Flight of the Raven (Mysteries of Sparrow Island Series #2) [Paperback]

Ellen Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2007

A small plane disappears from the sky above Sparrow Iland, and Abby knows she must do something to help. Together, she and Sergeant Henry Cobb, set off to hunt for survivors. They find the plane but not the passengers - who it seems don't want to be found. Abby's wilderness skills are put to the test as she and Henry go on a chase to try to uncover the secrets of the passengers' hidden pasts. An exciting, suspense-filled story, "Flight of the Raven" is a riveting tale of determination, ingenuity and courage.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Ideals Publications; Retail edition (February 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824947126
• ISBN-13: 978-0824947125
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,175,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cozy inspirational mystery series, June 6, 2007

By 

FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flight of the Raven (Mysteries of Sparrow Island #2) (Hardcover)

Those readers who enjoyed the story of ornithologist Abigail "Abby" Stanton in WHISPERS THROUGH THE TREES will want to continue the saga with FLIGHT OF THE RAVEN, the second installment in the 14-book Mysteries of Sparrow Island series by different authors. This one is written by Ellen Harris.

In the first installment of this cozy inspirational mystery series (whose books are best read in order), we meet Abby, a former Cornell ornithologist and godly 55-year-old career woman who has made a name for herself in the birding world. After taking a sabbatical from her job to care for her widowed sister, Mary, who is wheelchair-bound after a car accident, Abigail decides to stay on the fictional Sparrow Island (just off the coast of Washington State in the real-life San Juan Islands) to live with Mary and do on-site work with birding and conservation on the island.

In book two, we find that the independent and outdoorsy Abby has settled into the quiet pace of island life, savoring the kindness of the islanders and the close, hard-won relationship with her sister. When a seaplane is thought to have gone down on one of San Juan's many islands, she teams up with her friend (and Mary's love interest) Sergeant Henry Cobb to try to rescue any survivors. While the two are hunting for the seaplane, Mary has plenty of time to ponder Henry's growing attentions to her and her own misgivings about her infirmities. Should she saddle him with a handicapped girlfriend?

FLIGHT OF THE RAVEN steps up the suspense a notch or two in comparison to WHISPERS THROUGH THE TREES. A threatened murder, a few gun-waving scenes and a struggle for short-term survival on a wilderness island won't make pulses race too much but does make this novel seem more like the mystery promised in the series title. However, it's still a cozy --- the only blood shed here is a cut that's no worse than you might get shaving.

A sweet, endearing dual plot theme of this novel is the introduction of Finnegan, a mobility assistance dog. When Mary's son Zack shows up with the golden retriever and Labrador mix pooch as a gift to her, Mary is resistant, sure that Finnegan will only create extra chaos in her life. And how will her beloved cat Blossom take to the newcomer? But, as the hours pass and Abby doesn't return from her hunt for the seaplane survivors, Mary finds herself relying on Finnegan --- and wondering if she should change her mind.

Bird lovers will appreciate the ornithological details, including Abby's work with young peregrine falcons and their release, which provide suitable metaphors for some of the themes of the story. Faith fiction fans will be glad to come across scripture references at regular intervals, particularly on anxiety and worry. Sometimes, the faith aspect seems a bit forced (as when Abby uses a lacrosse stick as a weapon, and Henry says she is "armed with the crosse."). Some nice bits of humor lighten any tension, including Abby's thoughts when she is rummaging through the wrecked plane and sees a briefcase made of animal skin, something she "was sure she'd disapprove of." Also appealing is the close-knit community of the fictitious idyllic Sparrow Island, where Abigail and Mary live close to their elderly parents (who prosaically are organic farmers who grow lavender among their other offerings) and are surrounded by good friends. As Mary and Abby's precocious little friend and neighbor Bobby says, "People here are nice."

Readers who enjoyed WHISPERS THROUGH THE TREES should find FLIGHT OF THE RAVEN just their cup of tea. And with 14 books in the series, they can anticipate reading about Abby and Mary's life on Sparrow Island for a long time to come.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific read, March 19, 2009

By 

gleem "mthigh" (Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flight of the Raven (Mysteries of Sparrow Island Series #2) (Paperback)

This entire series of MYSTERIES OF SPARROW ISLAND is probably my favorite of all the series that Guidepost has published. The outdoor settings are refreshing; the birdwatching activities of Abby are very interesting to me because I also like birdwatching. And that wonderful service dog of Mary's--Finnegan-- is the frosting on the cake in my opinion because I am very passionate about dogs. There were only a couple of books in the entire series that I don't care for. This second one of the series is a good mystery that kept my attention all the way until the end.

5.0 out of 5 stars good reading, January 13, 2009

By 

gleem "mthigh" (Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flight of the Raven (Mysteries of Sparrow Island #2) (Hardcover)

This one is a good mystery--an intriguing story w/o bloodshed or murder.(my cup of tea!) And of course the service dog just adds even more delight. It's the first time I've read author Ellen Harris and I am impressed with her style of telling a story. I will be looking for more books by her.