Book Review: A Cold-Blooded Business [2 stars]

I recently read A Cold-Blooded Business by Dana Stabenow.

Unfortunately, this book was a real letdown from my expectations. Based on what I was told about the book, I expected 2 things: (1) a mystery novel with a good "whodunnit plot" to keep me guessing; (2) an adventurist novel with a good "Alaskan outback plot" to keep me entertained.

The book delivered on the "Alaskan outback" as it integrated the history and outdoor lifestyle of Alaska into the business of drilling for oil. So, Stabenow's book lived up to its billing with respect to outdoor Alaska.

Sadly, the book did not deliver on its "mystery promise". The plot centers around the main character, Kate Shugak a criminal investigator, investigating a growing drug problem in the oil fields of Alaska. It is her task to explore the oil business and identify (& stop) the source of drugs in the oil fields. Here is the problem I had with the mystery investigation of this book:

• Stabenow introduces only 2 suspect characters in any detail and, unsurprisingly, both characters are guilty. Where's the mystery & suspense in that?
• Stabenow has Shugak "investigate" for a grand total of less than 5 pages in the book. She looks at a couple of suspicious flight logs, finds the passengers on all such flights and these are the suspects (and eventual guilty felons). At no point in this book did I think, "I wonder who is guilty" nor did I think, "I wonder how Shugak will prove to be a world-class investigator" nor did I think, "Wow, I did not see that coming."

You can read A Cold-Blooded Business for some nice Alaskan scenery; but do not read it in any hope of a suspenseful mystery.