Wildcrafters (A Venus Diamond Mystery) [Paperback]

Skye Kathleen Moody (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her third Venus Diamond mystery (Blue Poppy), Moody again incorporates an environmentalist message into her plot, this time tying it to our society's fear of aging. When Winnipeg and Theresa Nighteagle's baby disappears, Venus, a Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent, delays her honeymoon with environmentalist Richard Winter to head the search in Washington's Bogachiel National Wildlife Preserve. Recently the site of elk poaching, the preserve is also popular with "wildcrafters" who collect plants for herbal medicines and organic food companies. Someone is harvesting environmentally protected plants for the manufacturer of Elixir of Youth, an anti-aging concoction that also includes human growth hormones and liquid keratin from elk hooves. Moody vividly describes the horrors necessary to procure those two ingredients. As the hunt for the child continues, the plot stumbles occasionally, as when a shady Beverly Hills doctor eagerly offers Richard crucial information. Despite scattered weak points in writing and plotting, however, Moody weaves an entertaining story notable for its strong indictment of environmental predation and its lyrical descriptions of the "Tolkienian landscape" of Washington's Olympic Peninsula. Agent, Pam Ahearn.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Agent Venus Diamond (Rain Dance, LJ 8/96) is summoned from her honeymoon to spearhead the search for a missing Native American infant in Washington State's Bogachiel National Wildlife Preserve. Already risking the loss of her new husband, Venus may also lose her own credibility as she focuses on the strange elk hoof-prints leading from the child's bassinet into the surrounding primeval forest. A fecund blend of Indian legend, wildcrafting (herb gathering and more) lore, elk poaching, indigenous eccentricity, interrupted romance, and vivid description recommends this to all mystery fans.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Worldwide Library (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373263325
• ISBN-13: 978-0373263325
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,467,445 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Wildcrafters, April 30, 2001

By 

W. B. Phillips "caferret1" (Grass Valley, California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wildcrafters (A Venus Diamond Mystery) (Paperback)

While the premise and setting for this mystery had promise, I was rapidly disenchanted when it became apparent that while the author might have some passing familiarity with the region, in all other aspects she seems to be at a loss.

I like accuracy in the novels I read. The protagonist is supposed to be a U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent. One would hope a person so employed would at least have a working knowledge of wildlife and weapons. Apparently the author has neither.

Some of the more glaring examples: Agent Diamond is observing some fishermen setting nets illegally from a Northwest beach. She reflects of the fact that the outgoing tide will fill the net with illegally caught salmon and mussels? Mussels? Mussels spend their lives firmly attached to rocks. Nobody nets mussels. One would hope a Fish and Wildlife agent would be aware of this minor point of marine biology.

Other annoyances to me personally are her remarkable unfamiliarity with her own and other weapons used in her story. Diamond supposedly carried a Smith & Wesson .38. S&W has not manufactured a .38 for over 40 years. What Smith does make is a .38 Special. No law enforcement officer these days would carry a .38 under any circumstances. And a Smith & Wesson is never, ever, referred to as a "Wessie". It is a "Smith", or a "S&W", but never a "Wessie".

She also refers to a .33 Winchester Magnum (no such caliber) and a "Thirty-ought magnum" (again no such caliber). Then there is the premise of a missing child where the authorities simply omit a house to house search of all the local neighbors in the trailer park? Apparently police procedure is another area Ms. Moody is unfamiliar with.

With a good technical editor this book might have had some promise.

I won't even go into the character development of the major players. It is a tribute to the author's skill that she could get anyone to give a favorable review.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Third Venus Diamond novel is an ace of a mystery, November 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Wildcrafters (Hardcover)

The disappearance of the Nighteagle baby forces Fish and Wildlife Services Special Agent Venus Diamond and her husband, environmental expert Richard Winter, to delay their honeymoon. Her boss asks Venus to head up the search in Washington's Bogachiel National Wildlife Preserve because no one knows the area any better. Elk poaching and the gathering of illegal plants by wildcrafters in the same area where the child vanished also worries the federal agency.

Evidence surfaces that someone is snatching environmentally protected plants. Apparently, the plants are mixed with human growth hormones and keratin from the hooves of elks in order to make an elixir reported to be a fountain of youth. As Venus, with Richard's help search for the infant, they place themselves in danger from individuals who plan to keep their lucrative business going even if it means eliminating the threat of Federal interference.

WILDCRAFTERS is a superb Pacific Northwest mystery that demonstrates Skye Kathleen Moody's skills in tying together several subplots into a brilliant novel. The witty Venus is clearly a 24 carat diamond of a character. Her support cast, especially her new spouse, augments her impudent personality while moving forward the tale. Anyone who wants a true taste of Washington state needs to try this novel and the previous two Diamond books (BLUE POPPY and RAIN DANCE) for a whimsical, entertaining treat with an environmental message

tied to the story.

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Start, But Fades Into A Semi-SoapOpera........, December 13, 2002

By 

S. Henkels (Devon, Pa United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wildcrafters (Hardcover)

Yes, the wild life and rough weather of the Olympus peninsula, are described terrifically here, along with the shady manipulations of some "herbal" drug specialists. What a fwwl for the flora and fauna this author has! A nice mystery too, even if a little obvious by the author's clear sympathies. Some nice characterizations, too..But the story did drag a bit, and the soap opera was thankfully kept under wraps. All in all, a nice effort, particularly for an Easterner not familiar with this Washington State locale.