High Country

Anna Pigeon Mystery: 12

ISBN: 1-4025-3939-8 Order from: Recorded Books Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com

A competent but vulnerable heroine, plenty of suspense and beautiful and dangerous nature combine into a pleasant mystery.

Reviewed by David on October 17, 2004

Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural)

Synopsis: Anna Pigeon is a law enforcement ranger in the National Park Service. She temporarily leaves her position as a District Ranger, her fiance, and her well-loved pets to go undercover as a waitress in Yosemite National Park. Four young people—one of the a waitress that Anna replaces have vanished, and the regular investigation failed to find their traces.

Soon, Anna is up to her neck in suspiciously-acting charactes. Folowing up on a clue, Anna finds herself on a lonely trail in the high country, confronting deadly enemies, and the beauty and stark deadliness of winter in the mountains.

Anna's intelligence, toughness and experience keep her whole—barely—and her memories of home bulwark her physically and mentally.

Full Review: Anna is a strong, appealing character. In her late forties, and small of stature, she has to use her wits and toughness to hold her own with villains. But her own doubts sometimes prove a canny enemy.

The viewpoint stays tightly focused on Anna, which makes it easy to follow the plot. Other characters are well described, but are clearly secondary.

Barbara Rosenblat's narration is excellent, as usual.

Vivid in its description of nature, and with the usual danger and injuries to Anna, the novel is similar to the others in the series. But while not breaking new ground, this mystery remains a suitable companion to other books in this satisfying, and frequently tense series.

Overall: 6; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6; Style: 6; World-building: 6.5; Originality: 5.5;

ISBN: 1-4025-3939-8 Order from: Recorded Books Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com