felinity's review against another edition
4.0
Aargh, the ending!!!
But the rest of it was great. Inter-family feuds, politics, murder and lies, all mixed together in Stabenow's Alaskan setting.
But the rest of it was great. Inter-family feuds, politics, murder and lies, all mixed together in Stabenow's Alaskan setting.
dmwhipp's review against another edition
4.0
Another great addition to the Kate Shugak series. I was surprised to find this ended on a cliff hanger and will shortly be reading the next.
lian_tanner's review against another edition
2.0
Definitely not one of Stabenow's best. I really like this series, and look forward to each new book, but this one was pretty average. One of the problems for me was that it seemed to take so long to get started. Halfway through the book, I felt as if the plot still hadn't taken off, and that Stabenow was spending way too much time on back story, and on Kate's surroundings. As for the extreme cliff-hanger ending - who on earth thought that was a good idea? Plus there was the occasional clunky phrasing that surprised me - I've never noticed these before from this author. Poor editing?
It's possible that this series has passed its best - I don't think any series can keep going forever, and although Kate Shugak has had a consistently good run, she was a bit of a cardboard cutout in this book and I found myself losing interest in her. Maybe it's time for her to stop. Or then again, this might just be a hiccup, and she'll come back in new and interesting ways.
It's possible that this series has passed its best - I don't think any series can keep going forever, and although Kate Shugak has had a consistently good run, she was a bit of a cardboard cutout in this book and I found myself losing interest in her. Maybe it's time for her to stop. Or then again, this might just be a hiccup, and she'll come back in new and interesting ways.
sheilaokeefe's review against another edition
3.0
I have really enjoyed most of the Kate Shugak series but was very disappointed with this installment. It was the first I listened to rather than reading and I think the lackluster narration was part of the problem.
But the book itself is not up to the usual quality of the series. Parts seemed disjointed and rambling. The story didn't really grab my attention. I am particularly unhappy with the unresolved ending. (I don't want to include spoilers, but while the main murders are solved, there is a very large cliffhanger at the end).
But the book itself is not up to the usual quality of the series. Parts seemed disjointed and rambling. The story didn't really grab my attention. I am particularly unhappy with the unresolved ending. (I don't want to include spoilers, but while the main murders are solved, there is a very large cliffhanger at the end).
marinazala's review against another edition
3.0
yap.. I will give 3 of 5 stars. it is good enough story.. the story is about two tribes in Alaska whose always competing each other.. the kushtakas and the kuskulanas..
they started hate each other since a long ago. suddenly, each of their tribes' member is found dead.. tyler from the kushtakas is dead and the kushtakas believe that the kushkulanas who the murderer is and also the opposite is
in the addition, there is love happen two each tribes. jennifer from the kushtakas eloped with robert from the kushkulanas.. they choose to stay away from their tribes and continue their life
overall, this story is told about the conflict which happen to two tribes in Alaska :)
they started hate each other since a long ago. suddenly, each of their tribes' member is found dead.. tyler from the kushtakas is dead and the kushtakas believe that the kushkulanas who the murderer is and also the opposite is
in the addition, there is love happen two each tribes. jennifer from the kushtakas eloped with robert from the kushkulanas.. they choose to stay away from their tribes and continue their life
overall, this story is told about the conflict which happen to two tribes in Alaska :)
bibliobabe94's review against another edition
3.0
Updated telling of Romeo and Juliet, but with a slightly happier ending for the young loves. I absolutely HATE the last page or so - I understand authors want you to read their next book, but I will never be OK with those endings.
lindca's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a huge fan of the Kate Shugak series and this book gives us much of what makes the series so wonderful: fabulous descriptions of Alaska and Alaskans that make the reader feel like she's been there (or would like to visit), memorable characters, and a mystery to solve. However, this book didn't give quite enough of the latter two as many of the better entries in this series.
First of all, the book was relatively short for a novel, so I breezed through it even more quickly than usual. Kate and Jim are separated for much of the book, though the sections in which they are together are wonderful, both for the delicious banter and for the delicious, ahem, getting together. The mystery--people on both sides of a Hatfield and McCoy type feud are getting killed while a Romeo and Juliet relationship unfolds for a young couple--held few surprises, always a disappointment for this mystery fan who too frequently figures things out quickly anyway.
But the thing that really spoiled things for me was the ending. I. Hate. Cliffhangers. Especially when the next book won't come out for a year, my chief emotion during the wait is annoyance rather than eagerness to find out what happens.
That said, this is an enjoyable chapter in the series. I'll look forward--in somewhat bad temper--to the next book.
N.B. It would be helpful and enlightening for readers to have read the short story "Nooses Give" before reading this book. The events of that story play a role in this one.
First of all, the book was relatively short for a novel, so I breezed through it even more quickly than usual. Kate and Jim are separated for much of the book, though the sections in which they are together are wonderful, both for the delicious banter and for the delicious, ahem, getting together. The mystery--people on both sides of a Hatfield and McCoy type feud are getting killed while a Romeo and Juliet relationship unfolds for a young couple--held few surprises, always a disappointment for this mystery fan who too frequently figures things out quickly anyway.
But the thing that really spoiled things for me was the ending. I. Hate. Cliffhangers. Especially when the next book won't come out for a year, my chief emotion during the wait is annoyance rather than eagerness to find out what happens.
That said, this is an enjoyable chapter in the series. I'll look forward--in somewhat bad temper--to the next book.
N.B. It would be helpful and enlightening for readers to have read the short story "Nooses Give" before reading this book. The events of that story play a role in this one.