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Kate Shugak #14
A Taint in the Blood
In this spell-binding novel, A Taint in the Blood, Kate's confrontation with thirty years of secrets and regret-and murder-in one of Alaska's most powerful families shows award-winning crime writer Dana Stabenow at the top of her game.Thirty-one years ago in Anchorage, Alaska, Victoria Pilz Bannister Muravieff was convicted of murdering her seventeen-year-old son William. The jury returned a quick verdict of guilty, believing the prosecutor's claims that she had set fire to her own home with both her sons inside; William died and the other, Oliver, narrowly escaped. Victoria was sentenced to life in prison without parole, and though she pled not guilty at the trial, she never again denied her guilt.Now her daughter, Charlotte Muravieff, has hired Kate Shugak to clear her mother's name. Her daughter has always believed in her innocence, and now that Victoria has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, Charlotte wants her free. Kate is the only p.i. Charlotte can find who's willing to take such a long-shot case. Kate, on the other hand, is only willing because she's suddenly a single parent to a teenager, a teenager she hopes will decide to go to college. Besides, it can't be bad to do a favor for the Bannister family, one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in Alaska's short history.As Kate begins an investigation, Victoria protests, refusing to cooperate. But soon it seems she isn't the only one who wants to leave the past in the past.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2004
148 people are currently reading
958 people want to read
About the author
Dana Stabenow
104 books2,145 followersDana Stabenow was born in Anchorage and raised on 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska. She knew there was a warmer, drier job out there somewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
November 25, 2019
Omg could these be any better ? I keep saying that and they keep getting better so I guess so, it makes me want to ditch my next planned book to read the next in this series. Kate is following a family crime drama that has so many twists she was baffled. She hates being baffled. Luckily Jim just happens to be in town doing his legal duty and is there to help her through it all. Yup he's a firm support to Kate.
Kate and Jim, well that's a fun one to watch. Jim is so silly thinking he can overtake Kate and lay down the law. The poor guy is struggling against the tidal wave that is Kate with only an innertube.
I can not wait to continue the series
Kate and Jim, well that's a fun one to watch. Jim is so silly thinking he can overtake Kate and lay down the law. The poor guy is struggling against the tidal wave that is Kate with only an innertube.
I can not wait to continue the series
April 19, 2023
This is my umpteenth re-reading of this series, and I still come away amazed at how this author can write a mystery. I love how the author can take Kate (us really!) out of the park and plop Kate in the city and have it be a smooth transaction this time. For those of us that have already read the last book published, we have seen how Kate has grown, has become a bit of a player, and has learned to use her strengths and not always her brute strength and Mutts snapping teeth! Although in this book, Mutt does get to take a chunk out of someone, and that is always fun for the fans.
Kate's relationship, (for lack of a better word) with Jim seems to be turning a corner in this book, and I like it. Jim doesn't, but I do!
The mystery in this book was complex and really had me guessing...my jaw still drops in astonishment every time I read this book.
If I had one complaint, it is that this book had so many side characters that I almost needed a scorecard. This book lacked a lot of the history we are used to, but then again, it lacked a lot of the 'preaching' that the author is famous for, and I, for one, was a little happy about that.
Kate's relationship, (for lack of a better word) with Jim seems to be turning a corner in this book, and I like it. Jim doesn't, but I do!
The mystery in this book was complex and really had me guessing...my jaw still drops in astonishment every time I read this book.
If I had one complaint, it is that this book had so many side characters that I almost needed a scorecard. This book lacked a lot of the history we are used to, but then again, it lacked a lot of the 'preaching' that the author is famous for, and I, for one, was a little happy about that.
May 21, 2016
I enjoyed the storyline involving Jim. Kate is rejoining life and enjoying herself again - 2 years after losing Jack. Her flirtation with Jim - her enjoyment of the playfulness of their sex life - is a fun part of this book. It allows the reader to escape the grief that has been so integral to the story for several books.
However, the story here takes place in Anchorage. This means that Bobby is completely absent, as is the character of Alaska. My favorite part of this series is its glimpses into the culture of Alaska. I love learning about life in the 49th state, especially among some of the "park rats". I love examining the Aleut culture, I love the craziness brought to life due to the wildlife, and I love the personalities of the supporting cast. All of that was missing in this book and that was a big disappointment for me.
However, the story here takes place in Anchorage. This means that Bobby is completely absent, as is the character of Alaska. My favorite part of this series is its glimpses into the culture of Alaska. I love learning about life in the 49th state, especially among some of the "park rats". I love examining the Aleut culture, I love the craziness brought to life due to the wildlife, and I love the personalities of the supporting cast. All of that was missing in this book and that was a big disappointment for me.
