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govmarley's review against another edition
3.0
Anna, Anna, Anna. You continue to surprise me.
On an assignment from Mesa Verde to assist with the firefighters in Northern California, and she uncovers a killer. Don't worry, my boy Fredrick Stanton attempts to ride in on his white horse, but Anna doesn't need that. She's still not sure what she needs. She's a marshmallow inside, sure, but she's walnut hard on the outside.
Anyway, everyone's a suspect and they all seem shady, except Harold Black Elk who just seemed awesome. And Anna solves the case, puts herself in harm's way, and makes it home mostly in one piece. Can't wait to read book 5. Stanton, I'm pulling for your quirky self.
On an assignment from Mesa Verde to assist with the firefighters in Northern California, and she uncovers a killer. Don't worry, my boy Fredrick Stanton attempts to ride in on his white horse, but Anna doesn't need that. She's still not sure what she needs. She's a marshmallow inside, sure, but she's walnut hard on the outside.
Anyway, everyone's a suspect and they all seem shady, except Harold Black Elk who just seemed awesome. And Anna solves the case, puts herself in harm's way, and makes it home mostly in one piece. Can't wait to read book 5. Stanton, I'm pulling for your quirky self.
rclz's review against another edition
5.0
Better than the last. Although I'd like to see a little more of Anne's relationship with Fredrick go somewhere. Still a good ending. That scene of the firestorm was wild.
ncrabb's review against another edition
3.0
Jennifer Short’s brother is dead, and it’s up to Anna Pigeon to deliver the sad news. Jennifer is a slender southern woman who has joined Anna on the fire lines in a dry California forest. Jennifer determines she’ll stay on the line even though the fire killed her brother. Anna provides medical help to those fighting the fire. At about one-third of the way through the book, a nasty firestorm arises and catches the medical crew while it evacuated injured firefighters. The crew deployed its individual tent shelters and hoped it could stay alive until the storm blew over. When it ended, the group reassembled and found that someone had murdered one of them. Whoever killed the firefighter had done so after the firestorm. Anna worries, to say the least, to realize that a member of the small unit with whom she is staying is a murderer.
Then, ironically enough, the snow comes. The accompanying fog and seemingly impenetrable clouds make rescue impossible for days. Knowing that someone in their group killed a firefighter makes the entire group tense and makes them behave in more erratic ways than they might otherwise. Anna solves the case before rescuers arrive, and there’s no small amount of suspense on the way to the solution.
Then, ironically enough, the snow comes. The accompanying fog and seemingly impenetrable clouds make rescue impossible for days. Knowing that someone in their group killed a firefighter makes the entire group tense and makes them behave in more erratic ways than they might otherwise. Anna solves the case before rescuers arrive, and there’s no small amount of suspense on the way to the solution.
allyexa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Barr has combined two of my favorite genres in this book- a closed-room mystery and a wilderness survival tale- and done it superbly.
The setting, the characters were all so vividly painted, and I could not put the book down. Anna Pigeon is such a good character, continuing to be smart, gutsy, no-nonsense, and also funny. I don’t know why they keep making Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne movies when Anna Pigeon is just as badass and much more relatable.
That being said, there are times when the writing and some of Barr’s offhand jokes are a bit cringe. But I’m willing to wave a big “it’s the 90s” wand over it all. And Anna never seems to be anything but herself, she just maybe doesn’t look too closely at certain issues that don’t affect her.
Also, I guessed the murderer pretty early on, which would have frustrated me if the plot had just been about pointing a finger and arresting someone at the end. But all the action and adventure to get to the end surprised me. And let’s just say, if the last page wasn’t there, my rating would have gone down a star.
The setting, the characters were all so vividly painted, and I could not put the book down. Anna Pigeon is such a good character, continuing to be smart, gutsy, no-nonsense, and also funny. I don’t know why they keep making Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne movies when Anna Pigeon is just as badass and much more relatable.
That being said, there are times when the writing and some of Barr’s offhand jokes are a bit cringe. But I’m willing to wave a big “it’s the 90s” wand over it all. And Anna never seems to be anything but herself, she just maybe doesn’t look too closely at certain issues that don’t affect her.
Also, I guessed the murderer pretty early on, which would have frustrated me if the plot had just been about pointing a finger and arresting someone at the end. But all the action and adventure to get to the end surprised me. And let’s just say, if the last page wasn’t there, my rating would have gone down a star.
sarahc_98's review
5.0
Really like it so far. Good story, good storytelling, and excellent narrator.
nutti72's review against another edition
3.0
Did not like this one as much as previous books. Looking forward to rest of the series.
dontmissythesereads's review against another edition
4.0
Book #5 read in 2011
Anna Pigeon series: Book 4
Lots of action and a great mystery.
Anna Pigeon series: Book 4
Lots of action and a great mystery.