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Nature Station Mystery #1
When Nature Calls
What happens when nature calls - and someone falls - prey to a vicious killer? Naturalist Kristen Matthews is heading up a team of volunteers working to eradicate pesky weeds during a workday at the Nature Station. When one of the volunteers wanders away from the rest of the group and ends up eradicated himself, Kristen is concerned for her safety, as well as the Nature Station's reputation. She starts digging and unearths some interesting dirt on her squeaky clean helpers. Is it possible one of them despised the victim enough to kill him? Follow Kristen's lead, as she wades through the wildflowers tracking the murderer, and learn a little about nature along the way.
300 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2014
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19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 4, 2016
Reviewed by Julia for Readers' Favorite.
When Nature Calls, the first book in the ‘Nature Station Mystery Series’, is Jannifer Powelson’s first novel, following her series of nature books for children. Kristen Matthews is owner of the Nature Station, a complex of forest, wildflowers, wildlife and hiking trails in Eklund, Illinois. Kristen is normally kept busy running the Station, worrying about her finances and nursing her newly formed crush on handsome forester, Brett Stevenson, but her life is thrown off course when she literally falls over the strangled body of one of her volunteers on the Station’s trails. Fearful of the effect of the murder on her business, and doubtful of the progress of the Sheriff’s department, Kristen starts her own investigation, but finds herself not only suspecting some of her closest acquaintances but also under personal threat from a killer that does not want to be found.
Jannifer Powelson’s love of all things nature-related is clear throughout When Nature Calls, with lots of charming detail about wildflowers and wildlife. The story quickly moves onto its mystery element and proceeds steadily through Kristen’s investigation, with assistance from the remaining volunteers and Eklund’s locals. The pace of the story is slightly slowed down by too much coverage of things like Kristen’s morning routine or her food and drink preparation, and some overly-formal dialogue, even between characters who are close friends or sisters. There are also far too many exclamation marks and appearances of the phrase “the Nature Station” (instead of ‘the Station’ or, simply, ‘work’); both habits are noticeable and unnecessary. However, the structure and plotting of the story is very good, and the question of ‘whodunit’ keeps the story moving along well. The conclusion is logical but not obvious; and the romantic element between Kristen and Brett is nicely played out. The story leaves a few loose ends about Eklund’s residents - hopefully for the next book in the series, because this is a pleasant, enjoyable cozy mystery and I hope to read more.
When Nature Calls, the first book in the ‘Nature Station Mystery Series’, is Jannifer Powelson’s first novel, following her series of nature books for children. Kristen Matthews is owner of the Nature Station, a complex of forest, wildflowers, wildlife and hiking trails in Eklund, Illinois. Kristen is normally kept busy running the Station, worrying about her finances and nursing her newly formed crush on handsome forester, Brett Stevenson, but her life is thrown off course when she literally falls over the strangled body of one of her volunteers on the Station’s trails. Fearful of the effect of the murder on her business, and doubtful of the progress of the Sheriff’s department, Kristen starts her own investigation, but finds herself not only suspecting some of her closest acquaintances but also under personal threat from a killer that does not want to be found.
Jannifer Powelson’s love of all things nature-related is clear throughout When Nature Calls, with lots of charming detail about wildflowers and wildlife. The story quickly moves onto its mystery element and proceeds steadily through Kristen’s investigation, with assistance from the remaining volunteers and Eklund’s locals. The pace of the story is slightly slowed down by too much coverage of things like Kristen’s morning routine or her food and drink preparation, and some overly-formal dialogue, even between characters who are close friends or sisters. There are also far too many exclamation marks and appearances of the phrase “the Nature Station” (instead of ‘the Station’ or, simply, ‘work’); both habits are noticeable and unnecessary. However, the structure and plotting of the story is very good, and the question of ‘whodunit’ keeps the story moving along well. The conclusion is logical but not obvious; and the romantic element between Kristen and Brett is nicely played out. The story leaves a few loose ends about Eklund’s residents - hopefully for the next book in the series, because this is a pleasant, enjoyable cozy mystery and I hope to read more.
June 24, 2018
I loved the naturalist tidbits throught the book, but I figured out the ending 60 or so pages before the end. Too predictable.
June 11, 2025
Lovely setting! Lots of potential for fun cozy mysteries
August 21, 2025
I liked meeting these characters, in this town. I liked the way nature is woven throughout the story. I especially liked that I was given all the clues to determine the murderer.
May 8, 2019
I enjoyed this debut book very much and was pleased to see there are more in the Nature Station series. The whodunit storyline is played out in perfect symmetry as the local law enforcement questions main character Kristen and a group of volunteers about a murder at the nature preserve, though Kristen takes matters into her own hands to find the suspect. One aspect of this book that I loved is the way the author wove in details about the setting. It’s a charming preserve with a full agenda of activities, from birdwatching to volunteer clean-up days. Powelson has written a cast of characters that feel like they could be your closest friend or next-door neighbor. When Nature Calls is an entertaining blend of nature, mystery, and a dash of romance. I recommend this book, especially for nature lovers.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews