Customer Reviews

Crow in Stolen Colors (Alaska Panhandle Mysteries)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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

I don't read a lot of mysteries set in Alaska because most of the writers tend to focus heavily on (not to mention exaggerate) the 'wildness' and the 'rugged frontier' aspects of the state. Ms. Simpson, however, works the setting into the story as just another part of the overall whole, weaving sea and costal rainforest into important elements of the plot without resorting to hyperbole. She has also created believable, sympathetic characters in Liza, James, Crow, Paul, Mink and her husband, and (of course!) Sam. I'm eagerly awaiting the chance to get my hands on Sound Tracks.

A fascinating study of Alaskan wilderness with plenty of mystery and suspense, first-rate characters that definitely intrigued me throughout. Even the setting becomes an integral part of the story, matching Liza Romero and her quirky book-mo-boat profession perfectly. Excellent debut novel, highly recommend.

Life on the wild coastline of Alaska make for an intriguing setting. I like to read books that ofter more that just a plot. I enjoy learning about stuff...such as the area of Alaska Simpson covers, the life of fishermen & freight haulers, the native culture.

The stories Simpson tells us of the Tingit culture enrich and add depth to the plot. The Tingit boy, James, is a touching believeable character. He draws not only Liza Romero, Sam, and Paul Howard into the action & mystery but, the reader as well.

This is a book worth curling-up with.

This book was beyond fantastic. From the first page I could not put it down - I could not turn the pages fast enough! I am so glad that I purchased this one and the author's second book of the series at the same time. I can't wait to open Sound Tracks which I'm going to do as soon as I sign off. This was a wonderful book with the history, description of life in Alaska and the personalities of the people in Wrangall - you will be missing a fantastic journey if you pass this one up.

This is a splendid book, and for a first novel, equally marvelous. It's
distinguished first of all by its setting, the mysterious Alaska Panhandle.
The protagonist, Liza Romero, has found refuge from her past in Wrangell, a
rough and ready town, which survives, as do all in the area, by fishing or
logging.

A Tlingit boy named James washes up from a rocky shoal and finds safety in
her boat, bringing with him dangers that begin to threaten her life. The
author portrays only too realistically the perils of sailing in those frigid
waters. The heart of the novel is a fight for an endangered culture, which
builds to a fearful fight at a mountain top. Along with the other eccentric
characters in the tiny town, Liza must ask herself questions which define
her new life...if she dares to answer.

This book has it all. Great characters, a fine story, Alaska and the Native Peoples play a large part. The heroes include a man, woman, child and a dog.

There is plenty of tension and I read the book in one gulp. I highly recommend this book and will be reading the second book in the series as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Jeri

Liza Romero is unable to deal with her grief caused when a junkie killed her beloved police officer spouse. Unwilling to live with the constant reminders of the life they shared, Liza accepts a librarian job in one of America's last frontiers, Wrangell, Washington. Three years later, Liza still has not come to grips with her loss although she has made a life for herself. She has a surrogate father, many friends, and even a lover. Liza begins to return to living when she rescues eight-year old James, a Tlingit Indian, floating down the nearby bay.

A reticent James is reluctant to discuss what happened to him. Liza soon discovers the body of the murdered corpse of James' grandfather. She keeps up a vigil to keep the boy safe from kidnappers who want the location of a priceless Native American artifact. She turns ultra-protective of James, refusing to even allow the Child Welfare Services or the Sheriff to remove him from her presence. Her goal is to safely deliver the lad to his grandmother even if it means risking her own life in the process.

Readers who love the Kate Shugit mysteries will fully enjoy CROW IN STOLEN COLORS. The exciting novel describes the beauty and danger that is Alaska. Marcia Simpson is a colorful author who brings the isolation of the frontier into a potent literary vision, one that will leave the audience breathless. The protagonist is an individualist that will garner much empathy by new fans who will want her to make future appearances. Anyone who enjoys an atmospheric mystery will gain immense pleasure from this straight lined, but exciting work.

Harriet Klausner