August 9, 2014
Loved every minute of it. Just waiting for Jim to get his brains unscrambled. :)
February 9, 2023
A Taint in the Blood by Dana Stabenow is all about getting a murder convict out of prison after thirty years. Is she really guilty and why is people still getting murdered? Kate Shugak is probably one of the toughest female lead characters I've evere read about. I do like her and the Alaskan setting. I also like all the history in this series. Great fun reading.
September 7, 2020
"A Taint In The Blood" is the most lighthearted, optimistic, Kate Shugak novel since "Breakup" (which was book seven - way back in time).
I liked the humorous start to the book, with Kate offering I-hate-owing-people-anything motivated "help" to the people who rebuilt her home at the end of the last book and driving them crazy in the process.
I also liked that Kate has now come out of her trauma-induced hibernation and is ready to toy with Jim Chopin, the habitual womanizer who keeps telling himself that he does NOT want a relationship with Kate - just good sex. Kate frustrates his expectations by taking him at his word, having mind-blowing sex with him and then leaving him to wake up alone while she heads off to work. Chopin's bemusement is a joy to behold.
Kate's relationship with the late Jack Morgan was always described as intensely physical but most of it happened off camera. In "A Taint In The Blood" everything is much more up close and personal.
It seems to me that, as well as being lighthearted fun and a development of Kate's relationship with Jim, this reawakening of Kate's sexual confidence shows her taking another step towards being more like her grandmother - a woman known for the impact she had on her lovers.
The murder mystery in this book is slight in terms of plot complexity but that's not really the point. This thirty-year-old murder case provides an opportunity to look back into how life used to be in Alaska. I enjoyed the tales of the old-timer bush cop and the peek into the rawness of the Alaskan "Frontier". I guessed the murderer fairly early on but that didn't spoil my enjoyment because the characters were so well described.
This was a light, fun, sometimes sexy read that gave a welcome change in pace from the depressed mood of the books that started with "Hunter's Moon". Now I'm looking forward to see what Kate is going to do with her life.
I liked the humorous start to the book, with Kate offering I-hate-owing-people-anything motivated "help" to the people who rebuilt her home at the end of the last book and driving them crazy in the process.
I also liked that Kate has now come out of her trauma-induced hibernation and is ready to toy with Jim Chopin, the habitual womanizer who keeps telling himself that he does NOT want a relationship with Kate - just good sex. Kate frustrates his expectations by taking him at his word, having mind-blowing sex with him and then leaving him to wake up alone while she heads off to work. Chopin's bemusement is a joy to behold.
Kate's relationship with the late Jack Morgan was always described as intensely physical but most of it happened off camera. In "A Taint In The Blood" everything is much more up close and personal.
It seems to me that, as well as being lighthearted fun and a development of Kate's relationship with Jim, this reawakening of Kate's sexual confidence shows her taking another step towards being more like her grandmother - a woman known for the impact she had on her lovers.
The murder mystery in this book is slight in terms of plot complexity but that's not really the point. This thirty-year-old murder case provides an opportunity to look back into how life used to be in Alaska. I enjoyed the tales of the old-timer bush cop and the peek into the rawness of the Alaskan "Frontier". I guessed the murderer fairly early on but that didn't spoil my enjoyment because the characters were so well described.
This was a light, fun, sometimes sexy read that gave a welcome change in pace from the depressed mood of the books that started with "Hunter's Moon". Now I'm looking forward to see what Kate is going to do with her life.
November 20, 2010
I was disappointed in this installment of the Kate Shugak series. Kate is hired to clear a dying woman's name of a deadly arson conviction from 30 years past. She heads to Anchorage to investigate which is where the book takes place. She is accompanied through most of the book by Jim Chopin. The mystery was only mildly engaging, and I missed the park and wilderness setting in this one. I also felt like the book's purpose was more to develop the sexual relationship between Jim and Kate than to investigate a mystery. It's my least favorite book in the series.
May 29, 2017
This must be in my top five Kate Shugak books thus far. Really good crime mystery in this one. And it's probably one of the more accessible books if someone wasn't wanting to read the entire series from the start. As the crime happens in Anchorage, she's not in the park that much in this book, so there's not so much about the ongoing back stories of characters and more about the mystery of the day. It felt like a good old twisted tale of power corrupts and the evil love of money going, as well as a couple of interesting characters slung in along the way, such as this retired ex cop who is in his nineties. There was a moment where I thought Stabenow was going back into repeat from the last couple of books - Kate gets whacked over the head and Jim Chopin has to rush in to rescue her - for the section did start out like that. But she's back fighting this time and can take care of herself. Horah!
In this tale a woman called Charlotte Bannister turns up at Kate's homestead wanting to hire her. Charlotte's mother has been in prison the last 30 years for arson of her own home, in which one of her sons died. Charlotte thinks her mother is innocent and wants Kate to prove it and get Victoria Bannister out. Victoria isn't interested in getting out. Everyone thinks it is a waste of time. But as Kate starts digging, people connected to the old case start dying...
