Death Takes a Gander

The Birdwatcher’s Mysteries #4

by Christine Goff

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Special Agent Angela Dimato is suspicious when her partner's death is ruled a suicide. When hundreds of geese are found dead and dying and guests at the Drummond Hotel fall ill, Angela learns that killers of a feather flock together.

Genres: Mystery

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 7, 2004

About the author

Chris Goff is an award-winning author of eight novels--six based on environmental themes and two in a new international thriller series. Her bestselling Birdwatcher's Mysteries have been nominated for several WILLA Literary Awards and a Colorado Authors' League Awards. Tony Hillerman, the New York Times bestselling author of the Navajo mystery series, said, "You don't have to be a bird lover to fall in love with Christine Goff's charming Birdwatcher's Mysteries;" while David Morrell, the New York Times bestselling author of Murder as a Fine Art, called it "a wonderfully clever, charming, and addictive series." The series is currently published by Sharpe Books.

There are currently two books in Goff's international thriller series. Red Sky, her most recent book, came out in June 2017 to critical acclaim and was a finalist for a 2018 Colorado Book Award. Her series debut, Dark Waters, was dubbed "a sure bet for fans of international thrillers" by Booklist, nominated for the 2016 Colorado Book Award, the 2016 Anthony Award for Best Crime Fiction Audiobook, and published internationally. Manhattan Book Review called it "Absolutely masterful..."

Goff began her career writing non-fiction, penning columns for several local newspapers in Summit County, Colorado, as well as articles for regional and national publication. Later she edited rock and ice-climbing guides for Chockstone Press and worked in graphic production for "Living the Good News," a division of The Morehouse Publishing Group. A long-standing member of multiple writing organizations, she serves on several national boards, including: International Association of Crime Writers and Sisters in Crime. The program coordinator for Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book, she lives in Colorado.

PRAISE FOR BIRDWATCHER'S MYSTERY SERIES

​ "You don't have to be a bird lover to fall in love with Christine Goff's charming Birdwatcher's Mysteries." -- Tony Hillerman, New York Times bestselling author of the Leaphorn and Chee novels.

​ "The birds of the Rocky Mountains will warm the binoculars of birders who have waited a lifetime to see real stories about birds in a popular novel." -- Birding Business Magazine

​ "A wonderfully clever, charming, and addictive series." -- David Morrell, author of Murder as a Fine Art.

​ "Very entertaining. Birders and nature lovers alike will enjoy this new twist on the cozy mystery." -- The Mystery Reader

PRAISE FOR RED SKY

​ A fine sequel to 2015's Dark Waters ." -- Publishers Weekly
​
"Jordan makes a fine lead character. Give this to readers who like Matthew Palmer's blend of diplomacy and thrills." -- Booklist

"Suspenseful and entertaining. Chris Goff writes with a sure hand and knows how to keep the reader turning the pages... Add her name to the growing list of excellent female thriller writers such as Taylor Stevens, Jamie Freveletti and Zoe Sharp."
-- Deadly Pleasures​

"Goff excels in setting the hook..." ​ -- Kirkus Reviews


PRAISE FOR DARK WATERS

​ "Great characters, action and location--altogether terrific." -- Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author

​ "Strong first thriller." -- Publishers Weekly

​​ "Goff reveals a knack for thrillers. A sure bet for fans of international thrillers." ​ -- Booklist

​ "Whip-smart, informed, and tightly woven, Chris Goff's international thriller Dark Waters reeks of authenticity and intrigue. Through her frank depictions of modern-day Israel, and on the backs of nuanced characters, Goff has fashioned a story that unfolds at a blistering pace, and feels like it all could happen tomorrow. Writing like a seasoned pro, she crushes the genre in her debut effort." -- Mark Sullivan, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Private L.A. and Thief

​ "Goff combines cultural detail, rich geographic description, and countless plot twists to create an engaging and satisfying thriller." -- Foreword Reviews

Reviews

[Teri-K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. I was bored through the entire book, never managing to care about any of the characters, though I was interested in the geese. :) The solution seemed incredibly far-fetched to me.

[Jacqui Ainsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! As a zoologist/wildlife enthusiast, I really appreciated the good research. The mist nets, rehabilitation, and birding were right up my alley and nothing jumped out at me as being inaccurate. The story was good too. :) I plan on searching out more of these, especially the older ones as I am intrigued by the back story. A good mystery and not too cornball.

Also, the book is clean. Other then the murders (which aren't described too graphically), I would have no problem letting my children read it. The most graphic parts of the book were the goose rehab and well, that's pretty accurately described from the little I remember from assisting with ducks with botulism 10 years ago.

[The Honest Book Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first bird-watching cosy-mystery ever, and I thought this was a fairly good story. The idea of the geese taking centre stage appealed to me - I do like to see animals protected.

While I enjoyed getting to know Agent Dinato during this novel, I don't know if she was presented to the reader in a way that would make me want to hunt out more novels in this series. It took me to the last chapter or so before I think I really felt invested in her as a character, and I'm not sure if another novel would hook me more. The other characters were a mixed bunch, with many personalities that I've seen in other cosy-mysteries. I did like the community feel I got when they were grouping together to save the geese, and we certainly had a few villainous characters throughout. The one thing I'd have to point out is at times the point of view switched without warning. It happened a few times, and makes me wonder if there would have been a better way to handle those switches.

The mystery element well handled well, so from that side of things this novel does work.

In the end, I did think it worth the read, and I think I will be able to find somebody who would enjoy this book after me.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book because I love bird watching! The bird watching group was not involved very much; however, the Canadian Geese were in the forefront. This book for me was really slow action.

[Judith Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourth in the Birdwatcher's Mystery series, this one involves possible lead poisoning, opinions about GMOs, and a lot of Canada geese.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I get grumpy when an author has problems with basic English. Writers who can't handle spelling, grammar, and punctuation, should - at the very least - have a good editor to prevent them from looking like grammar-school dropouts. This author needed a good editor and didn't get one. For instance, her consistent confusion between "it's" and "its" is just embarrassing. Since this issue is first addressed in second grade and is revisited every single year thereafter, I'm not sure how in the world anyone could possibly be confused.

Unfortunately, there are bigger problems with this book. It's difficult to tell who the protagonist is meant to be, for instance. There are several main characters and the POV seems to switch back and forth in a somewhat fuzzy way, making me even more grumpy as I tried to find someone to identify with.

And the main characters themselves aren't all that attractive. One is introduced as a successful businesswoman, supposedly strong enough to prevent a Bad Guy from doing A Bad Thing - but she's whiny and afraid of everything, rarely taking decisive action, even in the running of her own business. The other is a trainee U.S. Fish & Wildlife agent who is politically ignorant, doesn't think to enlist the media to help her accomplish her goals, and spent the entire book deadlocked with her obstructive, unsympathetic boss - who turns out to be not-so-bad after all.

Verdict? This author's goose is cooked.

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

cover:
US Fish and Wildlife Special Agent Andela Dimato responds to a report of a sick bird... and finds her partner dead. Officially, his death is ruled a suicide - a theory Angela finds suspicious. Especially when hundreds of dead and dying geese are found at Elk Lake, and guests at the Drummond Hotel fall ill from food poisoning. While investigating these "accidents", Angela soon learns that killers of a feather flock together...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Quite a good murder mystery. A bit too much stuff about various enforcement & wildlife agencies, but otherwise enjoyable. I particularly liked the last few sentences - very evocative: ... the bird stopped struggling the moment it entered her arms.She marvelled at the creature, at its soft feathers, its gentle breathing. Then, opening her arms, Angela set the bird free.

Rated 6/10 at http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1....

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A last winter storm is blowing in, typical Minnesota March heartbreak, and the power has gone out. I sit by the window reading by the afternoon light as the birder's gather arms at the edge of a snowy field. Perfect.

I was a bit dismayed when this book started out in similar fashion to the one preceding it in the series, when a Conservation officer who is in danger of being forced into early retirement is thought to have committed sucide in a remote lication, but it turned out to be the best in the series so far. Well plotted, a touch of humor, lots of birding details, and sufficient action to keep the reader intrigued all they way to the end.

[Meg Morden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun birdwatchers' Mystery! As in the previous books by Goff which I have read, she chooses to examine an environmental issue which involves birds, here the widespread problem of pollutants poisoning wildlife and the problems of genetically modified grains. The action moves along at a great clip and there is a great climax. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Heather Ormsby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun quick mystery read. Especially a kick if you have spent any time out at Barr Lake here in Colorado.

[Phyllis · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea of a mystery revolving around birding was fun, but the
plot and writing style were just okay.