Restless In The Grave by Dana Stabenow is the 19th book in the “Kate Shugak” mystery series. Publisher: Minotaur Books, February 2012

New York Times bestseller Dana Stabenow returns with her most outstanding novel yet, teaming up two of her most beloved characters, Aleut private investigator Kate Shugak and Alaska state trooper Liam Campbell, in the same story for the first time.

Alaska aviation entrepreneur Finn Grant died in the fiery crash of his Piper Super Cub. Someone sabotaged his engine, and virtually everyone in southwestern Alaska has a motive, including his betrayed wife, his bullied children, and Liam’s wife, bush pilot Wyanet Chouinard. With few places to turn, Liam asks his former mentor Niniltna post commander Sergeant Jim Chopin, for help, and Jim quickly brings Kate onto the case.

Working undercover as—of all things—a waitress at Bill’s Bar and Grill, Kate learns over beer and burgers that Grant’s business had expanded meteorically over the last two years. After buying the closed Air Force base south of town from the federal government at a bargain-basement price, he became a fixed-base operator running his fishing, hunting, and flight-seeing business, servicing planes flying through the area, and most interestingly and lucratively, getting into the air freight business. But what kind of freight was he moving, and where?

The answers involve Kate in her most challenging case to date, one that starts with murder and quickly sprawls into a much larger conspiracy ranging from the darkest family secrets to treason and beyond. Restless in the Grave is a treat for fans and another outstanding addition to Dana Stabenow’s acclaimed and award-winning series.

In her latest case, Kate goes undercover and in less than 24 hours upon her arrival in town, she’s turned up a hornet’s nest of hidden secrets, blackmail and murder. I love this series and the action started immediately and did not let up from the very first page to an ending that left me saying “Wow”. Leaving no stones unturned as she digs deeper into this case, Kate finds herself in precarious situations handling it with amusing anecdote. I quickly devoured this gripping mystery of intriguing that boasts a strong cast of characters and a locale that I would love to visit. I eagerly await the next book in this wonderfully well-scripted and fabulous series.