In this tale a woman called Charlotte Bannister turns up at Kate's homestead wanting to hire her. Charlotte's mother has been in prison the last 30 years for arson of her own home, in which one of her sons died. Charlotte thinks her mother is innocent and wants Kate to prove it and get Victoria Bannister out. Victoria isn't interested in getting out. Everyone thinks it is a waste of time. But as Kate starts digging, people connected to the old case start dying...
May 16, 2021
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Marguerite Gavin is the narrator for the audiobook version of this novel.
Marguerite Gavin is the narrator for the audiobook version of this novel.
October 31, 2021
3.5 star for all the history/facts. I just wasn’t feeling it and skimmed a lot of that. 5 stars for character interaction. Poor Jim’s a goner and does not even know it.
October 14, 2025
Great series.
October 16, 2009
My first Kate Shugak--although Dana Stabenow's books have been recommended many times. I usually like to read a series from beginning to end, at least roughly in order, but the library had this one in, and available on CD. Lots of sassy writing and a nicely plotted mystery. This won't be my last Kate Shugak--I like Stabenow's style.
August 11, 2014
There's nothing I like more than returning to Alaska with Kate Shugak. This one showcased a totally different side to Kate - a sexy, seductive side. Boy did she ever show Jim Chopin a good time again and again and again. Hmmm you go girl! Poor Jim doesn't know what hit him and he's still in denial. I can't wait to see his reaction when he realizes Kate's the only one for him.
November 8, 2012
Too much sex!!! Kate is hired to solve a 30 year old murder that the employee's mother, Charlotte Muravieff, is convicted of. The daughter believes her mother could not have set their house on fire with her two sons inside (one is killed in his sleep, having been drugged) for insurance money. But Charlotte, in jail, insists she is guilty. Then everyone associated with the case starts dying.
September 12, 2013
I loved this book it is a very good story. My reason for rating it so high is the fact that I lived in Alaska for thirty years. I read books about Alaska that you can tell the author knows nothing about the state. Not so with Dana Stabenow she defiantly knows of what she speaks. Not just geography she knows the people and the lifestyle which makes her writing real and a pleasure to read.
July 20, 2019
Nice to leave the park behind for a while. And, nice to see Kate out of her depth a little bit. I know Stabenow is dragging out the Kate and Jim thing because it is a series, but I actually appreciate the slow buildup. They are two people who are slowly figuring out their own shit and who they are to each other. Sometimes it is two steps forward and one step back, but that makes them seem real.
October 22, 2010
Stabenow has really matured into a very good mystery writer as her Kate Shugak novels have progressed. I like this series because I love a good mystery AND I like learning about Native Culture, Alaska (geographically, environmentally, politically, and way of living). It makes it interesting.
January 2, 2016
Good as per usual, but a bit heavy on the romance which I'm hoping will start to be relegated to the background a bit more.
December 29, 2016
Kate in Anchorage - Jim Chopin hot on her doorstep - great put-down at swanky party
September 18, 2018
Audiobook
Story: B, Narration: A
Not a review, just some thoughts for personal reference. Spoilers. (Seriously.)
Kate takes a job in Anchorage, mostly because she wants the paycheck now that she's responsible for Johnny. Her client, Charlotte, is a wealthy caterer, the product of 3 rich, well-connected families and one not-so-wealthy Native Alaskan one. Charlotte's mother, Victoria, has been in prison for decades for the arson killing of one son, presumably for the insurance money. Victoria now has cancer, so Charlotte wants Kate to clear her name and get her released. Kate has doubts, but agrees to try.
No one except Charlotte seems to want Kate to succeed. Victoria doesn't want her help, doesn't want to talk to her daughter, and has made a life for herself in prison devoting her efforts to inmate education. Charlotte's GF (spouse?), Emily, thinks it's a mistake to rake up the past when Victoria doesn't want it. Charlotte's brother, Oliver, thinks his mother tried to kill him in the fire, too. Same with Charlotte's powerful uncle, Erland.
Kate thinks the case was very flimsy with key figures not making much of an effort to clear Victoria. And then there were the disappearances of other key figures. And new murders including Victoria's long-missing husband and Charlotte herself.
There were a lot of ins and outs to the case, and some twists, but, as usual, the ultimate baddie wasn't too hard to guess. Even part of the motive wasn't hard to guess. Oliver set up the initial arson to get rid of his brother, who he saw as a love rival. Uncle Erland found out and blackmailed Victoria into taking the fall. Erland wanted control of the family interests and wanted to mold Oliver into the son he never had. (Erland also offed Victoria's lawyer.) Emily, who was also Oliver's law partner also comes off badly as she had guessed the secret, and still spilled information to Oliver, which led to Charlotte's murder.
Kate is conked on the head (yes, again), kidnapped, and dumped in Erland's secret cabin. She escapes, but runs into Oliver and Erland outside. Oliver is accidentally shot, the cavalry rescues Kate. (Lawyer's dead body is found buried near the cabin.)
Victoria is released and takes control of the family business, which is in trouble. Kate sets her up with Max, an elderly but whip-smart cop she's been consulting with. Erland will presumably be tried, but I'm not very sanguine about the outcome. Guess we'll find out later? Emily has to live with herself knowing she's a waste of skin, but will presumably be consoled by the estate she inherited from Charlotte.
Not many of the Park characters in this book; however, Jim spends a lot of time with Kate in the townhouse (Jack's house that he left to Johnny) since he has business in Anchorage at the same time.
There's also a Park rat that headed to Anchorage after getting caught poaching. Kate takes pit on him and has him help her out with some of the legwork on her case.
She also comes to the aid of 3 boys who are sleeping outside because they don't want to return home. She and Jim provide a safe haven and food, and Kate later confronts the mother before leaving town.
(Immediately after finishing this book, I gave the story part an A-. After writing up this review, I've changed that rating to a B. I enjoyed the book, but think the mystery part fell short, and there wasn't enough Alaska flavor--aside from the political and financial machinations--to merit a superlative rating.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2024
SPOILER ALERT
Kate Shugak is hired by Charlotte Muravieff to get her mother, Victoria Pilz Bannister Muravieff, out of prison. She was convicted of setting a fire that killed her son William. During the time she has been in prison she has started a large, very successful education program. She had taken out $1million life insurance policies on each of her children, William, Oliver, and Charlotte. Charlotte does not believe that she did it, and Victoria has uterine cancer. As the case progresses, Kate/s life is put in danger, she is bribed by the governor's office assistant, Bruce Abbot, with the job of Village Public Safety Officer (she would be working with Jim Chopin, who is getting an office in Niniltna) which has an enviable salary, benefits and retirement, and Charlotte is murdered. She refuses, which is not taken well. She has hired Kurt Pletnikoff (wh0 had been caught killing bears for parts) to help her find some of the missing people from Victoria's life and the trial. He is shot after finding Eugene, Victoria's husband, who has been killed. They later find the body of Henry Cowell, her attorney.
In the end Kate reveals that Oliver had killed his brother, because William and he had both been interested in the same girl. There is a great deal of commentary regarding the bigotry against natives. Eugene was Aleut, and Jason Bannister was not happy that Victoria married a native. The skills with which Kate moves among the leaders and wealthy is fun to see, and the devotion between her and Mutt is moving. There is also the sexual tension between Kate and Jim, the back and forth as he fears for his freedom with his feelings so strong for her.
Kate Shugak is hired by Charlotte Muravieff to get her mother, Victoria Pilz Bannister Muravieff, out of prison. She was convicted of setting a fire that killed her son William. During the time she has been in prison she has started a large, very successful education program. She had taken out $1million life insurance policies on each of her children, William, Oliver, and Charlotte. Charlotte does not believe that she did it, and Victoria has uterine cancer. As the case progresses, Kate/s life is put in danger, she is bribed by the governor's office assistant, Bruce Abbot, with the job of Village Public Safety Officer (she would be working with Jim Chopin, who is getting an office in Niniltna) which has an enviable salary, benefits and retirement, and Charlotte is murdered. She refuses, which is not taken well. She has hired Kurt Pletnikoff (wh0 had been caught killing bears for parts) to help her find some of the missing people from Victoria's life and the trial. He is shot after finding Eugene, Victoria's husband, who has been killed. They later find the body of Henry Cowell, her attorney.
In the end Kate reveals that Oliver had killed his brother, because William and he had both been interested in the same girl. There is a great deal of commentary regarding the bigotry against natives. Eugene was Aleut, and Jason Bannister was not happy that Victoria married a native. The skills with which Kate moves among the leaders and wealthy is fun to see, and the devotion between her and Mutt is moving. There is also the sexual tension between Kate and Jim, the back and forth as he fears for his freedom with his feelings so strong for her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2024
After more than 15 years on the hard drive, it’s long past time I review this book and delete it. For whatever reason, it feels like a greater sense of accomplishment to review and delete those older titles that have cluttered the drive ostensibly cloaked in benign neglect.
Charlotte Muravieff never believed her mother started the house fire that killed her brother and allowed another brother to escape with injuries. The woman maintained her innocence at first, then basically caved when the jury said she was guilty. Now, Charlotte’s mother has terminal cancer, and Charlotte wants her released from prison before she dies. Kate Shugak is the only investigator who will take the case after it’s so cold. She’s worried about financing a college experience for her foster son and dealing with one of Alaska’s most wealthy and influential families just might help.
But lots of people don’t want Kate digging around in a more-than 30-year-old case. Even though someone murders Charlotte, Kate continues to dig until she has answers.
This was a great addition to the series. I could do without some of the ho-hum sex scenes between Kate and the oversexed state trooper whose emotions she’s playing with. It doesn’t really move the story along, and it leaves me hovering over the time-skip button in my app so I can simply get back to the plot.
All that aside, this is an excellent book that will keep you reading to the end I suspect you won’t see coming.
Charlotte Muravieff never believed her mother started the house fire that killed her brother and allowed another brother to escape with injuries. The woman maintained her innocence at first, then basically caved when the jury said she was guilty. Now, Charlotte’s mother has terminal cancer, and Charlotte wants her released from prison before she dies. Kate Shugak is the only investigator who will take the case after it’s so cold. She’s worried about financing a college experience for her foster son and dealing with one of Alaska’s most wealthy and influential families just might help.
But lots of people don’t want Kate digging around in a more-than 30-year-old case. Even though someone murders Charlotte, Kate continues to dig until she has answers.
This was a great addition to the series. I could do without some of the ho-hum sex scenes between Kate and the oversexed state trooper whose emotions she’s playing with. It doesn’t really move the story along, and it leaves me hovering over the time-skip button in my app so I can simply get back to the plot.
All that aside, this is an excellent book that will keep you reading to the end I suspect you won’t see coming.
May 28, 2024
“Thirty-one years ago in Anchorage, Alaska, Victoria Pilz Bannister Muravieff was convicted of murdering her seventeen-year-old son William. The jury returned a quick verdict of guilty, believing the prosecutor's claims that she had set fire to her own home with both her sons inside; William died and the other, Oliver, narrowly escaped. Victoria was sentenced to life in prison without parole, and though she pled not guilty at the trial, she never again denied her guilt.
Now her daughter, Charlotte Muravieff, has hired Kate Shugak to clear her mother's name. Her daughter has always believed in her innocence, and now that Victoria has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, Charlotte wants her free. Kate is the only p.i. Charlotte can find who's willing to take such a long-shot case. Kate, on the other hand, is only willing because she's suddenly a single parent to a teenager, a teenager she hopes will decide to go to college. Besides, it can't be bad to do a favor for the Bannister family, one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in Alaska's short history.
As Kate begins an investigation, Victoria protests, refusing to cooperate. But soon it seems she isn't the only one who wants to leave the past in the past.”
Now her daughter, Charlotte Muravieff, has hired Kate Shugak to clear her mother's name. Her daughter has always believed in her innocence, and now that Victoria has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, Charlotte wants her free. Kate is the only p.i. Charlotte can find who's willing to take such a long-shot case. Kate, on the other hand, is only willing because she's suddenly a single parent to a teenager, a teenager she hopes will decide to go to college. Besides, it can't be bad to do a favor for the Bannister family, one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in Alaska's short history.
As Kate begins an investigation, Victoria protests, refusing to cooperate. But soon it seems she isn't the only one who wants to leave the past in the past.”
December 21, 2024
“Charlotte Bannister hired Kate Shugak to get her mother out of jail, and in so doing, Kate had stumbled into a can of worms, which had turned out to be a nest of vipers.”
Charlotte's mother, Victoria Muravieff, was convicted 31 years ago of burning down her own home and, in the process, killing one son and severely injuring a second son. Young Charlotte was away from the house with her mother at the time of the fire.
Now Victoria has terminal cancer and Charlotte has hired private investigator and former police detective Kate Shugak to prove Victoria’s innocence. There’s just one problem, Victoria does not want Kate’s representation and, in fact, does not want to be released from prison. However, as Charlotte has reminded Kate, Charlotte is the one that hired her and, therefore, Victoria cannot fire her. Victoria is not the only one who does not want this case reopened. The Bannisters and the Muravieffs are some of the most powerful and wealthiest families in Alaska and they are accustomed to calling the plays. It will take every ability Kate has to obtain and study the court documents and to interview surviving witnesses, etc., in order to get to the bottom of this 31 year old Pandora’s box. A touch of romance adds to the thrill.The Kate Shugak series is a thrilling crime series that appears in over 23 books. I have enjoyed every one thus far. Each book offers a unique look at Alaskan history and people along with plenty of wilderness adventure. This book, #14, is one of my favorites. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#EmptyNestReader #ATaintInTheBlood #KateShugakNovel #DanaStabenow #mysteryfiction #DecemberReads #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #ebooks #librarybooks #StopBanningBooks #ReadFreelyAL
Charlotte's mother, Victoria Muravieff, was convicted 31 years ago of burning down her own home and, in the process, killing one son and severely injuring a second son. Young Charlotte was away from the house with her mother at the time of the fire.
Now Victoria has terminal cancer and Charlotte has hired private investigator and former police detective Kate Shugak to prove Victoria’s innocence. There’s just one problem, Victoria does not want Kate’s representation and, in fact, does not want to be released from prison. However, as Charlotte has reminded Kate, Charlotte is the one that hired her and, therefore, Victoria cannot fire her. Victoria is not the only one who does not want this case reopened. The Bannisters and the Muravieffs are some of the most powerful and wealthiest families in Alaska and they are accustomed to calling the plays. It will take every ability Kate has to obtain and study the court documents and to interview surviving witnesses, etc., in order to get to the bottom of this 31 year old Pandora’s box. A touch of romance adds to the thrill.The Kate Shugak series is a thrilling crime series that appears in over 23 books. I have enjoyed every one thus far. Each book offers a unique look at Alaskan history and people along with plenty of wilderness adventure. This book, #14, is one of my favorites. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#EmptyNestReader #ATaintInTheBlood #KateShugakNovel #DanaStabenow #mysteryfiction #DecemberReads #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #ebooks #librarybooks #StopBanningBooks #ReadFreelyAL
May 20, 2022
I have read all the books in this series but some how missed this one so it was good to get a little more background on certain things. Now I know how Kaye first came into contact with Erland Bannister and how she hooked up with Jim Chopin.
Kate is a private detective who is asked to look into an old murder case by the daughter of the woman who was convicted of killing her son. She has to travel to Anchorage and during the course of her investigation others are killed and she is determined to get to the bottom of things. Jim Chopin is also in Anchorage and they end up getting together and he is trying hard not to fall for Kate but that isn’t happening.
Kate meets some interesting people and she is always trying to help others. She comes across some young kids that she helps out a bit. She has to delve deep into some old family secrets and comes up against some powerful and well connected people.
A good mystery with excellent descriptions of Alaska and the people who inhabit it along with some history.
Kate is a private detective who is asked to look into an old murder case by the daughter of the woman who was convicted of killing her son. She has to travel to Anchorage and during the course of her investigation others are killed and she is determined to get to the bottom of things. Jim Chopin is also in Anchorage and they end up getting together and he is trying hard not to fall for Kate but that isn’t happening.
Kate meets some interesting people and she is always trying to help others. She comes across some young kids that she helps out a bit. She has to delve deep into some old family secrets and comes up against some powerful and well connected people.
A good mystery with excellent descriptions of Alaska and the people who inhabit it along with some history.
November 14, 2025
Another brilliant addition to Kate Shugak's story. This book sees her employed by a member of one of Alaska's wealthiest families to look in to a murder committed thirty years ago. Charlotte Murikoff wants Kate to find evidence proofing her mother is innocent of murdering her brother, Charlotte's son William. Kate is convinced the job is an easy one.that Charlotte is guilty so agrees to go over the case files, spoke to whatever witnesses are still alive and see what turns up without expecting to find anything new.......... Not so almost immediately Kate realises there is.more.going on here than she thought and after some investigating comes to the realisation that an innocent person may have been in prison all this time. Kate has several questions, who is the real killer, why is Veronica Murikoff willing to stay in jail when she is innocent and why was her son killed?.......... Trouble is there's no one around after thirty years with answers and those who are still alive have no desire.to talk to Kate .... Including Victoria...........
May 14, 2025
This book has our heroine traveling from Niniltna to Anchorage, Alaska to work on a cold case. There is a complex mystery with an engaging plot, well-written, and with more interesting characters. The last few books have been a little dark, especially after the death of Kate's lover Jack Morgan, but this one is more light-hearted. My favorite book in the series is "Breakup" so far. Kate Shugak is our "pint-sized" heroine who is tough, independent, intelligent, stubborn, athletic, aggressive and, in this book, sexy. Kate is also defined by a scar around her neck and a throaty voice because of it. She is a native of Alaska who lives in a wilderness area called "The Park" along with other park rats. The book contains plenty of twists and turns, a mystery, a romance of sorts, and a little thriller episode.
In the last book, Kate's one-room cabin was burned down by a murderer and arsonist. Her family, friends, and neighbors got together and built her a new house with an indoor bathroom, electricity, and running water. Since it was finished she has been overdoing it in her gratitude, because she always pays her debts. She has been pestering everyone who helped out by now trying to help them in some way. In other words, minding everyone's business and getting in the way until Old Sam sets her straight. It was time to pick up her newly adopted son, Johnny Morgan, an orphan of his father's death and his mother's neglect and go home.
Returning to the new house after three months away, she finds a woman sitting on her porch. Her name is Charlotte Bannister Muravieff and she wants Kate to get her mother, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, out of prison. 31 years ago Charlotte's mother, Victoria Pilz Bannister Muravieff was convicted and sentenced to life without parole for setting her house on fire with her two sons trapped inside. 17-year-old William was killed, and 16-year-old Oliver jumped out a window and fractured his leg. Mother and daughter were not at home at the time. Victoria pled not guilty at trial, but after being convicted of filicide (killing your children), she never again denied her guilt.
