Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Shugak Yarn
Review: Dana Stabenow has a way of making you care about her characters, and what is happening in their lives. She packs a very good story into a fairly short book, in this case. I look forward to more books from this author. Her books are almost as good as an actual trip to Alaska.
Rating: 
Summary: Another fine mess
Review: Dana Stabenow, lifelong Alaska resident, has important things to say about the preservation of the environment. And she says them while spinning a good murder mystery. The new Old-Boy Oil Administration in Washington wants to drill for oil in ANWR and they're dumping the long-time Park Ranger who may disagree with their agenda. An environmentalist is killed, her friend critically injured, and Kate Shugak and her endearing wolf/dog Mutt are on the case. Meanwhile, Kate's personal life is sloping towards a seismic shift. Hang on, folks, we're in for a bumpy ride!
Rating: 
Summary: Is it a book or a political dissertation?
Review: I have read most of Ms Strabenow's books and always looked forward to a new hardcover. In her latest Kate Shugak novel however, she spends an excessive amount of time lecturing the reader on her political views. I do not purchase books in order to be lectured to, whether or not I agree with the author's politics. I will not buy another hardcover by this writer. I will, instead, wait for it to come out in paperback. If this book also turns out to be a political lecture I will not purchase another. I do so hope Ms Stabenow gets off her soapbox and writes another book that is simply a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Is it a book or a political dissertation?
Review: I have read most of Ms Strabenow's books and always looked forward to a new hardcover. In her latest Kate Shugak novel however, she spends an excessive amount of time lecturing the reader on her political views. I do not purchase books in order to be lectured to, whether or not I agree with the author's politics. I will not buy another hardcover by this writer. I will, instead, wait for it to come out in paperback. If this book also turns out to be a political lecture I will not purchase another. I do so hope Ms Stabenow gets off her soapbox and writes another book that is simply a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Not So Fine
Review: If A Fine and Bitter Snow is typical of the Kate Shugak series, she is not my cup of tea. This book belongs in the romance section rather than the mystery section of the bookstore. The mystery of who killed a elderly local environmentalist plays a distant second fiddle to Kate's romantic entanglement. The killer's identity is obvious from moments after Trooper Jim arrives at the murder scene -- though the motivation caught me by surprise. Except for Shugak and Trooper Jim, the cast of characters seem like refugees from old Northern Exposure episodes. Everyone is simpatico, racial problems don't exist, law enforcement is enlightened and compassionate. Dana Stabenow makes the most significant problem in this arcadian utopia which of two hunky suitors Kate will finally bed. Even that isn't any mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Not So Fine
Review: If A Fine and Bitter Snow is typical of the Kate Shugak series, she is not my cup of tea. This book belongs in the romance section rather than the mystery section of the bookstore. The mystery of who killed a elderly local environmentalist plays a distant second fiddle to Kate's romantic entanglement. The killer's identity is obvious from moments after Trooper Jim arrives at the murder scene -- though the motivation caught me by surprise. Except for Shugak and Trooper Jim, the cast of characters seem like refugees from old Northern Exposure episodes. Everyone is simpatico, racial problems don't exist, law enforcement is enlightened and compassionate. Dana Stabenow makes the most significant problem in this arcadian utopia which of two hunky suitors Kate will finally bed. Even that isn't any mystery.
Rating: 
Summary: not bad not great
Review: If you are involved in this series, you'll want to read A Fine and Bitter Snow to keep up. If you're new to the series, don't bother with this book. Go back and read the earlier titles. We have Kate much the same; still needs to get over herself, otherwise the same stuff you've enjoyed in the past. We have Chopper Jim moving into town. Fine. He'll need to be closer if he's going to replace Jack as Kate's next interest; and, as Kate is behaving exactly the way to Jim as she behaved to Jack just before she admitted to herself that she was involved with him, we can take this as read. The book is well written, if the plot goes nowhere. There is some nice Alaska info stuff throughout.
Rating:
Summary: Kind of a melt down
Review: In her 12th book in the Kate Shugak series, Ms. Stabenow focuses more on environmental issues and scenery than she does on her characters and their development. Although there is a mystery at the center of the story, the characters seemed more one dimensional than she usually treats them. Through out the series, there has always been a chemistry between Kate and Chopper Jim, but in this book it seemed forced as tho Ms. Stabenow was setting up the two characters to go in separate directions. After reading this book, I cannot imagine how Kate and Jim could ever have any type of relationship that would be one that could sustain itself. Kate came off as very self-centered, very entrenched in her past and very unwilling to compromise on anything until the last few pages. As Kate's character has become stagnant tho, Chopper Jim's has started to fill in and provide the reader with insites into his psyche. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book both in terms of Jim and Kate's relationship and hopefully in terms of a tighter mystery!
Rating:
Summary: Kind of a melt down
Review: In her 12th book in the Kate Shugak series, Ms. Stabenow focuses more on environmental issues and scenery than she does on her characters and their development. Although there is a mystery at the center of the story, the characters seemed more one dimensional than she usually treats them. Through out the series, there has always been a chemistry between Kate and Chopper Jim, but in this book it seemed forced as tho Ms. Stabenow was setting up the two characters to go in separate directions. After reading this book, I cannot imagine how Kate and Jim could ever have any type of relationship that would be one that could sustain itself. Kate came off as very self-centered, very entrenched in her past and very unwilling to compromise on anything until the last few pages. As Kate's character has become stagnant tho, Chopper Jim's has started to fill in and provide the reader with insites into his psyche. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book both in terms of Jim and Kate's relationship and hopefully in terms of a tighter mystery!
Rating:
Summary: Kate helps Jim solve a mystery
Review: Kate Shugak is chagrined to find out that her favorite Park Ranger, Dan O'Brian, is about to lose his job because of his stand against oil drilling in a wildlife preserve. Kate travels around the park and rallies support for Dan, while trying to avoid State Trooper Jim Chopin who is in hot pursuit of a relationship with Kate. When one park resident is killed and another is badly injured, Jim persuades Kate to help him find the perpetrator. Evidence points to an unstable Viet Nam veteran, but Jim and Kate have their doubts. Author Dana Stabenow again uses the rugged background of the Alaska wilderness to spotlight another well-written mystery. Jim's pursuit of Kate adds a little spice to this one.
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