John A. and Marguerite E. W. (aliennightbird) reviewed on 5/2/2009 + 40 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

In general, I really enjoy the "Birdwatcher" mystery series, although I like the the two original books (this is the, I think, the third book in the series, although it may be the fourth) a little better than the later stories because they feature a true ameteur woman sleuth (in this case, a hotel owner) and her sometimes eccentric group of (for the most part) lady bird-watching friends. (The newer two books that I have read feature U. S. government rangers. ad U. S. Fish and Wildlife Agents. Don't get me wrong. They are good, well-developed characters. I just like ameteur detectives better.) The prose in the older books also seem to be a little fresher and a bit better written.

All of the boouks weave into the plot things that might cause harn for wild Colorado birds. One species is featured per book. Not only are the birds, their habitats, and their activities part of the narrative itself, but the author adds a scientific page about the featured birds at the end of the book.

The stories are decently written, fairly fast paced, and holds my interest throughout. The characters are well-drawn, but could be deeper. The imagery is good, although at times, it can be a little cliche.

In this book, a huge flock of Canadian geese and other water birds are in danger! Not only are they in the way of a ice fishing competition and are brutally bulldozed off the frozen lake, but someone is poisoning them. Why? The answer leads to a good, complex plot of murder and danger.

So, dispite a few minor flaws, this story provided a nice, quick read. I would recommend it.

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