First published 2009
Kate Shugak never wanted to chair Ninilta's Native Association, but the job landed on her anyway. Now a mining company wants to extract minerals from Alaska's vast Iqaluk Wildlife Refuge, and the proposal splits her community down the middle. Some residents see economic opportunity. Others worry about environmental damage, job competition from outsiders, crumbling roads, and tourist invasions. Kate feels unprepared to navigate these complex questions that pit development against preservation. The situation turns deadly when two people connected to the mining company end up murdered. The native Aleut private investigator must solve the killings while managing the political firestorm around her. At five feet one inch with a throat scar running ear to ear, Kate relies on her resourcefulness and determination to survive Alaska's harsh wilderness. Her half-wolf, half-husky companion Mutt stays by her side as she confronts dangers that would overwhelm most people. The murders force Kate to untangle motives rooted in environmental conflict, economic desperation, and community division.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, small-town
Setting: Alaska, Iqaluk Wildlife Refuge, Ninilta
Period: 21st-century
354 pages · Hardcover · Minotaur Books
Content warnings: death, murder, violence