Homer mystery writer Dana Stabenow has just released the 19th novel in her Kate Shugak series. For the first time the Private investigator Shugak meets up with another series character of Stabenow’s Liam Campbell.
Restless in the Grave begins in Afghanistan where a young man is forced into shooting down a helicopter and then we find ourselves in Southwest Alaska. Dana wouldn’t budge when I pressed for the connection between the middle east and remote areas of Alaska, saying it would give away too much of the mystery. But she did tell me that it started with her decision to kill off a fictional unpopular Alaska pilot with a Super Cub. She wanted a wide suspect pool, so she quizzed a Homer pilot and a mechanic for an easy way to sabotage a plane. He suggested simply loosening a nut on an oil filter.
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Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.
