with a crew of Russian fishermen in a bar in the port, all of them trying to woo her in a semi-serious, larger than life kind of way; Kate's enounter with a young, deformed, Aluet girl who interprets life by using a storyknife to draw in the sand on the beach and her basket-weaviung grandmother who shares details of the history of her people and Kate's plunge into the freezing depths, trapped in a crab cage. All of these are told with a skill and an eye for detail that makes them real and compelling.

Kate is the centre piece of all of these novels. She is the reason I keep coming back. I this novel I got to see her as a woman confident enough of her own attractiveness and her own strength to spend time with the Russian sailors without feeling threatened by them or offending them. I saw the softer side of her in her gentle teasing of her young, over-enthusiastic Californian-surfer crewmate who loves EVERYTHING Alaskan. I saw the heart of her in her passionate relationship with Jack Morgan. I saw her again tracing the impact of her heritage and her culture in her deference to the elder who teaches her to weave and her affection for the young girl telling stories written in sand.

That is more than enough to make any book successful and is quite extraordinary for a short, crime-fiction novel.

Another best from Kate Shugak series

What did you love best about Dead in the Water?

always kept you thinking what happens next

What did you like best about this story?

that Kate made it out of her delema

Which scene was your favorite?

at the end when the discovery of the two men

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

no

Nothing as good as a good book.

Loved every minute of it. Great plot, great characters. Love this series.

As usual Marguerite Gavin does a wonderful job. I'm glad she reads all of these.

Now I just have to wait with baited breath for the next one that is missing to show up.