Not the Ones Dead

Kate Shugak #23

by Dana Stabenow

The gripping new Kate Shugak novel by New York Times bestselling author Dana Stabenow.

What seems a tragic accident soon becomes a murder investigation as Kate is drawn into a case of political intrigue.

A mid-air collision in the Alaskan wilderness between two small aircraft leaves ten people dead. Was it a bird strike, pilot error... or premeditated murder?

Then an eleventh body is found in the a man shot gangland style, twice in the chest and once in the head.

In an investigation that reaches to the highest levels of government, justice may not be served, but Kate Shugak is determined that the truth will out, even at the risk of her life and the lives of those she loves most.

Reviewers on Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak

'An antidote to sugary female sleuths : Kate Shugak, the Aleut private investigator' — New York Times
' Crime fiction doesn't get much better than this ' — Booklist
'If you are looking for something unique in the field of crime fiction, Kate Shugak is the answer ' —Michael Connelly

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Suspense, Romance, Audiobook

384 pages, Hardcover

First published April 11, 2023

About the author

Dana 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.

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Many years ago I started this series, enjoyed it from the beginning, though as with other series, I thought some were better than others. This is also the series that started my ongoing interest in Alaska. Kate is a unique character, a strong female lead, but one with a heart. She and her aunties run the park and try to keep peace between all. Twenty three books and I'm still not tired of this series.

This outing includes much taken out of todays and the past few years, headlines. Though, much belongs to Alaska alone. At books end a change in the park will leave Kate speechless. Can't wait to see how she handles the change.

ARC from netgalley.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

In this 23rd book in the 'Kate Shugak' series, the Alaskan private investigator investigates the reason for a mid-air collision between two small planes. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the series is a plus.



Aleut Kate Shugak lives in 'The Park', a federally owned twenty-million acre national park in Alaska with scattered private properties grandfathered in. The residents in the area, referred to as 'park rats', are a mixture of indigenous people and incomers that settled down.



It's hard for law enforcement to police an area as large as The Park, but the authorities do the best they can. Dan O'Brian, The Park's chief ranger, takes notice when armed men in desert camo outfits - claiming to be private security for local landowners - start running hikers and other visitors off PUBLIC park lands.



Things escalate even further when the camo-clad men start harassing black and indigenous park residents.



While Dan is planning a visit to the 'local landowners' protecting their privacy, a mid-air collision between two small planes - which kills all nine people on the two aircraft - brings in the NTSB. The reason for the collision is unclear, and the report of a tenth body among the debris, with no identification, adds to the mystery.



The pilot of one of the downed planes was 87-year-old Frank Barr Sr., and it's strongly hinted that he caused the collision. Frank's children, Frank Barr Jr. and his sister Elsa, don't believe their dad was responsible for the crash, and they hire private investigator Kate Shugak to determine what happened.

Kate begins investigating with the assistance of her wolf-dog mix Mutt.....



....and her boyfriend Jim Chopin, a former Alaska State Trooper. Jim pilots a small plane which he uses (among other things) to transport Kate and Mutt to observe the scene of the crash, investigate areas of interest, interview people, and so on.





As Kate and company conduct their inquiries, they come across another dead body and a muddy cap with a logo that matches the insignia sported by the 'private security' individuals.

As it turns out there's a LOT going on The Park, where SOME people seem to think they can do whatever they like because the territory's vastness hides their activities. However Kate - with the assistance of a reporter, a PI colleague, ranger Dan O'Brian, an FBI agent, and others - exposes what's going on. The novel echoes some issues seen in the news over the last few years, which makes the story particularly relevant.



As usual in this series, there are picturesque descriptions of the beautiful Alaska landscape, and glimpses into indigenous culture, such as a Potlatch (ceremonial feast) for people lost in the Covid pandemic, and the 'aunties' - the influential native women who rule the roost among the park rats. In this book Kate becomes an auntie herself, much to her chagrin.


Potlatch

One of the best characters in the series is the wolf-dog Mutt, who reigns over The Park and gets obeisance - in the form of beef jerky, bones, and other treats - wherever she goes. Other recurring characters make an appearance as well, including Bobby Clark - the black DJ at the Park's radio station; the little weasel Howie Katelnikof - a minor criminal; Willard Shugak - Howie's mentally challenged roommate, who's manipulated into a life of misdemeanors; Auntie Vi - who runs a B&B and cooks up fry bread, caribou steaks, mooseburgers, and so on; the other park aunties; Bernie Kowlowski - who runs The Park's only bar; and more.


