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BOOK REVIEWS

from Scribe and Quill

September/October 2003

"A Nest In the Ashes" by Christine Goff

Reviewed by Mindy Phillips Lawrence (mplcreative1@aol.com)

Publisher: Penguin-Putnam

ISBN: 0425184048

Rating: * * * * Quills

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0425184048/scriquil/

A wise little bird told Christine Goff to write books combining ornithology, Colorado and fire control with a whiff of murder. She listened. Goff's first two novels in the Birdwatcher Mystery series, "A Rant of Ravens" and "The Death of a Songbird," were both finalists for the Willa Literary Award, Best Paperback Original. Her third foray into the mystery market is "A Nest In the Ashes."

Wayne Devlin, the Rocky Mountain National Park fire manager, is missing. Even though Devlin has disappeared, the second in command, Nora Franks, gives Eric Linenger, a National Park Service Ranger and Devlin's friend, the green light to continue with a prescribed burn in the park. She is more than ready to get the burn underway although Linenger is hesitant to begin for two important reasons. He is leery to start because of concerns about Devlin's whereabouts and is also undecided about how the burn might affect the bird species in the area, especially the Virginia warblers and green-tailed towhees.

The burn gets out of control. When Devlin's body is found near the origin of the fire, Nora Franks and others agree it was Devlin who started the blaze. Linenger is not so sure. He and Lark Drummond, a volunteer firefighter and friend, combat the flames and try to end the conflagration before anyone else is hurt. At the same time, they try to solve the riddle of Devlin's death and involvement with the blaze.

The news media shows up to cover the story and the controversy about the burn grows. Reporter Linda Verbiscar tries to bend Linenger's words to her purpose then begins listening to what he has to say, a stance that puts her life in peril.

Goff has written an interesting and timely book. With President Bush's current Healthy Forest Initiative setting off its own firestorm among environmental groups, Goff's book proves to be both mystery and sounding board. It entertains and challenges readers to consider environmental issues at the same time it enliven them with its many twists and turns. "A Nest In the Ashes" shows both the ruggedness and the precarious balance of nature in the Rocky Mountain as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the characters.

When I finished reading this book, I wanted to get hold of the others in the series. You will, too. You will also want to watch for Goff's new arrival in 2004, "Death Takes a Gander."