Kate visits Victoria and finds she had received her B.A. in prison. Victoria is now running the Education Dept. at Hiland Mountain Correctional Facility. She even secures funding, teachers, books, etc. To Kate's surprise, Victoria doesn't want any help. Why? Victoria fires her, but Kate tells her she can't, because it was Charlotte who hired her. It turns out that the Bannisters and the Muravieffs are wealthy, influential, and powerful people in the area. As Kate begins her investigation, she finds that some people she has talked to or wants to talk to begin turning up dead or hurt. At a party for the rich and famous of Anchorage, she meets Erland Bannister, Victoria's brother. He's a self confident and arrogant character. Kate has "stumbled into a can of worms, which had just turned out to be a nest of vipers. She could tell that Erland's bite would be the most poisonous".
Subplots include:
- Jim Chopin is a big strong good-looking Alaska State Trooper. He is known to be a womanizer and has a reputation for bedding lots of women. He has a thing for Kate, but keeps his distance, because he doesn't want a relationship. He follows Kate to Anchorage in the pretense of having work to check in on. She has previously been wary of him, but that seems to have abated. When he shows up at her door, she flirts and he backs away. All he wants is sex without complications. In the mornings, he skedaddles quickly each time he visits her. It's fun to watch the back and forth between them. Great if it stopped there, but there is a lot of gratuitous sex that leads to nowhere. I don't need to read about the details.
- Kurt Plenikoff has been harvesting the gallbladders of bears and leaving their carcasses all over the Park. He was also seen in the company of an Asian man. What illegal things could he be involved in? Kate suggests he leave town for awhile. Later in Anchorage, Kate hires him to do a mercy job by investigating and finding a witness in the case. He calls and says he's found something, but when she arrives at the location, Kurt is found shot and another man dead.
- Kate is out for a run and finds two boys, Jordan and Kevin, sleeping on a bench. She takes them home for breakfast and feeds them on the porch. She then takes them to their house, and finds out that their mom in not taking proper care of them. She even finds them camping out in her backyard one night. She tries to make a deal with the mom, or there will be consequences like calling DFYS.
There is a lot more going on then I will divulge. The climax has Kate getting kidnapped and locked up in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Here is where the mystery turns thrilling and convoluted. A new character is Brenden McCord, Asst. District Attorney for the state. He likes to humorously mess with her. Not enough of Mutt, Kate's half wolf dog who has her back. Highly recommended series.
In the last book, Kate's one-room cabin was burned down by a murderer and arsonist. Her family, friends, and neighbors got together and built her a new house with an indoor bathroom, electricity, and running water. Since it was finished she has been overdoing it in her gratitude, because she always pays her debts. She has been pestering everyone who helped out by now trying to help them in some way. In other words, minding everyone's business and getting in the way until Old Sam sets her straight. It was time to pick up her newly adopted son, Johnny Morgan, an orphan of his father's death and his mother's neglect and go home.
Returning to the new house after three months away, she finds a woman sitting on her porch. Her name is Charlotte Bannister Muravieff and she wants Kate to get her mother, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, out of prison. 31 years ago Charlotte's mother, Victoria Pilz Bannister Muravieff was convicted and sentenced to life without parole for setting her house on fire with her two sons trapped inside. 17-year-old William was killed, and 16-year-old Oliver jumped out a window and fractured his leg. Mother and daughter were not at home at the time. Victoria pled not guilty at trial, but after being convicted of filicide (killing your children), she never again denied her guilt.
Kate visits Victoria and finds she had received her B.A. in prison. Victoria is now running the Education Dept. at Hiland Mountain Correctional Facility. She even secures funding, teachers, books, etc. To Kate's surprise, Victoria doesn't want any help. Why? Victoria fires her, but Kate tells her she can't, because it was Charlotte who hired her. It turns out that the Bannisters and the Muravieffs are wealthy, influential, and powerful people in the area. As Kate begins her investigation, she finds that some people she has talked to or wants to talk to begin turning up dead or hurt. At a party for the rich and famous of Anchorage, she meets Erland Bannister, Victoria's brother. He's a self confident and arrogant character. Kate has "stumbled into a can of worms, which had just turned out to be a nest of vipers. She could tell that Erland's bite would be the most poisonous".
Subplots include:
- Jim Chopin is a big strong good-looking Alaska State Trooper. He is known to be a womanizer and has a reputation for bedding lots of women. He has a thing for Kate, but keeps his distance, because he doesn't want a relationship. He follows Kate to Anchorage in the pretense of having work to check in on. She has previously been wary of him, but that seems to have abated. When he shows up at her door, she flirts and he backs away. All he wants is sex without complications. In the mornings, he skedaddles quickly each time he visits her. It's fun to watch the back and forth between them. Great if it stopped there, but there is a lot of gratuitous sex that leads to nowhere. I don't need to read about the details.
- Kurt Plenikoff has been harvesting the gallbladders of bears and leaving their carcasses all over the Park. He was also seen in the company of an Asian man. What illegal things could he be involved in? Kate suggests he leave town for awhile. Later in Anchorage, Kate hires him to do a mercy job by investigating and finding a witness in the case. He calls and says he's found something, but when she arrives at the location, Kurt is found shot and another man dead.
