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Kate Shugak #21
Less Than a Treason
KATE SHUGAK is a native Aleut working as a private investigator in Alaska. She's 5 foot 1 inch tall, carries a scar that runs from ear to ear across her throat and owns a half-wolf, half-husky dog named Mutt. Resourceful, strong-willed, defiant, Kate is tougher than your average heroine – and she needs to be to survive the worst the Alaskan wilds can throw at her.
Two thousand people go missing in Alaska every year. They vanish in the middle of mountain footraces, on fishing boats in the Bering Sea, on small planes in the Bush. Now a geologist known for going walkabout with his rock hammer has disappeared from the Suulutaq Mine in the Park. Was it deliberate? An accident? Foul play? Kate Shugak may be the only person who can find out.
But for the fact that Kate, too, is now among the missing…
Two thousand people go missing in Alaska every year. They vanish in the middle of mountain footraces, on fishing boats in the Bering Sea, on small planes in the Bush. Now a geologist known for going walkabout with his rock hammer has disappeared from the Suulutaq Mine in the Park. Was it deliberate? An accident? Foul play? Kate Shugak may be the only person who can find out.
But for the fact that Kate, too, is now among the missing…
309 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2017
387 people are currently reading
910 people want to read
About the author
Dana Stabenow
103 books2,141 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 430 reviews
May 28, 2018
This is a brilliant series, and one of my favourites, featuring the indomitable Aleut PI Kate Shugak set in the inhospitable and awe inspiring geography of Alaska. We return after the tense cliffhanger of the last book where Kate and her loyal half wolf dog, Mutt, were both shot by Ken Halvorsen. Chopper Jim, state trooper and Kate's lover, in turn shoots Halvorsen dead before transporting Kate to hospital. Kate, in a bad way, discharges herself after surgery, with no-one aware where she has gone. A guilt ridden Jim quits his job, putting his energies to building a runway at the homestead and searching far and wide for Mutt, whose body has disappeared. All the familiar Park Rats return, the formidable Aunties, feeling vulnerable and griefstricken after losing one of their own, Bobby, Bernie, and the others, but Martin Shugak is missing and two unprepossessing strangers are looking for him. At The Roadhouse, Sylvia McDonald comes looking for her missing geologist husband, employed at the Suulutaq Mine, who takes his rock hammer in his wanders into the wilderness. What has happened to him?
There is a general shaking of heads and expressions of consternation amongst the Park Rats at the emergence of Willard and Katelnikof as reality TV stars earning a phenomenal amount for each episode. Old human bones are discovered on Kate's isolated newly renovated cabin that she inherited from Sam, where she has poured her energies into recovering for 4 months. This is the impetus for Kate's return as she takes on Sylvia as a client, a case that takes her to Anchorage as the bodies begin to pile up. There she bumps into an old foe, intent on encroaching on Kate's territory and making his presence felt in Niviltna. Scott's home now has a new owner, who is the surly and uncommunicative resident? Jim feels hurt that Kate has not come to meet him, and immerses himself in a search for Martin Shugak, who might be in grave danger and his hunt for a plane to purchase. The new acting State Trooper is inexperienced and ill equipped to fill Jim's shoes, and budget cuts limit what law enforcement can do. Slowly the different threads begin to connect for Kate and jim.
Its always so good to see a new Kate Shugak story, a series I have come to regard with plenty of affection, always delighted to renew my acquaintance with the Park Rats that I have become so familiar with. Even though this is a long running series, this is number 21, it still feels fresh and exciting, the location of Alaska plays a critical central role, along with the offbeat, eccentric locals, not to mention the ne'er do wells too. Kate and Jim finally collide, both understanding how important they are to each other. I look forward with avid anticipation for the next in the series! Highly recommended.
There is a general shaking of heads and expressions of consternation amongst the Park Rats at the emergence of Willard and Katelnikof as reality TV stars earning a phenomenal amount for each episode. Old human bones are discovered on Kate's isolated newly renovated cabin that she inherited from Sam, where she has poured her energies into recovering for 4 months. This is the impetus for Kate's return as she takes on Sylvia as a client, a case that takes her to Anchorage as the bodies begin to pile up. There she bumps into an old foe, intent on encroaching on Kate's territory and making his presence felt in Niviltna. Scott's home now has a new owner, who is the surly and uncommunicative resident? Jim feels hurt that Kate has not come to meet him, and immerses himself in a search for Martin Shugak, who might be in grave danger and his hunt for a plane to purchase. The new acting State Trooper is inexperienced and ill equipped to fill Jim's shoes, and budget cuts limit what law enforcement can do. Slowly the different threads begin to connect for Kate and jim.
Its always so good to see a new Kate Shugak story, a series I have come to regard with plenty of affection, always delighted to renew my acquaintance with the Park Rats that I have become so familiar with. Even though this is a long running series, this is number 21, it still feels fresh and exciting, the location of Alaska plays a critical central role, along with the offbeat, eccentric locals, not to mention the ne'er do wells too. Kate and Jim finally collide, both understanding how important they are to each other. I look forward with avid anticipation for the next in the series! Highly recommended.
Read
May 12, 20174.25. One of my top five series, and it has been too long wait for this installment. This series has the sole dubious honor of being the only mystery series to bring me to tears, in a previous outing, due to a plot point that I was heartbroken over. Will admit to tearing up near the end of this one as well, though this time due to happiness. Love the way these books are put together, they just seem to flow seamlessly. Winning combination of the setting, Alaska, such fantastic descriptions of the Park. Almost, and I stress almost, makes me want to live there.
Kate Shugak is such a great character, tough but vulnerable, private investigator, finds herself in danger often, but seems to plow ahead fearlessly. Unless it concerns her personal life, there past sorrows can make her afraid. The aunties, the women elders of the Park, use few words but manage to get their point across. Others as well, unique characters as they would have to be to live in this harsh environment. The stories, and there always seem to be more than one, often tie together in surprising ways. Not edge of your seat action, but I have come to care for these people and this place.
Solid writing and a winning combination of setting, mystery and characters.
Kate Shugak is such a great character, tough but vulnerable, private investigator, finds herself in danger often, but seems to plow ahead fearlessly. Unless it concerns her personal life, there past sorrows can make her afraid. The aunties, the women elders of the Park, use few words but manage to get their point across. Others as well, unique characters as they would have to be to live in this harsh environment. The stories, and there always seem to be more than one, often tie together in surprising ways. Not edge of your seat action, but I have come to care for these people and this place.
Solid writing and a winning combination of setting, mystery and characters.
June 26, 2018
4 stars
I started reading this series after a trip to Alaska in 1995 with my wife. She noticed the guide was reading a paperback and asked her about it. When we got home my wife purchased book 1 in the series, A Cold Day For Murder and we have been enjoying the series since. I strongly recommend that you read them in order, as some major characters die during the series.
Kate Shugak is recovering from a gunshot wound at the opening of this book. She has left her lover, Alaska trooper Jim Chopin, who is so distraught by his not keeping her safe that he has quit his job. He is however, independently wealthy, thanks to an inheritance.
Kate agrees to take a case, looking for the missing husband of Sylvia McDonald. There are a lot of ins and outs to the case and it intersects with Trooper Jim's looking for another missing man. They do solve the cases. Many of the familiar characters that I have grown to know and love are featured throughout the book.
There is a hilarious bar conversation about the merits of opera. Opening sentence by Ernie Ivanoff:
"Opera is not some goddamn mystical redemptive force. It's fat people singing really loud in French or Italian or Russian or some other language that ain't English."
For the record, I don't like opera or the Beatles. I do like jazz, Preservation Hall Jazz band, country, Johnny Cash, pop, Roy Orbison, Indian, Ravi Shankar, and classical, Beethoven among others.
This library book had an included ribbon bookmark and no turned page corners.
I started reading this series after a trip to Alaska in 1995 with my wife. She noticed the guide was reading a paperback and asked her about it. When we got home my wife purchased book 1 in the series, A Cold Day For Murder and we have been enjoying the series since. I strongly recommend that you read them in order, as some major characters die during the series.
Kate Shugak is recovering from a gunshot wound at the opening of this book. She has left her lover, Alaska trooper Jim Chopin, who is so distraught by his not keeping her safe that he has quit his job. He is however, independently wealthy, thanks to an inheritance.
Kate agrees to take a case, looking for the missing husband of Sylvia McDonald. There are a lot of ins and outs to the case and it intersects with Trooper Jim's looking for another missing man. They do solve the cases. Many of the familiar characters that I have grown to know and love are featured throughout the book.
There is a hilarious bar conversation about the merits of opera. Opening sentence by Ernie Ivanoff:
"Opera is not some goddamn mystical redemptive force. It's fat people singing really loud in French or Italian or Russian or some other language that ain't English."
For the record, I don't like opera or the Beatles. I do like jazz, Preservation Hall Jazz band, country, Johnny Cash, pop, Roy Orbison, Indian, Ravi Shankar, and classical, Beethoven among others.
This library book had an included ribbon bookmark and no turned page corners.
August 2, 2017
Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season?
_Robert Frost, “Reluctance”
When we last saw Kate Shugak, she and her beloved Mutt, a wolf-huskie mix, had both been critically wounded by gunfire. Sergeant “Chopper” Jim Chopin shot and killed the gunman. Kate was rushed to the hospital. What became of Mutt? That remains a mystery for most of the book.
Less than a Treason opens about where Bad Blood left off, except that the author doesn’t do much to remind us of what has happened to Kate. Eventually, she gives us bits and pieces, but I felt quite confused and discombobulated for the first several chapters. It’s been four years between books, and it was hard to just pick up the names and places again. Things just felt out of kilter. Maybe that was on purpose? After all, Kate disappeared to heal. She builds a cabin in a remote area of the Park and lives a solitary life for four months. Once she reappears, friends, family, and acquaintances echo the same refrain, “I heard you were dead.” Kate being Kate, she offers no explanation, no apology. It seems none was expected.
A petite 40-something-year-old Inuit woman, she has had a close brush with death before. That doesn’t stop her from doing what she does, which is investigate crimes as a PI. She has always been an independent, strong woman. While Kate has been gone, her live-in love interest, Jim, has quit his job and busied himself building an airstrip and hangar. Once Kate comes down from her self-imposed exile, everyone wonders when the two will hook up again.
In the meantime, Kate has a case land in her lap. While still at her cabin, a woman who is part of an orienteering group trips over human remains. Then she's hired to find a missing geologist. The next day...well, things get complicated. Kate uses her connections to dig into the background of all the parties. There are no real surprises, just solid detective work of finding the pieces to the puzzle and putting them together in a way that makes sense. Is there greed, danger, death, romance, sex? Yes, of course. Since this is Kate Shugak ‘s world and it is Alaska, we also get lots of colorful characters like the aunties, Bobby, and all the folks at the bar, along with images of the northern wilderness.
Because I have read and loved this series for so long, I really, really wanted to love this book. However, the beginning was quite frustrating to read. Despite the fact that the story did come together and hold some of the flavor of the older books, it lacked the cohesiveness that I expected. I felt a certain disconnect with the characters, and that was disappointing. In the end, I did enjoy the story; it simply was not as wonderful as most of the previous books in the series.
3.5 stars
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season?
_Robert Frost, “Reluctance”
When we last saw Kate Shugak, she and her beloved Mutt, a wolf-huskie mix, had both been critically wounded by gunfire. Sergeant “Chopper” Jim Chopin shot and killed the gunman. Kate was rushed to the hospital. What became of Mutt? That remains a mystery for most of the book.
Less than a Treason opens about where Bad Blood left off, except that the author doesn’t do much to remind us of what has happened to Kate. Eventually, she gives us bits and pieces, but I felt quite confused and discombobulated for the first several chapters. It’s been four years between books, and it was hard to just pick up the names and places again. Things just felt out of kilter. Maybe that was on purpose? After all, Kate disappeared to heal. She builds a cabin in a remote area of the Park and lives a solitary life for four months. Once she reappears, friends, family, and acquaintances echo the same refrain, “I heard you were dead.” Kate being Kate, she offers no explanation, no apology. It seems none was expected.
A petite 40-something-year-old Inuit woman, she has had a close brush with death before. That doesn’t stop her from doing what she does, which is investigate crimes as a PI. She has always been an independent, strong woman. While Kate has been gone, her live-in love interest, Jim, has quit his job and busied himself building an airstrip and hangar. Once Kate comes down from her self-imposed exile, everyone wonders when the two will hook up again.
In the meantime, Kate has a case land in her lap. While still at her cabin, a woman who is part of an orienteering group trips over human remains. Then she's hired to find a missing geologist. The next day...well, things get complicated. Kate uses her connections to dig into the background of all the parties. There are no real surprises, just solid detective work of finding the pieces to the puzzle and putting them together in a way that makes sense. Is there greed, danger, death, romance, sex? Yes, of course. Since this is Kate Shugak ‘s world and it is Alaska, we also get lots of colorful characters like the aunties, Bobby, and all the folks at the bar, along with images of the northern wilderness.
Because I have read and loved this series for so long, I really, really wanted to love this book. However, the beginning was quite frustrating to read. Despite the fact that the story did come together and hold some of the flavor of the older books, it lacked the cohesiveness that I expected. I felt a certain disconnect with the characters, and that was disappointing. In the end, I did enjoy the story; it simply was not as wonderful as most of the previous books in the series.
3.5 stars
November 22, 2020
In this 21st book in the 'Kate Shugak' series, the Alaskan private investigator searches for a missing man. The book can be read as a standalone, though familiarity with the characters is a bonus.
*****
As the story opens, Aleut private investigator Kate Shugak is in a hospital in Niniltna, recovering from a bullet wound....
.....and her injured half-wolf/half-husky Mutt is missing, perhaps dead.
Kate can't abide appearing weak, so - against medical advice - she checks out of the hospital and disappears.....leaving no word for anyone, not even her boyfriend Jim Chopin.
For his part, Jim Chopin - a flyboy Alaska State Trooper - blames himself for not protecting Kate.....and for abandoning a bleeding Mutt when he rushed Kate to the hospital. 😒
Distraught, the Trooper quits his job and - to distract himself - builds a runway for the plane he hopes to buy with his recent inheritance. Knowing Kate needs her privacy, Jim doesn't try to contact her, but the situation is tearing him up.
After four months in her remote cabin in the Quilak Mountains - during which time Kate rebuilds the entire structure - the Aleut PI is healed and considering her next move. Kate's hand is forced, however, when a passing orienteer discovers a pile of human bones near Kate's cabin.
Knowing the body has to be identified, Kate photographs and packs the bones, then heads back to Niniltna.
Kate delivers the disjointed skeleton to the authorities, then bunks down in Auntie Vi's boarding house. There Kate meets Sylvia McDonald, who's in town looking for her husband Fergus.
Fergus - a geologist at the local Suluutaq Mine - went exploring on his day off.....and disappeared.
Sylvia hires Kate to search for Fergus, and gives the sleuth a substantial retainer.
The next day Sylvia is found dead in a ditch, the victim of foul play. Kate is certain that Sylvia's death is related to Fergus's disappearance, and continues searching for the vanished geologist in the National Park surrounding Niniltna. During Kate's investigation another death occurs, and - while traveling 'outside' (away from the park) - Kate gets some valuable information.
Meanwhile, other troubling things are happening in the region. Kate's cousin Martin Shugak - a bootlegger and petty criminal - has vanished; two thugs from Chicago are hanging around, asking questions about Martin; and elderly grasping billionaire Erland Bannister has been visiting the area frequently...for no good purpose, in Kate's opinion.
While Kate searches for Fergus, ex-Trooper Jim searches for Martin - hoping this will help him reconnect with his girlfriend. Jim's hunt leads him into some dangerous situations, one of which - against all odds - is quite amusing. 🙂
The reason for all the mayhem in the park is revealed, bit by bit, and it's a whopper! 😲
Many of the series' regular characters appear in the story, including: Bobby - the wheelchair-bound radio station host (there's a nice surprise here); Bobby's wife Dinah; Aunties Joy, Viola, and Balasha - who like to quilt and gossip; Bernie the skirt-chasing barkeep; and more. There are also some kooky antics connected with a new reality show starring Howie, the disheveled town rapscallion.
As always in this series, the descriptions of Alaska's geography, vegetation, and wildlife are lovely and evocative.
On the downside, I'm disappointed that the story had no potlach (ceremonial feast) since the food and dancing are fun to read about.....but Auntie Vi does make delicious chocolate chip cookies. 🍪
I enjoyed the book and recommend it to mystery fans.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
May 14, 2017
Four years. Four. Years.
It's been a very long wait after the cliffhanger in the last book which left the impression that Kate and Mutt were dead or dying. While I'm grateful to see Kate (and the series?) resurrected, I found this book to be a mixture of frustrating, infuriating, and satisfying.
Yes, Kate lives. This is no secret. But what happens after that made me grit my teeth in anger for a good portion of the book.
The mystery was decent and kept Kate, and to a lesser extent Jim, busy for much of the book. We had a chance to revisit some key characters, always a fun thing, and watched Kate and Jim reunite, an even more fun thing. Stabenow doesn't reveal Mutt's fate until nearly the end, so readers must remain patient.
As for patience...I had none when Stabenow occasionally dove into the political, including having Jim thinking that Baby Boomers ought to die off quickly for the sake of the country. (Sigh) I have no idea what was behind the four year gap between books, personal vs. publisher issues, but I wondered if Kate's FU attitude and actions were an echo of Stabenow's own: love and accept me for who I am and whatever I'm willing to give you or shove off.
Well, I do love this series and hope it will continue. But, unlike Jim, my patience is finite.
It's been a very long wait after the cliffhanger in the last book which left the impression that Kate and Mutt were dead or dying. While I'm grateful to see Kate (and the series?) resurrected, I found this book to be a mixture of frustrating, infuriating, and satisfying.
Yes, Kate lives. This is no secret. But what happens after that made me grit my teeth in anger for a good portion of the book.
The mystery was decent and kept Kate, and to a lesser extent Jim, busy for much of the book. We had a chance to revisit some key characters, always a fun thing, and watched Kate and Jim reunite, an even more fun thing. Stabenow doesn't reveal Mutt's fate until nearly the end, so readers must remain patient.
As for patience...I had none when Stabenow occasionally dove into the political, including having Jim thinking that Baby Boomers ought to die off quickly for the sake of the country. (Sigh) I have no idea what was behind the four year gap between books, personal vs. publisher issues, but I wondered if Kate's FU attitude and actions were an echo of Stabenow's own: love and accept me for who I am and whatever I'm willing to give you or shove off.
Well, I do love this series and hope it will continue. But, unlike Jim, my patience is finite.
June 12, 2017
Wow, so I blew through this one in less than 24 hours, and thats a mean feat in my house. Had forgotten how horribly Dana had left us hanging off that cliff at the end of Bad Blood, so I had to grab all my ereaders to find the last book, which was an unbearingly long search. Then read through the last few chapters to then hit the ground running with Less Than a Treason. Wow, what a ride again! I had missed my favorite characters, it was nice to catch up with them again.
I was, however, a bit disappointed with this installment. First of all, the book started with quite a few instances of new/internet speak which I found jarring to read in a book. From some authors, in some formats, I could accept it more readily, but here it didn't fit for me. I think Dana is a great author and was bummed that she felt she had to use this to express meaning, however, this is how we nowadays express ourselves so I am a bit torn about it. Second of all the book seemed a bit flat in retrospect, a bit uninspired. This leads me to my third and final disappointment, I am fairly convinced this is the last Kate Shugak novel. Apparently Dana had left the last book at a cliffhanger to ensure she would actually write the 21st book, but seeing how long it took her, the quality of the book and how well things are wrapped up at the end, well, this seems like the end. That bums me out.
So this book gets 4.5 stars from me that I definitely will round up to 5. I love this series, the settings, the characters, the story telling, I just devoured this installment and now, a few days later, I can still look back fondly on it. I shall miss Kate, but in the meantime I am gathering all the books on paper so that Kate will always be on my shelf, ready for a reread (and hopefully Head of Zeus will print up a new batch of a few so I can get them all in matching covers/sizes please?!)!
I was, however, a bit disappointed with this installment. First of all, the book started with quite a few instances of new/internet speak which I found jarring to read in a book. From some authors, in some formats, I could accept it more readily, but here it didn't fit for me. I think Dana is a great author and was bummed that she felt she had to use this to express meaning, however, this is how we nowadays express ourselves so I am a bit torn about it. Second of all the book seemed a bit flat in retrospect, a bit uninspired. This leads me to my third and final disappointment, I am fairly convinced this is the last Kate Shugak novel. Apparently Dana had left the last book at a cliffhanger to ensure she would actually write the 21st book, but seeing how long it took her, the quality of the book and how well things are wrapped up at the end, well, this seems like the end. That bums me out.
