Whisper to the Blood

A number of years back, there was a television commercial that said, "If you want to get someone's attention, whisper." Well, Dana Stabenow's "Whisper" grabbed my attention and didn't let go for quite a while. This is the sixteenth book in her Kate Shugak mystery series set in Alaska. Though the storyline is strong enough to stand on its own, the read would be much more enjoyable if familiar with the background and the back story. I've read all of this series to date and am impressed at how fresh the story remains. The writing is excellent and the pace is steady. The story is built to a large extent on what has come before, so continuity plays a big part, and there's a chronology and flow to the events which lends realism--it's not often that mysteries are neatly wrapped up at the end of the day, or of the book. The characters remain compelling and have grown and changed throughout the series. Kate carries the load and remains a strong independent woman, Park rat, and investigator. She's changed from the beginning of the series, not in the sense that she's become soft or predictable, but rather she's weathered storms and taken on new challenges, and she's been sculpted into a different but still very recognizable Kate Shugak--one who may bend at times, but doesn't break. All in all, this is a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm not surprised at all that it made the NY Times bestseller list. I had a tough time putting it down--loved being in Alaska with all of the characters again zipping around on those snow machines, had to know if Kate and Jim would stay together, couldn't wait to see just how Kate was going to deal with the Aunties and their expectations and machinations, and of course I had to find out whodunit. Oh, and I shouldn't leave out Mutt! Mutt was a joy to read about, too. Can't wait for book 17!

Loved this book and had trouble putting it down. Carried it everywhere and read during any downtime. Kate's toned down a little. Her new family now includes Chopper Jim, her adopted son Johnny and of course Mutt, her canine sidekick who seems to get feistier with age. In the early books she was presented as exceptionally tough - a sort of feminine superhero. She's softer now and more human. So I was glad to see her step up and step out when the going got tough. There's one scene where Kate draws on all her Alaskan experience to bring some bad guys to justice. What I especially liked about this book were: First, we got to learn more about Johnny, now 18, fully at home as a high school senior living with Kate. I bet he'll end up in law enforcement. Does U of Alaska have a major in criminal justice? Johnny's a good kid, at times a little mature for his age, at times a typical kid who skips school and enjoys his girlfriend. Doesn't he play basketball or do any group things with guys his own age? Second, the four "aunties" are a lot of fun. Third, we have a lot of fun with Kate's attempts to survive her new role as chair of the Native Association. I love the way she finally pulls it off. Fourth, Stabenow finally gets it right with the romantic scenes. There's just enough chemistry between Kate and Jim. Fifth, even the villains are a little funny and pathetic. Sixth, I enjoyed the whimsical touches about Mutt, who gets more anthropomorphic with every volume in the series. Finally, Stabenow creates the setting so vividly I'd look up from the book and expect to see snow outside my window. Oh yes...it's a mystery so it's supposed to have a plot. Well, the suspense ran high but frankly I didn't really care whodunit. At the end a number of plot threads skillfully come together. There's just enough surprise to make for a satisfying read.

Dana Stabenow, who has been a favorite author for several years, and who I once had the pleasure of meeting, has turned out another excellent yarn in the Kate Shugak series of mysteries that take place in the far north of Alaska. While HUNTER'S MOON is still my favorite, this new novel is a worthy addition to the series. -Harry Dawkins Monroeville, PA 15146

It's a great relief to find that despite her itch to get into fiction outside Alaska (which she scratched with a decent effort at Navy intelligence stuff), she shows no sign of weakening her achievement level back at the reservation. This continues the development of all the familiar characters involved, including Mutt the husky, with an exciting and interesting story. Terrific work--keep it up!

I love Stabenow's Kate Shugak series. If this is your first introduction to her work, definitely go back and start from the beginning, "A Cold Day for Murder." Stabenow's characters remain distinct and vivid and I love the details about life in Alaska. My only complaint is that this story very much followed the events from her previous book. It had been so long since I had read it that it sometimes took me a few minutes to remember what had happened and how this effected the current book. I guess I wish it had been a little more stand alone. I have to say that Stabenow has maintained a really high standard for this series- after over ten books, this is impressive. Many times I find that favorite authors of a long time series, such as Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone books, peter out and become formulaic. That's not the case here.