- Kate is out for a run and finds two boys, Jordan and Kevin, sleeping on a bench. She takes them home for breakfast and feeds them on the porch. She then takes them to their house, and finds out that their mom in not taking proper care of them. She even finds them camping out in her backyard one night. She tries to make a deal with the mom, or there will be consequences like calling DFYS.
There is a lot more going on then I will divulge. The climax has Kate getting kidnapped and locked up in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Here is where the mystery turns thrilling and convoluted. A new character is Brenden McCord, Asst. District Attorney for the state. He likes to humorously mess with her. Not enough of Mutt, Kate's half wolf dog who has her back. Highly recommended series.
July 6, 2020
This is a great murder mystery series!
This book revolves around a thirty year old case that Kate is hired to investigate. She doesn't want the job but being the guardian to a teenager leads to her to say yes when she sees what it will pay. Kate finds herself in Anchorage stirring up ghosts from the past. Her investigation is at first frustrating, the person originally convicted of the crime refuses to speak to her, and then more and more bodies start turning up. Kate puts her own life on the line and refuses to back off even when the trail leads to some of the most powerful families in the state.
This was a great story and I very much enjoyed it! The mystery was twisty and complicated, maybe a bit too much this time but I adored seeing the relationship between Jim and Kate during this story. I can't wait to dive into the next book.
This book revolves around a thirty year old case that Kate is hired to investigate. She doesn't want the job but being the guardian to a teenager leads to her to say yes when she sees what it will pay. Kate finds herself in Anchorage stirring up ghosts from the past. Her investigation is at first frustrating, the person originally convicted of the crime refuses to speak to her, and then more and more bodies start turning up. Kate puts her own life on the line and refuses to back off even when the trail leads to some of the most powerful families in the state.
This was a great story and I very much enjoyed it! The mystery was twisty and complicated, maybe a bit too much this time but I adored seeing the relationship between Jim and Kate during this story. I can't wait to dive into the next book.
July 23, 2022
I really love the Kate Shugak series BUT if I have one gripe then it’s about the protagonist herself.
I just think that Kate as ‘Every Woman’ is too over-egged. There’s no fragility and very little of those pesky negative personality traits which make us human. And in this book, Kate as sex goddess has been ramped up to the top of the dial as well as her 100% score she’s given for every other thing she does too. If Kate Shugak were a contestant on the Great British Bake Off - all the other contestants would have given up after the first 5 minutes cos Kate baked the most delicious cake that the world has ever seen!
I might have to have a little break from the series (and I do intend to read all, what is it now? 22 books) because it’s becoming a bit ridiculous and I don’t want to have to hand Dana Stabenow another (generous) 3 stars ☹️
I just think that Kate as ‘Every Woman’ is too over-egged. There’s no fragility and very little of those pesky negative personality traits which make us human. And in this book, Kate as sex goddess has been ramped up to the top of the dial as well as her 100% score she’s given for every other thing she does too. If Kate Shugak were a contestant on the Great British Bake Off - all the other contestants would have given up after the first 5 minutes cos Kate baked the most delicious cake that the world has ever seen!
I might have to have a little break from the series (and I do intend to read all, what is it now? 22 books) because it’s becoming a bit ridiculous and I don’t want to have to hand Dana Stabenow another (generous) 3 stars ☹️
June 1, 2024
A TAINT IN THE BLOOD is the 14th Kate Shugak mystery, set in Alaska and had a really good mystery. Thirty years ago, a woman was convicted of murdering her son by arson, and now her daughter wants Kate to prove her innocence.
The mystery part of the book was excellent, with Kate getting caught up in lots of old Alaskan families with secrets they want to stay that way. I always love the way the author writes about Alaska with such authenticity. From Kate’s wolf/husky Mutt to the descriptions of Kate’s cabin, this series is so enjoyable to just get a feeling for what life is like in Alaska.
I think I am in the minority here, but I have never really warmed to the idea of Kate and Jim as a couple, and find the forced romance scenes don’t really add anything (though I am open to the idea that maybe their chemistry will improve in later books.) I really liked her with Jack I did enjoy the mystery in this one, otherwise. 4/5 stars.
The mystery part of the book was excellent, with Kate getting caught up in lots of old Alaskan families with secrets they want to stay that way. I always love the way the author writes about Alaska with such authenticity. From Kate’s wolf/husky Mutt to the descriptions of Kate’s cabin, this series is so enjoyable to just get a feeling for what life is like in Alaska.
I think I am in the minority here, but I have never really warmed to the idea of Kate and Jim as a couple, and find the forced romance scenes don’t really add anything (though I am open to the idea that maybe their chemistry will improve in later books.) I really liked her with Jack I did enjoy the mystery in this one, otherwise. 4/5 stars.
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