A Rant of Ravens (Birdwatcher's Mystery) [Paperback]

Christine Goff (Author)

Book Description

Series: Birdwatcher's Mystery | Publication Date: October 10, 2000

Shortly after Rachel Stanhope moves onto her aunt's Colorado ranch, she goes on an expedition with the local birdwatching society-and finds a snooping journalist's dead body.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...fresh new series featuring birds, suspense, the Rocky Mountains, a spunky heroine and plenty of complications...what more could anyone ask? -- Christine T. Jorgensen, author of Dead On Her Feet

...you expect from a good mystery--a smart detective and a plot that takes some surprising twists...a terrific debut! -- Margaret Coel

A Rant of Ravens is a deft and marvelous debut mystery set in the complex and colorful world of birdwatching. -- Earlene Fowler author of Seven Sisters

A Rant of Ravens stars a gutsy heroine in fast-paced action with a chill-a-minute finale...enchant nature....A fine-feathered debut. -- Carolyn Hart, author of the Death on Demand and Henrie O mysteries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (October 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425173607
• ISBN-13: 978-0425173602
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,401,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good debut mystery, October 10, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Rant of Ravens (Birdwatcher's Mystery) (Paperback)

Rachel Wilder Stanhope's professional life is going great, but her personal life is in shambles ever since she caught her husband in bed with another woman. Two months after the incident, Rachel receives divorce papers. She decides she needs to recuperate at her Aunt Miriam's home, Bird Haven, a spread that adjoins Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park. The place is a bird preserve that Rachel will watch over during the summer as Miriam traipses the Middle East in search of local feathered friends.

When a rare sparrow is spotted on her aunt's property, the local birdwatching group tries to find it. On the third day of the search, Rachel tumbles over the murdered body of a reporter who claimed he possessed damaging information on Miriam's late husband. The next day, Miriam vanishes along with two baby peregrines and a rare white gryfalcon. Rachel concludes the two incidents are interrelated. She begins to investigate, not yet aware that danger from an unknown two-legged omnivore threatens her life.

Though her first published novel, Christine Goff provides an interesting amateur sleuth tale. A RANT OF RAVENS contains ecoterrorists, bird-buying sheiks, and a glimpse into the bird watcher's fascinating world. The mystery unfolds at a solid, leisurely pace that allows the reader to relish the plot and ponder what will happen next. Sub-genre fans will rant evermore for Rachel to make future appearances.

Harriet Klausner

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!!, October 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Rant of Ravens (Birdwatcher's Mystery) (Paperback)

Wow. I thought I'd skim the first few pages, then get back to my other tasks--but that never happened! Shadows lengthened, night came, and I didn't put the book down until I finished it. I love the birding references, and the information about raptors (hawks), and the mountain setting. The story is fast-paced, with great dialog, and plenty of action. I'm looking forward to the next one!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining read for birders and mystery lovers, August 24, 2001

By 

The Thing Without Feathers - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Rant of Ravens (Birdwatcher's Mystery) (Paperback)

Goff has a talent for creating believable characters and settings, which helped smooth over some of the less credible plot elements. The author was obviously new to birding when she wrote this debut mystery, and serious birders will roll their eyes at some of the gaffes (a rare bird alert is an informational phone message, NOT a state of emergency!). These problems were not serious enough to keep me from starting her second book immediately after I finished the first, and I look forward to seeing how Goff's birding knowledge and writing skills improve with future mysteries.