Dead in the Water

Kate Shugak takes an undercover job on a fishing boat off the Aleutian Islands. The islands were the home of her ancestors until WWII. It is difficult enough to stay alive on the ice covered decks of the old boat, but when King Crab are not the main cargo it becomes deadly dangerous. Especially as Kate feels protective of her "greenie bunkmate." The sea and the elements become characters in this fast paced mystery, which contains well constructed allusions to the heritage of the rugged Aleut people who once populated the islands. DEAD IN THE WATER is not the standard detective thriller, but it will keep you turning the pages. Nash Black, author whose books are also available in Kindle editions. Writing as a Small BusinessHaints

Top-notch author and another winning story. Alaska is featured and described with accuracy and affection. Just one of the many stories in this land of mystery and challenges.

Shugak is "Wonder Woman" for sure. Best Shugak mystery to date. Looking forward to see what Dana will do to top this one!

Number 3 in the Kate Shugak mystery series, this book is set in the Aleutian Islands. I enjoyed the plot and felt immersed in the diffucult and dangerous life on a fishing boat. I greatly enjoyed the interaction between Kate and the elder, Olga. Dana Stabenow again sparked my curiousity about Alaskan history, leading me to research and learn more about the Aleutian Islands and the battles that took place there in WWII. It's wonderful that she included a reference to a good historical writer on the subject.

To read the Kate Shugak series is to immerse oneself, with great pleasure, into Alaskan lore, from native folktales to the modern hearty souls who populate its great expanses. "Dead in the Water," the third in the series, is the best so far as it melds Aleutian folklore (Kate, as readers know, is a native Aleut) with a modern-day mystery.Working as an undercover agent to investigate the presumed murder of two young crewmen on an Alaskan crabbing vessel, Kate hires on as a crew member. The work is dangerous, grueling, back-breaking, and tough beyond measure as the crew battles high seas, horrible weather, ice storms, and even treachery from other fishing boats out to grab the same lucrative catch. Kate is no shrinking violet, and she can outdo anyone on board, given half a chance. But this is no ordinary ship. And its captain is either the most incompetent sailing man on the Bering or any other sea, or--as Kate suspects and must prove--up to no good in a very major way.Putting herself in considerable danger, both from the job itself and from those who have a murderous secret to hide, Kate methodically sets out to find out who murdered the former crew members--and why.The only thing missing from this wonderful tale is Kate's faithful half-wolf dog, Mutt, who I missed very much. Mutt is back on the Alaskan mainland, where Kate very much wants to be as well...and where the reader hopes she will return in one piece. A great yarn, a wonderful read. It leaves the reader impatient to read the next in the series!