Capitol Offense (A Nik Kane Alaska Mystery) [Paperback]

Mike Doogan (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Nik Kane Alaska Mystery | Publication Date: August 5, 2008

The new Nik Kane Alaska mystery— now in paperback and hailed by critics...

Gifted young legislator Matthew Hope has been charged with murder. In desperation, a mysterious, wealthy patron of Hope’s hires Nik Kane, disgraced ex-cop, to investigate the crime. He soon uncovers a political culture corrupted by the influence of oil and big money—and a terrifying secret that could further destroy him.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In veteran Anchorage journalist Doogan's uneven second Nik Kane mystery (after 2006's Lost Angel), a wealthy widow hires Kane, a disgraced former Anchorage cop turned PI, to help defend a promising Native Alaskan state legislator, Matthew Hope, against the charge of murdering an aide to conservative senator O.B. Potter. The first half of the book reads like a traditional detective novel, with a tough, troubled protagonist, mysterious client, unjustly accused suspect and reluctant informants, including Kane's estranged son, Dylan. Kane even acquires a sarcastic sidekick, Tlingit cab driver Cocoa Paul. The story eventually falls apart as Kane, working by instinct, suffers threats and beatings en route to an unsatisfying conclusion. Though most books set in Alaska take place in the glorious and forbidding wilderness, almost all the action is in the state capital, Juneau, a city that seems carved out of ice and rocks. Unfortunately, strong writing and evocative descriptions can't save a predictable plot and a hodgepodge of stock characters. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Former Anchorage police detective Nik Kane spent seven years in prison after shooting a supposedly unarmed boy. He was exonerated when a witness recanted and said the boy had pointed a gun at Nik before the detective responded. Unable to rejoin the police department, Nik works for a security firm until he decides to go out on his own. His former boss offers him his first job: clear a native Alaskan state senator, Matthew Hope, of the charge of murdering another senator's legislative assistant. Hope proclaims his innocence but seems uninterested in defending himself, even though he was found standing over the body with the murder weapon in his hand. Kane quickly becomes immersed in Alaskan state politics, where corruption seems rife. It soon becomes clear that someone wants Kane off the case.This gritty, hard-boiled mystery, the second in a series, also finds Kane trying to reestablish a relationship with his son after his stint in prison. O'Brien, Sue --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Reprint edition (August 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425223027
• ISBN-13: 978-0425223024
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #431,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A rare look inside Alaska, September 30, 2007

By 

Howard Weaver (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Capitol Offense (Hardcover)

Fans of crime novels and detective fiction will find much to enjoy in Mike Doogan's Nik Kane stories. What sets Capitol Offense apart is its rare peek inside an Alaska few writers and no tourists ever see: political, urban Alaska. Mike's uniquely qualified to guide this journey, of course, owing to a deep background in Alaska journalism and politics. Has a sitting state legislator ever written a thriller like this one?

Some reviewers have criticized the plot as fanciful or overly rococo; they just don't know Alaska politics. An even more intercine scandal is unfolding on the front pages of the state's newspapers even as you read this...

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A disappointing second book, October 8, 2008

By 

L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Capitol Offense (A Nik Kane Alaska Mystery) (Paperback)

CAPITOL OFFENSE (Unl. Inves-Nik Kane-Alaska-Cont) - Okay
Doogan, Mike - 2nd in series
Berkeley Prime Crime, 2008, US Paperback - ISBN: 9780425223024

First Sentence: Baby Santos got off the elevator on the fifth floor of the Alaska State Capitol.

Nik Kane is an ex-cop, ex-alcoholic, tying to rebuild his life and his relationship with his son. Nik has been hired as investigator for the defense of Alaska legislator Matthew Hope. Matthew was found, with the murder weapon in his hand, standing over the body of a scantily clad woman, aide to a conservative Senator. As Kane investigates, the threats on his life escalate proving that politics is a dangerous business.

Although written in 2007 this is a very timely book with it's subject of politics in Alaska, and it doesn't paint a very favorable picture.

For me, one of the most delightful things is chapter heading quotation by a political leader or journalist. The story starts off well, starts to crumble and falls apart at the end. It was predictable.

My other issue was that, other than the protagonist, I didn't really care for any of the characters. I have to have at least either plot or characters about which to care. Here, I had neither.

This was very disappointing.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fine Alaskan mystery, August 27, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Capitol Offense (Hardcover)

Just under a decade ago in Juneau, he was considered one of Anchorage's best police detectives; than a night of off duty drinking led to his shooting a twelve year old boy, who a witness claimed was unarmed. Convicted he spent seven years in prison with the end of his reputation. Freed early because the witness admitted he lied as the kid carried, he recently was exonerated, but his wife who stood by him during the trial and incarceration is divorcing him and the APD refuses to take him back. Fiftyish Nik Kane has become a private investigator.

His former boss Police Chief Jeffords hires him to find proof that Native Alaskan state legislator Matthew Hope did not kill the beautiful young assistant. All the circumstantial evidence points in his direction. As he begins to dig around the capital, his estranged son, working as a summer intern there, rejects any contact with him. Meanwhile someone wants Nik to stop his inquiry and that someone has arranged beatings of the sleuth and threatens more than just bodily harm. Nik knows he has frightened the person he assumes is the real culprit.

Juneau is a refreshing change as most Alaskan mysteries showcase the stark beauty of the state's vast wilderness. The story line is fast-paced although the plot has been done many times before albeit in the Lower Forty-eight. Nik is an interesting acrimonious individual as he knows he needs to move past his bitterness but finds it impossible not to react with sarcasm and childish anger. Fans of Alaskan mysteries will enjoy his second escapade (see LOST ANGEL) even if he follows his gut more than the clues.

Harriet Klausner