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Whisper to the Blood: A Kate Shugak Novel
Whisper to the Blood: A Kate Shugak Novel
Whisper to the Blood: A Kate Shugak Novel
Audiobook10 hours

Whisper to the Blood: A Kate Shugak Novel

Written by Dana Stabenow

Narrated by Marguerite Gavin

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

New York Times bestseller Dana Stabenow returns to her enormously popular Kate Shugak series with Whipser to the Blood

Inside Alaska's biggest national park, surrounding the town of Niniltna, a gold mining company has started buying up land. The residents of the Park, are uneasy. "But gold is up to nine hundred dollars an ounce," is the refrain of Talia Macleod, the popular Alaskan skiing champ the company hired to improve their relations with Alaskans. And she promises much needed jobs to the locals.

But before she can make her way to every village in the area to make her case at town meetings and village breakfasts, there are two murders—one a long-standing mine opponent, and Ms. Macleod herself. Between that and a series of attacks on snow mobilers up the Kanuyaq River, not to mention the still-open homicide of Park villain Louis Deem last year, part-time P.I. and newly elected chairman of the Niniltna Native Association Kate Shugak has her hands very much full.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateFeb 17, 2009
ISBN9781427205964
Whisper to the Blood: A Kate Shugak Novel
Author

Dana Stabenow

Dana Stabenow was born in Anchorage, Alaska and raised on a 75-foot fishing tender. She knew there was a warmer, drier job out there somewhere and found it in writing. Her first book in the bestselling Kate Shugak series, A Cold Day for Murder, received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. Follow Dana at stabenow.com

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Reviews for Whisper to the Blood

Rating: 3.82421874375 out of 5 stars
4/5

128 ratings20 reviews

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  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I received this book through the Early Reviewers program and have never read one of Dana Stabenow's books. The book started very slowly and seemed to have a lot of background provided in prior books that I did not have. This made it difficult to get into the book and to understand what was going on.Halfway through the book did pick up some speed but I've basically lost interest. It seems to me that if you had read many of her prior books, it would be much easier to get into the story line. But as a first timer reader, it was just confusing.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Not my favorite for Kate of her crew. There was a lot of political dealings going on. It's so not Kate, it was difficult to watch her deal with it. Deal with it she did, Woot Woot ! Wait till you read what she did. There was also a couple murders, as normal and some relationship fears.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Stabenow dives into another Alaskan issue--mining...with a murder or two thrown in. Kate and Chopper Jim (who hasn't seen a chopper in a few episodes) begin to solve a murder and another occurs. But, half of the book is mere babbling about bush life and catching up on things that happened in previous books (episodes). The aunties, who some have said are quirky and fun, become malevolent, Kate gets assigned the Chair of the council and runs with it. Another entry in the Kate Shugak mystery series that's a fun read.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Slow moving story, but still an interesting tale of like among Alaskan natives. What goes on in the park when a large company comes calling, trying to open the mother load of mines. Multiple murders are finally nailed down.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've enjoyed Stabenow's work since her first novel, Second Star, and I request every new book at the library as soon as it hits their computer system. I'm glad I read this one, but it really took patience to get to the "good stuff." For some reason, the first half of the book moves very, very slowly. It does wrap up a loose end from the previous Shugak tale, but one of the book's two murders is solved in such a way that it seems an afterthought, right at the end.Still, Johnny Morgan, now 16, gets more "face time" in this book than in any of the earlier ones. The Aunties (Vi, Edna, Joy, and Balasha) all get some time, and we get more of their background than we've had in the past.I definitely recommend the book for confirmed fans of the Shugak series, but it wouldn't be the best place for a reader new to the author to start.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A strong entry into the series. Clears up some lingering mysteries: several murders, strange Auntie behavior, strenghthening her relationship with Jim. Sets up her growth in the next book nicely. Enjoyable, had trouble putting it down.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Kate is in mortal danger (again) but this time it's from the family that loves her and wants all the best for her. Or maybe just wants her. This is how a series should be written.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    There's gold in them thar hills. And Golden Harvest Resources Inc. is chomping at the bit to get it out. But, smart corporate entity that they are, they send a spokesperson - golden girl Talia Macleod - to iron out some of the wrinkles with the local and native population in the Park. Park rats are torn, none more so than Kate, who, strong-armed into chairing (temporarily) the board of the Niniltna Native Association, has to keep a neutral face on things. When one of the mining companies vocal opponents turns up dead, and Macleod soon after, Jim and Kate are left with few leads to follow.Complicating matters, snowmobile hijackers are hitting Park residents, the aunties are taking things into their own hands, and Louis Deem's murderer is still at large.I'm glad the loose ends are finally getting wrapped up - Stabenow's done her usual fine job of character-driven plotting. Not too many laugh out loud moments in this one, but it still kept me up far to late on a work night.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I can't believe I scored a Dana Stabenow to review, and it's the new Kate Shugak to boot! I love this series and this book is no exception although it feels like more of a sequel than some others in the series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    While it has taken me a little while to read this book. I am impressed by the story line, while a little more political than what I typically like. I do not think that this would a book I would not typically purchase for myself, and I am not sure that I would read again.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I am writing a new review of this book - I had started it and written a short review stating that I had begun the book, but not really stating what I thought of the book. I have now returned to it and finished reading it - I really enjoyed it. I will be checking out more stories by Dana Stabenow. I reread the beginning of the book as it had been awhile since I started it, I am pleased to say that the second time I picked it up I had a hard time putting it down. The story is well written and the characters draw you in. The twists of the story, although most are driven by sad, unfortunate events, keep you reading. I was excited by the amount of information about Alaska, even though I struggled with the names of the places. I found myself in agreement to what the author was saying about how so many people have fantasies about what Alaska is like and want to go there, but few of us ever do. I can't imagine living in a place that is as cold as often as described in this book. I am a huge dog lover and so of course was drawn by the amount of attention and storyline that Mutt gets. I tend to be more of a thriller reader than a mystery reader, but I will be out looking for more Kate Shugak stories after reading this one. I am pleased that I was introduced to a new author in a genre that I don't read often.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Take a trip into life in the Alaskan bush with Kate and her fellow Park rats in this latest installment in the Kate Shugak series. Gold, and lots of it, has been discovered in the hills of the Park and a large mining operation is preparing to open operations to dig it out. This plan is not being happily accepted by many who enjoy their bush way of life away from the trappings of more modern life. Further, there have been attacks on people taking supplies home on the frozen highway of winter life. The two people are found dead by different means. And Kate, burdened with responsibilities she did not seek, sees the difficulties that change will bring to the Park. While this was another good addition to the series, it required remembering details from the previous book which this reader read over a year ago and forgot.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have read a couple of Stabenow's Kate Shugak books and I'm always struck by how clearly she's able to paint a picture of rural Alaskian life. The images she creates are vivid and compelling, and her characters are multi-layered and complex. That being said, I wouldn't start reading these books this far into the series. If this book intrigues you, go back and start with book one: A Cold Day for Murder. Recommended for readers that enjoy reading great stories about rural life and hard female detectives.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The aftermath of the Louis Deem situation continues to reverberate through the Park. More and more people in and around Niniltna are taking the law into their own hands before calling Trooper Jim Chopin. Meanwhile, a vast amount of gold has been found on state lands, and the Canadian company that holds the leases plans a huge open-pit mine. Tensions abound, and Kate finds herself at odds with the aunties as events play out.One of the less satisfying entries in the series, but still worth reading.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I saw the author do a little promo for the Kate Shugak Series on UTube. (It was funny the way she would hold up a book, give a brief tantalizing summary then throw it over her shoulder.) This combined with reading one of her short stories and remembering the endorsement on Charlaine Harris' blog made me want to try these mysteries. Still it took me awhile to pick up this book because I usually make it a rule to read a series in order.Despite the fact that I was not able to read the previous 15 books and therefore couldn't help feeling as though I was skimming the surface, I still felt drawn into Kate's world. It's obvious Stabenow has put her characters through a lot in the earlier books as it was a bit difficult to follow all the connections. Kate is a strong no nonsense heroine with a vulnerability and sense of humor that makes her very likable. I found the details of life in Alaska to be interesting and Stabenow does an excellent job of placing you there. The mystery was well crafted and kept me guessing until the end. Nonetheless, I think to have the optimum experience it would be best to start the series from the beginning.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I received this book through the Early Reviewers program and have never read one of Dana Stabenow's books. The book started very slowly and seemed to have a lot of background provided in prior books that I did not have. This made it difficult to get into the book and to understand what was going on.Halfway through the book did pick up some speed but I've basically lost interest. It seems to me that if you had read many of her prior books, it would be much easier to get into the story line. But as a first timer reader, it was just confusing.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Received the book as an ARC and have not read any other books in the series. I liked the characters, the mystery and the indepth information about this area of Alaska and its inhabitants.But not having read the prior books took away much of the enjoyment out of this book. There is a great deal of this story that relies on past history and events that would have had a lot more meaning if I'd read the prior books. I want to know why it's accepted and expected that Kate identifies and brings in the bad guys when her boyfriend(?) is in law enforcement; she's basically doing his job for him. I want to know the history of their relationship and why she was in bed with someone else - unless that was a typo.The book was interesting enough for me to desire going back and reading the books from the beginning.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The author, Dana Stabenow, was unfamiliar to me before receiving this book. She is a prolific Alaskan writer but as I don't usually read mystery or crime novels, her books never popped up on my radar. The main character of the book is Kate Shugak. Kate is an Aleut woman living in a national park in Alaska. She lives with her wonderful dog Mutt and her foster son, Johnny. Jim, the park's police force also lives with Kate unofficially.The story is about the people of the small town and their battles with each other and a huge gold mining company that is planning to start a mine in a portion of the park. Kate deals with murder, theft, and being a parent.I enjoyed the book once the story really started picking up but I have to say that for me it was a slow start. I think part of the problem is that this book is 16th in a series and I jumped in blindly. I felt that there was a huge amount of back story that I was missing. I'm sure it's a fine balance for a writer in this situation. Do you create a book that reviews all the finer points, thus boring your faithful reader or do you create a book that fills in gaps now and then while advancing the storyline? She went for option two which was probably a good thing.Next time I feel the need to buy a book (it comes along every so often) I'm going to look and see what else of hers I can find. I'm sure that followers of the series, will enjoy this new installment and if you are new to Dana Stabenow's writing, give it a shot. There is a bit of humor among the serious subject matter. I laughed out loud in a few places. That's always a good thing!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I am drawn to mysteries that have a strong sense of place: Julie Smith in New Orleans, Elizabeth George in England, and Marcia Mueller in San Francisco. Therefore I was delighted in reading about the back country (and Native Lands) in Alaska. Since Dana Stabenow is an Alaskan, I am assuming that the details are done correctly, though it is hard to comprehend how people can live in such wilderness.The story itself is well told, with strands from several personal histories coming together and Alaskans from many walks of life having a place in the whole tapestry. If there is any slight reservations on my part, it is that this is the sixteenth book of this series, so there are dozens of back stories (the detective, Kate Shugak's, previous partner; the burning of her house; her relationship with her friends) that are only slightly touched on. I felt a bit like I had come into a theater in the middle of a movie.Still, if you have any interest in foreign settings and well told tales, you should try Dana Stabenow. However, you might want to start at the beginning with A Deeper Sleep and work your way up to Whisper to the Blood as I will be doing now.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It it always a pleasure to read a Kate Shugak mystery by Dana Stabenow. Strong, interesting characters, carefully thought out plot, and well-written dialogue make for a truly fun read. Each book makes me look forward to the next. I especially like the character development that has taken place throughout the series, watching the changing relationships between the characters, and learning about how the effects of a changing world and environment impact the people of Alaska. Everything feels true to life. This is one of my favorite series, and I can't wait for the next one to come out!