Death in Dutch Harbor
by D. MacNeill Parker
Synopsis (from Amazon):
When two murders strain the police force of a remote Alaskan fishing port, veterinarian Maureen McMurtry is tapped by Dutch Harbor’s police chief for forensic assistance. The doctor’s got a past she’d rather not discuss, a gun in her closet, and a retired police dog that hasn’t lost her chops. All come in handy as she deciphers the cause and time of death of a local drug addict washed ashore with dead sea lions and an environmentalist found in a crab pot hauled from the sea in the net of a fishing vessel.
When her romantic relationship with a boat captain is swamped by mounting evidence that he’s the prime suspect in one of the murders, McMurtry struggles with her own doubts to prove his innocence. But can she? McMurtry’s pals, a manager of the Bering Sea crab fishery and another who tends Alaska’s most dangerous bar assist in unraveling the sinister truth.
Author Interview:
Q&A with MacNeill Parker – DEATH IN DUTCH HARBOR
How did you research your book?
Research was not required. Write what you know, right? As a longtime participant in the Alaska fishing industry, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use my experience as the backdrop to this book. What could be more intriguing than creating a world where commercial fishing and murder meet? However, I knew nothing about police dogs and so made an inquiry with the Seattle Police K9 Unit. They invited me to their training site. I was so appreciative, I named the dog in the book after the K9 Unit shepherd, CoCo.
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
Aside from my own experience at sea as a fisherman that included surviving a boat that sank off the coast of Kodiak, I’ve heard many sea stories, most far more interesting than my own. There’s something about living on the edge of civilization where your life is at the mercy of Mother Nature and your survival may depend on the skill of your crew mates that is made for drama.
What advice would you give budding writers?
Just do it! Take creative writing courses on story structure and join a writing group so that it becomes a hands-on learning project. It’s fun, so you’ve got nothing to lose.
Your book is set in Alaska. Have you ever been there?
Our family lived in Alaska for many years and still participates in the Alaska fishing industry. One of our sons is at sea now. More specifically, I have been to Dutch Harbor, Alaska where the story unfolds. Dutch Harbor is a real place, now famous to fans of the television show, Deadliest Catch. It’s the nation’s busiest fishing port even though it’s located in the remote Aleutian Islands, halfway to Russia because that’s where the fish swim. I’ve experienced its famous white knuckler airplane landings and drank my share of beer at a well-known saloon there famed as Alaska’s most dangerous bar.
Do you ever get writer’s block?
No, never. Isn’t that terrific? I’m sure my former career as a journalist helps launch me into my task without much trepidation. But it’s not unusual for me to go back after writing a scene and delete the first few paragraphs as if they were just a warm-up exercise.
What is the last great book you read?
I could not put down the book, HORSE, by Geraldine Brooks. Its historical fiction, based on a real racehorse that was trained by a slave. The mystery unravels through the point of view of different characters, some in the present and some in the past. It tackles racism in a unique and poignant manner.
In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like?
Because I am a debut author, it was like stumbling around in a hailstorm, knocking on the doors of strangers in hopes of finding shelter.
Where do you write?
I have a writing studio in the backyard. It was a shed that my amazing husband upgraded for me, including installation of a large window at my desk where I can watch the ducks swim by in the creek. I am a lucky woman.
What is your writing schedule?
I find that writing in the morning suits me best. I think it’s because I’m still connected to my subconscious at that time of day. As a Pantser, I write by the seat of my pants, so it’s important to keep my head plugged into my imagination rather than cluttered with the banal practicalities of the real world.
Author Bio:
MacNeill Parker and her family are long time participants in the Alaska fishing industry. In addition to fishing for halibut, salmon, crab, and cod, she’s been a journalist, a fisheries specialist for the State of Alaska, and a seafood company executive. She’s travelled to most ports in Alaska, trekked mountains in the Chugach range, rafted the Chulitna River, worked in hunting camps, and survived a boat that went down off the coast of Kodiak. Parker’s been to Dutch Harbor many times experiencing her share of white knuckler airplane landings and beer at the Elbow Room, famed as Alaska’s most dangerous bar. While the characters in this book leapt from her imagination, they thrive in this authentic setting. She loves Alaska, the sea, a good yarn and her amazing family.
Website: https://www.dmparkerauthor.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198615907-death-in-dutch-harbor
Praise:
“From the first scene, she evokes the real Dutch Harbor and the dynamic people who call it home. It’s a roaring mystery that braids together oil rigs, fishing, sea lions and the kind of Russians we love to hate. Death in Dutch Harbor is a must read for anyone who wants to vicariously experience a rugged world on the edge of an unforgiving sea”
— Lori Swanson, Former Director Marine Conservation Alliance, Federal Fishery Observer
“Any fan of the Deadliest Catch television show should reach for this book!”
—Captain Sig Hansen, FV Northwestern and a star of the Deadliest Catch TV series
“Death in Dutch Harbor grabbed me at the outset and did not let go. Right away you can tell Ms. Parker knows the issues facing the fishing industry in the Bering Sea. She weaves them into the tale and uses her characters to draw the reader deeper into the murder mystery.”
— Frank Kelty, Former Mayor of Dutch Harbor/Unalaska
“What a banging beginning for this author. Parker successfully tied together the multiple themes with strong characters, especially the women, with a believable and exciting plot. I recommend this book and look forward to Parker’s next novel.”
— Men Reading Books
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