Alice B. reviewed on 9/10/2020 + 3563 more book reviews

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.

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