Caribou Steak


Fry Bread

I enjoyed this mystery and recommend it to fans of the Kate Shugak series and to other readers who like suspense novels.

Thanks to Netgalley, Dana Stabenow, and Aria & Aries, Head of Zeus publishers for a copy of the manuscript.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading this author, or this series even though this is #23.

And...

The basis of the story is that there is a mid-air collision in the Alaskan wilderness between two small aircraft leaving ten people dead.

The question becomes…

Was it a bird strike, pilot error, or premeditated murder?

So...

What complicates the investigation is when an eleventh body is found in the wreckage where a man is shot gangland style.

Now...

Full disclosure here. I have to be honest. I was intrigued with the idea of this type of crime itself, so I was totally open to reading this book. I also asked the person who gave me this book if I could read this as a stand-alone, and was told yes.

So...

I ventured in. Wrong. No, no, no. This is not a stand-alone, especially to those who have never read this series. You will get lost.

And...

For those of you who follow me, you know I do read books out of order, and sometimes that is okay, but with this series, No. I was completely lost.

Because...

The banter with the various characters who knew each other so well through me completely off.

So...

I recommend, readers start from the beginning of the series.

For me...

I was too caught up with trying to figure out who is who.

And then...

The back and forth between different crime scenes (yes there were a few besides this main one) made me feel a bit disconnected from the overall story – including the crime that intrigued me in the first place.

So...

My overall view of the series is not a positive first introduction.

And...

In all fairness to the author...and readers...I'm sorry on this one.

3.5 stars rounded down.

[BonnieM☂️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the Ones Dead is the 23rd book in the Kate Shugak Investigation series. The story takes place in Ahtna Junction and Niniltna, Alaska a native village. The book opens with Bobby Clark coming home and is pushed off the road into a ditch. He walks to Kate Shugak's cabin for help to get his truck back on the road. Ed Chapin, a retired policeman lives with her. Mutt is her part wolf-huskie dog. She tells Ed about getting Bobby's car back on the road. Bobby tells them that there were 3-4 men who were coming down the slope but left when they saw him with a gun. He leaves to go home.

Ed and Kate fly into town, Niniltna to do food shopping and to pick up their mail. The park is run by the aunties Vi, Edna, Joy and Balasha and the chief of the tribe, Ekaterina. Ed started a school with his inheritance called Herbie Topkok Polytechnic Academy for native children to teach them a trade. Cisco Barre arrives in a van with several people. He said that he has just bought some property in the area. Harry and Marge Bachman, back country hikers have zoomed Dan O'Brian, chief ranger of the park, that they were hiking on a trail called Busted Flat Peak that they usually do and ran into armed men who said they were security for the land owners. They were carrying military guns, They did not have logo's but letters and numbers J649 on their hats. Dan realized that this was the 4th complaints from hikers.

When Demetri died his wife sold their lodge. No one knows who she sold it to but later find out that it was sold to a white supremacist group run by the Barre brothers along with their mother who is very religious. A lot of things start to happen with two deaths, a fire at the Roadhouse bar and a mid-air collision, drones, FBI involvement, etc. I will leave this to the reader to read as there is so much happening to put on paper. It is up to Kate, Ed to find out where all this leads to an exciting ending.

I love this series with Kate, Ed and the characters of the town of Niniltha and a little bit about the history of Alaska. Look forward to the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Head of Zeus, Ltd. for this ARC.

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a disappointment. This is basically one long political rant against conservatives. Plot lines straight from the headlines. Racism (in a place that for 22 books has never been a thing), J6’ers, the Capitol insurrection, a mid-air collision (google one in Soldotna 2020). This installment didn’t flow like her previous books. Totally different characters than before. Kate isn’t who she used to be.

[H S Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly disappointing

This has been one of my favourite series since I picked up my first Kate Shugak book. I'm a huge fan! Unfortunately, this book left me cold. The mystery, tension and excitement of her previous books was missing. Ms Stabenow sacrificed plot for politics and the overdone covid narrative was preachy and pervasive. A long awaited book that (for me) failed to deliver.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another strong entry in the series. Good story and good job of weaving in current events (the covid pandemic, January 6th, etc.).

I notice some of the right wing reviewers are butt-hurt because the book touched on racism, January 6th, antivaxxers, religious extremism and "politics". Kind of ironic that their responses reinforce Kate's theory about some white people being scared of becoming the Minority and having to live without the white privilege they have always taken for granted.

[Mary Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex.

Not the ones dead is a very complex story in which a series of events had to happen exactly when they did in order for a domino effect to occur which in turn lead to two planes crashing into each other. Now one of the pilots was eighty seven so obviously pilot error was to blame....or.so.the.authorities would like to believe, the deceased man's family however hire Kate wanting her to.find the.truth behind the events which caused the crash..........no problem then Mate is the best person to.solve a mystery with no witnesses, evidence or support.......not counting Jim, Johnny, Val and the rest of the park.................

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange happenings in the Alaskan National Park!

Another satisfying novel by Stabenow. I can smell the cold crisp of the air, and taste the frozen mountains. Stabenow’s descriptions of this awesome, spreading Alaskan National Park are a delight.
Less delightful is what happens here! Unexplained! A group of settlers are denying people access to public tracks. The roadhouse, center of the community, burns down. A mid air crash near the Quilaks, mountains a few minutes flight on from Paddy Murphy’s airstrip. Murphy’s sold his claim and up and left. But then there’s a mysterious extra dead body at the crash sit. What’s going on?
Duane Jackson, the new post master, warns Kate about the new owners of Demetri Totemoff’s lodge?!
And drones! I’ve had my reservations about them but post this read they’re now amplified.
What’s going on is exactly what Kate Shugak and her partner Jim are trying to find out, accompanied of course by Mutt, Kate’s half-Husky, half-Arctic grey wolf companion.
It’s off season and these events would be hard to match even at the height of activity in the Park.

An Aria & Aries ARC via NetGalley
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

[Yodamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it but not as much as past books in the series. Kate, Mutt, Jim, Dan, Bernie,... my favorites were al there but the tone of the series has changed. There isn't the intensity that this series once gripped me with. Kate and Jim have retired sort of, they are not rushing out into black holes anymore, there is a lot more thinking and enjoying the scenery. It was slow, I wished I'd gotten it on audio I think I would have enjoyed it more.
The area is infested with an extremest religious group, that has very narrow views on who is godly and who is not. (Racist) They are very dangerous, and do their best to hide while causing major damage to the area. They aren't the brightest bunch, young, dumb and heavily armed. The government is doing it's best to avoid any responsibility. I really was irked at this point, come on just tell the truth ! Ha ha ha ha I made a joke there, government telling the truth ?!?!?! As if that'd ever happen. Snort*** Okay back to the book. It's dealt with, the bad guys are thwarted for now...

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 23rd book in the series and the first that I have read. I have been to Alaska one time and hunted there, it was a tough, tough bear hunt. So the book did not disappoint by sugarcoating anything to do with the terrain or weather.

I didn't have any contact with anybody similar to the characters in the book, but they were believable. My ex-husband is from Canada so I am familiar with First Nations attitudes which I find very entertaining. The plot was straight up, well written and I had to pay attention the whole time to keep up with the characters.

In the end, I don't think this was my last book in the series. I like people who strive against the odds and overcome hardships.

4 stars

Happy Reading!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I love the Kate Shugak series. I love the characters and the descriptions of the land and everything about this series. The action is nonstop and there’s so much happening, so many branches of the story. I love that everything gets wrapped up, although like Kate the lack of the perp walk is frustrating. I highly recommend this book. I can’t wait for the next one. #NottheOnesDead #NetGalley

[Barb Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why do almost all the current fiction authors find it necessary to write about the pandemic and the 2020 election? Certainly there must be other plot lines available.

[Mike Finn · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Not The Ones Dead' was an excellent addition to the Kate Shugak series, with a strong, topical plot. filled with violence, hate, destruction, death and political intrigue, balanced by the resilience of the people in the Park and by Kate's determination to find the truth and defend the people she cares about.

Even if you've never read a Kate Shugak book before, this would work as a thriller with a cast of strong characters anchored to a community and a landscape being threatened by the hatred and division that is ripping through the rest of America. If, like me, you've read the other twenty-two books and have been visiting Kate and the Park for more than a decade, then the experience is even more powerful.

Dana Stabenow has an extraordinary ability to keep this series fresh. She does this partly by letting her characters, not just Kate but all the people around her, grow, evolve and age. This isn't one of those series where time stands still. The young grow up, the old die and the ones in between often have their lives torn apart by the disaster mundane and personal or dramatic and community-wide. In this book one of the staples of Park life is destroyed, Kate's adopted son and his girlfriend start to find their feet as adults who look as if they will become formidable, we get Mutt's origin story and Kate reluctantly finds herself being redefined as an Auntie, one of the elders who exercise authority across the Park.

Another way that Dana Stabenow keeps the series fresh is by throwing topical issues at life in the Park. This time she places the Park under threat from white supremacist incomers with deep pockets, lots of weapons and a fierce Christofascist view of the world.

But I think the main thing that keeps the series fresh is that Dana Stabenow knows how to tell a story. She carries me with her through the story, making me aware of strange goings on, building a sense of threat and feeding my curiosity about how disparate events are linked, giving me time to speculate on motive and worry about consequences so that I lost myself entirely in the tale.

When I saw how the twentieth Kate Shugak book ended, I thought the series was over. I'm so glad it wasn't. I want this series to run and run. I want to see Kate age and the youngsters grow up. I want to lose myself in these stories as often as Dana Stabenow is willing to spin them and I want Marguerite Gavin to be the voice bringing me the stories. Her narration is perfect. Click on the Soundcloud link below to hear a sample.

https://soundcloud.com/bloomsburypubl...

[bob crowley · Rating 2 out of 5]

not the ones dead is not as bad as the book before it, spoils of the dead (liam campbell) but i rated it a 2, I enjoyed the kate shugak series till lately. This story was confusing about the number of characters running in and out of the story, the puppy love relationship between jim and kate, which kept being revisted ad nauseum, and the 'mutt' wolf-dog who plays an important part of the story for reasons unknown to me, and is always being referred to as smarter than anyone else. And then on to the villiams, domestic terrorists with an evangelical christian background. The author does not seem to mind mind splashing mud over all millions of people with that faith background. She could have picked antifidas who love arson, looting, destruction and weeks long violent rioting and phony indignation about a black excon high on a fatal doze of fentanyl killed by a over zealous lousy white cop. This is basically a cozy mystery in disguise. And i wonder why she is writing this kind of novel now, is the publisher demanding this from her or has she switched her audience or run out of gas? Maybe the last, most readers seem to like all the fluff this story contains, i obviously do not. And end was anticlimatic. bad book.

[Rosalind · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have previously read all the other Kate Shugak novels and the Liam Campbell books.
There really is some lack of continuity in these books at times, Jim's height is one. A Deeper Sleep which is book 15 of the series. Bernie's wife, Enid is shot along with their eldest son Fritz. Was this a Bobby Ewing moment and she is back from the dead? I found that really odd that Van would ask about her and then realise she was off on one of their breaks? She was dead for heavens sake.
I feel Dana was on a schedule by her publisher to get this book out, it didn't flow and there was no suspense and the fun wasn't fun either. There was way too much political stuff going on, I read these for escapism of this stuff and I'm not American so I'm not even that interested. I like hearing about the weather, the plants, the landscape in Alaska. I will never go, but I like to hear the talk about that and how life is there, without the politics.
Lots of other characters brought in to this book that meant nothing and didn't add to the story. A lot more could have been made of a group setting up camp in Alaska for their agenda than they did.
Really quite disappointed in this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC in return for an honest review.

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the Ones Dead by Dana Stabenow is the 23rd and latest book about private investigator Kate Shugak. It is like all the other books in this series set in Alaska and told by a writer who sure know her setting. I love this series and the place where it all takes place. I also love the characters and the situations they encounter, I also appreciate the humor and history that is told in these adventures. I have read so many books about Alaska and Canada growing up so I find it interesting to read about it set in more modern time instead of the 1800s and early 1900s. Now I only have one more book in the Liam Campbell series and a few short stories left to read and hope that there will be more in these series coming in the near future. I must thank Head of Zeus and Netgalley for making this advance copy available to me and I really recommend that you try these books.

[Lisa Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kate Shugak series remains as excellent as ever, which is quite an accomplishment for a series that's 23 books and counting. Another terrific adventure with Kate, Mutt, and the entire Park gang.

[Groucho42 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad to say, but I think I'm done with this series for multiple reason. First, we already had a novel with religious nuts and the last book was about a plane crash and gangsters. This combines the two as if the author has run out of ideas.

Second, the evil genius Mafia boss is tiring and trite.

Third, years ago I began reading a series about a NJ lawyer who liked dogs. Well written and fun. However, he wanted to be an action writer and so the NJ lawyer was constantly dealing with government overthrows and international conspiracies. This series seems to have gone the same way.

Finally, this one was just too preachy and the epilogue was all about preaching. I don't care if I agree with the author, I don't need to read that in escapism. Try subtlety.

All told, I love the personal stories in the series, and those continue, but the plots have tired me out.

[Lauri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps it is time for Dana Stabenow to shut down this series. The story was very slow going and not very interesting. There was no mystery to speak of. There was also almost nothing of the Native American culture which made this series so special. Similarly, it lacked the in-depth description of the Alaskan wilderness that made the other books so fascinating. I have no idea what someone would think coming to this book without having read the earlier ones because there was no explanation of the series’ history or who these people were. The only good thing was that the book was devoid of the overheated and often rape-like scenes between Kate and Jim.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars and I breaks my heart to rate Kate Sugak so low, but this one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Covid and the politics of 2020-2021 are very much front and center of this one, and while I can see that in time it may be interesting, to me if felt a bit heavy handed.

Also this one just didn’t have the same mystery to it. Not that I want Kate (or Mutt or anyone else) to be shot at, but this one seemed to have manufactured drama- Mr.Smith makes a brief and ominous appearance but nothing really seems to come of it, and Kate somehow doesn’t seem central to solving the mystery.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

What seems a tragic accident soon becomes a murder investigation as Kate is drawn into a case of political intrigue in Not the Ones Dead by Dana Stabenow.

This is book #23 in the series. It didn't bother me that I hadn't read other books in the series, and I don't feel I missed too much from the other books.

However, the book was slow in parts, and I found myself skimming some pages just to get to some action. The book's premise sounded quite intriguing, and I was excited to read Not the Ones Dead, but the story and writing style fell flat for me. It was just an okay read.

I would give it a 3 out of 5 stars. I may check out other books by this author.

#NottheOnesDead #NetGalley @AriesFictionBooks

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first winter in Alaska I was living in a converted garage apartment without internet, and I discovered the Kate Shugak series and blew through the first 16 as I was learning my way in AK. I have loved my time with Kate as new books come out, and all the little details dropped that only Alaskans would understand. And I love that the author lives in Homer, which I miss so much. Reading this latest in the series and living outside of AK, I feel grateful to still understand some of the inside lingo, like when Spenard and Muldoon were compared. It was an interesting twist to read about some of our current politics impacting the Park during this election season. Love this series and grateful each time a new one is released.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book #23 in the Kate Shugak series but it is only the 11th one that I've read. I've liked them all.
They are mostly 4 stars, but there have been a few 3 stars.

The things that I appreciate the most about this series are the setting (because it takes place in my homeland), the narrator gets the Alaskan names correct in the audios, the humor, the unique and fun traits of the characters, and the story lines. All things that are easy to like. I also like the "heart" of the characters.

Now with that said, this one wasn't all that I have come to love about this author, this series, and about these characters. I was glad that Mutt is still going strong but this one seemed a little lacking and I'm not sure I can pinpoint the reason. So 3 stars and a note that this was my least favorite of the 11 that I've read.

[Harriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a good read!

Dana Stabenow writes well with realistic characters, interesting plots set in an Alaska most of us will never see. Love her strong female protagonist!

[GEOrocks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Total Kate Shugak fan! The beginning was rough for me - totally understand the need to set the scene but …. once Kate, Mutt and Jim start investigating, it was great!

[Lea Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate and Mutt never fail to provide a great story! Not the Ones Dead is the 23rd installment of the Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow. Kate is happily living her summer in the Park, when there are a few disturbing incidents. These culminate in a September with so many coincidental problems, that they cannot be ignored.

In addition to the mystery, Dana Stabenow fully immerses us in the fictional Park where Kate lives, as do a large number of compelling characters. Though this is a long running series, I never feel like I am being patronized by the descriptions of people and places, nor treated as if I should have it all memorized. We have appearances by several favorites, such as Bobby and Bernie, are introduced to new residents, such as Duane Jackson, and say goodbye to some that that we wish we didn’t have to.

Dana Stabenow is one of my favorite authors and I could not have been more excited to read her latest book. Thank you to #NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for a read at an uncorrected edition! Post-pandemic Park & this book starts off with a bang! New technology is introduced as the plot thickens & turns. As usual, Kate & Jim are at the center of the action. Readers will still get a taste of Alaskan Bush life, but the realities of the lower 48 move north. This book forces you to keep your eye on the ball as the story progresses. Another great book by Dana Stabenow.

[Judith Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awkward insertion of leftist philosophy

[Kevin Luoma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Political innuendos overshadow what could be a good story. Too bad.