Barr, Nevada. Borderline.An Anna Pidgeon mystery, Borderline follows Anna and her new husband Paul on a delayed honeymoon intended to help Anna recover from some of the terrible events that occurred in the previous novel Winter Study. The novel opens as the couple, along with their guide and several college students, are rafting the Rio Grande in Texas's Big Bend National Park.
First, they encounter a cow stranded on a ledge and attempt a rescue. This incident reveals the dynamics of the group of rafters. Shortly thereafter, an accident causes the loss of the raft and most of their provisions. When they then discover a woman tangled in debris, things become much more desperate (I'm avoiding some spoilers here).
The mystery has several intertwining threads concerning Anna's recovery, the environment, politics, and issues involved in closing the border between Mexico and the U.S. after 9/11.
I have enjoyed most of the Nevada Barr mysteries I've read and this one kept me eagerly turning the pages.
Fiction. Mystery. 2009. 399 pages.
Thanks for giving your thoughts on this mystery, Jenclair. I'm behind on reading in this series. I'll have to look back and see how far along I am. I know that Paul was a character, but they definitely weren't married yet. :-)
ReplyDeleteSo many mysteries to read. I'll never get them all done!!
A friend sent me the first book in this series, so I am glad ti hear that you like them.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear this series continues to be quality. I haven't read the last few recent ones, but I look forward to catching up.
ReplyDeleteI haven't come across these books at all. I'll look forward to them - I love mysteries with a good sense of place. A treat in store!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read an Anna Pigeon mystery in a long time, so I had no idea the character got married. I'm happy that she decided to take Anna in that direction. Someday, I'll get back to reading more mysteries and Nevada Barr will be at the top of my list. Nevada Barr is a marvelous speaker, btw. If you ever get the chance to hear her, go for it.
ReplyDeleteThere's only been two Anna Pigeon books that I didn't like but this one I really enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteKay - I've missed several books in the series myself, and I'm not sure when she married Paul.
ReplyDeleteNo, we'll never get to all the mysteries we want to read, but we do keep trying, don't we? :)
Nicole - I've never read them in order, just when I see a new at the library. It's better to read them in order, though, so you can see how the characters develop over the years. Nice that you get to begin with the first one!
Christy - I think a number of people were disappointed in Winter Study, but I haven't read it yet. The events from Winter Study were mentioned several times, however, as Anna copes the effects of the trauma.
Katherine -- As a Park Ranger, Anna has been to several wonderful National Parks and Nevada Barr is very good at creating atmosphere.
bookfool -- I bet Barr is a wonderful speaker, and I'd love to hear her sometime. Her personal experience as a ranger and her familiarity with the various parks would be fascinating.
Framed - I liked this one, too. I especially enjoyed the twins for some reason; they created a lighter touch.
Jenclair,
ReplyDeleteNevada lives in the New Orleans area, so I'll bet you can track her down, sometime. What really jumped out at me is that she is so funny. She's absolutely a charming speaker who will make you laugh and, in general, is a fabulous racconteur. You can't lose hearing her speak.