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Liam Campbell #2
So Sure Of Death
Fire and Ice, the first Liam Campbell mystery, was named by Library Journal as Best Mystery of 1998. Now Campbell is back to uncover the icy heart of a deadly family secret....
Three relatively-quiet months have passed since Trooper Liam Campbell was assigned to the remote post of Newenham. It all changes when a local fishing boat is discovered scuttled and adrift—its crew of seven dead in circumstances that can't be accidental—and Wy stumbles into a murder scene at an archaeological dig. Cultures collide as the community must deal with too many outside distractions.
Three relatively-quiet months have passed since Trooper Liam Campbell was assigned to the remote post of Newenham. It all changes when a local fishing boat is discovered scuttled and adrift—its crew of seven dead in circumstances that can't be accidental—and Wy stumbles into a murder scene at an archaeological dig. Cultures collide as the community must deal with too many outside distractions.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
339 people are currently reading
655 people want to read
About the author
Dana Stabenow
104 books2,150 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 131 reviews
June 6, 2016
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It is book 2 of the Liam Campbell Alaska state trooper series. I read it in 4 days, an easy, satisfying read. Liam has two separate murder incidents. One is a multiple murder of 7 people and the other a single person. He must fly to these murder scenes, because his territory in bush Alaska is huge. He is terrified of flying, but he must do it everyday, sometimes more than once.
A subplot is his on/off romantic relationship with Wyanet Chouinard, who owns the small plane charter service that he uses on a daily basis.
The book also has some humorous observations on Alaska:
"The governor narrowly escaped prison only by payment of a $330,000 fine, but when the legislature changed hands two years later, they vacated the judgement and repaid the fine with interest."
A newspaper reporter comments "Ah, Alaska, gays can't marry ... and embezzlers never go hungry."
A subplot is his on/off romantic relationship with Wyanet Chouinard, who owns the small plane charter service that he uses on a daily basis.
The book also has some humorous observations on Alaska:
"The governor narrowly escaped prison only by payment of a $330,000 fine, but when the legislature changed hands two years later, they vacated the judgement and repaid the fine with interest."
A newspaper reporter comments "Ah, Alaska, gays can't marry ... and embezzlers never go hungry."
March 13, 2020
A good mystery. The two MCs are appealing, their romance gets hot at the end, and the mysteries are satisfactorily twisty. As usual with Stabenow, the real star and appeal is the Alaska setting, which is (I think) true to life. She's lived there almost all her life. A pleasant, light mystery, good if you are looking for an easy, fast read. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
October 5, 2016
This novel was mired with too much detail, side stories and back stories. Which is a shame, because I liked the two main characters and the basic story was decent. A better editor could have tightened up this book and helped move it along.
I listened to the audio book and the narrator did a good job of differentiating between the voices and handling the accents.
I listened to the audio book and the narrator did a good job of differentiating between the voices and handling the accents.
February 18, 2017
I don't think Liam Campbell has the same presence as Kate Shugak and I like her mysteries much better but this series is interesting too. My main draw to these books is scenic Alaska. I absolutely love how Dana Stabenow brings the reader to Alaska with her beautiful descriptions of this rugged place. I've always wanted to go to Alaska and these books bring me a little closer every time I read one.
Liam has more issues than Kate does though there are similarities between the stories. I really like that Wyanet Chouinard does NOT just forgive Liam (or herself) for their indiscretion and basically makes them both do penance. Of course they love each other but....
I am interested to see when Wy gives in and how Liam follows through. I'll be reading more in this series.
Liam has more issues than Kate does though there are similarities between the stories. I really like that Wyanet Chouinard does NOT just forgive Liam (or herself) for their indiscretion and basically makes them both do penance. Of course they love each other but....
I am interested to see when Wy gives in and how Liam follows through. I'll be reading more in this series.
July 3, 2012
In this, the second installment in the Liam Campbell series, Alaska State Trooper Campbell is investigating the deaths of a family on their fishing boat and the death of an assistant to an archeologist. Liam is living on a sinking boat, his father comes for an unexpected visit, his relationship with Wy is not happening, and a new state trooper Dianna Prince is added to the character list. The humor with which Liam faces life and the good plot twists are always enjoyable.
November 6, 2014
The adventures of Alaska state trooper Liam Campbell pick up again some three months after the events of Fire And Ice. Liam is finally getting settled into his new position when he gets two big cases: a family has been found dead on their fishing boat and an assistant has been murdered at a remote archeological dig. Liam's life is further complicated by the unannounced arrivals of an attractive new assistant trooper and Liam's father, who is on a special mission for the Air Force. As I have learned to expect from Dana Stabenow, this story has several twists and mixes in action (once again, Liam's uniforms take a beating), murder, and old mysteries. Some of the colorful, oddball characters from the first book reappear, and the romance between Liam and Wy continues to simmer in the background. All in all, So Sure Of Death is a pretty good crime thriller spiced with some humor and romance.
February 7, 2011
Like the Liam Campbell books, they're light mysteries, easy to read. Couldn't get into Kate Shugak though. Enjoyed this one, learning more about Liam's relationship with his father. Liam's trials with flying and the rest of being in Bush Alaska are funny - in this one he keeps getting his uniforms wet and they have to be mailed out to be dry-cleaned, leaving him without a uniform. Also funny, his reactions to Bill and his new trooper. Wonder when he'll figure out what's up with the raven?
February 23, 2023
So Sure of Death by Dana Stabenow is another great fun murder mystery from Alaska. Once again we get to follow state trooper Liam Campbell on his quest to solve crime and maybe marry the woman he loves. I do really enjoy reading this series and will try to catch up with both series before the release of the next Kate Shugak in April.
July 21, 2016
A fun read with two murder mysteries, character insights and rapid action
I liked Liam Campbell a little better in this book than in the first. I think there is hope for his redemption after all. It was refreshing to see that the pain Liam and Wy caused through their affair is not glossed over and continues to have an impact on not just their behaviour but their sense of who they are. Meeting Liam's father helped round him out and the addition of another trooper to the post gave a more realistic context for assessing him.
Dana Stabenow delivers two murder mysteries to move the plot along this time - a whole family killed on a fishing boat and a researcher killed at an archaeological dig. Both are well thought through, with multiple who-dunnit candidates and good local colour but for me Stabenow's strength lies in her willingness and ability to make me feel the emotional weight of the extinction of a whole family.
On the whole this remains a light, enjoyable read, with lots of jumping out of planes and on to boats and ruining of uniforms at a brisk pace. There are moments of introspection that make the action matter more and there is a continuous and skilful development of my knowledge of the local cast of characters that promises to build the books into a rich world rather than just a series of solved murders.
I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
I liked Liam Campbell a little better in this book than in the first. I think there is hope for his redemption after all. It was refreshing to see that the pain Liam and Wy caused through their affair is not glossed over and continues to have an impact on not just their behaviour but their sense of who they are. Meeting Liam's father helped round him out and the addition of another trooper to the post gave a more realistic context for assessing him.
Dana Stabenow delivers two murder mysteries to move the plot along this time - a whole family killed on a fishing boat and a researcher killed at an archaeological dig. Both are well thought through, with multiple who-dunnit candidates and good local colour but for me Stabenow's strength lies in her willingness and ability to make me feel the emotional weight of the extinction of a whole family.
On the whole this remains a light, enjoyable read, with lots of jumping out of planes and on to boats and ruining of uniforms at a brisk pace. There are moments of introspection that make the action matter more and there is a continuous and skilful development of my knowledge of the local cast of characters that promises to build the books into a rich world rather than just a series of solved murders.
I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
December 2, 2012
The second in her Liam Campbell series. I really liked it. Ready to read the third one. Good mystery....the descriptions about Alaska are good. I think you have to be an adventurer to live in some of these parts of Alaska. I'd never want to be a bush pilot, but Wy is a good one. The romance in this book is a bit predictable, but okay. I just love reading mysteries. I like the ruggedness of the hero, Liam.
August 11, 2018
It's terrific to read about life in Alaska; it's people, the terrain, and following Trooper Liam Campbell while he solves multiple murders. Thoroughly enjoyable.
December 2, 2024
I go back and forth with Stabenow. I don't think I will look hard for other books of hers. But that is because I have certain prejudices.
The mystery is the burned-out boat with the bodies of a whole family on it. The investigator is Alaska Trooper Liam Campbell, newly demoted because of errors made by his men on a previous mission.
Campbell is joined by a new assistant and pilot Diana Prince (wonder woman???), who is a rookie but fiercely determined. By some sort of accident, Liam meets up with private pilot Wyanet Chouinard, who apparently broke his heart some time ago. He still has feelings for her and wants to know if those feelings are returned.
Wy has a contract to fly an archeologist to and from his dig in a remote area near Chinook Air Force Base. On a routine fly-in, she discovers the archeologist's assistant dead, murdered.
Liam also meets with his father at the air force base. The two have been estranged but the elder Campbell wants Liam back in the fold. There is a lot to contend with, and much of it is hidden.
My problem with this particular novel was that it reeks of romance novel. Yes, there are mysteries here, worth following, but there are also the usual stereotypes: the tough young woman hurt by love, the tough super-capable man also wary but willing. They could fit into any number of romantic suspense books. If they were more interesting characters I'd like them more.
The mystery is the burned-out boat with the bodies of a whole family on it. The investigator is Alaska Trooper Liam Campbell, newly demoted because of errors made by his men on a previous mission.
Campbell is joined by a new assistant and pilot Diana Prince (wonder woman???), who is a rookie but fiercely determined. By some sort of accident, Liam meets up with private pilot Wyanet Chouinard, who apparently broke his heart some time ago. He still has feelings for her and wants to know if those feelings are returned.
Wy has a contract to fly an archeologist to and from his dig in a remote area near Chinook Air Force Base. On a routine fly-in, she discovers the archeologist's assistant dead, murdered.
Liam also meets with his father at the air force base. The two have been estranged but the elder Campbell wants Liam back in the fold. There is a lot to contend with, and much of it is hidden.
My problem with this particular novel was that it reeks of romance novel. Yes, there are mysteries here, worth following, but there are also the usual stereotypes: the tough young woman hurt by love, the tough super-capable man also wary but willing. They could fit into any number of romantic suspense books. If they were more interesting characters I'd like them more.
April 17, 2021
Southwestern edge of the Alaskan coast where Siberia is the next landmas over is the setting of the mystery novel So Sure of Death by Alaskan author Dana Stabenow. State Trooper Liam Campbell is assigned to this sprawling area that relies on planes for transportation to cover the territory. Though he is not comfortable flying, two suspected murder cases force him into the air in planes flown by his beautiful love-interest Wy and also by his newly assigned trooper Diana. One murder site lies near Chinook Air Force Base where an archeologist has been digging a significant site of native habitation of over 1000 years old, which significantly ties into a present day culture in Siberia. The "gofer" of the archeologist is found dead with a storyknife relic sticking out of his throat. The second murder case involves a burnt fishing vessel which has seven dead victims including the "white" family of five and two deckhands. A father-son relationship plays a small role in the plot as does the fact Trooper Liam has lost his wife and young son to death a few years before the action in this novel. Of course, the love interest between 6-3 Trooper Liam and 5-8 mixed native Wy, the pilot with her own taxi service, adds some sex scenes to the story.
June 26, 2018
I am enjoying this series in which Alaska itself becomes a major character. Stabenow is adept at creating the local atmosphere and balancing the focus between the indigenous and immigrant populations.
It's good to be back with State Trooper Liam Campbell who is saddled with both a massacre of a family on a fishing boat, the murder of a young student at an archaeological dig and the unexpected arrival of his new colleague, State Trooper Prince, an attractive and slightly Vulcan-like woman.
The investigation is entwined neatly with Liam's complex relationship with his lover, pilot Wy Chouinard. To add to the mix Liam's father, with whom Liam has issues, has turned up.
I'm also intrigued by the recurring character of a raven, who appears to be shadowing Campbell as in the first novel. It's not exactly a paranormal device, but there is a suggestion that the raven is not just a raven. It's quite understated and is an interesting motif that reoccurs through the novel.
Stabenow excels with his characters, such as Moses, a local shaman with either mystic powers or schizophrenic tendencies, married to the elderly bar-running magistrate, Bill. Bill is a woman by the way. I suspect Newenham might not yet have embraced the concept of gay marriage.
I must research the relationship between State Troopers and the local police, who never seem to be involved in murder investigations. They're either asleep or too busy, we are told.
Highly recommended though. Page turning stuff.
It's good to be back with State Trooper Liam Campbell who is saddled with both a massacre of a family on a fishing boat, the murder of a young student at an archaeological dig and the unexpected arrival of his new colleague, State Trooper Prince, an attractive and slightly Vulcan-like woman.
The investigation is entwined neatly with Liam's complex relationship with his lover, pilot Wy Chouinard. To add to the mix Liam's father, with whom Liam has issues, has turned up.
I'm also intrigued by the recurring character of a raven, who appears to be shadowing Campbell as in the first novel. It's not exactly a paranormal device, but there is a suggestion that the raven is not just a raven. It's quite understated and is an interesting motif that reoccurs through the novel.
Stabenow excels with his characters, such as Moses, a local shaman with either mystic powers or schizophrenic tendencies, married to the elderly bar-running magistrate, Bill. Bill is a woman by the way. I suspect Newenham might not yet have embraced the concept of gay marriage.
I must research the relationship between State Troopers and the local police, who never seem to be involved in murder investigations. They're either asleep or too busy, we are told.
Highly recommended though. Page turning stuff.
December 18, 2025
Just Brilliant.
Liam Campbell is a fantastic character his internal thoughts and musings fascinating was and the source of much humor. Diana Prince his new colleague also adds to the fun. Then there is Wy (Wyanett) as female bush pilot and Liam's love interest is another strong female from an author famous for them. We also have Moses an Aelut (I think) who is cursed with having the sight he is the local Shaman and unfortunately due to his visions he also drinks as lot.......but he is one of the stars of the series. Lastly Tim, Wy's twelve years old adopted son, well when the lawyers finish fighting he will be................... This book sees Liam and Diana have to investigate the horrific murder of a whole family parents and children as Long with the hired free on their fishing boat, seven dead and Liam has to find out who did it and why. At the same time a young grad student has been murdered at an archaeological dig site.......................
Liam Campbell is a fantastic character his internal thoughts and musings fascinating was and the source of much humor. Diana Prince his new colleague also adds to the fun. Then there is Wy (Wyanett) as female bush pilot and Liam's love interest is another strong female from an author famous for them. We also have Moses an Aelut (I think) who is cursed with having the sight he is the local Shaman and unfortunately due to his visions he also drinks as lot.......but he is one of the stars of the series. Lastly Tim, Wy's twelve years old adopted son, well when the lawyers finish fighting he will be................... This book sees Liam and Diana have to investigate the horrific murder of a whole family parents and children as Long with the hired free on their fishing boat, seven dead and Liam has to find out who did it and why. At the same time a young grad student has been murdered at an archaeological dig site.......................
January 4, 2020
In book 2, we’re back in Newenham, Alaska following Liam Campbell as he continues to settle into his recently assigned post for the Alaska State Troopers.
Per usual, there’s a murder to investigate - several in this case.
What I enjoy most is Liam’s sense of humor, and the fact that he and Wy are truly regretful over their actions. They now have a chance to be tighter. But will guilt from the past get in their way?
You don’t often see people remorseful for affairs and that was a nice aspect.
I also love that Wy is so capable and self sufficient - a darned good pilot!
I liked this better than the first one. Maybe because I felt like I knew the characters. Maybe because the names of the Alaskan Bush people were staring to sounds familiar.
This is a good series (that I wish were longer than 4 books!) and I’m eager to see what happens with Wy and Liam.
Per usual, there’s a murder to investigate - several in this case.
What I enjoy most is Liam’s sense of humor, and the fact that he and Wy are truly regretful over their actions. They now have a chance to be tighter. But will guilt from the past get in their way?
You don’t often see people remorseful for affairs and that was a nice aspect.
I also love that Wy is so capable and self sufficient - a darned good pilot!
I liked this better than the first one. Maybe because I felt like I knew the characters. Maybe because the names of the Alaskan Bush people were staring to sounds familiar.
This is a good series (that I wish were longer than 4 books!) and I’m eager to see what happens with Wy and Liam.
November 4, 2020
I think that this book was better than the first in the series and I really enjoyed it. I like how the back stories of the main characters continued to be fleshed out, giving the reader more insight into their motivations. The personal stories and the well-written descriptions of the amazing land and seascapes of Alaska really make these books. As for the crimes at the centre of the plot - these were written and developed well and remained mysterious enough for me until the end.
I will definitely continue to read the series, just as long as my library service continues to add them to their ebook catalogue!
I will definitely continue to read the series, just as long as my library service continues to add them to their ebook catalogue!
May 11, 2021
Delighted I backtracked and am reading the Liam Campbell series, albeit out of order. If all I did was read the cultural background and about every single character, I'd be fine. One of the murder scenes is an archeological dig with lots of info woven in about artifacts and migration. The other is a fishing boat in a fairly remote fishing town, where a whole family and their deckhands were wiped out. But why and by who? Lots of info woven in on the fishing economy. It's all entertaining and fits but I love being part of the place and engaged in the characters and just -- feeling immersed as I do with Stabenow's best writing.
October 27, 2021
This is the second installment of the Liam Campbell series by Stabenow. Campbell is a law and order state trooper in Alaska who is trying to reignite a relationship with an Aleut female pilot known simply as Wy. Yet, the dark side of murder comes calling to his post in two forms. First, a fishing vessel has been found with its seven occupants burned to death. But, there is more as Campbell is not convinced that this was an accident. Second, a grad student has been murdered at an archaeological site in the wilds of the Alaskan frontier. Campbell must do double duty and also deal with his overbearing father, a bird colonel in the Air Force. A good read.
February 28, 2021
The second book in the Liam Campbell series, and I enjoyed it much more than the first Liam Campbell story. It is a good murder mystery, easy reading, fast moving, with several twists in the action.
Some of the colorful characters from the first book reappear, and the romance between Liam and Wy continues to simmer.
And Stabenow’s beautiful descriptions of the Alaskan landscapes and seascapes are amazing, really bring the place to life, and learning some of the history and sociology of the area is a fascinating bonus!
Some of the colorful characters from the first book reappear, and the romance between Liam and Wy continues to simmer.
And Stabenow’s beautiful descriptions of the Alaskan landscapes and seascapes are amazing, really bring the place to life, and learning some of the history and sociology of the area is a fascinating bonus!
January 17, 2019
Getting better, but still not as good as the Kate Shugak series. I agree that Dana does an amazing job of describing Alaska, and I can understand her wanting to move on to other characters than those in the Shugak series. It's just that the Campbell characters, while fun, seem to be more sketches than well rounded characters. Still, Dana always writes fast-paced, easily readable escapism, and sometimes that's exactly what I need!
November 26, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. e next one in Liam Campbell is a lot like Jim Chopin from the Kate Shugak series. I needed to know him before I read the next book in the Shugak series. I like how Liam is growing and how Dana develops this character. The book held my attention throughout. It has lots of murder & mayham.
March 3, 2020
What a fun read! I LOVE Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak series and I am finding this series just as much fun... well not exactly as much, because it's not Kate, but almost as much fun! :-D
I like the lead character, Liam Campbell, and I love the setting - rural Alaska. I am getting used to the other characters, and what characters they are! LOL!
I like the lead character, Liam Campbell, and I love the setting - rural Alaska. I am getting used to the other characters, and what characters they are! LOL!
March 14, 2021
3.5. I liked this book better than the first book- more character development and mysteries to solve. There’s a new trooper in the village, Liam’s father comes to visit, Wy’s reporter friend also visits, seven people are killed on a fishing boat and one person is killed at an archeological dig- all in one week!
May 10, 2021
Dana Stabenow is an excellent mystery writer and this is no exception. I particularly like her descriptions of the people and places in Alaska. Makes me want to be in that place helping solve the mystery. The only reason this doesn’t get a 5 star rating is that I think it was overkill for the motive. Looking forward to finishing the Liam series and hoping for more from both Liam and Kate!
February 26, 2023
Loved it! I love to see how Liam and Wy's relationship develops and progresses. And Liam jumping out of the plane...well that was a heartstopper! Pretty sad at times, with the serial killer getting some very likable victims. And I love Moses.....he is such an interesting character. His and Bill's relationship is pure gold.
February 16, 2020
Lots of interesting Alaska scene setting and bunches of characters. The two mysteries though seemed to be resolved by just talking people around until the guilty broke and revealed themselves. Not all that satisfying. Still, fast moving and entertaining.
March 14, 2022
I like the author and I like her descriptions of life in Alaska but I don't think Trooper Liam Campbell is as interesting a main character as Kate Shugak so this series suffers a bit in comparison. The setting is more interesting than the story but I think this is one of the author's weaker books.
May 21, 2024
Good storyline, I'm not as sure that I like these characters as much as I do the crew from the Kate Shugak stories, but they are interesting. I'm very fond of the Raven in this series as a kind of familiar for Trooper Liam.
September 3, 2024
Hard going plot and got bored of how often Liam went on about his 'desire' for Wy. The sex scene at the end was particularly cringe worthy. The supposed cliffhanger made me seriously consider calling it a day on the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews