Helpful Score: 1
This is the 3rd entry in the engaging Anna Pigeon series. This one takes place in Mesa Verde National Park amid the cliff dwellings of the Anasazi Indians. Anna encounters some strange doings at the Park including a higher than average number of unexplained illnesses and injuries. On top of this, she has a murder to contend with of one of her closer friends at the Park. Some attribute the strange illnesses to the spirits of the Anasazi but Anna is able to untangle what is really happening with the help of FBI agent Stanton. Overall, I would recommend this one. I especially enjoyed it because of the locale. I have visited Mesa Verde a few times and Barr is great in her descriptions of this enchanting place!
Helpful Score: 1
One of the best in the series in my view.
Helpful Score: 1
From Publishers Weekly: "Barr lands another successful entry in the solid series featuring Anna Pigeon, the down-to-earth National Park Service ranger last seen in A Superior Death (1994). The daily problems at Mesa Verde National Park are mostly straightforward, although Ted Greeley, the contractor installing a water line, tends to irritate folks (especially the park archeologist, incensed about Greeley's indifference to buried Anasazi artifacts), and Patsy Silva, a park secretary, is getting "weird" messages from her ex-husband, who has joined Greeley's crew. The summer takes on darker hues when ranger Stacy Meyers panics so badly during the evacuation of an asthmatic child that he is useless. Soon afterward, Stacy vanishes; his corpse is found tucked away in the park in a scene of death that is "pathologically neat." Anna is assigned to assist Frederick Stanton, the deceptively "vague and bumbling" FBI agent sent in on the case; as they match wits with an unknown adversary, their working relationship takes on warmer tones than at their last meeting. Despite being troubled by memories of her late husband and her increasing fondness for alcohol, Anna (usually) displays that common sense and appreciation for nature that makes her such good company." Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Helpful Score: 1
A new national park assignment, a new mystery.
When I read her books, I feel as if I am visiting.
Always a good read.
When I read her books, I feel as if I am visiting.
Always a good read.
Helpful Score: 1
Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon series is an exceptional creation. It is unique in that each one of the books is set in a different National Park, though there are some doubles. Ms. Barr's descriptions of the park, the inner workings of the National Park System, history, environment, flora, fauna and applicable issues make reading these mysteries a fulfilling adventure. Like many such series, it will serve the reader well to read them in order. This isn't necessary as each mystery will stand alone quite well. But Anna's personal story is the thread that makes the series complete. Anna herself is a masterful creation. Human, flawed, introspective, complex, she is the window through which the reader sees much of the beauty our National Park System has to offer. From Mesa Verde, the Florida Keys, Lake Superior to environments that are dry, wet, cold, and hot, the drastically changing settings and Anna's evolving personal life keep this series fresh and engaging. It will be no surprise to the reader that Ms. Barr is a former Park Ranger. I'll admit I haven't read the last three books in the series with good reason. They are my emergency kit. When I have waded through a piece of substandard literary junk and need a dose of quality writing, an Anna Pigeon mystery is a perfect fix.
Helpful Score: 1
This time Anna is at Mesa Verde Park in SW Colorado, where forces are at work, but are they modern or ancient? People are sickening and some have died; Anna gets involved with trouble colleagues and must use her wits to keep from becoming the next on the list. I enjoyed the history and geography information which enlivened the adventures, ancient and modern. I stayed up late to finish it...you will too! A solid mystery.
I adore Nevada Barr's series about park ranger Anna Pigeon. Barr is a ranger herself, and in each of her books, Pigeon is stationed at another National Park. You learn the history and geography of the park (in this case Colorado's Mesa Verde and its Anasazi ruins) while a mystery unfolds and is ultimately solved by the spunky ranger. Subtle humor and three dimensional characters.
Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon books just keep getting better as she goes along! This plot's puzzling twists will keep you worrying and wondering until nearly the end.
From back cover: When national park ranger Anna Pigeon needs to find peace, she turns to nature for solace. Lucky for her, it's close at hand--but then again, so is murder...
Newly assigned to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, Anna is enthralled by its ruins: the ancient cliff dwellings of a vanished Native American civilization. But Anna's reverie is shattered by an inexplicable illness affecting visitors to the popular landmark--and two mysterious tragedies: the death of a child...and the murder of a friend.
Now she must find the very human source of the evil wind that is blowing through the ruins. For it threatens more innocent lives--including Anna's own...
From back cover: When national park ranger Anna Pigeon needs to find peace, she turns to nature for solace. Lucky for her, it's close at hand--but then again, so is murder...
Newly assigned to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, Anna is enthralled by its ruins: the ancient cliff dwellings of a vanished Native American civilization. But Anna's reverie is shattered by an inexplicable illness affecting visitors to the popular landmark--and two mysterious tragedies: the death of a child...and the murder of a friend.
Now she must find the very human source of the evil wind that is blowing through the ruins. For it threatens more innocent lives--including Anna's own...
Great book, one of Ms. Barr's best.
Loved this whole series! Interesting descriptions of National parks, made me want to visit them!
Every few months I get a craving for a Nevada Barr book. I've never been dissapointed.
Anna Pigeon is always a fun character to read.
Parks ranger Anna Pigeon seeks solace from her own personal demons in the ancient cave dwellings of a vanished Native American civilization. But an inexplicable illness affecting visitors to the Colorado landmark has dragged her from her reverie. She must find the source of the evil happenings.
Synoposis from back of book:
"It is whispered that the Old Ones still haunt Mesa Verde -- the restless spirits of the Anasazi, who carved their homes in the mountain's face eight centuries ago..and then disappeared from the Earth.
Newly assigned national parks ranger Anna Pigeon seeks solace from her own personal demons in the ancient cave dwellings of a vanished Native American civilization. But an inexplicable illness affecting vistors to the popular Colorado landmark has dragged her from her reverie -- as have two mysterious tragedies: the death of a child...and the murder of a friend. And now she must find the very human source of the evil wind that is blowing through the ruins. For it threatens more innocent lives, Mother Nature ... and Anna herself."
"It is whispered that the Old Ones still haunt Mesa Verde -- the restless spirits of the Anasazi, who carved their homes in the mountain's face eight centuries ago..and then disappeared from the Earth.
Newly assigned national parks ranger Anna Pigeon seeks solace from her own personal demons in the ancient cave dwellings of a vanished Native American civilization. But an inexplicable illness affecting vistors to the popular Colorado landmark has dragged her from her reverie -- as have two mysterious tragedies: the death of a child...and the murder of a friend. And now she must find the very human source of the evil wind that is blowing through the ruins. For it threatens more innocent lives, Mother Nature ... and Anna herself."
Found this readable. Ok.Not very deep characters but the main character is interesting enough that I read it all the way through. Looking for a light fluffy plane trip read, this is it. I read it for the park descriptions too and I thought they were ok, nothing i couldnt find out from a brochure.
This was a fun read. Learning about our national parks is great.
A great mystery in the outdoors. Anna Pidgeon, Park Ranger, must solve a mystery and learn more about herself. Very true to life and gritty. Anna is one tough woman.
Anna in Colorado. Some good background on the Anasazi also.
I really enjoyed this mystery.
One of the members suggested I might enjoy this series a couple of weeks ago and I am now reading straight through to number 12. A good read, and I'm enjoying learning about the park system through the different locations in each book.
This is the first Nevada Barr book I've read and was very pleasantly surprised. Anna Pigeon is one of the most interesting and human heroines I've encountered in a book in a while. Looking forward to reading other Nevada Barr books.
Mystery set in a National park, if you like mysteries and national parks you will probably enjoy this series of books.
Good story, enjoy her series. I've been to all of the western states parks she talks about and it brings back memories. Love her descriptions of the parks.
Another excellent book about our favorite park ranger.
From the book back:
Newly assigned to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, Anna is enthralled by its ruins: the ancient cliff dwellings of a vanished Native American civilization. But Anns's reverie is shattered by an inexplicable illness affecting visitors to the popular landmark--and two myserious tragedies: the death of a child...and the murder of a friend. New she must find the very human source of the evil wind that is blowing through the ruins. For it threatensmore innocent lives--including Anns's own...
Newly assigned to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, Anna is enthralled by its ruins: the ancient cliff dwellings of a vanished Native American civilization. But Anns's reverie is shattered by an inexplicable illness affecting visitors to the popular landmark--and two myserious tragedies: the death of a child...and the murder of a friend. New she must find the very human source of the evil wind that is blowing through the ruins. For it threatensmore innocent lives--including Anns's own...
