Book Review: The Singing of the Dead

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Singing of the Dead     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Dana Stabenow
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Ethnic
Series: Kate Shugak # 11
St. Martin's, May 2001, $23.95, 272 pp.

Jack died over a year ago but Kate remains in shock as she still feels the pain of his death as if it happened yesterday. A former police officer and sometimes private detective Kate Shugak, a full-blooded Inuit, harbors her dead lover's teenage white son Johnny. The fourteen-year old young adult refuses to live in the lower forty-eight states or reside with his mother who hates Kate.

With another mouth to feed and potential future legal fees, Kate leaves Johnny on the homestead to accept work as a bodyguard to Anne Gordaoff, a senatorial candidate. Anne has been receiving escalating threats that require her to hire Kate. While Kate protects her client, someone murders the candidate's son-in-law and a staffer, leaving it up to Kate to unravel the truth before someone else is hurt.

The latest Shugak novel gives readers an early twentieth century Alaskan history lesson and how past events three generations ago relate to the present murders. The mystery is cleverly developed and the sexual tension between Kate and Trooper Jim is so thick the murder weapon cannot slice through it. That "non-relationship" bears future watching as Dana Stabenow continues to provide her audience with tales they enjoy reading.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner