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George & Molly Palmer-Jones #5
Sea Fever
When aggressive bird-watcher Greg Franks' bludgeoned body is found floating in the ocean, detective George Palmer-Jones sets out to find the killer
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 31, 1993
282 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
About the author
Ann Cleeves
131 books8,813 followersAnn is the author of the books behind ITV's VERA, now in it's third series, and the BBC's SHETLAND, which will be aired in December 2012. Ann's DI Vera Stanhope series of books is set in Northumberland and features the well loved detective along with her partner Joe Ashworth. Ann's Shetland series bring us DI Jimmy Perez, investigating in the mysterious, dark, and beautiful Shetland Islands...
Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. After dropping out of university she took a number of temporary jobs - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard - before going back to college and training to be a probation officer.
While she was cooking in the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, she met her husband Tim, a visiting ornithologist. She was attracted less by the ornithology than the bottle of malt whisky she saw in his rucksack when she showed him his room. Soon after they married, Tim was appointed as warden of Hilbre, a tiny tidal island nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. They were the only residents, there was no mains electricity or water and access to the mainland was at low tide across the shore. If a person's not heavily into birds - and Ann isn't - there's not much to do on Hilbre and that was when she started writing. Her first series of crime novels features the elderly naturalist, George Palmer-Jones. A couple of these books are seriously dreadful.
In 1987 Tim, Ann and their two daughters moved to Northumberland and the north east provides the inspiration for many of her subsequent titles. The girls have both taken up with Geordie lads. In the autumn of 2006, Ann and Tim finally achieved their ambition of moving back to the North East.
For the National Year of Reading, Ann was made reader-in-residence for three library authorities. It came as a revelation that it was possible to get paid for talking to readers about books! She went on to set up reading groups in prisons as part of the Inside Books project, became Cheltenham Literature Festival's first reader-in-residence and still enjoys working with libraries.
Ann Cleeves on stage at the Duncan Lawrie Dagger awards ceremony
Ann's short film for Border TV, Catching Birds, won a Royal Television Society Award. She has twice been short listed for a CWA Dagger Award - once for her short story The Plater, and the following year for the Dagger in the Library award.
In 2006 Ann Cleeves was the first winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award of the Crime Writers' Association for Raven Black, the first volume of her Shetland Quartet. The Duncan Lawrie Dagger replaces the CWA's Gold Dagger award, and the winner receives £20,000, making it the world's largest award for crime fiction.
Ann's success was announced at the 2006 Dagger Awards ceremony at the Waldorf Hilton, in London's Aldwych, on Thursday 29 June 2006. She said: "I have never won anything before in my life, so it was a complete shock - but lovely of course.. The evening was relatively relaxing because I'd lost my voice and knew that even if the unexpected happened there was physically no way I could utter a word. So I wouldn't have to give a speech. My editor was deputed to do it!"
The judging panel consisted of Geoff Bradley (non-voting Chair), Lyn Brown MP (a committee member on the London Libraries service), Frances Gray (an academic who writes about and teaches courses on modern crime fiction), Heather O'Donoghue (academic, linguist, crime fiction reviewer for The Times Literary Supplement, and keen reader of all crime fiction) and Barry Forshaw (reviewer and editor of Crime Time magazine).
Ann's books have been translated into sixteen languages. She's a bestseller in Scandinavia and Germany. Her novels sell widely and to critical acclaim in the United States. Raven Black was shortlisted for the Martin Beck award for best translated crime novel in Sweden in 200
Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. After dropping out of university she took a number of temporary jobs - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard - before going back to college and training to be a probation officer.
While she was cooking in the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, she met her husband Tim, a visiting ornithologist. She was attracted less by the ornithology than the bottle of malt whisky she saw in his rucksack when she showed him his room. Soon after they married, Tim was appointed as warden of Hilbre, a tiny tidal island nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. They were the only residents, there was no mains electricity or water and access to the mainland was at low tide across the shore. If a person's not heavily into birds - and Ann isn't - there's not much to do on Hilbre and that was when she started writing. Her first series of crime novels features the elderly naturalist, George Palmer-Jones. A couple of these books are seriously dreadful.
In 1987 Tim, Ann and their two daughters moved to Northumberland and the north east provides the inspiration for many of her subsequent titles. The girls have both taken up with Geordie lads. In the autumn of 2006, Ann and Tim finally achieved their ambition of moving back to the North East.
For the National Year of Reading, Ann was made reader-in-residence for three library authorities. It came as a revelation that it was possible to get paid for talking to readers about books! She went on to set up reading groups in prisons as part of the Inside Books project, became Cheltenham Literature Festival's first reader-in-residence and still enjoys working with libraries.
Ann Cleeves on stage at the Duncan Lawrie Dagger awards ceremony
Ann's short film for Border TV, Catching Birds, won a Royal Television Society Award. She has twice been short listed for a CWA Dagger Award - once for her short story The Plater, and the following year for the Dagger in the Library award.
In 2006 Ann Cleeves was the first winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award of the Crime Writers' Association for Raven Black, the first volume of her Shetland Quartet. The Duncan Lawrie Dagger replaces the CWA's Gold Dagger award, and the winner receives £20,000, making it the world's largest award for crime fiction.
Ann's success was announced at the 2006 Dagger Awards ceremony at the Waldorf Hilton, in London's Aldwych, on Thursday 29 June 2006. She said: "I have never won anything before in my life, so it was a complete shock - but lovely of course.. The evening was relatively relaxing because I'd lost my voice and knew that even if the unexpected happened there was physically no way I could utter a word. So I wouldn't have to give a speech. My editor was deputed to do it!"
The judging panel consisted of Geoff Bradley (non-voting Chair), Lyn Brown MP (a committee member on the London Libraries service), Frances Gray (an academic who writes about and teaches courses on modern crime fiction), Heather O'Donoghue (academic, linguist, crime fiction reviewer for The Times Literary Supplement, and keen reader of all crime fiction) and Barry Forshaw (reviewer and editor of Crime Time magazine).
Ann's books have been translated into sixteen languages. She's a bestseller in Scandinavia and Germany. Her novels sell widely and to critical acclaim in the United States. Raven Black was shortlisted for the Martin Beck award for best translated crime novel in Sweden in 200
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
August 7, 2025
"Sea Fever" follows George and Molly Palmer-Jones who are asked to go on a sea excursion to find a man (Greg Franks) who won't contact his family. Both are reluctant to take the case, but because George is bird mad he agrees and gets caught up on looking at birds. Greg goes missing and then is found roped onto the boat and apparently murdered. George and Molly investigate who would have the motive to kill the young man and why.
Well this one definitely had a better resolution/ending than the last book in the series. I know that I am supposed to be enjoying George and Molly as a husband and wife detective team, but this and the last book makes it seem like they don't even like each other. And Molly gets caught up trying to prove George wrong all the time. The dynamics make me not really enjoy these books that much. The first two in the series I thought worked and I liked how they worked together to solve mysteries. George and Molly both had strengths and used them throughout the book. George is often on the wrong track it seems and Molly always seems to know who did what and why.
This book has another character we follow throughout this named Claire. She's a detective investigating the murder on the boat, and George was a hero of hers. I think that brought a welcome perspective to these books because George and Molly are both exhausting.
I do enjoy reading these books since these are Cleeves first works and it's interesting to see her turn from this series to others where I think her plot and character development worked so much better.
I read this book for CBR17bingo, "Favorite: A reread of a favorite book, a book by a favorite author, a book in a favorite genre, or about a favorite topic." Ann Cleeves is definitely a favorite author of mine.
Well this one definitely had a better resolution/ending than the last book in the series. I know that I am supposed to be enjoying George and Molly as a husband and wife detective team, but this and the last book makes it seem like they don't even like each other. And Molly gets caught up trying to prove George wrong all the time. The dynamics make me not really enjoy these books that much. The first two in the series I thought worked and I liked how they worked together to solve mysteries. George and Molly both had strengths and used them throughout the book. George is often on the wrong track it seems and Molly always seems to know who did what and why.
This book has another character we follow throughout this named Claire. She's a detective investigating the murder on the boat, and George was a hero of hers. I think that brought a welcome perspective to these books because George and Molly are both exhausting.
I do enjoy reading these books since these are Cleeves first works and it's interesting to see her turn from this series to others where I think her plot and character development worked so much better.
I read this book for CBR17bingo, "Favorite: A reread of a favorite book, a book by a favorite author, a book in a favorite genre, or about a favorite topic." Ann Cleeves is definitely a favorite author of mine.
April 23, 2017
This was a most interesting series, even with the 5th book missing somehow. However, the jump from #4 to #6 in the series did no harm to the interesting stories and intriguing mysteries. Birders, birdwatchers, twitchers, ringers, raptors, seawatching – I didn’t have much of an idea what any of these meant prior to reading this well-written mystery series that started off good and became even better with each new book. I learned a lot – and not just about birds and the people who have lists with ticks for the birds they have seen. I enjoyed the mysteries, too, and several times found myself thinking about a particular phrase or sentence that presented a perspective on life or people that I hadn’t thought of before. Very well done! I would recommend this series to anyone who loves a good mystery and loves learning new things.
December 2, 2025
The first book featuring this pair of Private Detectives that I have read and I was disappointed. I normally enjoy Ann Cleeves but this story lacked any real depth. George + Molly the older husband and wife team, both ex professionals turned Private Investigators did not seem interested in the case or to work well together. I will not bother with any other books featuring this pair. Apparently this series are earlier works by the author.
September 18, 2018
Another fine step on to Sandy sea washed tale. This sea tale of those who follow birds is full of human frailty.The spell is cast as the boat leaves shore...then George has sighted a prize. We are given sounds and description of a large bird, like an opera chorus full of noise and great cover for a murder. is
mostly ignored. Pace of novel quick, characters true to setting, environmental realities was but true. Wild life and sea shore life being taken for development. I wished for another chapter, but not because of ending construction, just because I loved the setting,luckily I can drive to ocean tomorrow.
mostly ignored. Pace of novel quick, characters true to setting, environmental realities was but true. Wild life and sea shore life being taken for development. I wished for another chapter, but not because of ending construction, just because I loved the setting,luckily I can drive to ocean tomorrow.
October 11, 2021
George and Molly Palmer-Jones are not Ann Cleeves' best-written characters by a long way, but the story is enjoyable enough to keep you intrigued.
December 30, 2022
Sea Fever by Ann Cleeves
Blurb
Even if there had been no murder, the last trip of a small band of dedicated bird-watchers aboard the Jessie Ellen would still have been news. For George Palmer-Jones and the other avid crew members achieve every bird-watcher’s dream when they sight a sea bird which has never before been recorded. In the subsequent excitement, however, no one notices the sudden absence of the most fanatical birder of them all . . .
Later, Greg Franks’ corpse, the head bludgeoned, is found floating in the sea.
Had it not been for Greg Franks, amateur detective George Palmer-Jones would not have been on the bird watching trip in Cornwall in the first place. He had been hired by Greg Franks’ anxious parents to try and persuade their errant son to return home. George would have turned the case down flat but the offer of a free weekend’s bird watching was too tempting to resist. Now, he must unhappily shoulder the burden of finding why the young man had been murdered. Who hated Franks enough to kill him? Almost everyone, it seems . . .
My Opinion
This is one of those series that I stumbled upon and as they are relatively short books I feel like I must read them all. This is the fifth book in the series so by now I feel like I know George and Molly. This book seems to have more happening than the previous instalments. An easy book to read that will keep you intrigued until the end.
Rating 4/5
Blurb
Even if there had been no murder, the last trip of a small band of dedicated bird-watchers aboard the Jessie Ellen would still have been news. For George Palmer-Jones and the other avid crew members achieve every bird-watcher’s dream when they sight a sea bird which has never before been recorded. In the subsequent excitement, however, no one notices the sudden absence of the most fanatical birder of them all . . .
Later, Greg Franks’ corpse, the head bludgeoned, is found floating in the sea.
Had it not been for Greg Franks, amateur detective George Palmer-Jones would not have been on the bird watching trip in Cornwall in the first place. He had been hired by Greg Franks’ anxious parents to try and persuade their errant son to return home. George would have turned the case down flat but the offer of a free weekend’s bird watching was too tempting to resist. Now, he must unhappily shoulder the burden of finding why the young man had been murdered. Who hated Franks enough to kill him? Almost everyone, it seems . . .
My Opinion
This is one of those series that I stumbled upon and as they are relatively short books I feel like I must read them all. This is the fifth book in the series so by now I feel like I know George and Molly. This book seems to have more happening than the previous instalments. An easy book to read that will keep you intrigued until the end.
Rating 4/5
February 13, 2019
Apparently there are four George and Molly Palmer books before this one. Reading them in order may improve the experience as I struggled to keep up with the many characters in this volume (20+ in addition to George and Molly). In fact, I had to make a chart of characters so I could make sense of what was going on in this who dunnit. It is a short book when compared to either the Shetland or Vera series, so character development seemed rather slim and added to the confusion.
The plot centered on one of Ann Cleeves favorite topics...birdwatching. She often refers to these people as addicts, and this book certainly emphasizes their lack of concern with their fellow humans. When one member of the party is murdered, most of the"twitchers" continue on with their competition: who can see the most and the most rare birds.
The mystery is a good one, as usual from this author. But the story is hindered by the number of characters in such a short novel.
The plot centered on one of Ann Cleeves favorite topics...birdwatching. She often refers to these people as addicts, and this book certainly emphasizes their lack of concern with their fellow humans. When one member of the party is murdered, most of the"twitchers" continue on with their competition: who can see the most and the most rare birds.
The mystery is a good one, as usual from this author. But the story is hindered by the number of characters in such a short novel.
October 30, 2022
I give it 3.5 stars. This one had a better pace, more drama than the others, but it kind of fizzled out at the end. George and Molly were asked by the family of a young twitcher to track him down. Not so much a missing persons, but a young man who is fed up with his clingy mother. They meet up with him on a birdwatching trip out to sea off Cornwall. When he ends up dead, there's a hunt to see which of those aboard did him in.
I felt one of the themes was working women. This was in the 1980's so not quite as progressive as today. But I felt the issue was handled well, reflecting the complexities of life. The men seemed petty in comparison, more interested in the new bird than the fact that someone has died. The explanation of how the bird identification process went was interesting though. I had never thought about how it works.
I felt one of the themes was working women. This was in the 1980's so not quite as progressive as today. But I felt the issue was handled well, reflecting the complexities of life. The men seemed petty in comparison, more interested in the new bird than the fact that someone has died. The explanation of how the bird identification process went was interesting though. I had never thought about how it works.
August 2, 2024
Palmer-Jones #5. They are not my favourites and this book was particularly bad. Stupid unbelievable plot filled with rather stupid and / or careless people. That includes the main protagonists. This isn't really a police procedural although there is a police investigation. Newly promoted Det. Inspector Bingham is unsure of herself and under pressure from various sides. Molly and George seem to do most of her work for her, stupidly risking themselves in the process. There are myriad characters, almost all of whom must be considered suspects.
As side issues to the murder investigation, there's some corruption surrounding land development, a bit of blackmail, and some drug dealing.
Luckily it's a relatively short book (179 pages) so I was finished quickly.
Rating 2.3.
As side issues to the murder investigation, there's some corruption surrounding land development, a bit of blackmail, and some drug dealing.
Luckily it's a relatively short book (179 pages) so I was finished quickly.
Rating 2.3.
June 23, 2025
Honestly, this was so underwhelming.
I'm never a fan of a big cast of characters all getting introduced to us with their backgrounds immediately as we pick the book up. It made it really hard to keep track of who is who. Other than that, I think the narrative style just fell so flat. I was the least bit engaged. I knew that all the descriptive stuff didn't really matter since it never added anything to the narrative, so I ended up skimming. I'm glad this was a short read. Even though I didn't guess or even bother trying to guess the ending, the reveal and climax wasn't even satisfactory. I was like 'oh, guess it's over now'.
Thoroughly disappointed because I've previously enjoyed the author's work but this is one of her older ones so maybe it's that her writing got better over time.
I'm never a fan of a big cast of characters all getting introduced to us with their backgrounds immediately as we pick the book up. It made it really hard to keep track of who is who. Other than that, I think the narrative style just fell so flat. I was the least bit engaged. I knew that all the descriptive stuff didn't really matter since it never added anything to the narrative, so I ended up skimming. I'm glad this was a short read. Even though I didn't guess or even bother trying to guess the ending, the reveal and climax wasn't even satisfactory. I was like 'oh, guess it's over now'.
Thoroughly disappointed because I've previously enjoyed the author's work but this is one of her older ones so maybe it's that her writing got better over time.
April 21, 2025
I found this entertaining and quick flowing. Unusual setting by the sea and characters are bird watchers who gather to see rare species. They are fanatics who will do anything to claim glory for spotting a new species.
The lady who hosts these bird watchers is having an affair with a fisherman/boat owner who lives in an ols shack by the sea. After going out on the boat one of the spotters goes missing and is found murdered or drowned in the sea. George and Molly set out to discover "whodunnit" in true Agatha Christie style.
The language in the book is easy to follow and short chapters help it flow faster.
The lady who hosts these bird watchers is having an affair with a fisherman/boat owner who lives in an ols shack by the sea. After going out on the boat one of the spotters goes missing and is found murdered or drowned in the sea. George and Molly set out to discover "whodunnit" in true Agatha Christie style.
The language in the book is easy to follow and short chapters help it flow faster.
August 24, 2022
Meh. This book was OK.
I had watched the Shetland series and loved it and have wanted to read Ann Cleeves who wrote the Shetland books. This was not in the Shetland series, which I knew, I just wanted to read to read an Ann Cleeves book.
This book is part of another series by Cleeves - it's number 5 in the series apparently and I had not read any of the preceding books.
It was OK - just not overwhelmed by it. Not sure what I expected. Lots of characters. Bit of a weird villain.
Don't think I'll get any more in this series.
I had watched the Shetland series and loved it and have wanted to read Ann Cleeves who wrote the Shetland books. This was not in the Shetland series, which I knew, I just wanted to read to read an Ann Cleeves book.
This book is part of another series by Cleeves - it's number 5 in the series apparently and I had not read any of the preceding books.
It was OK - just not overwhelmed by it. Not sure what I expected. Lots of characters. Bit of a weird villain.
Don't think I'll get any more in this series.
December 11, 2023
"Sea Fever" by Ann Cleeves is a captivating mystery novel that immerses readers in the atmospheric world of the Shetland Islands. Cleeves weaves a compelling narrative filled with intricate characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. The vivid descriptions of the rugged landscape and the close-knit community enhance the overall reading experience. With its suspenseful twists and well-crafted storytelling, "Sea Fever" is a must-read for mystery enthusiasts and fans of Cleeves' skillful writing.
February 5, 2024
I love this author’s Vera and Shetland series and so when I found two of her earlier books in a bookstore in New Zealand, I bought them. Needless to say, she has grown as an author and even though this book is not terrible, it’s not as polished as her later books. George and Molly Palmer-Jones are on a bird watching trip to Cornwall. When Greg, the most fanatical birder of them all is found bludgeoned and floating in the sea, George must find out why the young man has been murdered.
February 25, 2020
As usual, another creative and very readable book from Ann Cleves. This one incorporates some of the author's own past experiences as a probation officer and working with birders.
This book features George and Molly Palmer-Jones who embark on a birding expedition on a boat. While on the boat, one of the birders is murdered and the Palmer-Jones jointly unravel the mystery.
This book features George and Molly Palmer-Jones who embark on a birding expedition on a boat. While on the boat, one of the birders is murdered and the Palmer-Jones jointly unravel the mystery.
July 27, 2025
An enjoyable read. There weren't many of the characters that I found likeable, but George and Molly did a great job solving the crime in their own lovable way. it wasn't gripping or thought-provoking but was a good story. It's nice to go back to Ann Cleeves' earlier works to appreciate the progression she has made over the years.
April 11, 2021
Always good, always a story with so many twists and turns and characters but always always amazing the way Ann Cleeves (of "Vera" fame) can make the stories so interesting. Never a disappointment & grateful she is so prolific......
July 18, 2021
As I love the Shetland and Vera Stanhope books so much I thought I would give one of Ann Cleeves earlier efforts a go. Although the premise of the story was interesting, I found it difficult to warm to the main characters.
November 29, 2022
This 1993 Ann Cleeves mystery features George and Molly Palmer-Jones. The characters in this Cornwall mystery are excellently crafted. It is easy to forget that this is fiction as you are drawn into the book. Another bird watcher mystery.
May 7, 2024
I am usually a huge Ann Cleeves fan, but this book was, in my opinion, very poorly crafted. It lacked flow and was unconvincing in part, relaying information like an afterthought rather than integrating it into the action. Quite disappointing.
August 13, 2025
I have started this book but I’m struggling with the George & Mollie Palmer-Jones series. If there’s another book available from Ann Cleeves that I haven’t read/heard I will quickly put these down. Trouble is I’m coming the end and they are all that’s left now. 🥲
December 19, 2017
Another engaging Palmer-Jones mystery, mixing birdwatching and murder.
June 1, 2020
This series isn't as good as several of the other Ann Cleeves series, but it is still good to listen to.
June 22, 2020
Another great birding mystery
I'm reading them all and loving them. This brings the bird world to life. The murder keeps you guessing. I care about the people.
I'm reading them all and loving them. This brings the bird world to life. The murder keeps you guessing. I care about the people.
September 16, 2020
Best of the series, so far.
April 13, 2021
Interesting to read an Ann Cleeves early work. Ok. The bird-watching fanatics were an interesting group.
May 16, 2021
Very Ann cleeves.
Good suspense don't know til end
Have to keep up with characters as can get confused. Enjoyed reading. Interesting plot
Good suspense don't know til end
Have to keep up with characters as can get confused. Enjoyed reading. Interesting plot
October 25, 2021
Bird watchers, floating corpses, and boats; what more could you want in a crime story. This is the sixth in a series featuring George and Molly Palmer-Jones and it is very enjoyable
March 10, 2022
This next episode of the George and Molly Palmer-Jones series was excellent. Fascinating characters and very interesting plot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews