Capitol Offense

Nik Kane #2

by Mike Doogan

When a promising young legislator is accused of the murder of a young woman, disgraced ex-cop Nik Kane is hired by a mysterious patron to investigate the case, which is heavily influenced by corrupt forces in the oil industry. By the author of Lost Angel.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

305 pages, Hardcover

First published August 16, 2007

Reviews

[Nancy O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Main character believable, and anxious to read more of Nik Kane Mysteries.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Impressions
A very entertaining read. Nik Kane is certainly someone I can identify with and makes a sympathetic protagonist. This is a quick read with enough twist and plot changes for the number of pages to keep you interested. I was in Juneau a year or so ago and wished I read this there. I see a review or two have negative comments about Doogan's pat political dialogue. I think they need to remember this book was written well over a decade ago and all would agree that things have changed a great deal in the "alternative lifestyle" situation, whatever your stance.

The Ending
Maybe Mike Doogan lost about an average of one star per review with his jaw dropping ending? It was a heck of a twist, par for the course for Nik's luck. I had no problem with it though I might have been better with a happier ending. I still wouldn't have given it five stars. I'm sure this author gave the ending a lot of thought. Mike Doogan from what I've read is not leery of a little controversy, though from what I've read maybe he should be?

Mike more Nik?
I read this series that I've enjoyed out of sequence which I don't normally do. I read book 3 then 1 and finished with this novel. It didn't seemed to hurt, but the I read book 3, four years ago so I can't remember how or if Doogan addresses this ending in book three. Mike Doogan if you're out there, I'd really like to see a book 4. Being a legislator for several years now, you should have a lot of material. I was younger than Nik when you started now I'm older. Come on Mike, one for the road?

[Kathy KS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this out of Nik Kane. The ending wrapped things up pretty well, but the last paragraph ended so abruptly that it didn't feel very satisfying.

I do recommend this series to others that enjoy Alaskan mysteries.

[Steve Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty entertaining fast read but I hated the ending. Cliff-hangers are OK for bad television series but I don't particularly like them in books.

[Carol Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was terrible.

[LJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

CAPITOL OFFENSE (Unl. Inves-Nik Kane-Alaska-Cont) - Okay
Doogan, Mike – 2nd in series
Berkeley Prime Crime, 2008, US Paperback – ISBN: 9780425223024

First Sentence: Baby Santos got off the elevator on the fifth floor of the Alaska State Capitol.

Nik Kane is an ex-cop, ex-alcoholic, tying to rebuild his life and his relationship with his son. Nik has been hired as investigator for the defense of Alaska legislator Matthew Hope. Matthew was found, with the murder weapon in his hand, standing over the body of a scantily clad woman, aide to a conservative Senator. As Kane investigates, the threats on his life escalate proving that politics is a dangerous business.

Although written in 2007 this is a very timely book with it’s subject of politics in Alaska, and it doesn’t paint a very favorable picture.

For me, one of the most delightful things is chapter heading quotation by a political leader or journalist. The story starts off well, starts to crumble and falls apart at the end. It was predictable.

My other issue was that, other than the protagonist, I didn’t really care for any of the characters. I have to have at least either plot or characters about which to care. Here, I had neither.

This was very disappointing.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Capitol Offense by Mike Doogan is the 2nd book in the Nik Kane mystery series set in contemporary Alaska. Nik Kane is a private investigator, formerly a homicide detective. He lost his marriage and alienated his children due to alcoholism, and recently served prison time. He's hired by a wealthy woman to investigate the murder of a young woman who worked for an Alaskan state senator in Juneau. The police have arrested a native Alaskan politician who discovered the body; he won't talk with anyone. Nik has a lot to learn: how politics work in general, the quirks of the Alaskan Senate in particular. Nik uncovers many secrets, exposes corruption, and solves the case, but at a shocking personal cost. Plenty of plot twists, with a heavy-handed emphasis on corruption in politics. Mike Doogan worked as an Anchorage Daily News journalist for many years before becoming a novelist and serving in Alaska's House of Representatives.

[Monical · Rating 3 out of 5]

Came down with a cold and blew through this book and "Skeleton Lake." "Capitol Offense" is more traditional and similar to his first book ("Lost Angel") though a bit better written. Doogan hangs on to the threads of his story better than in "Lost Angel." I thought many of the characters were plot devices rather than real characters, though, and Doogan inserts some gratuitous plot lines (especially the various gay characters). On the other hand, I thought some of the characters were really entertaining, such as Winthrop and Cocoa. Doogan does make some assumptions about recalling bits from the first book, which is not a good habit. Altogether, a nice quick read when I was sick!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm....well, it was a quick read, but boring. We read more about where Nik was going then what was going on with the murder, and a lot of gossip about who was sleeping with who, and details about the city of Juneau but not a lot about the case. The end just leaves you hanging, think you can edit out alot and put a real ending in place. However, I already got the next in the series from the library, hopefully its a lot better.

[Corona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story, terrible ending. Nik’s living situation is a little depressing, seems he could do more to cheer up his life. I’m surprised to know that this is an ongoing character, maybe I’ll get it with the next installment.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book EXCEPT the end. A friend says that authors sometimes violate the trust with the reader and I think he did that on this book. I loved it up until then, but am not sure I will read any others because of the violation of trust.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting new author for fans of mysteries set in Alaska. Nik Kane is a character I will enjoy getting to know.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fairly well done mystery. I wanted a happier ending though.

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Good; Continuing character: Nik Kane; PI is hired to assist a legislator accused of murder, and works to reconcile with his estranged son at the same time

[Steve Clark]

Set in Juneau, this story involves intrigue in the Alaska state government. I thought it a little less good than Lost Angel, the first book in this series.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy 4.5 stars; from Library

[Niece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nik Kane/ex-cop, set in Alaska-I liked the series

[Harry Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than average mystery with an authentic feeling Alaskan backdrop. The ending is particularly powerful.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Must admit I enjoy his chapter heading quotes.