Keeps you reading into the night. A mystery for those who love the outdoors.

Anne C. (
Anana11) wrote on 9/28/2009...
This was a fun, light read. The author tried to give some of the characters some depth and roundness, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, I was able to figure out the end fairly early on. Not a deal breaker if the writing is good, but it was a little disappointing. It's the first book though, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Great concept!
Ms. Barr has been writing this wonderful series for quite some time, and my wife was after me to read about Anna Pigeon. I'm glad that I did.
This is the first of the books in the series. While it's not really important to read them in sequence, those of us who are "type A" will appreciate doing so.
Anna is a 40'sh park ranger with an interesting personality which is revealled slowly over the course of the books (some characters to pop up in many). She's a strong and resilient female heroine, not without her own demons.
I found that the mystery involved in this volume was not particularly difficult to solve, so in a way, the character interplay, dialog and descriptions are more important that the resolution of the mystery itself.
I guess in that way, Ms. Barr is like Robert Parker, whose Spenser books are less about the mystery than aboput Spenser's interaction with his loves and friends. Ms. Barr, however, is much more detailed in her description of events (particularly scenery and details about the various parks where Anna works) than Parker ever is, and she uses dialogue much less frequently to advance the plot.
Anna Pigeon has become one of my favorites, and this is a great place to start.

Cathy S. (
katy0118) wrote on 11/11/2008...
a good story
Awesome book. I look forward to reading more about Anna Pigeon.
Excellent! Finally a heroine after my own heart....tough, scared, honest, drinks too much, thinks too much. It's refreshing to read from a perspective of someone who is less than perfect. While I did figure out who had "done it", I utterly missed the why.... pooh. I should have been able to figure it out as all the clues were there.

Carol E. (
djecse) wrote on 11/8/2006...
This is the first in the Anna Pigeon series. I especially loved the vivid West Texas setting.
My first Nevada Barr and Anna Pigeon novel. I found this book and went out and bought two other Barr boooks when I finished this one. I love Anna Pigeon and her trials and tribulations. I strongly recommend it.

Janiva T. (
dallas) wrote on 4/15/2006...
Another member suggested I might like this series and so I tried the first one. I have now ordered 2-4. Good read.

Stephanie T. (
gertdog) wrote on 2/12/2006...
Love this series- the national park settings are a wonderful backdrop for unique mysteries and a main character, Anna Pigeon, who is a refreshing change of pace.