'For those who like series, mysteries, books with rich, idiosyncratic settings, engaging characters, Strong Women and reasonably hot sex on occasion ... let me recommend Dana Stabenow' Diana Gabaldon.

THE KATE SHUGAK INVESTIGATIONS. Kate Shugak is a native Aleut with a touch of Russian heritage working as a private investigator in Alaska. She's 5 foot 1 inch tall, carries a scar that runs from ear to ear across her throat and owns a half-wolf, half-husky named Mutt. Orphaned at eight years old, Kate grew up to be resourceful, strong willed and defiant. She is tougher than your average heroine – and she needs to be to survive the worst the Alaskan wilds can throw at her. Kate used to work as an investigator for the Anchorage DA's office but after her throat was slashed while saving a child, she resigned from her job, and returned to the log cabin her father built on her tribe's native lands, deep in Alaska's largest national park in the shadow of the Quilak Mountains. For fourteen months Kate remained in the wilderness – her voice cut down to a raspy growl by the jagged scar stretched across her neck. Then, during the worst winter on record, a congressman's son disappeared... Two weeks later, the DA's investigator sent to find him was also reported missing. The FBI turned to the one person they knew had the skills to track down the missing men in the depths of an Alaskan winter. This is where you'll meet Kate in book one, A Cold Day for Murder. Over the next 19 books, Kate investigates murders both ancient and modern, she works under cover in the Arctic Circle, goes to sea, signs up as a bodyguard, tracks missing tribal relics and fights for the Aleut way of life. Kate will be forced into hiding, she'll witness the violent death of her closest friend and she'll face extreme peril herself. She'll even end up adopting a teenage boy. Just as well that she'll have Mutt at her side throughout it all.