"Restless in the Grave" is classic Kate Shugak with the additional fun of dropping in on Liam Campbell and Wy Chouinard from Stabenow's other mystery series. For the plot, Kate leaves the Park and the major plot lines from the previous books to "look into" a potential murder.
For long time Shugak readers, this is a refreshing change. I appreciate the back stories of Kate's family, heritage, and every day life struggles featured in the last few Shugak books. And while family is never far from Kate, getting out of her home environment lets you explore new characters, problems, and romping fun. Kate gets locked in a freezer, dropped in a dumpster, and trapped in a cargo container - but all with the same lightheartedness found in earlier books. Gone is the feeling that yet another key part of Kate's world is about to go to jail, fall off a pedestal, or even die. It makes the story easier to enjoy.
This story takes place all in a current timeline. As a reader, I appreciate Stabenow's efforts to meld two different mysteries in two different timelines (as done in "Though Not Dead"). However, it's great to get back to what I think of as a standard Kate Shugak story. Have a question. Get thrown in a dumpster/trash pile/down a mine shaft. Solve the mystery. Go home and contemplate the world. Stabenow helps keep this story fresh, though, but utilizing a new set of characters and places.
If you're looking for a Liam Campbell story, this isn't really it. Liam, Wy, Bill, and Moses are all here and definitely provide a depth and breadth the story needs. And while some significant things happen with these characters the book is, in the end, a story about Kate and Mutt.
Overall, I'd recommend this story. It's a must for long time Kate Shugak readers. And it's not bad as a stand along mystery novel, without any of the background.
