Kate Shugak is a native Aleut working as a private investigator in Alaska. She's 5'1" tall?? carrires a scar that runs from ear to ear across her throat?? and owns a half-wolf?? half-husky dog named Mutt. Resourceful?? strong-willed?? defiant?? Kate is tougher than your average heroine?and she needs to be?? to survive the worst the Alaskan wilds can throw at her. And throw their worst the wilds have: Kate and Mutt have both been shot.