Dana Stabenow Books: An Enticing Blend of Cozy and Hardboiled

The sixth entry in the Kate Shugak mystery series, Whisper to the Blood, unfolds against a lush Alaskan backdrop, with strong political and environmental themes woven into the text. 

Private investigator Kate Shugak is one hell of a survivor and, aided by Mutt, a half-wolf, half-musky dog, is prepared to take on anything. 

But now a mining company is determined to take advantage of a new mineral deposit discovered in the Alaskan wilds, and as the new chairperson of Ninilta's Native Association, Kate must take a stand—until the dead bodies keep piling up. 

Those fascinated by Alaska’s vanishing wilderness, will certainly be piqued by Midnight Come Again, the tenth book in the Kate Shugak mystery series. 

Kate is now a private investigator for hire, hiding away and working 18-hour days in a remote fishing village on the Alaska coast. 

But Jim Chopin, her best friend and Alaska State Trooper, needs her input on a case—but the case might be more complex than initially believed.

Blindfold Game is actually the first entry in her Coast Guard series and can be read as a fun standalone if you’re looking for a taste of Stabenow’s work or enjoy fast-paced thrillers with real, believable stakes. 

Overall, Blindfold Game is a searing New York Times bestselling read that also vividly captures life in the U.S. Coast Guard.

In this Kate Shugak mystery novel, we find our much-loved main character working on a political campaign for a Native woman running for state senator. 

But the campaign is marred by a murder, and now Kate must find connections between the latest killing and a 90-year-old unresolved case to get to the bottom of the mystery. 

With an intriguing plot and vibrant details about Alaskan history, this series just keeps on delivering. 

If you’ve stuck with the Kate Shugak books not just for the explosive mysteries but also for the incredible character growth, you’ll certainly be impressed with A Fine and Bitter Snow. 

P.I. Kate Shugak is still reeling from her lover’s violent death and struggling to adjust to daily life, even as she becomes embroiled in another murder mystery. 

Not only does the novel deftly delve into Kate’s psyche,but  the bleak beauty of Alaska also comes to life as a secondary character. 

Another Kate Shugak novel, this one follows the investigations into the death of Len Dreyer, the well-known handyman for hire, who turns up shot and frozen in a receding glacier after being missing for months. 

Kate is naturally called in to take up the case—except she might just become the killer’s next victim. With a hint of a budding romance and a witty commentary on Alaskan socio-politics, Grave Denied is an enticing and enjoyable read. 

For many of her readers, the Kate Shugak mystery novels offer a comfortable home to keep returning to, and A Taint in the Blood doesn’t disappoint. 

Kate and Jim’s relationship has deepened, and the mystery at its heart has an astonishing finale. 

There’s less focus on Alaskan history and politics, so if you’re in the mood for a light, comfort mystery read, give this one a try.

The fifteenth Kate Shugak novel is full of surprises. In this book, Kate is called upon to investigate the murder of a woman by her husband, who has no criminal record. 

More dead bodies are soon linked to him—and Kate and her lover have to figure out if he’s really the killer or if it’s someone else “framing” him for the attacks. Tense, explosive, and intelligent, A Deeper Sleep is a fascinating read. 

The vast and sprawling wildness of Alaska means it isn’t too hard to disappear—whether deliberately or accidentally. 

But soon Kate makes the connection between the recent disappearances and the discovery of the world’s second-largest goldmine. 

Delving into environmental politics and mining controversies gets pretty messy and bloody—especially when a body shows up and then vanishes. 

If you’re in the mood for a mystery thriller laced with jaw-dropping suspense, try Prepared for Rage, which is the second book set in her Coast Guard series. 

It’s got a stellar cast, which includes a terrorist with a very severe grudge, FBI agents, a Coast Guard captain, and an astronaut readying for the space shuttle. 

Packed with action, romanc,e and enough twists to keep you hooked till the last page, Prepared for Rage is a refreshing break from her usual Alaska-set mystery novels.

If you’re in the mood for an epic treasure hunt of a lifetime, you’ll adore Though Not Dead, the eighteenth Kate Shugak mystery novel from the award-winning mistress of crime, Dana Stabenow. 

This one focuses more on Kate and her family—following clues and solving puzzles to uncover the mystery of her past. Her usual best friend/lover Jim doesn’t feature here much, leaving Kate on her own and at her fierce, independent best. 

I’d argue Bad Blood is the quintessential Kate Shugak mystery book, which delivers on all the aspects that the fans love about this series.

Following an independent heroine who isn’t afraid of taking matters into her own hands, a brave canine sidekick, and a conflict between two Alaskan villages, this brings the rich history and geography of the region to life. 

It’s a love letter to Alaska’s bleak beauty, with a fitting tragic end that has left some fans divided

The nineteenth Kate Shugak mystery, Restless in the Grave, has her teaming up not with Jim Bean but with a different Alaska state trooper, Liam Campbell, who also has his own series of mystery/crime books worth checking out. 

This mystery novel, in which Kate plays an undercover investigator, features characters from both series, giving readers the best of both worlds in an intricately plotted, unputdownable book.