A Taint in the Blood

By: Dana Stabenow

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Book 14: A Kate Shugak Novel

Thirty-one years ago in Anchorage, Alaska, Victoria Pilz Bannister Muravieff was convicted of murdering her seventeen-year-old son William. The jury returned a quick verdict of guilty, believing the prosecutor's claims that she had set fire to her own home with both her sons inside; William died and the other, Oliver, narrowly escaped. Victoria was sentenced to life in prison without parole, and though she pled not guilty at the trial, she never again denied her guilt.

Now her daughter, Charlotte Muravieff, has hired Kate Shugak to clear her mother's name. Her daughter has always believed in her innocence, and now that Victoria has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, Charlotte wants her free. Kate is the only p.i. Charlotte can find who's willing to take such a long-shot case. Kate, on the other hand, is only willing because she's suddenly a single parent to a teenager, a teenager she hopes will decide to go to college. Besides, it can't be bad to do a favor for the Bannister family, one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in Alaska's short history.

As Kate begins an investigation, Victoria protests, refusing to cooperate. But soon it seems she isn't the only one who wants to leave the past in the past. In this spell-binding novel, A Taint in the Blood, Kate's confrontation with thirty years of secrets and regret-and murder-in one of Alaska's most powerful families shows award-winning crime writer Dana Stabenow at the top of her game.

State of suspense: listen to more Alaskan mysteries in the Kate Shugak series.©2004 Dana Stabenow (P)2004 Books on Tape Inc.

Critic reviews

"A Taint in the Blood, like its predecessors, can be read on two levels - as a cleverly-executed thriller with an intriguing protagonist or as a fascinating exploration of an exotic society with its own unique culture. Either way, you can't lose." (San Diego Union-Tribune)

"Among the best in a consistently strong series. Along with the series' typical appealing features - Kate's erotically charged romantic life with Trooper Jim Chopin; delightful character sketches of various residents of the Alaskan bush, including a dog named Mutt; and, of course, the vivid rendering of the Alaskan landscape - Stabenow adds a new element this time: setting the case in Anchorage allows her to portray Kate dealing with life in the city and to consider Alaskan history outside the backcountry." (Booklist)

My Favorite Series!

I was late to finding Dana Stabenow and the Kate Shugak series but am completely hooked. I love the stories, how the characters progress...I cheer for her, curse with her and love Mutt as much as my own animal! Highly recommend these books!

Love the Kate stories

The descriptions of the Alaskan scenery and heritage is one of the strong points of Dana’s books,

Chopper Jim's Amazed

This, the 14th installment in the series, is set in and around Anchorage. Kate's hired to search a 30 year old murder. As always, the book's about Alaska; but, in this case, it's more about Kate. Her relationship with Chopper Jim evolves and becomes quite sexy--one wonders where Stabenow gets this stuff. Also, Mutt plays a big supporting role, almost human. Oh, and there is a plot too. Happily, I move on to #15.

Good but..

The story line is good, but there was something missing and unnecessary somethings added. Thie missing and additional somethings were disappointing. Good story, though.

Kate toys with Jim Chopin

"A Taint In The Blood" is the most lighthearted, optimistic, Kate Shugak novel since "Breakup" (which was book seven - way back in time).

I liked the humorous start to the book, with Kate offering I-hate-owing-people-anything motivated "help" to the people who rebuilt her home at the end of the last book and driving them crazy in the process.

I also liked that Kate has now come out of her trauma-induced hibernation and is ready to toy with Jim Chopin, the habitual womanizer who keeps telling himself that he does NOT want a relationship with Kate - just good sex. Kate frustrates his expectations by taking him at his word, having mind-blowing sex with him and then leaving him to wake up alone while she heads off to work. Chopin's bemusement is a joy to behold.

Kate's relationship with the late Jack Morgan was always described as intensely physical but most of it happened off camera. In "A Taint In The Blood" everything is much more up close and personal. It seems to me that, as well as being lighthearted fun and a development of Kate's relationship with Jim, this reawakening of Kate's sexual confidence shows her taking another step towards being more like her grandmother - a woman known for the impact she had on her lovers.

The murder mystery in this book is slight in terms of plot complexity but that's not really the point. This thirty-year-old murder case provides an opportunity to look back into how life used to be in Alaska. I enjoyed the tales of the old-timer bush cop and the peek into the rawness of the Alaskan "Frontier". I guessed the murderer fairly early on but that didn't spoil my enjoyment because the characters were so well described.

This was a light, fun, sometimes sexy read that gave a welcome change in pace from the depressed mood of the books that started with "Hunter's Moon". Now I'm looking forward to see what Kate is going to do with her life.

No taint in this story

This book is a departure for Kate Shugak -- she is hired by a wealthy woman to free her mother from prison due to a conviction on the arson murder of her eldest son over 30 years before. Kate reluctantly accepts the case, which takes her to Anchorage with Jim Chopin on her heels.

This is a good mystery and it is interesting to see Kate mingling with high society; but this novel does suffer from departure from the Park and its denizens. Also, there is a lot more sex in this novel than in previous novels, which might be a bit off-putting to some fans.

I found the mystery intriguing and this novel a difficult one to which to stop listening. Highly recommend.

As usual, Gavin delivers an excellent performance.

Another great Shugak mystery

I have only one complaint. Would the readers please check the pronunciation of Alaska place names. It is very annoying to hear them shredded. Adak begins with a long "A" and ends with "ak" as in back.

A Taint in the Blood

Every book Dana Stabenow writes is better than the last. Read all of Ms. Stabenow's books and you will feel as if you have been to Alaska.

Worth it

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Always a good mystery and great with the romance. The Narrator was pretty good. I've heard better but I've definitely heard worse. She wasn't monotonous and kept me interested. I haven't been up on all the series but had read a few of the earlier ones and 4 of the previous books and was looking for more electricity between Kate and Jim. Definitely not disappointed. Lots of fun.

The good: Jim; The bad: no Bobby & little Alaska.

I enjoyed the storyline involving Jim. Kate is rejoining life and enjoying herself again - 2 years after losing Jack. Her flirtation with Jim - her enjoyment of the playfulness of their sex life - is a fun part of this book. It allows the reader to escape the grief that has been so integral to the story for several books.

However, the story here takes place in Anchorage. This means that Bobby is completely absent, as is the character of Alaska. My favorite part of this series is its glimpses into the culture of Alaska. I love learning about life in the 49th state, especially among some of the "park rats". I love examining the Aleut culture, I love the craziness brought to life due to the wildlife, and I love the personalities of the supporting cast. All of that was missing in this book and that was a big disappointment for me.