So this book gets 4.5 stars from me that I definitely will round up to 5. I love this series, the settings, the characters, the story telling, I just devoured this installment and now, a few days later, I can still look back fondly on it. I shall miss Kate, but in the meantime I am gathering all the books on paper so that Kate will always be on my shelf, ready for a reread (and hopefully Head of Zeus will print up a new batch of a few so I can get them all in matching covers/sizes please?!)!
May 29, 2017
This was a must read to find out what happened to Kate and Mutt, who were shot at the end of the last book. Kate walking out of the ICU a day after regaining consciousness is as improbable as Jack Bauer's miraculous recoveries in the TV series, 24. The first 60 pages were otherwise torture, filled with tertiary and uninteresting characters. The basic plot was a typical one, with murder to hide goings-on in the Park. The now retired Jim is working actively on the next chapter in his life, and uncertain about his relationship with Kate, who is avoiding him back in Anchorage working on the case. The ending was improbable.
May 9, 2017
Kate is back! Kate is back! Kate is back!
Yes, I'm excited. And yes, I loved this book!
If you've seen any of my reviews at all over the last couple of years, then you may know that I developed a full-on obsession for Dana Stabenow's amazing Kate Shugak series. Kate is tough, devoted, smart, and resilient, and lives in one of the most beautiful places in the world. In the Kate Shugak series, the author serves up mystery after mystery -- but really, what pulls me back for book after book is Kate herself, the "Park rats" who make up the tiny community in Niniltna, the troopers and cops and aunties and pilots who form the backbone of Kate's world, and the richly entangled storytelling that builds up over the course of the series.
We're now 21 books in (plus the Liam Campbell series of 4 books, which somewhat intersect with the Kate books and add yet another facet to her world). The series is still going strong. I gobbled up the previous 20 books (and the 4 Liams) in something like 18 months, and then was bereft over having to wait for Kate's return, especially as #20 ended with a super cruel cliffhanger.
Well, now my girl is back! The mystery in #21 is standard Kate fare (mining, ore rights, missing persons); the real treat is in seeing Kate recovering from a traumatic event and reconnecting with all the various people who love her. All the old favorites are here -- Bobby, Dinah, Katya, the aunties, and more -- and Kate's love interest Jim is as devoted (and hot) as ever. There are call-backs to earlier episodes, and some hair-raising action scenes, but mostly Less Than a Treason is a delight simply because we see Kate reclaiming her place in her own life and community.
Ah. I love these books, and I love the characters. This one made me so, so very happy, and I adored the ending too. I can only sit here now and hope and pray that Kate Shugak will live on in many, many, many more books. Do you hear me, Dana Stabenow??? I want more Kate, now and forever, amen.
Reading note 01 - The Kate books are full of super fun pop culture, literary, and musical references, and this one is no exception. Watch out for a selection in my Thursday Quotables post this week.
Reading note 02 - In case it's not perfectly obvious, the books in this series do not -- in my humble opinion -- work as stand-alones. There's simply too much world-building, full of rich and varied characters with unique and often complicatedly interconnected backstories, to be able to jump in with book #21! So take my advice, start at the beginning, and enjoy!
Reaidng note 03 -- I'll never get tired of Dana Stabenow's gorgeous descriptions of Alaskan wildlife and scenery, even though she makes me mad that I'm not there right at this very moment!
Yes, I'm excited. And yes, I loved this book!
If you've seen any of my reviews at all over the last couple of years, then you may know that I developed a full-on obsession for Dana Stabenow's amazing Kate Shugak series. Kate is tough, devoted, smart, and resilient, and lives in one of the most beautiful places in the world. In the Kate Shugak series, the author serves up mystery after mystery -- but really, what pulls me back for book after book is Kate herself, the "Park rats" who make up the tiny community in Niniltna, the troopers and cops and aunties and pilots who form the backbone of Kate's world, and the richly entangled storytelling that builds up over the course of the series.
We're now 21 books in (plus the Liam Campbell series of 4 books, which somewhat intersect with the Kate books and add yet another facet to her world). The series is still going strong. I gobbled up the previous 20 books (and the 4 Liams) in something like 18 months, and then was bereft over having to wait for Kate's return, especially as #20 ended with a super cruel cliffhanger.
Well, now my girl is back! The mystery in #21 is standard Kate fare (mining, ore rights, missing persons); the real treat is in seeing Kate recovering from a traumatic event and reconnecting with all the various people who love her. All the old favorites are here -- Bobby, Dinah, Katya, the aunties, and more -- and Kate's love interest Jim is as devoted (and hot) as ever. There are call-backs to earlier episodes, and some hair-raising action scenes, but mostly Less Than a Treason is a delight simply because we see Kate reclaiming her place in her own life and community.
Ah. I love these books, and I love the characters. This one made me so, so very happy, and I adored the ending too. I can only sit here now and hope and pray that Kate Shugak will live on in many, many, many more books. Do you hear me, Dana Stabenow??? I want more Kate, now and forever, amen.
Reading note 01 - The Kate books are full of super fun pop culture, literary, and musical references, and this one is no exception. Watch out for a selection in my Thursday Quotables post this week.
Reading note 02 - In case it's not perfectly obvious, the books in this series do not -- in my humble opinion -- work as stand-alones. There's simply too much world-building, full of rich and varied characters with unique and often complicatedly interconnected backstories, to be able to jump in with book #21! So take my advice, start at the beginning, and enjoy!
Reaidng note 03 -- I'll never get tired of Dana Stabenow's gorgeous descriptions of Alaskan wildlife and scenery, even though she makes me mad that I'm not there right at this very moment!
June 19, 2017
Two stars for resolution of the end of the previous book but I didn't feel the warmth and caring for Alaska and its people as I have in previous books. The plethora of f-bombs was distracting, unnecessary and gratuitous as were the political comments weaved throughout that added absolutely nothing to the story and no doubt offended many, including this Baby Boomer. Why would you want to do that? I felt throughout that Ms. Stabenow is bored with this series. There were too many characters and those who were familiar from previous outings seemed somehow shallow and unlikable in this book and the new ones mostly hateful. The plot line bored me and I grew weary of all the drooling and tail wagging by every man in Alaska who came face to face with the eternally lovely Kate. And the fact that my favorite character in this series didn't make an appearance until the very end was disappointing beyond words. I hope Ms. Stabenow comes off the Silk Road long enough to put some heart back into this series, assuming she continues it at all. I absolutely loved her previous Kate Shugak books but this one left me somehow sad and confused, as though it were written by a different author.
May 7, 2017
Soooooo Good
The end of the last book was devastating and the three year wait was awful, but this story was a joy to read. Satisfying and enjoyable from start to finish!
The end of the last book was devastating and the three year wait was awful, but this story was a joy to read. Satisfying and enjoyable from start to finish!
July 10, 2017
Good book, but not up to the best of the series. But you'll want to read it if you've come this far. Flashes of the best of Stabenow's writing, but it ends up feeling a bit scattered.
