Dana Stabenow’s Kate Shugak series seems to be going strong after eighteen books. She’s about to release book #19 on Valentine’s Day, RESTLESS IN THE GRAVE (2012), set in 
Alaska. Unfortunately for me, I started off with her Liam Campbell series that hasn’t seen a new release since BETTER TO REST in 2002. A series I loved for the humor and romance. The author breaks down the difference between the series here. Poor Liam. He only had four books and I enjoyed every last one. The last one had a cliffhanger but it wasn’t a bad cliffhanger. But there is good news for Liam Campbell fans. Liam Campbell is coming back…in the newest Kate Shugak novel, RESTLESS IN THE GRAVE (2012). Yay! I can’t explain why I loved the Liam Campbell series so much – I just did. Mostly because it had comedy and romance. The mysteries weren’t the focus I will admit but if you’re a romance reader, the highs and lows of Liam and Wy’s relationship was the main draw. I’ve discussed Dana Stabenow here before and I don’t mind pimping her one more time because I think she’s awesome. Also, I love that she’s digitizing her backlist for the Kate Shugak books and the Liam Campbell books (both of which have their first books priced at free or $99 cents!). Often I recommend these books to people who say they’ve enjoyed Julia Spencer-Fleming’s work (IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER). The two series have nothing in common really only in that the relationship starts off in a similar fashion (which might not be a good thing for some readers). Liam is sweet but scared of flying and Wy is a bush pilot who makes him work hard for her affections. Cravat: I haven’t read the Liam Campbell books in quite awhile but I loved them at the time that I did and I hope to reread them and maybe review them here, hoping fervently that they aren’t too dated.
Bibliography (Selected)
Liam Campbell series in order (and all are digitized):
#1 Fire and Ice
#2 So Sure of Death
#3 Nothing Gold Can Stay
#4 Better to Rest
Kate Shugak series (backlist being digitized currently):
#1 A Cold Day for Murder
#2 A Fatal Thaw
#3 Dead in the Water
#4 A Cold Blooded Business
#5 Play With Fire
#6 Blood Will Tell
#7 Breakup
#8 Killing Grounds
#9 Hunter’s Moon
#10 Midnight Come Again
#11 The Singing of the Dead
#12 A Fine and Bitter Snow
#13 A Grave Denied
#14 A Taint in the Blood
#15 A Deeper Sleep
#16 Whisper to the Blood
#17 A Night Too Dark
#18 Though Not Dead
#19 Restless in the Grave (2012)
pic credit: swiped from the author’s website
Dear Keishon,
Now that Dana’s Kate Shugak books are being digitized, you’ll break down and start reading them. If you want romance, it’s there; if you want comedy, it’s there. I think once you get into them, you won’t be able to put them down. Of course, you’ve heard this from me before.
Bev
Thanks Bev and I will start reading them this year. I also am still up for reading Louise Penny’s other series that you recommended to me as well. Thanks for the heads up on the Liam Campbell scoop. Appreciate it.
Unfortunately, the Liam Campbell books appear to only be for Kindle at this time, so I’m off to the library. I enjoyed Kate Shugak, but for some reason, stopped reading after the first couple of books.
I meant to add that your description of this series reminds me of Jamie Harrison’s Montana sheriff, Jules Clement. Edge of the Crazies was the first book and an early love of mine. I’ll have to re-read to see if it holds up as I hope it has. Thanks for the review.
Jules Clement, got it. Will look up. re Liam Campbell books, she did have them at B&N for Nook readers at one time but must have pulled them. I’ve overhead authors say that they don’t do much sales there.
Arrgh, I’m doing my best at B&N to keep things going. And what was that about Louise Penny’s other series?
I misspoke or/and wasn’t clear, sorry: she only has the one series and I haven’t read them yet and Bev is a big fan of that series and recommended them to me a long time ago.
I went on a huge Stabenow kick over ten years ago, and this post is motivation to get back to her.
She’s awesome isn’t she? Did you read the Liam Campbell series or the Kate Shugak series?
I’ve downloaded the first book of each series to try. Thanks for the recommendation!
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