If you want an in-depth look into Alaskan park land and people, Not the Ones Dead is the book for you. I had not read a Kate Shugak book since I met her in her first book, A Cold Day for Murder published in 1992, and I thought I would again journey north to Alaska for the read. Stabenow obviously loves Alaska and its people. Not the Ones Dead is her 23 book in the Shugak PI series. Her setting and characters are like old friends waiting for a visit. Unfortunately, her plots have proven to be thinner than her settings and characters, and so it has been years since I read her novels…. and this book is not an exception to that expectation.
Kate Shugak is an Aleut PI living on a 160-acre homestead in the largest national park in Alaska with her state Trooper boyfriend and her half-wolf, half-husky dog named Mutt. A mid-air collision in the wilderness between two small planes leaves 11 people dead — and there were only 10 people on the two planes. Kate decides to investigate as her friends coincidentally are being subjected to racist attacks by newcomers.
I rather enjoyed the Not the Ones Dead; however, it was not a plot you could get behind. From the very start you know who the murderers are and even why they are doing their deeds. The plot revolves around Kate’s putting it all together for the less than bright professional police agencies. If you don’t mind the absence of any deductive procedures, let alone a whodunit, you will enjoy you trip to Alaska here. My rating 3 of 5.
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. Not the Ones Dead will be published on April 13, 2023.
Pam Did It 