TAINT IN THE BLOOD

Less formulaic than others of Stabenow's Alaskan novels, TAINT takes place in and around Anchorage, rather than in the wilderness park where the Aleutian private investigator, Kate Shugak, lives. This case concerns a murder that took place 31 years ago, and though the trail should be as cold as a mackerel, Shugak and her loyal part-wolf, Mutt, plunge in and solve the thing. Stabenow's grasp of plot intricacies and narrative skills has increased nicely as the Shugak books have proliferated. However, Marguerite Gavin, despite a clear reading style and her apparent love for the character, doesn't offer enough variety in her characterizations to enhance the novel. Still, Shugak is an oddly appealing character. D.R.W. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE/JULY 05]