A Nest in the Ashes (Birdwatcher's Mystery)
by Christine Goff
Paperback; 224 pages; published Nov, 2002
Book review by Linda Crisalli
After reading all three books in the Birdwatcher's
Mystery series and reviewing the first two, I discovered
a pattern established by author Christine Goff. In her
first book, A Rant
of Ravens, she premiered various characters
and used Rachel Stanhope, novice birder and out of town
relative, as the main character of the "Raven" mystery. In the second book, Death
of a Songbird, the focus shifts to Lark,
owner of the Drummond Hotel. In this newest book of
the series, A Nest in the Ashes, Goff
shifts characters once more to Park Ranger Linenger,
who made appearances in both book number one and two,
and now takes the lead and action role in "Nest."
Changing the main character from book to book, in a
town full of people, is an interesting concept. It shifts
focus and viewpoint of both the writer and the reader
in each new story and you start to get a feeling for
the community and its varied viewpoints and dimensions.
It also makes one watch minor characters with sharper
eye, in the event that they too will one day become
the focus of mystery and suspense in future stories!
The latest Goff book, A Nest in the Ashes,
starts like a scene in the film Bambi, as rabbits and
mice and various birds are flushed out of their home
by a "prescribed burn" gone awry in the forests
of Colorado. It is up to Norwegian National Park Ranger
Eric Linenger to monitor the mountainsides and find
safety for both his fellowman and forest wildlife. Unfortunately,
he is unable to protect any of them!
There is either the accidental death or murder or suicide
of Eric's boss and best friend in the opening pages.
As the fire rages out of control and threatens the surrounding
communities, Eric is joined by Lark (heroine from the
second Goff book, owner of the Drummond Hotel and volunteer
fire fighter). Together they investigate the fire and
suspects of both arson and murder.
You will have to read how the community fares, if the
fire fighting ignites any romance between the two focal
characters, and how much of that wildlife survives in
the ruins of fire damage. I'll give you a hint... re-read
the title!
And we mustn't forget specific "birds" in
this "Birdwatcher's Mystery" series. Whereas
in the first book, Peregrine Falcons, Le Conte Sparrows
and Common Ravens were featured, and the second heralded
Red-faced and Wood Warblers, this third book highlights
Virginia Warblers and Green-tailed Towhees, with a good
description of the latter on the last page.
All in all, another light mystery for those that desire
to kick back and do a bit of "inside" birding...
a good alternative for any birder who needs a little
evening or weekend "R&R!"
All books in this series:
A Rant of
Ravens
Death
of a Songbird
A Nest
in the Ashes
Death Takes a Gander
Death Shoots a Birdie |
