Bad Blood by Dana Stabenow is the 20th in the Alaskan series of Kate Shugak mysteries (available February 25, 2013).
One hundred years of bad blood between the villages of Kushtaka and Kuskulana come to a boil when the body of a young Kushtaka ne’er-do-well is found wedged in a fish wheel. Sergeant Jim Chopin’s prime suspect is a Kuskulana man who is already in trouble in both villages for falling in love across the river. But when the suspect disappears, members of both tribes refuse to speak to Jim. When a second murder that looks suspiciously like payback occurs, Jim has no choice but to call in Kate Shugak for help. This time, though, her Park relationships may not be enough to sort out the truth hidden in the tales of tragedy and revenge.
In this very special serving of Fresh Meat, one of Dana Stabenow’s fans shares her favorite elements from Bad Blood, Stabenow’s latest novel. Read her thoughts, then enter our sweepstakes for a chance to win a copy of your own!
Against the backdrop of the fiercely beautiful wilds of Alaska, within a rich geological and cultural context, Dana Stabenow masterfully weaves a tale of love and rivalry, hatred and murder. Her descriptions of the Alaskan wilds fire up my imagination and leave me awestruck:
By luck of the geologic draw, the land across the river remained largely undisturbed by the earthquake, remaining a flat marsh covered in thick grass, cattails, and Alaskan cotton. Over time, glacial silt carried downriver filled in the marsh, and alder, diamond willow, and cottonwood grew out to the water’s edge. The force of the combined currents of river and stream undercut the banks to provide habitat for river otters, mink, and marten, and carved tributaries to be dammed by beavers and colonized by salmon.
Driven by her unswerving sense of justice, Kate and her trusty partner, Mutt, wade into the mire of feuding families, to help trooper Jim break through the walls of resistance and silence to discover the truth. On a rare joint visit to Anchorage, Jim and Kate have an opportunity to reunite after a long separation. They go for a run and during their jog back to the town house their playfulness and banter begin to warm me and charge my expectations for their time alone, which never disappoints:
The horseplay lasted all the way home, four interminable, exquisite miles of kisses and caresses and Mutt nipping at their heels. They were impervious to the looks they got, both envious and condemnatory, and by the time they got back to the town house, Jim had a hard time fitting the key in the door.
Wow, I really love this author! Ms. Stabenow has once again shown why she is so deserving of the awards she continues to win.
This sweepstakes has ended. Check out our Sweepstakes feature for current opportunities!
To enter for a chance to win one of five Advance Reader Copies of Bad Blood by Dana Stabenow, make sure you’re a registered member of the site, sign in, and then simply leave a comment below.
TIP: Since only comments from registered users will be tabulated, if your user name appears in red above your comment—STOP—go log in, then try commenting again. If your user name appears in black above your comment, You’re In!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 or older. To enter, fill out entry at www.criminalelement.com/blogs/2013/02/fresh-meat-bad-blood-by-dana-stabenow-janet-ghilarducci-police-procedural-kate-shugak beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) February 22, 2013. Sweepstakes ends at 12:45 p.m. ET on March 1, 2013 (the “Promotion Period”). Void outside of the 50 US and DC and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules at http://www.criminalelement.com/page/official-rules-bad-blood-comment-contest. Sponsor: Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010
Janet Ghilarducci is a voracious reader who enjoys mysteries and thrillers of all varieties.
