Killing Grounds Dana Stabenow is part of our Contemporary & Literary Fiction book collection. Browse this title alongside contemporary novels and character-focused literary fiction.
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While deckhanding on a fishing boat, Kate Shugak hauls in the dead body of the most disliked fisherman around. Kate's search for the killer isn't making her too popular in town -- especially since he's biking hailed as the catch of the day...
Amazon.com Review
Like Nevada Barr, Dana Stabenow writes mysteries so firmly rooted in the natural world that their sense of place becomes a vital part of the plot. In this book about Native Alaskan crime solver Kate Shugak, the ocean and the men who fish it for salmon are described in such vivid detail that you'll never look at a salmon steak the same way again. When a particularly nasty fisherman is murdered, there's no end of suspects--including members of Kate's own family. The story also sports a richly ironic undertone of political incorrectness, as Kate muses about the forest rangers, "who wanted to annex every square foot of land they saw and keep it pristine and inviolate, unsullied by human hand. They failed to recall that the indigenous peoples who came across the Bering land bridge during the last Ice Age had their hands all over anything that had the remotest possibility of nutritional value, and were every bit as much of the landscape and the wheel of life as the fish and the birds and the mammals." Previous Shugak sorties in paperback include Breakup, Blood Will Tell, Play with Fire, and A Cold-Blooded Business.
From Publishers Weekly
In this gripping eighth appearance of former Anchorage, Alaska, investigator Kate Shugak, a fisherman is murdered, leaving almost as many suspects as fish in the ocean. Cal Meany was a cheat, a poacher, an abusive husband and father, an adulterer and an opportunist who disdains joining the fishermen's strike against the largest local wholesaler, which has drastically reduced the price it pays for salmon. While helping her relative Old Sam on his tender in the Gulf of Alaska, Kate discovers Meany's body in Alaganik Bay: he's been beaten, stabbed, strangled and drowned. Kate assists state trooper Jim Chopin's investigation. As they validate alibis, suspicions point to Meany's family. After Meany's daughter is murdered and his handyman disappears, Kate's lover, Jack Morgan, and his son, Johnny, visiting from Anchorage, help with her investigation. In a harrowing climax, Kate identifies the murderer and the unusual motive. The background allows Stabenow to examine the predicament of commercial fisherman threatened by fish farms, native subsistence fishing and lucrative sport fishing. As usual, Aleut customs are seamlessly woven into the plot; here, Auntie Joy is suing the government to retain traditional fishing rights. In powerful prose, Stabenow evokes Alaska's rugged physical splendors and the toll taken on the humans who live there. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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About Dana Stabenow
Dana Stabenow is an American mystery and science fiction author best known for her Kate Shugak crime series, which brings readers into the rugged landscapes, close-knit communities, and complicated investigations of Alaska. Her fiction combines traditional detective storytelling with a vivid sense of place, exploring murder, family secrets, local politics, cultural identity, and the challenges of life in remote environments. Through the character of Kate Shugak, a resourceful Alaska Native investigator with a strong independent streak, Stabenow presents mysteries that are deeply connected to the people and communities in which they occur. Her writing often examines how personal relationships, historical tensions, economic interests, and environmental conditions can influence criminal investigations. She has also written the Liam Campbell mysteries, science fiction, and historical fiction, demonstrating a broader range than her best-known series alone might suggest. Notable titles include A Cold Day for Murder, A Fatal Thaw, Dead in the Water, A Fine and Bitter Snow, and Hunter's Moon. Whether you enjoy atmospheric detective novels, wilderness mysteries, strong female protagonists, or stories rooted in Alaska's distinctive geography and culture, Dana Stabenow books offer an engaging and memorable reading experience.
Who Is Dana Stabenow?
Dana Stabenow was born on March 22, 1952, in Anchorage, Alaska, and grew up with a strong connection to the state's distinctive environment and communities. Her background and familiarity with Alaska contribute to the geographical detail and sense of local life that characterize much of her fiction. She studied at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and pursued graduate study in creative writing before establishing herself as a professional author. Stabenow began publishing science fiction before gaining widespread recognition for her crime novels. The introduction of Kate Shugak marked an important turning point in her career, bringing together mystery plotting, regional storytelling, and a protagonist whose personal history is closely tied to Alaska. Her work has received significant recognition in the mystery-writing community, including the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original for A Cold Day for Murder. Across her novels, Stabenow explores the relationship between individual choices and the wider community, showing how geography, cultural heritage, and economic interests can influence both crime and justice. Her stories are particularly appealing to readers who want a mystery with a strong regional identity rather than a generic urban setting.
The Kate Shugak Series: Mysteries in the Alaskan Wilderness
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