Set in a National Park in Alaska, this series captures the isolation and at the same time, the sense of community in this place, where towns are damp, potlatches are held to remember the deceased, and moose marrow broth is the base ingredient in French onion soup.Kate Shugak, the central character, is a Native Alaskan who is a PI and former police officer. Like the rest of the park residents she is outraged when Louis Deem, a smooth man who has had the misfortune to lose two young wives, is acquitted of the murder of his third wife. More than one person wishes the man dead.Then a new family with several daughters and a possible stake in a gold claim moves into the park, illegally felling trees for a road and hand-building a cabin. They are befriended by the widower, to Kate's displeasure. She and State Trooper Jim Chopin, Kate's on-and-off lover, keep the man under observation. Two ne'er do wells who live with Deem but are more likeable, provide alibis when a bar is robbed and a woman and boy are shot dead. Johnny, Kate's adopted son, tells the police he is sure that he saw Deem robbing the bar. The danger of his position is underlined when Mutt, Kate's wolf dog, is shot and injured.More than once the characters remark on global warming; they are able to drive roads which were previously only accessible by snowmobile during winter. Sadly it seems that whatever is changing, wife beating and greed are not. There are a couple of great incidental recipes, ideal food for staving off hunger in the cold outdoor land, which can be adapted by those of us who don't have moose meat in the freezer.
Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak series occasionally takes a step aside from the "traditional" (if such can truly be defined) murder mystery. Every few novels in, we spend more time doing character studies and personal updates with some of the individuals that inhabit "The Park" and its environs. Sure, there's a murder or two - I suspect Stabenow's contract with the publisher demands it - but it feels like an afterthought, shoehorned in around the other stuff.THIS novel was different. It was both. What I would call a character update BUT where the murder / murders and subsequent investigation is clearly a focus as well. One of my favorites in the series to date.Stabenow provided enough background to help refresh me on the major and minor characters from earlier novels (and clearly pointed out "This one / That one are new ..."), but I suspect that it would not be sufficient for new readers, and they should definitely take a step back in the series before picking this one up. (Besides, the first two novels in the series are among my favorites.)P.S. Good job, Dana!
Do You like book A Deeper Sleep (2007)?
Louis Deems is a bona fide bad guy and everybody in the Park and law enforcement know it. He's also smart and when he's acquitted of his wife's murder, Kate Shugak and Jim Chopin are determined not to let him evade a conviction when he's arrested in conjunction with a double murder. Deems is identified by eyewitness Johnny Morgan, Kate's teenage ward. On one level, the conclusion of the book is somewhat unsatisfying, but it is a very realistic denouement, so that makes up for the "untidiness." Kate's inevitable acceptance of her role as a tribal elder is also made much clearer in this book. The Alaskan environment, both physical and cultural, are also back in play in this installment. I missed those in the last one.
—Deb
A Deeper Sleep by Dana Stabenow is the 15th book of the Kate Shugak mystery series set in contemporary Alaska. Native Alaskan (Aleut) Kate lives with adopted teenager Johnny and wolf dog Mutt on a homestead in "The Park". Kate works as a PI for the Anchorage DA, while the Aleut "Aunties" pressure Kate to take her place as a tribe elder. Kate and Alaska State Trooper Jim Chopin are eager to see monster Louis Deems, vicious murderer of three wives, finally convicted and sentenced. But the monster goes free, yet again. Next Deem sets his sights on a young woman in a religious-cult-like family that is building a substantial home and violating land rights. When two of Kate's and Johnny's "park rat" friends are shot, eyewitness Johnny picks Deem from a lineup. Before the law can serve justice, someone kills Deem. No one else grieves or wants Deem's killer identified or apprehended, but Kate and Jim must find out the truth. What did Deem expect to gain from marrying the Smith daughter? Prepare for strong emotional impact - Kate's beloved Mutt gets shot.
—Susan
The books by Dana Stabenow about Alaska and Kate Shugak are always entertaining. The Alaskan background is terrific--we can almost feel as though we are there. Mutt, her dog gets injured badly, but survives--unlike the bad Louis Deem who likes to marry young women and physically abuse them. We would root to have someone do him in--and that's what happens. For a change of pace--a large Mennonite family moves into the neighborhood, with Louis previously picking out the eldest daughter for his brid
—Marti
