A Grave Denied by Dana Stabenow, a Mysterious Review.

Review: The exceptional A Grave Denied is the 13th mystery in Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak mystery series set in Alaska.

Kate's life has become more complicated with the arrival of Johnny, son of her dead lover, estranged from his mother, and determined to live in the Park where he feels he belongs. Kate needs to balance her professional duties as unofficial investigator for the Park with her quickly developing parenting skills for Johnny, both of which are tested when the dead body of a local handyman, known to all for his work, but virtually unknown as a person, is discovered in a glacier.

Stabenow creates an environment that envelopes and draws the reader into the Park with Kate. It is with great satisfaction that the reader and Kate both jump to the same conclusion at the same time, realize the clues that were there all along but inadvertantly overlooked, and then suddenly discover that all may not be as it appears.

Johnny's journal entries add a touch of personal realism to the story and are important elements to the solution of the mystery.

A Grave Denied is one of the best mysteries of the year and is highly recommended.

A Grave Denied

A Kate Shugak Mystery by Dana Stabenow