August 7, 2019
First Sentence: The body had been found early on by a raven, that inevitable first responder to carcasses in the wild.
Kate Shugak may have gone missing from all her friends and those who love her, but she knows where she is. Unfortunately, she is found by a woman who wants her to find her missing husband. A geologist working for the Suulutaq Mine is known for going off on his own, but this time he has failed to keep a meeting with his wife.
Once past the first, relatively unnecessary chapter, the story begins with a dramatic and emotional opening which is an immediate pickup from the previous book. It also leaves one with more questions than answers, and an element of dread.
But then, we settle into an updating of the village and its residents. For series readers, all the favorite, and not so favorite, characters are here but one. For new readers, this is not the place to start as there are a lot of characters. Although some background on them is provided, it can become confusing.
Stabenow does provide wonderful descriptions—“A beautiful night, clear and cold, the Milky Way a smear of confectioner’s sugar, the moon and ethereal, almost translucent crescent.”
Kate is a character to be greatly admired. She is smart, strong, independent and self-reliant; almost too much so. But she inspires loyalty and respect from all who know her.
There are a lot of plot threads to follow as well. Trust the author. The threads do become whole cloth. Even so, it is a bit frustrating that the two major reunions for which waits are late into the book, one not until the very end.
“Less Than A Treason” builds well as the pieces fit together in the end. And what a perfect end it is.
LESS THAN A TREASON (Myst-Kate Shugak-Alaska-Contemp) – VG
Stabenow, Dana – 21st in series
Head of Zeus – May 2017
Kate Shugak may have gone missing from all her friends and those who love her, but she knows where she is. Unfortunately, she is found by a woman who wants her to find her missing husband. A geologist working for the Suulutaq Mine is known for going off on his own, but this time he has failed to keep a meeting with his wife.
Once past the first, relatively unnecessary chapter, the story begins with a dramatic and emotional opening which is an immediate pickup from the previous book. It also leaves one with more questions than answers, and an element of dread.
But then, we settle into an updating of the village and its residents. For series readers, all the favorite, and not so favorite, characters are here but one. For new readers, this is not the place to start as there are a lot of characters. Although some background on them is provided, it can become confusing.
Stabenow does provide wonderful descriptions—“A beautiful night, clear and cold, the Milky Way a smear of confectioner’s sugar, the moon and ethereal, almost translucent crescent.”
Kate is a character to be greatly admired. She is smart, strong, independent and self-reliant; almost too much so. But she inspires loyalty and respect from all who know her.
There are a lot of plot threads to follow as well. Trust the author. The threads do become whole cloth. Even so, it is a bit frustrating that the two major reunions for which waits are late into the book, one not until the very end.
“Less Than A Treason” builds well as the pieces fit together in the end. And what a perfect end it is.
LESS THAN A TREASON (Myst-Kate Shugak-Alaska-Contemp) – VG
Stabenow, Dana – 21st in series
Head of Zeus – May 2017
April 24, 2023
Editing to add, after re-reading this book 2019----> I picked up the ARC for the next book in this series, so I decided to reread this one, and what I must have missed in the first reading, really kicked me in the butt with this second reading.
To paraphrase (because I'm not going to take up the time to find the exact quote) Ms. Stabenow says, 'the best thing baby boomers could do is to die. That we have made no lasting impressions in the world other than bad ones.' While I understand what she is saying, I think that the boomers did as much good as we did bad, and the even more curious thing is that Ms. Stabenow is a boomer herself.
Unfortunately, with this quote in mind, I will be reading the next book that I received as an ARC No Fixed Line and am praying that I can look beyond the time and money that I have spent on this series and the fact that she seems to want a newer, younger, fresher audience...good luck with that Ms. Stabenow. You've done many of your constant readers a great disservice.
2017---After waiting this long to see what happened to Kate and Mutt I was somewhat disappointed. We knew that since there was a new book, obviously Kate was still alive, but to drag the rest of it out was a bit cruel -perhaps this was the only way to ensure that the readers would have finished the whole book?
To paraphrase (because I'm not going to take up the time to find the exact quote) Ms. Stabenow says, 'the best thing baby boomers could do is to die. That we have made no lasting impressions in the world other than bad ones.' While I understand what she is saying, I think that the boomers did as much good as we did bad, and the even more curious thing is that Ms. Stabenow is a boomer herself.
Unfortunately, with this quote in mind, I will be reading the next book that I received as an ARC No Fixed Line and am praying that I can look beyond the time and money that I have spent on this series and the fact that she seems to want a newer, younger, fresher audience...good luck with that Ms. Stabenow. You've done many of your constant readers a great disservice.
2017---After waiting this long to see what happened to Kate and Mutt I was somewhat disappointed. We knew that since there was a new book, obviously Kate was still alive, but to drag the rest of it out was a bit cruel -perhaps this was the only way to ensure that the readers would have finished the whole book?
May 17, 2017
I enjoyed this step back into the Park with Kate and the usual rag tag gang of aunties, mates, ne'er do wells, and well, Jim, but it was something of a let down, not to mention a missed opportunity given the cliffhanger that Stabenow had left herself - and her readers - with. As a paramedic, it also made me want to tear my hair out with the medical shenanigans in the first chapter because, no. A world of no. Just don't do that. Please.
All that aside, the book is an entertaining enough mix of dead bodies, mine-related mystery, and the tying up of some series loose ends. If this was - as others have mentioned - a possible conclusion to the entire saga, then it was a satisfactory way to go out. Bearing that in mind, I've not been mean and lopped off a star for all that crap I've hidden in the spoiler tag.
All that aside, the book is an entertaining enough mix of dead bodies, mine-related mystery, and the tying up of some series loose ends. If this was - as others have mentioned - a possible conclusion to the entire saga, then it was a satisfactory way to go out. Bearing that in mind, I've not been mean and lopped off a star for all that crap I've hidden in the spoiler tag.
March 14, 2023
I will not say too much but for those that got something stuck in their throat in the last book, rest easy. Less Than a Treason by Dana Stabenow our usual characters are back. Everything is not as it should be in the park but when people start going missing Kate is on the job again. I must say that I have so much fun reading this series.
May 23, 2018
This is the 21st book in the Kate Shugak series. There is much to like about this author and this series. I like the characters. The author has created some great quirkiness in each one. I love the relationships and the family dynamics. There is also love for animals, which is always a good thing. I enjoy the setting and that the narrator isn't clueless in the pronunciation of the Alaskan names. However, with all that being said, this one was a little too sweet. And the story had so many components that didn't seem to link as nicely together as her other books.
But the two things that makes this 4 stars and not just 3, is the dialogue and her descriptive strokes. The dialogue felt natural and believable. There is a certain ease to it that gave it a great flow. And the descriptions were creative and she described things in new ways. There were some phrases that were creatively thought out. I love that. So 4 stars.
But the two things that makes this 4 stars and not just 3, is the dialogue and her descriptive strokes. The dialogue felt natural and believable. There is a certain ease to it that gave it a great flow. And the descriptions were creative and she described things in new ways. There were some phrases that were creatively thought out. I love that. So 4 stars.
May 18, 2017
This is one of those series that I buy/preorder without much thought: "new Kate Shugak coming?" ::Clicks preorder::
I'll admit I don't understand Kate or relate to her that much (we never had much in common except a love of books and a few shared authors, oh and generally wanting to be left alone), but I like her (& thank her for some great book recs), and have enjoyed this series for a long time - my early paperbacks are in tatters! This time, Kate made several pop-cultural references that a) I got, and b) made me smile and I almost felt like we could hang out and watch some Buffy.
I won't dig too deep into the plot. It's too easy to spoil. There are appearances by old friends and old enemies (natch), a few ends tied up and more unraveled, hinting at a #22, which I'll welcome and buy sight-unseen. The end of the previous book - Bad Blood - ended on a cliffhanger, with Kate and Mutt shot and left for dead (or did I get a bad copy?). It's not a spoiler to say that Kate survived (duh), but she was hurt/damaged in many ways and took off - in her typical fashion - to heal on her own terms, alone. But, as things happen (to Kate), people stroll through her remote hiding place and someone finds (falls on) a body. She's out of food anyway, so it's back to the Park and a new mystery.
I believe the title is taken from Reluctance, the Robert Frost poem (Google it, like I did). Here's the stanza:
Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season?
One of the things I don't get about Kate is her willingness to just walk away from everyone and everything. I get it to some extent, but for people that have hurt me or someone I loved. I'm okay never seeing them again. I can't imagine - and this is the point of my early comment about not understanding her - is how much pain she's willing to put people through. BUT, having said that, in this universe, with these people? They do get it. Everyone, including Jim, knew where she was. Her runaway times are getting shorter and her locations are easier to predict.
The timing of the series is similar to Comic Book Time - the settings are always present-day, with current tech, but the characters haven't aged the 25 years since A Cold Day for Murder was published (Kate is 39 in this book), maybe 10 years have passed. Everyone has cell phones, the Park has better coverage than I do (I can't get calls in my house) and there are apps for everything.
Finally, since little things delight me: the hardback version (this edition) has a bound-in ribbon bookmark. Totally made my day when I saw that (little things). My dust jacket is pristine because I wasn't forced to use the flaps to mark my spot. Bonus!
I'll admit I don't understand Kate or relate to her that much (we never had much in common except a love of books and a few shared authors, oh and generally wanting to be left alone), but I like her (& thank her for some great book recs), and have enjoyed this series for a long time - my early paperbacks are in tatters! This time, Kate made several pop-cultural references that a) I got, and b) made me smile and I almost felt like we could hang out and watch some Buffy.
I won't dig too deep into the plot. It's too easy to spoil. There are appearances by old friends and old enemies (natch), a few ends tied up and more unraveled, hinting at a #22, which I'll welcome and buy sight-unseen. The end of the previous book - Bad Blood - ended on a cliffhanger, with Kate and Mutt shot and left for dead (or did I get a bad copy?). It's not a spoiler to say that Kate survived (duh), but she was hurt/damaged in many ways and took off - in her typical fashion - to heal on her own terms, alone. But, as things happen (to Kate), people stroll through her remote hiding place and someone finds (falls on) a body. She's out of food anyway, so it's back to the Park and a new mystery.
I believe the title is taken from Reluctance, the Robert Frost poem (Google it, like I did). Here's the stanza:
Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season?
One of the things I don't get about Kate is her willingness to just walk away from everyone and everything. I get it to some extent, but for people that have hurt me or someone I loved. I'm okay never seeing them again. I can't imagine - and this is the point of my early comment about not understanding her - is how much pain she's willing to put people through. BUT, having said that, in this universe, with these people? They do get it. Everyone, including Jim, knew where she was. Her runaway times are getting shorter and her locations are easier to predict.
The timing of the series is similar to Comic Book Time - the settings are always present-day, with current tech, but the characters haven't aged the 25 years since A Cold Day for Murder was published (Kate is 39 in this book), maybe 10 years have passed. Everyone has cell phones, the Park has better coverage than I do (I can't get calls in my house) and there are apps for everything.
Finally, since little things delight me: the hardback version (this edition) has a bound-in ribbon bookmark. Totally made my day when I saw that (little things). My dust jacket is pristine because I wasn't forced to use the flaps to mark my spot. Bonus!
May 14, 2017
I'm glad that Kate is back. I have read all of the books and have enjoyed them immensely. The book does have a few issues though. While I have always appreciated that Stabenow has avoided becoming one of those writers that seems to think that each book has to be longer than the last book, this one desperately needed fleshing out. Plus the ending is just too improbable to be good. Another problem is that Stabenow has made Kate into more of a mythical cartoon figure, rather than a living, breathing soul. I have never liked the ridiculous descriptions of Kate wowing men. It was silly when the character was 30, and embarrassingly bad writing now that the character is 40. Plus she has already written variations of that same scene over and over again. It has never worked.
Stabenow also was unable to stifle herself from making commentary on the 2016 election. The problem with that is that I just do not care how she feels about Trump and Hilary, just like I do not care how any other writer, singer, or actor feels about politics. In this case it did not fit in the story at all. She simply shoehorned it in the book and it is just plain awkward. Further I find it difficult to reconcile her rant with her main character, who is the epitome of self reliance.
I actually purchased the book, as I have all of her books and I did pay full price for it. As I said I love these books and I like this one. My main problem with it is that the plot needed more attention. Stabenow needs to focus on telling a credible story and quit the ridiculous vamp routines and political rants. Both Kate and this book deserved much better.
Stabenow also was unable to stifle herself from making commentary on the 2016 election. The problem with that is that I just do not care how she feels about Trump and Hilary, just like I do not care how any other writer, singer, or actor feels about politics. In this case it did not fit in the story at all. She simply shoehorned it in the book and it is just plain awkward. Further I find it difficult to reconcile her rant with her main character, who is the epitome of self reliance.
I actually purchased the book, as I have all of her books and I did pay full price for it. As I said I love these books and I like this one. My main problem with it is that the plot needed more attention. Stabenow needs to focus on telling a credible story and quit the ridiculous vamp routines and political rants. Both Kate and this book deserved much better.
May 29, 2017
Wahoo! Hooray! Yippee! Kate is back!!! After what felt like an interminable wait, here she is. And this was worth the wait. I tried to pace myself, I swear I did, but I could not stop reading. Now I am finished and can only hope and pray that it doesn't take as long for her next adventure to come my way.
Read
November 30, 2017Favorite character Kate Shugak is finally back after 5 years! Less Than a Treason, the 21st in Dana Stabenow’s Kate Shugak series, continues Kate’s investigative adventures in the Alaskan wilds.
Who can resist the lead-in to this new book? “Two thousand people go missing in Alaska every year. They vanish in the middle of mountain footraces, on fishing boats in the Bering Sea, on small planes in the Bush. Now a geologist known for going walkabout with his rock hammer has disappeared from the Suulutaq Mine in the Park.”
Stabenow’s intricate description of events and relationships clearly brings each scene to life. In addition to Mutt, the half-wolf, half-husky side-kick to Kate, we revisit the familiar characters who factor into the web of events. I particularly enjoy learning about all things “Alaska.” Stabenow leads us through incidents, past and present, politics, economics, history, and lifestyles from the diversity of Alaska. All this in addition to a new murder mystery in each book. – Kolleen G.
Who can resist the lead-in to this new book? “Two thousand people go missing in Alaska every year. They vanish in the middle of mountain footraces, on fishing boats in the Bering Sea, on small planes in the Bush. Now a geologist known for going walkabout with his rock hammer has disappeared from the Suulutaq Mine in the Park.”
Stabenow’s intricate description of events and relationships clearly brings each scene to life. In addition to Mutt, the half-wolf, half-husky side-kick to Kate, we revisit the familiar characters who factor into the web of events. I particularly enjoy learning about all things “Alaska.” Stabenow leads us through incidents, past and present, politics, economics, history, and lifestyles from the diversity of Alaska. All this in addition to a new murder mystery in each book. – Kolleen G.
December 29, 2024
This book, like all of Stabenow's Kate Shugak books was a pleasure to read. I mowed through it quickly. Her books about the mixed blood Alaskan detective and the strange assortment of relatives and friends known as Park Rats are always a pleasure. The action is always fast paced. The books are very descriptive. Seeing the characters mature and progress over the course of 21 books has been enjoyable.
This book seems to have a slightly different vibe to it. It is almost as if to prepare the reader for something different in the future. It would not be noticed by anyone who had not read all or most of the books in the series. Nor does it take away from the book. Ms. Stabenow did make a foray into her view on politics that was not necessary for the story. I will say it was not as one-sided as most and I do understand her point of view. I appreciated her live and let live attitude.
Finally, I do recommend the book both to those unfamiliar with her work and those who, like me are continuing with a favorite series. If you started the series here and enjoyed this book stop. Go back. Read it from the beginning. The author has done a remarkable job over the years.
This book seems to have a slightly different vibe to it. It is almost as if to prepare the reader for something different in the future. It would not be noticed by anyone who had not read all or most of the books in the series. Nor does it take away from the book. Ms. Stabenow did make a foray into her view on politics that was not necessary for the story. I will say it was not as one-sided as most and I do understand her point of view. I appreciated her live and let live attitude.
Finally, I do recommend the book both to those unfamiliar with her work and those who, like me are continuing with a favorite series. If you started the series here and enjoyed this book stop. Go back. Read it from the beginning. The author has done a remarkable job over the years.
September 30, 2021
Kate, she changed, but her world is changing faster. She not loving some of the changes. There some some really ugly humans in this book really really ugly. You will cheer when they get justice.
Another fantastic story in one of my favorite series.
Another fantastic story in one of my favorite series.
February 20, 2018
The problem with reading a book in a long running series, is that its like going to your high school reunion where everyone knows each other but some people have been hanging out for years. Maybe the food and drink are good, but you miss out on all of the inside jokes and just do not know the scoop.
Dana Stabenow's book - Less Than Treason - which I picked up as a change of pace mystery, felt the same way to me. This novel chronicles in part events the occurred right after the main character was shot and nearly killed, and for a good 10% of the book was mostly about how other characters reacted to it.
When I finally got to the mystery, the murder of two prospector types, again it was daunting because so many references and the like were to past relationships etc.
And I usually know better than to read the 21st book in the series and to start at the beginning of the series to get the flavor of the books, the setting etc.
But somehow I forgot my own rule and read this book first. So was plunged into a world and setting, that although decently described and artfully written was just hard to feel comfortable.
Its
Dana Stabenow's book - Less Than Treason - which I picked up as a change of pace mystery, felt the same way to me. This novel chronicles in part events the occurred right after the main character was shot and nearly killed, and for a good 10% of the book was mostly about how other characters reacted to it.
When I finally got to the mystery, the murder of two prospector types, again it was daunting because so many references and the like were to past relationships etc.
And I usually know better than to read the 21st book in the series and to start at the beginning of the series to get the flavor of the books, the setting etc.
But somehow I forgot my own rule and read this book first. So was plunged into a world and setting, that although decently described and artfully written was just hard to feel comfortable.
Its
May 18, 2017
Spoiler Alert - Kate lives.
(Otherwise this book would have been REALLY short.) This felt like a lot of loose ends were being tied up, and could potentially be the last Kate Shugak book. I hope it isn't - but if there's another one, I hope it's a bit stronger.
(Otherwise this book would have been REALLY short.) This felt like a lot of loose ends were being tied up, and could potentially be the last Kate Shugak book. I hope it isn't - but if there's another one, I hope it's a bit stronger.
April 26, 2020
Another good Kate Shugak novel. Kate is wounded and goes off the grid for four months. On her first day back she is hired for a missing persons case. She and Chopper Jim solve several murders in fine fashion. Recommended!
August 31, 2017
When I read “Bad Blood”, the twentieth book, almost two years ago, I thought the series was at an end and that I’d lost Kate Shugak and all the people around her that I’d come to know so well.
I was surprised at how strongly I felt the absence of these books over the past months. I missed Kate’s humanity, her indomitable spirit and the friendships that she’s made.
It’s been a long wait for book twenty-one, a book I wasn’t sure would ever be written.
I bought the ebook as soon as it came out and then left it languishing on my TBR pile because I realised that what I really wanted was to have Marguerite Gaven read it to me. Her voice and the voices she’s created for the main characters are a big part of how I experience Kate Shugak’s world. So, I waited for the audiobook version and then dived straight in.
Within half an hour, I felt like I’d come home. I KNOW these people and this place and I’d missed them. It wasn’t just that I wanted to know what had happened to Kate, I wanted to catch up with everyone.
I experienced this book as a gift from Dana Stabenow. Another chance to be with Kate and to hope that, this time, things might end well.
I won’t focus on the plot here, as that might spoil the book for anyone who hasn’t read it. I’ll just pick out the things that gave me pleasure.
Kate is mostly absent from the early part of the book. She has taken herself off, rather implausibly, and against medical advice, to recover from her injuries. Watching Jim adjust to this and decide what to do about it made me like him more than in previous books. The ageing of the Aunties and the decline of their power felt real and a little sad.
When Kate did return, I found her as hard to understand and as easy to like as ever. The way she let herself get caught up in a case on her first day back, her comfortable familiarity in navigating her way through death and violence and deceit, made it look as if I had the old Kate back but that was not entirely true. Kate had rebuilt herself but not quite in the same image. She feels the gap at her side, where Mutt should be. She’s aware that bullets don’t bounce off her. She’s unsure of what will happen when she meets Jim again. She now truly understands the folly of revenge.
The plot was interesting and brought some long-standing topics to a conclusion. It was peppered with fun pop-culture references, some nods to the changing climate in Alaska as global warming starts to bite, a diatribe against the sins of the baby boomers – a generation who took but did not build – and disappointment at the dismal choices available in the Presidential election.
The ending of the book is a little heavy on wish fulfilment but I felt I DESERVED that after the grief the ending of the last book left me with.
If you’re a fan, this book will please you. If you’re not yet a fan, go back to “A Cold Day For Murder” and know that you have a splendid journey ahead of you.
I was surprised at how strongly I felt the absence of these books over the past months. I missed Kate’s humanity, her indomitable spirit and the friendships that she’s made.
It’s been a long wait for book twenty-one, a book I wasn’t sure would ever be written.
I bought the ebook as soon as it came out and then left it languishing on my TBR pile because I realised that what I really wanted was to have Marguerite Gaven read it to me. Her voice and the voices she’s created for the main characters are a big part of how I experience Kate Shugak’s world. So, I waited for the audiobook version and then dived straight in.
Within half an hour, I felt like I’d come home. I KNOW these people and this place and I’d missed them. It wasn’t just that I wanted to know what had happened to Kate, I wanted to catch up with everyone.
I experienced this book as a gift from Dana Stabenow. Another chance to be with Kate and to hope that, this time, things might end well.
I won’t focus on the plot here, as that might spoil the book for anyone who hasn’t read it. I’ll just pick out the things that gave me pleasure.
Kate is mostly absent from the early part of the book. She has taken herself off, rather implausibly, and against medical advice, to recover from her injuries. Watching Jim adjust to this and decide what to do about it made me like him more than in previous books. The ageing of the Aunties and the decline of their power felt real and a little sad.
When Kate did return, I found her as hard to understand and as easy to like as ever. The way she let herself get caught up in a case on her first day back, her comfortable familiarity in navigating her way through death and violence and deceit, made it look as if I had the old Kate back but that was not entirely true. Kate had rebuilt herself but not quite in the same image. She feels the gap at her side, where Mutt should be. She’s aware that bullets don’t bounce off her. She’s unsure of what will happen when she meets Jim again. She now truly understands the folly of revenge.
The plot was interesting and brought some long-standing topics to a conclusion. It was peppered with fun pop-culture references, some nods to the changing climate in Alaska as global warming starts to bite, a diatribe against the sins of the baby boomers – a generation who took but did not build – and disappointment at the dismal choices available in the Presidential election.
The ending of the book is a little heavy on wish fulfilment but I felt I DESERVED that after the grief the ending of the last book left me with.
If you’re a fan, this book will please you. If you’re not yet a fan, go back to “A Cold Day For Murder” and know that you have a splendid journey ahead of you.
October 13, 2017
3.5 stars
The Kate Shugak series is now up to 21 books and I have read them all. It begins with A Cold Day for Murder in 1992 and now we have Less Than a Treason, following the cliffhanger in Bad Blood after 4 loooong years. I hoped it wasn't the ending, so I was excited to receive this to review.
The mysteries about the crimes were half and half. Some were easy enough to predict and others were less obvious. The issues left open at the end of Bad Blood were more suspenseful. The personal relationships had me tense until near the end. Apparently, I don't like when the main characters and possible romantic couples are not geographically together for most of the story. I have loved the relationship with Kate and Jim in the past few books. It had me on edge here, as did Kate's other key relationship with Mutt.
I had not listened to any of these on audio until now. I did see some social media posts asking whether Marguerite Gavin would be doing the narration. And no wonder, she is amazing! I love listening to her. Her character voices really worked for me. She made me feel all the characters and their emotions. She especially brought forth Bobby with his fun attitudes. I never would have made it through the first half of the story without her.
With the main characters separated and all the diverse bits of information to later weave into solutions, it was frustrating. The characters felt like themselves except with stuffed down emotions? They went about their tasks. Then once things started coming together with Kate and Jim working the cases, everything felt right. I don't expect this to be a romance; I just expect the characters to have relationships of various types to add to the emotional complexity of the characters. This feels like the ending, but I rather hope it isn't.
Listen to a clip here .
The Kate Shugak series is now up to 21 books and I have read them all. It begins with A Cold Day for Murder in 1992 and now we have Less Than a Treason, following the cliffhanger in Bad Blood after 4 loooong years. I hoped it wasn't the ending, so I was excited to receive this to review.
The mysteries about the crimes were half and half. Some were easy enough to predict and others were less obvious. The issues left open at the end of Bad Blood were more suspenseful. The personal relationships had me tense until near the end. Apparently, I don't like when the main characters and possible romantic couples are not geographically together for most of the story. I have loved the relationship with Kate and Jim in the past few books. It had me on edge here, as did Kate's other key relationship with Mutt.
I had not listened to any of these on audio until now. I did see some social media posts asking whether Marguerite Gavin would be doing the narration. And no wonder, she is amazing! I love listening to her. Her character voices really worked for me. She made me feel all the characters and their emotions. She especially brought forth Bobby with his fun attitudes. I never would have made it through the first half of the story without her.
With the main characters separated and all the diverse bits of information to later weave into solutions, it was frustrating. The characters felt like themselves except with stuffed down emotions? They went about their tasks. Then once things started coming together with Kate and Jim working the cases, everything felt right. I don't expect this to be a romance; I just expect the characters to have relationships of various types to add to the emotional complexity of the characters. This feels like the ending, but I rather hope it isn't.
Listen to a clip here .
June 12, 2017
Any Kate Shugak book, by definition, will be well worth the read, for those who begin to miss Niniltna and the whole cast of Park Rats and Kate herself. So--first things first--this is a good read.
The real question is: How does this stack up against the other Kate Shugak books? It feels like the second half of a larger book, the tying-up-loose-ends part, rather than a whole story with new characters and plot lines. It reinforces the message Stabenow has subtly put out there for the past few books: Jim Chopin is worthy of Our Kate. It explains what has happened to Mutt, Sidekick of the Century. It checks in on all of our favorite folk. And it releases us from the need to know what's going on in Kate's World. It's a good one, but not one of the great, earth-shaking KS books.
Is it the end? It could be--and as long as Stabenow kept writing, I'd be happy. Sometimes, a series will seem to have played itself out, then BOOM--a whole new outlook appears. I guess the message is: Wait and See. Which I'm happy to do.
The real question is: How does this stack up against the other Kate Shugak books? It feels like the second half of a larger book, the tying-up-loose-ends part, rather than a whole story with new characters and plot lines. It reinforces the message Stabenow has subtly put out there for the past few books: Jim Chopin is worthy of Our Kate. It explains what has happened to Mutt, Sidekick of the Century. It checks in on all of our favorite folk. And it releases us from the need to know what's going on in Kate's World. It's a good one, but not one of the great, earth-shaking KS books.
Is it the end? It could be--and as long as Stabenow kept writing, I'd be happy. Sometimes, a series will seem to have played itself out, then BOOM--a whole new outlook appears. I guess the message is: Wait and See. Which I'm happy to do.
October 17, 2017
Love the Alaskan location of this series, but this installment was not all that cohesive as the characters went about some puzzling business and you’re left to wonder what’s going on. A death occurs and that starts to focus the action, so I found the second half to be a better read. Unfortunately, if you haven’t read prior books in the series it can be like listening to a chatty stranger in a bus station talking with great familiarity about her family and friends as you try to connect the relationship dots.
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