Whisper to the Blood: A Kate Shugak Novel (Kate Shugak Novels) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: global harvest, park rats, four aunties, Auntie Joy, Old Sam, Louis Deem (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Former New York Times journalist Beauchamp offers a fascinating inside look at the reign of moviemaking king Joseph P. Kennedy, who held sway over the industry from 1926 to 1930. Kennedy was responsible for creating some of the most renowned movies; he plucked iconic stars from obscurity and transformed the business forever. Pam Ward delivers a solid performance, presenting Beauchamp's findings with a straightforward, journalistic tone. Neither over the top nor monotonous, Ward relates the material with an ear for old Hollywood-speak without sounding forced or mechanical. The result is an entertaining and incredibly informative listening experience. A Knopf hardcover (Reviews, Dec. 1). (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Will Alaska’s current notoriety, courtesy of a certain vice-presidential candidate, give a bump to this mystery, the latest in Stabenow’s Kate Shugak series? It’s doubtful if Kate would approve, but any residual interest would be well deserved. While limning a vital part of Alaskan landscape and culture virtually ignored by the recent media splurge, the novel is also one of the best in a series that now numbers 16 installments. A Canadian mining company has discovered a rich mineral deposit in Alaska’s enormous Iqaluk Wildlife Refuge. Politicos see dollar signs for the state, but Ninilta residents, who live near the proposed site, are split: Will outsiders take the jobs? Will the wildlife be harmed by pollution? Will roads disintegrate . . . tourists invade? As the new chairperson of Ninilta’s Native Association, a job she never wanted, Kate is embarassingly ill-equipped to handle the questions. Nor is she prepared when two individuals associated with the company turn up dead. State trooper Jim Chopin; Kate’s adopted son, Johnny; and the powerful four aunties are on hand again, in full, rich character—their entwining agendas playing integral parts in the investigation. New cases are solved here; so is an old one. A dynamite combination of atmosphere, action, and character. --Stephanie Zvirin

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1 edition (February 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312369743
• ISBN-13: 978-0312369743
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #73,960 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 16 in The Kate Shugak Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this series!, March 5, 2009

By	M. D. Mulhern (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love Stabenow's Kate Shugak series. If this is your first introduction to her work, definitely go back and start from the beginning, "A Cold Day for Murder." Stabenow's character's remain distinct and vivid and I love the details about life in Alaska. My only complaint is that this story very much followed the events from her previous book. It had been so long since I had read it that it sometimes took me a few minutes to remember what had happened and how this effected the current book. I guess I wish it had been a little more stand alone. I have to say that Stabenow has maintained a really high standard for this series- after over ten books, this is impressive. Many times I find that favorite authors of a long time series, such as Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone books, peter out and become formulaic. That's not the case here.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A SPINE-TINGLING PLEASURE, February 23, 2009

By	Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: Whisper to the Blood (Kate Shugak Novels) (Audio CD)

There's something especially rewarding about following a regional mystery series - you're not only familiar with the characters but with the terrain. Often you've been introduced to unfamiliar territory, and are eager to learn more during a return visit. Such is the case with Dana Stabenow's sterling Kate Shugak series.

With this, the sixteenth in the series, we're reacquainted with Kate, a heroine with grit to spare, a 16-year-old foster son, and an Alaska state trooper boyfriend, Jim Chopin. We're also treated to one more narration by the splendid voice performer Marguerite Gavin who has recorded over 200 audiobooks including the first Kate Shugak and others in this series.

Check out Dana Stabenow's blog and you'll find that she, too, is thrilled with Gavin's work, saying" Good news for audio book fans......Marguerite Gavin is BACK as narrator!" How true! The voice Gavin has found for Kate captures not only her fierce independence but her strength. The sound is strong, sonorous, yet at times verges on a studied hoarseness that reflects tension or a frightening situation.

With Whisper To The Blood we find a Canadian gold mining company, Global Harvest Resources Inc., that has been buying up land inside Alaska's largest national park, simply known as "the Park." Residents don't care for this at all and remain unconvinced that it will be beneficial to them despite the efforts of a well liked ski champion Global Harvest has hired to bolster its pr. She's out there reminding everyone that gold is now selling for $900 an ounce, and the Company will be providing jobs for many.

However, it doesn't help a pr campaign any when murder is involved - one of the dead had been vocally opposed to the mine. No surprise that Jim Chopin is called on to solve the killings and that Kate will be by his side. Muddying the waters even further are attacks on snowmobilers. As usual Kate and Jim have more on their plates than most find in several lifetimes, and it's spine-tingling pleasure to find out what they can do about it.

Bestselling author and Edgar Award winner Stabenow demonstrates once again that she's tops in her field, springing surprises at every turn along with painterly descriptions of Alaska.

Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gold Rush, April 12, 2009

By	Ted Feit (Long Beach, NY USA) - See all my reviews

The continuing saga of Kate Shugak (this is the 16th in the series) continues as Kate reluctantly takes over as chair of the Niniltna Native Association, much against her will. It is the Board's function to look after the interests of the native shareholders, most of them "park rats" living in the 20-million-acre Alaskan park territory, filled with natural resources, salmon, timber and plenty of snow and ice in the winter.

The murder of the contemptible Louis Deem in the previous novel in the series haunts this book, but plays a minor role. The major part of the plot involves the discovery of close to the world's largest gold deposit in the southern portion of the park, threatening the very way of life of the inhabitants. Can progress be forestalled? After all, with gold at around $1,000 an ounce, it isn't likely. The company starts a public relations effort to woo the people, with a popular biathlon woman acting as spokesman. When she is found murdered, questions arise as to motive. Another murder, that of a man at the proposed mine site, leads Kate and her lover, trooper Jim Chopin, to believe both are related to the proposed gold operation.

The reader gets the full flavor of the Alaskan tundra in every Shugak novel, with the plot moving forward and slowly building in tension like the snow drifts covering the ground. The writing is as smooth as the ice in the streams and rivers. And Kate continues to grow as a character and as a person.

Recommended.