While it has taken me a little while to read this book. I am impressed by the story line, while a little more political than what I typically like. I do not think that this would a book I would not typically purchase for myself, and I am not sure that I would read again. ( )

I had a really hard time even to begin getting into this novel. I finally dec ided to read another book. ( )

I am writing a new review of this book - I had started it and written a short review stating that I had begun the book, but not really stating what I thought of the book. I have now returned to it and finished reading it - I really enjoyed it. I will be checking out more stories by Dana Stabenow. I reread the beginning of the book as it had been awhile since I started it, I am pleased to say that the second time I picked it up I had a hard time putting it down. The story is well written and the characters draw you in. The twists of the story, although most are driven by sad, unfortunate events, keep you reading. I was excited by the amount of information about Alaska, even though I struggled with the names of the places. I found myself in agreement to what the author was saying about how so many people have fantasies about what Alaska is like and want to go there, but few of us ever do. I can't imagine living in a place that is as cold as often as described in this book. I am a huge dog lover and so of course was drawn by the amount of attention and storyline that Mutt gets. I tend to be more of a thriller reader than a mystery reader, but I will be out looking for more Kate Shugak stories after reading this one. I am pleased that I was introduced to a new author in a genre that I don't read often. ( )

Take a trip into life in the Alaskan bush with Kate and her fellow Park rats in this latest installment in the Kate Shugak series. Gold, and lots of it, has been discovered in the hills of the Park and a large mining operation is preparing to open operations to dig it out. This plan is not being happily accepted by many who enjoy their bush way of life away from the trappings of more modern life. Further, there have been attacks on people taking supplies home on the frozen highway of winter life. The two people are found dead by different means. And Kate, burdened with responsibilities she did not seek, sees the difficulties that change will bring to the Park. While this was another good addition to the series, it required remembering details from the previous book which this reader read over a year ago and forgot. ( )

I have read a couple of Stabenow's Kate Shugak books and I'm always struck by how clearly she's able to paint a picture of rural Alaskian life. The images she creates are vivid and compelling, and her characters are multi-layered and complex.

That being said, I wouldn't start reading these books this far into the series. If this book intrigues you, go back and start with book one: A Cold Day for Murder. Recommended for readers that enjoy reading great stories about rural life and hard female detectives. ( )