Crow in Stolen Colors (Alaska Panhandle Mysteries) [Paperback]

Marcia Simpson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Alaska Panhandle Mysteries | Publication Date: May 1, 2000

The proprietor of a freight service, Liza Romero has found refuge from her troubled past in Wrangell, a rustic town with a rich history. But after she rescues a young Tlingit boy from certain death, danger begins to plague her every step....

"A well-crafted mystery with as many turns and thrills as the wild Alaskan coastline where it unfolds."--Margaret Coel, Author of The Lost Bird

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Simpson's wordy debut novel features widowed ex-librarian Liza Romero, who runs a freight service and bookmobile on her old wooden schooner, the Salmon Eye, out of Wrangell, Alaska. While cruising the treacherous coastal waters with her trusty dog, Sam, Liza comes across seven-year-old James, a Tlingit native, washed up on a rock nearly drowned. James refuses to give his last name or say whether he was with anyone, but farther along the shore they spot the body of a man who turns out to be his uncle. The race is on when it becomes apparent that someone wants James dead as well. The independent Liza tries to enlist Police Lieutenant Paul Howard and Crow, an alcoholic Native American, to help her uncover not only the killer but also James's full identity. Paul, however, must also deal with the theft of Native Indian artifacts from a local museum and a custody battle for the young son that his ex-wife has taken out of state. Unhappy with her boyfriend, Liza finds herself attracted to Paul as the investigators struggle to stay one step ahead of disaster. Simpson puts her knowledge of Alaskan Indian lore to good use, but the underdeveloped plot fails to sustain interest. Each dramatic episode is needlessly drawn out, especially the detailed waterborne chases. Liza and Paul are adequate characters mired in a predictable plot with a routine, unexciting conclusion. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Alaskan librarian and delivery boat operator Liza Romero rescues a small Native American boy from chill waters; then, while investigating a corpse on the rocks nearby, she is nearly murdered. Liza reports these facts to Lt. Paul Howard, who discovers a connection between the corpse--which turns out to be that of a tribal elder and keeper of tradition--and the trafficking in stolen tribal artifacts. He hastens to identify the culprits before they can get to the boy (who knows the location of the "Listening Stone") and Liza. Great characterizations, a coastal Alaskan setting, a captivating plot, and comfortable prose makes this a strongly recommended purchase.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; later printing edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425174638
• ISBN-13: 978-0425174630
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,179,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tense,Absorbing, thrills in wild alaska, July 14, 2000

By 

loraine magee - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crow in Stolen Colors (Alaska Panhandle Mysteries) (Paperback)

Lisa Romero is a Lummi Indian from Washington who has ventured to Alaska to escape the tragedies of her past. She is a widow. Her husband had been a cop and was shot to death.Her mother dissappeared when she was 12 and she is still missed. Lisa has started a freight sevice, delivering books and goods to remote islands.She has a cargo of chickens to deliver when she rescues a Tlingit boy from the beach.After she discovers his dead uncle,bullets start flying and her wonderful dog Sam gets shot. Eventually they all make it back to port in Wrangle, a small Alaskan village. Lt.Paul Howard takes the information on the body, the shooting and the boy. James is almost 8yrs old and wise beyond his years. He has secrets to keep and won't tell where he lives. Lisa, James , and Paul become involved in more crime. This is an action -packed, emotional story. It is the story of a woman recovering from tragedy. It is a story of a man with a broken heart. Crow in Stolen Colors is filled with vivid descriptions and colorful characters. There is Native American folklore aplenty. There is the love between a boy and a dog and between a woman and a boy. Nobody can be trusted,deception on almost every page. I found this to be a wonderfully absorbing tale. It is compelling and impossible to put down.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Atmospheric and gripping - highly recommended, September 26, 2002

By 

Rosemary Grave "Roe" (London, U.K.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crow in Stolen Colors (Alaska Panhandle Mysteries) (Paperback)

I'm English, but this year went on holiday to the west-coast U.S.A. and Canada. On the recommendation of an American friend, who went to Alaska for her holiday I purchased "Crow in Stolen Colors" from Amazon.com before I went(congratulations on the speedy delivery to the U.K. by the way). I spent three days on the ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway and started reading this book as we sailed towards Wrangell - the real life setting for this mystery - perfect timing. I learned as much about the Tlingit culture from the book as I did from the lectures on board ship and was torn between watching the beautiful Alaskan scenery for real and reading Marcia Simpson's atmospheric descriptions of it and rapidly turning the pages to find out what happened next. I quickly got to like her well-drawn main characters of Paul, "Lizzie" and, of course, the dog Sam, and immediately on my return purchased her second novel, "Sound Tracks", which I'm currently thoroughly enjoying. While in Alaska I recommended her work to a local bookshop and have no hesitation in similarly recommending it to Amazon.com shoppers.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First rate read!, May 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Crow in Stolen Colors (Alaska Panhandle Mysteries) (Paperback)

Murder and mayhem flow in the fresh, crisp waters of Alaska. CROW IN STOLEN COLORS is filled with noteworthy characters, Alaskan atmosphere and native life. The author generously included a map of the islands and waterways.

Liza, a widow, has moved to Alaska to forget her painful past. She runs her own freight and book service to road less villages and has a new man in her life. When Liza finds James, a young boy, in the middle of a river she becomes protective of him. When she realizes James is a witness to a murder, Liza seeks out Lieutenant Howard. Together they try to solve the mystery and keep James out of the murders hands; what a job it turns out to be!

Whew, there is enough suspense and close calls to turn a person blue. Marcia Simpson keeps her readers on their toes with this on the move mystery. The clues are passed out sufficiently then solved one by one; definitely a first-rate read.

Brenda @ MyShelf.Com