Cherchez la Femme

Kate Shugak #17.5

by Dana Stabenow

There’s one in every village. They don’t have to be young, they don’t even have to be pretty, but there is one woman in every Alaskan village whose very presence short circuits something in the nervous system of the male of the species, resulting all too often in events that spiral into intervention on the part of a professional peace officer.

In Niniltna, it was Dulcey Kineen. Emphasis, it seems, on the was. A short story.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Short Stories

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Dana Stabenow was born in Anchorage and raised on 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska. She knew there was a warmer, drier job out there somewhere.

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A neat little short story, not much happening but some fun.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, that was a really short story! But a typical tale of the park!

[JPT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ebook
Grade: C

Not a review, just some thoughts for personal reference. Spoilers.

(I lost my first notes somehow so trying again.)

Audiobook very short story originally part of a fishing anthology (but there's not much fishing).

The story is about a village round-heel (Dulcey) and three brothers. She's sleeping with the younger two and the rivalry is fierce.

When one discovers blood in her empty cabin, he accuses the other of murdering her.

Jim asks Kate to investigate.

Turns out, the blood belonged to the oldest brother, who hit his head when the two of them were leaving to elope.

Kate assigns penance jobs to the two younger brothers for causing a ruckus.

Dulcey and her new husband try to get custody of Dulcey's younger siblings, who were put in foster care when her parents died. (This was Dulcey's price for marrying.)

This was a good enough story, but just too bare bones. It tantalized with greater possibilities for the three brothers or Dulcey's efforts to reunite her family, but didn't deliver enough goods. This is the problem with most shorter works, imo.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Park life, or should I say Park Soap Opera? Definitely Park Opera.

[Mario Medina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it is a short story, this was an enjoyable read.

[Kathryn Baron · Rating 3 out of 5]

In collected shorts

[Talia Nyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Park comedy.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Included in short stories and essays book.

[Cynthia Armistead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely lovely little story, set between A Night Too Dark and Though Not Dead. Two brothers in Niniltna are courting the same charismatic woman. When she disappears from a bloody cabin, Kate is called in by Chopper Jim to investigate. While there's humor spread throughout the series, this story is one of the lighter pieces in it.

[Pk Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author introduces new characters in this short story with a humorous twist.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. Perfect pick for snowed-in weekend with no power.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun quick read, and I laughed at the ending!