A Taint in the Blood: A Kate Shugak Novel (Kate Shugak Novels)

by Dana Stabenow

Book Overview

Hired by Charlotte Mauravieff, who wants to clear her mother's name of the arson fire that killed one of her brothers, private investigator Kate Shugak finds the case complicated by someone who wants... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312985657
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.9" x 0.9" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

One of her best

As funny as Breakup - Dana Stabenow is high form. Despite the complex politic plot running in the background, the insight into Kate and her relations with Jim Chopin was worth double the price of the book. Read it twice upon arrival. Working on reading three and four now. Loved it.

Possibly the best yet!!!

Don't believe any of the carping or nit-picking by reviewers who were put off by the "graphic sex scenes," which were a delight in fact. What a romp the whole book was, so much so that I sat up late to-night to finish it, well past my usual bed-time. It was great fun and for the sex, that was just funnier than heck. Be assured that any reader who doesn't think so is either a prude or inhibited or lacks a sense of humor, since at the end of every last one of these scenes I was not left aroused but laughing ... and if you want to know why, then give yourself the pleasure of reading the whole thing - full of the expected quirky characters and convoluted plot that kept me guessing almost to the end as well as the strong "sense of place," not to mention giving the reader a strong sense of Alaska - its history, environment, people, traditions ... warts and all!

A great tale by one of this genre's most talented writers

One of the best reasons to read current mysteries is Dana Stabenow, a wonderfully talented and entertaining author who brings to each book fascinating stories, offers an enthusiasm for her home in Alaska, has created captivating characters, and still knows how to make familiar folks seem interesting. I've watched Kate Shugak deal with people, with crisis, with love and with tragedy throughout this series. In this story, the 14th in this never-disappointing series, things are going well for Shugak --- perhaps too well. She's so grateful that folks in the Park built her a new home (after hers burned down) that people are starting to avoid her, just to get away from her helpfulness. She's being way too helpful and cheerful, and it's awful. A change of scene is due, and when Charlotte Muravieff, a woman from a powerful family, comes and says, "My mother is dying, I want her out of prison," Shugak takes on the case --- a bit reluctantly, of course, because what exactly can one learn from a 30-year-old murder conviction? Kate is facing a number of problems. The mother never once proclaimed her innocence in the horrific crime of which she was ultimately convicted: that of setting fire to the family home and killing one of her sons (the other was injured but survived). Victoria has no interest in cooperating with Kate's investigation; many other players, including powerful politicians, seem to have a remarkable interest in Kate's work here. State trooper Jim Chopin, a Park legend and resident hunk whom we've watched over the years, is around to help Kate in Anchorage --- and he is determined not to be in love with her. He has known her for years and lusted after her, but has never told a woman "I love you," especially a monogamous, determined one like Kate. Hah. Good luck. I admit to feeling slightly uncomfortable at times watching Kate being coy and flirtatious. She also seems a little too perfect at times; she's a wise and smart woman, so I don't expect her to make big mistakes. But perhaps she's a tad too sure of herself. I also admit that I wondered very early on who Victoria was covering for; that's not a giveaway of the plot --- most of us would wonder --- but it's another sign that maybe I read too many mystery novels. I also miss Johnny Morgan in this tale. Understandably, as it takes place in Anchorage rather than at Kate's home in the Park, he can't be around, but he's a cool kid and at times helps explain things in his clear, adolescent "seen it all" way. Here's a young man whose mother hates him and whose father, Kate's lover, is dead; his insights into people are refreshing because there's little sentiment about him (something I think he learned from Kate). But nothing, certainly not these minor carps, takes away from the major strengths of A TAINT IN THE BLOOD, told by one of mystery fiction's most talented and creative storytellers. --- Reviewed by Andi Shechter (roscoe@drizzle.com)

One problem

One problem with Dana is that SHE DOESN'T WRITE FAST ENOUGH! Another excellent book from Dana. Several years ago I was savoring Hunter's Moon when I found myself almost mourning Jack's death. I thought that my love affair with Kate's series was at an end. After a couple of "okay" books, A Taint in the Blood brought me fully back into the camp!

enjoyable Alaska mystery

Over three decades ago in Alaska, wealthy Victoria Pilz Bannister Muravieff was convicted of murdering her oldest son William by setting a fire to their home; her other son Oliver escaped by jumping out a window. At the time of her conviction Victoria insisted she was innocent, but once in jail accepted her lot stoically. Now Victoria is dying from uterine cancer and her daughter Charlotte, who believes her mom is innocent, wants her to come home. Her only hope is to learn what happened on that fatal day. No Anchorage based sleuth will touch the case so she travels to the wilderness to persuade Kate Shugak to find out who set the fire. Kate accepts the job because the fee is too great to refuse. Talking about refusal, Victoria wants no part of the investigation refusing to assist Kate. As the sleuth continues to dig up information, someone else wants Victoria left behind bars until she dies and that person will kill to keep what happened secret thirty-one years ago. Shugak's fourteenth Alaska mystery is an enjoyable tale as every new piece of evidence that Kate finds confirms the conviction and the key "witness" will not help her own cause. The story line also contains a romantic subplot, but that detours the reader away from the prime did she really do it. When Kate stays within the course of her investigation, the audience receives a powerful tale of family secrets to include murder and blackmail and a look back at Anchorage that makes the love subplot pale. Fans of the series will appreciate this solid sleuthing tale. Harriet Klausner