Taint in the Blood (A Kate Shugak Investigation) by Dana Stabenow

Thirty-one years ago in Anchorage, Alaska, Victoria Pilz Bannister Muravieff was convicted of murdering her seventeen-year-old son William. Believing the prosecutor's claims that she had set fire to her own home with both her sons inside, the jury returned a quick verdict of guilty. William died, while the other son, Oliver, narrowly escaped. Victoria was sentenced to life in prison without parole, and though she pled not guilty at the trial, she never again denied her guilt.

Now, Victoria's daughter, Charlotte Muravieff, has hired Kate Shugak to clear her mother's name. Charlotte has always believed in her mother's innocence, and with Victoria's recent diagnosis of terminal cancer, she wants her free. Kate is the only private investigator Charlotte can find who is willing to take on such a long-shot case. Kate, on the other hand, is only willing because she has suddenly become a single parent to a teenager, a teenager she hopes will decide to go to college. Additionally, it cannot be a bad thing to do a favor for the Bannister family, one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in Alaska's short history.

As Kate begins her investigation, Victoria protests, refusing to cooperate. However, it soon becomes apparent that she is not the only one who wants to leave the past in the past. In this spell-binding novel, Kate's confrontation with thirty years of secrets, regret, and murder within one of Alaska's most powerful families showcases award-winning crime writer Dana Stabenow at the top of her game.

The case is a long-shot, but Kate is determined to uncover the truth. As she delves into the past, she discovers a web of lies and deceit that has been carefully woven over the years. The Bannister family's reputation is at stake, and there are those who will stop at nothing to protect it.

Kate's investigation leads her down a dangerous path, where she must confront her own demons while trying to unravel the mystery of what really happened on that fateful night all those years ago. With the clock ticking and Victoria's health deteriorating, Kate must race against time to find the evidence that will set her mother-in-law free.

As Kate's investigation progresses, she uncovers a shocking truth that challenges everything she thought she knew about the case. The Bannister family's secrets run deeper than she ever imagined, and the consequences of revealing them could be devastating.

Ultimately, Kate's pursuit of justice not only tests her own limits but also forces her to confront the ghosts of her own past. In the end, the decision to expose the truth may come at a greater cost than anyone could have anticipated.

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