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Birder Murder Mystery #1
A Siege of Bittern
Newly appointed police inspector Domenic Jejeune doesn’t mind ruffling a few feathers to flush out suspects in the brutal murder of a renowned ecological activist.
2015 Arthur Ellis Award — Winner, Best First Novel • Globe and Mail 100: Best Books of 2014 • 2015 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize — Shortlisted, Best Mystery
Inspector Domenic Jejeune’s success has made him a poster boy for the U.K. police service. The problem is Jejeune doesn’t really want to be a detective at all; he much prefers watching birds.
Recently reassigned to the small Norfolk town of Saltmarsh, located in the heart of Britain’s premier birding country, Jejeune’s two worlds collide when he investigates the grisly murder of a prominent ecological activist. His ambitious police superintendent foresees a blaze of welcome publicity, but she begins to have her doubts when Jejeune’s most promising theory involves a feud over birdwatching lists. A second murder only complicates matters.
To unravel this mystery, Jejeune must deal with unwelcome public acclaim, the mistrust of colleagues, and his own insecurities. In the case of the Saltmarsh birder murders, the victims may not be the only casualties.
2015 Arthur Ellis Award — Winner, Best First Novel • Globe and Mail 100: Best Books of 2014 • 2015 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize — Shortlisted, Best Mystery
Inspector Domenic Jejeune’s success has made him a poster boy for the U.K. police service. The problem is Jejeune doesn’t really want to be a detective at all; he much prefers watching birds.
Recently reassigned to the small Norfolk town of Saltmarsh, located in the heart of Britain’s premier birding country, Jejeune’s two worlds collide when he investigates the grisly murder of a prominent ecological activist. His ambitious police superintendent foresees a blaze of welcome publicity, but she begins to have her doubts when Jejeune’s most promising theory involves a feud over birdwatching lists. A second murder only complicates matters.
To unravel this mystery, Jejeune must deal with unwelcome public acclaim, the mistrust of colleagues, and his own insecurities. In the case of the Saltmarsh birder murders, the victims may not be the only casualties.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
230 people are currently reading
1443 people want to read
About the author
Steve Burrows
16 books145 followersSteve Burrows has pursued his birdwatching hobby on five continents, while researching articles on a wide range of environmental issues. He has a degree in English from York University and is a past editor of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society Magazine. After travelling the world together, Steve and his family now live in Oshawa, Ontario.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
July 31, 2015
A charming first book from a man who is a dedicated birder himself. A Brit living in Canada, his main character is a Canadian living in the U.K. And not just anywhere in the U.K., in Norfolk, an area well known for its birding opportunities. He writes convincingly about the expat experience.
My very first international birding trip in 1999 led this Canadian birder to that very area—I have wonderful memories of birding at Cley & Titchwell and learning about British birds from our knowledgeable leader. Indeed, we six Canadian women on the tour had no idea how much it would affect our lives. Five of us have stayed fast friends ever since, continuing to travel together to many far flung places as well as in our own home area. One of the original six has passed away, another has severe dementia, a third is well into her 80s and not really getting out much anymore, but the remaining three are still plotting and planning the next travel.
I personally belong to the group of birders who are actually interested in the birds as creatures in their own right—how they live, what they are doing, their behaviours, etc. If I can watch an individual for a length of time, that is most enjoyable. I keep a list, but I am far from fanatical about it—the listing is the least enjoyable part of the hobby for me. I also try to avoid people who restrict their interests only to birding—I prefer people with varied interests, with people skills, and more conversational flexibility. As a result, I now make it a priority to try to find birding field trip leaders who have a little more going on in their lives than just birds. The more well-rounded human beings are just more pleasant to travel with, talk with, and observe birds with.
That worldview is studied in A Siege of Bitterns; the sad states of the lives of the men who are totally consumed with birding (or with business) to the exclusion of all else. The mystery itself is as muddy as the marsh where it takes place. In fact, I would say that for me, it was the birding aspect that charmed me about this novel, rather than the mystery. Recommended for birders with well-rounded lives who enjoy reading.
My very first international birding trip in 1999 led this Canadian birder to that very area—I have wonderful memories of birding at Cley & Titchwell and learning about British birds from our knowledgeable leader. Indeed, we six Canadian women on the tour had no idea how much it would affect our lives. Five of us have stayed fast friends ever since, continuing to travel together to many far flung places as well as in our own home area. One of the original six has passed away, another has severe dementia, a third is well into her 80s and not really getting out much anymore, but the remaining three are still plotting and planning the next travel.
I personally belong to the group of birders who are actually interested in the birds as creatures in their own right—how they live, what they are doing, their behaviours, etc. If I can watch an individual for a length of time, that is most enjoyable. I keep a list, but I am far from fanatical about it—the listing is the least enjoyable part of the hobby for me. I also try to avoid people who restrict their interests only to birding—I prefer people with varied interests, with people skills, and more conversational flexibility. As a result, I now make it a priority to try to find birding field trip leaders who have a little more going on in their lives than just birds. The more well-rounded human beings are just more pleasant to travel with, talk with, and observe birds with.
That worldview is studied in A Siege of Bitterns; the sad states of the lives of the men who are totally consumed with birding (or with business) to the exclusion of all else. The mystery itself is as muddy as the marsh where it takes place. In fact, I would say that for me, it was the birding aspect that charmed me about this novel, rather than the mystery. Recommended for birders with well-rounded lives who enjoy reading.
July 28, 2025
He had talents, a gift even, for a job he didn’t particularly like and didn’t want to do!
Enter stage left: Dominic Jejeune is a Canadian expat, a skilled (no, make that extraordinarily gifted) homicide detective, fresh off the solution of a puzzling London murder and recently posted to the rank of DCI in the small Norfolk town of Saltmarsh. He also happens to be an avid birder who, with little provocation, would be willing to drop the day to day tribulations of the police force and become a full-time hobbyist and avian researcher.
You have to hand it to author Steve Burrows. He has certainly mastered the author’s dictum of “Show, don’t tell”. The personality of every single member of the cast of A SIEGE OF BITTERNS is developed in exquisite detail through the tool of dialogue and allowing readers to watch how they conduct themselves and how they respond to events in the story. Bravo indeed!
However, for my money, notwithstanding how well the story was executed, the idea of a plot for a murder mystery and indeed, an entire series being based on the theme of birding is stretching a point. Well, at least I think so. It doesn’t take a detective reader to imagine that there would be much said about ecology, birds, their habitats, and environmental activism but, as supportive as I felt and as much as I agreed, the story never managed to reach the level of compelling or gripping.
Your mileage may vary, of course. A SIEGE of BITTERNS was certainly good enough to warrant the recommendation that you give it a try and see for yourself. Kudos to another Canadian author entering the mystery and police procedural market. I'll give #2 in the series, A PITYING OF DOVES, a try to see how Burrows has chosen to continue with his theme.
Paul Weiss
Enter stage left: Dominic Jejeune is a Canadian expat, a skilled (no, make that extraordinarily gifted) homicide detective, fresh off the solution of a puzzling London murder and recently posted to the rank of DCI in the small Norfolk town of Saltmarsh. He also happens to be an avid birder who, with little provocation, would be willing to drop the day to day tribulations of the police force and become a full-time hobbyist and avian researcher.
You have to hand it to author Steve Burrows. He has certainly mastered the author’s dictum of “Show, don’t tell”. The personality of every single member of the cast of A SIEGE OF BITTERNS is developed in exquisite detail through the tool of dialogue and allowing readers to watch how they conduct themselves and how they respond to events in the story. Bravo indeed!
However, for my money, notwithstanding how well the story was executed, the idea of a plot for a murder mystery and indeed, an entire series being based on the theme of birding is stretching a point. Well, at least I think so. It doesn’t take a detective reader to imagine that there would be much said about ecology, birds, their habitats, and environmental activism but, as supportive as I felt and as much as I agreed, the story never managed to reach the level of compelling or gripping.
Your mileage may vary, of course. A SIEGE of BITTERNS was certainly good enough to warrant the recommendation that you give it a try and see for yourself. Kudos to another Canadian author entering the mystery and police procedural market. I'll give #2 in the series, A PITYING OF DOVES, a try to see how Burrows has chosen to continue with his theme.
Paul Weiss
May 19, 2018
I am a huge fan of Elly Griffiths’ series that takes place near Saltmarsh in Norfolk and was excited to learn about a second series set in the same area. While Ruth Galloway (Griffiths’ protagonist) is an archaeologist, DCI Domenic Jejeune is a Canadian police detective who would rather spend his days birdwatching. Soon after his arrival in Norfolk, Jejeune is assigned to solve the murder of a prominent ecological activist. Jejeune is a likeable and intelligent protagonist, and the resolution of the murder is a bit convoluted but still entirely plausible and satisfactory.
Burrows calls attention to the saltmarshes of Norfolk, and the effects pollution and human activity have on that sensitive and important habitat. That focus and learning about the bittern were my favorite parts of the book. He strikes just the right balance between the mystery elements and the ecological and nature aspects of the story.
A Siege of Bitterns was a great read, and I look forward to reading the next few books in the series.
Burrows calls attention to the saltmarshes of Norfolk, and the effects pollution and human activity have on that sensitive and important habitat. That focus and learning about the bittern were my favorite parts of the book. He strikes just the right balance between the mystery elements and the ecological and nature aspects of the story.
A Siege of Bitterns was a great read, and I look forward to reading the next few books in the series.
May 29, 2019
3.5 Stars. I’ve been mulling over A Siege of Bitterns (great title), by Steve Burrows, for a few days now. The premise of setting a mystery in a Norfolk marshland with its plethora of birders was good. As was the mix of motives from wind farms to possible toxic spills and animosity between business minded folks and champions of nature. I also enjoyed a number of the characters. But the moody, albeit talented, bird watching enthusiast, Inspector Domenic Jejeune just didn’t impress me much. His back story (something about his brother...) and the reason he moved from Canada to Britain wasn’t fleshed out and neither was his previous case which propelled his career forward. I kept thinking, “perk up lad, adopt a bit of gratitude”!
I might dip into the next in the series though as I found the birding aspect quite informative and maybe more about Jejeune will be revealed.
I might dip into the next in the series though as I found the birding aspect quite informative and maybe more about Jejeune will be revealed.
December 29, 2016
Book #1, in Birder Murder Mystery
“A Siege of Bitterns” is a dazzling birder murder mystery set in the small Norfolk town of Saltmarsh at the heart of Britain’s birding country. Whether you are a birder or not this combination of bird-watching and murder is a fun and engaging light read.
This book is a pretty quick read with little blood and no graphic scenes. We tag along with the main character, Detective Chief Inspector Dominic Jejeune, a Canadian, considered an outsider by his colleague of the UK Police Service as he follows a highly publicized case. But our intrepid Dominic would rather be bird-watching than investigating the grisly murder of a prominent ecological activist. The pace is rather slow with burst of activities through the marshes and forests that leads in circles and off the beaten path. Along the way we do learn interesting tidbits about birds and how ruthlessly competitive the birding community is. The novel also provides quite an education on salt-marshes and their contamination.
The story is original, well-constructed, clever and exciting. The characters are real, quite believable and overall well-rounded. The author has also set beautifully an atmospheric scene including depictions of the ecosystem and its biodiversity. “A Siege of Bitterns” is a smart murder investigation that peels its layers upon layers till it reaches its conclusion. Being the first in a series we know from the outset there is more to come….good start.
My thanks to Dundurn Publishers for sending me a copy of this book
“A Siege of Bitterns” is a dazzling birder murder mystery set in the small Norfolk town of Saltmarsh at the heart of Britain’s birding country. Whether you are a birder or not this combination of bird-watching and murder is a fun and engaging light read.
This book is a pretty quick read with little blood and no graphic scenes. We tag along with the main character, Detective Chief Inspector Dominic Jejeune, a Canadian, considered an outsider by his colleague of the UK Police Service as he follows a highly publicized case. But our intrepid Dominic would rather be bird-watching than investigating the grisly murder of a prominent ecological activist. The pace is rather slow with burst of activities through the marshes and forests that leads in circles and off the beaten path. Along the way we do learn interesting tidbits about birds and how ruthlessly competitive the birding community is. The novel also provides quite an education on salt-marshes and their contamination.
The story is original, well-constructed, clever and exciting. The characters are real, quite believable and overall well-rounded. The author has also set beautifully an atmospheric scene including depictions of the ecosystem and its biodiversity. “A Siege of Bitterns” is a smart murder investigation that peels its layers upon layers till it reaches its conclusion. Being the first in a series we know from the outset there is more to come….good start.
My thanks to Dundurn Publishers for sending me a copy of this book
April 13, 2022
Steve Burrows is a British birder living in Canada. He wanted to write about birders, but not nonfiction, so he came up with The Birder Murder Mystery, which is about Inspector Domenic Jejeune who is a birder from Canada, but living in Britain. Jejeune is a star detective, who has an unusual problem, he really doesn't like police work, and would much rather spend his time birding.
I liked the idea of this right from the start, a birder murder mystery really sounded like something I might like. It really got of to a good start until the first witness lies to the detective in such a transparent way that I had to wonder if the whole plot was going to be this easy to see through. That's not a good sign in mysteries.
Luckily, the rest of the red herrings, were better hidden, and it turned out that it is actually, apart from that minor detail, a rather well plotted mystery, and I didn't see who had done it until it was revealed. Then the whole plot made sense. So I would say it's a pretty good cozy murder mystery, and it is actually also a good eco-fiction.
You see, Burrows does something interesting here. He weaves into the narrative quite a lot of birder stuff, and a fair bit about ecology, and he does it in a way that it never feels like a lecture. It's just part of the natural flow of the story. Burrows didn't want to write nonfiction book about birding, and to me he has written something that has a very good balance between education, and entertainment. It leans more towards the entertainment side of things, so you don't really notice the education side of it.
So basically, I liked it despite its minor flaw in the beginning, I enjoyed reading it. The characters are interesting, and well thought out. They don't feel one dimensional, but somewhat more complicated than that. It's perhaps not very suspenseful, not like good thrillers are for example, but cozies rarely are, not even the best ones. The pacing is always much more relaxed. What they do instead, is that they draw you into the lives of the main characters, and this one does that exactly. It's this interesting mix of the private lives of the characters, the murder mystery, and in this case, the ecological, and the birder stuff. I'm not a birder, but from reading this I got a sense of what that world feels like.
I'm definitely reading the next one in this series.
I liked the idea of this right from the start, a birder murder mystery really sounded like something I might like. It really got of to a good start until the first witness lies to the detective in such a transparent way that I had to wonder if the whole plot was going to be this easy to see through. That's not a good sign in mysteries.
Luckily, the rest of the red herrings, were better hidden, and it turned out that it is actually, apart from that minor detail, a rather well plotted mystery, and I didn't see who had done it until it was revealed. Then the whole plot made sense. So I would say it's a pretty good cozy murder mystery, and it is actually also a good eco-fiction.
You see, Burrows does something interesting here. He weaves into the narrative quite a lot of birder stuff, and a fair bit about ecology, and he does it in a way that it never feels like a lecture. It's just part of the natural flow of the story. Burrows didn't want to write nonfiction book about birding, and to me he has written something that has a very good balance between education, and entertainment. It leans more towards the entertainment side of things, so you don't really notice the education side of it.
So basically, I liked it despite its minor flaw in the beginning, I enjoyed reading it. The characters are interesting, and well thought out. They don't feel one dimensional, but somewhat more complicated than that. It's perhaps not very suspenseful, not like good thrillers are for example, but cozies rarely are, not even the best ones. The pacing is always much more relaxed. What they do instead, is that they draw you into the lives of the main characters, and this one does that exactly. It's this interesting mix of the private lives of the characters, the murder mystery, and in this case, the ecological, and the birder stuff. I'm not a birder, but from reading this I got a sense of what that world feels like.
I'm definitely reading the next one in this series.
May 16, 2018
Highly recommended by a trusted source, I began reading A Siege of Bitterns with a great deal of anticipation. I love British police procedurals as well as watching birds, so this book had all the earmarks of a winner. Alas, it was not meant to be. For a first book, the main things are good: the story, the setting, and the characters. Burrows puts us right in the marshes of Norfolk, and the mystery is genuinely puzzling. Jejeune, on the whole, is an interesting character, but.
You were waiting for that, weren't you? The execution did not live up to the promise. The book needed more editing to tighten it up and make the story flow smoother and faster. One of my pet reading peeves is when we are constantly told about a character instead of letting us find out for ourselves. This is what happens with Domenic Jejeune. At almost every turn, we are told what an exceptional person he is instead of simply being shown by his words and actions. I hate to say this, but midway through the book, I found myself fighting to stay awake, and that continued throughout the rest of the story.
As I've said before, this is a first book, and the issues I had with it can all be fixed. I'm just not sure that I want to venture into book number two. Your mileage may certainly vary-- and I hope that it does!
You were waiting for that, weren't you? The execution did not live up to the promise. The book needed more editing to tighten it up and make the story flow smoother and faster. One of my pet reading peeves is when we are constantly told about a character instead of letting us find out for ourselves. This is what happens with Domenic Jejeune. At almost every turn, we are told what an exceptional person he is instead of simply being shown by his words and actions. I hate to say this, but midway through the book, I found myself fighting to stay awake, and that continued throughout the rest of the story.
As I've said before, this is a first book, and the issues I had with it can all be fixed. I'm just not sure that I want to venture into book number two. Your mileage may certainly vary-- and I hope that it does!
January 1, 2021
Expectations can make or break a read. Sometimes when there is a lot of ‘hype’ about a book you set your expectations too high and then you find yourself a tad disappointed in it. Sometimes when you have NO expectations at all about a title, you find you LOVE it! Such was my experience reading “A siege of bitterns“, the January read for my bookclub, Whodunit.
“A siege of bitterns” is a British police procedural mystery set in the marshlands of Norfolk, England. The protagonist, Domenic Jejeune, is a reluctant police hero but an enthusiastic birdwatcher. A Canadian, he works as a Detective Chief Inspector in Norfolk, England. He and his journalist girlfriend Lindy, have recently moved to this area known for its natural beauty.
“Professional success seemed a high price to pay if it robbed you of the appreciation of nature’s gifts.”
Jejeune doesn’t care for his job and finds it particularly unfulfilling. He would much rather be out ‘birding’, than chasing down criminals. Just as he studies the minute movements of birds, so does he study humans. He is a people watcher, an expert in watching body language and catching the unguarded facial expression. For someone so young, he is keenly perspective and an astute judge of human nature who always has an eye out for behavioral inconsistencies.
Jejeune’s second in command is Sergeant Danny Maik, a seasoned policeman, recently back from medical leave for heart problems. He is an ‘old school’ copper. Ex-military, and lacking in the university education of Domenic Jejeune. The rest of Jejeune’s team include the young womanizer, Tony Holland, and the astute, middle-aged, female constable, Salter.
Jejeune seems an enigma to his team. His reputation has preceded him. They know he has had great success in his career despite his youth, but they don’t know what to make of his unconventional tactics. The team, and Maik in particular gradually build a grudging respect for this interloper in their midst. I loved reading of the growing relationship between Maik and Jejeune.
“Indeed Sergeant. A lot of birders headed in the same direction in a hurry. That usually only means one thing”.
“Anorak sale?”
If Jejeune was amused, he forgot to tell his face.
Jejeune and his team are called out to a murder. A local celebrity, television presenter, and ardent environmentalist has been found hanging from a tree near his cottage. Cameron Brae’s celebrity and that of his pop star second wife, will ensure that this case will be under the utmost public scrutiny.
“As far as the public round here was concerned, opposing Cameron Brae was like kicking Bambi to death”.
No book has every so subtly reminded me of the oh so fragile environmental balance. The author’s love of the natural world, and birding in particular, shines through his writing.
“That’s the beautiful thing about birding, my dear, it’s so remarkable inexpensive. The greatest show on earth, sun up to sun down, all for the cost of a pair of binoculars”.
The writing was beautiful. The author sure knows the value of a well formed turn of phrase. His love of words is evident throughout the novel, and his penchant for collective nouns is belied by the titles of his novels.
“Domenic Jejeune drove without haste beneath a sky the colour of sorrow.”
I must admit, I would never have picked up this book to read if I went solely by the cover (as those who know me KNOW I do). I think the cover is unattractive. The content of the book however belies the cover. This is a well-paced, well-plotted, police procedural mystery that should be enjoyed by all lovers of the genre.
There are two more books in this series that are currently available, and a third that will be published this year. I have already purchased the second novel “A pitying of doves”.
The third and fourth titles in the series are “A cast of falcons” and “A shimmer of hummingbirds“. All of these titles are prime examples of the author’s love of collective nouns.
Highly recommended to all who love a good police procedural mystery.
4.5 stars rounded up for GoodReads
“A siege of bitterns” was published by Dundurn. I purchased a Kindle copy of this novel from Amazon.ca
“A siege of bitterns” is a British police procedural mystery set in the marshlands of Norfolk, England. The protagonist, Domenic Jejeune, is a reluctant police hero but an enthusiastic birdwatcher. A Canadian, he works as a Detective Chief Inspector in Norfolk, England. He and his journalist girlfriend Lindy, have recently moved to this area known for its natural beauty.
“Professional success seemed a high price to pay if it robbed you of the appreciation of nature’s gifts.”
Jejeune doesn’t care for his job and finds it particularly unfulfilling. He would much rather be out ‘birding’, than chasing down criminals. Just as he studies the minute movements of birds, so does he study humans. He is a people watcher, an expert in watching body language and catching the unguarded facial expression. For someone so young, he is keenly perspective and an astute judge of human nature who always has an eye out for behavioral inconsistencies.
Jejeune’s second in command is Sergeant Danny Maik, a seasoned policeman, recently back from medical leave for heart problems. He is an ‘old school’ copper. Ex-military, and lacking in the university education of Domenic Jejeune. The rest of Jejeune’s team include the young womanizer, Tony Holland, and the astute, middle-aged, female constable, Salter.
Jejeune seems an enigma to his team. His reputation has preceded him. They know he has had great success in his career despite his youth, but they don’t know what to make of his unconventional tactics. The team, and Maik in particular gradually build a grudging respect for this interloper in their midst. I loved reading of the growing relationship between Maik and Jejeune.
“Indeed Sergeant. A lot of birders headed in the same direction in a hurry. That usually only means one thing”.
“Anorak sale?”
If Jejeune was amused, he forgot to tell his face.
Jejeune and his team are called out to a murder. A local celebrity, television presenter, and ardent environmentalist has been found hanging from a tree near his cottage. Cameron Brae’s celebrity and that of his pop star second wife, will ensure that this case will be under the utmost public scrutiny.
“As far as the public round here was concerned, opposing Cameron Brae was like kicking Bambi to death”.
No book has every so subtly reminded me of the oh so fragile environmental balance. The author’s love of the natural world, and birding in particular, shines through his writing.
“That’s the beautiful thing about birding, my dear, it’s so remarkable inexpensive. The greatest show on earth, sun up to sun down, all for the cost of a pair of binoculars”.
The writing was beautiful. The author sure knows the value of a well formed turn of phrase. His love of words is evident throughout the novel, and his penchant for collective nouns is belied by the titles of his novels.
“Domenic Jejeune drove without haste beneath a sky the colour of sorrow.”
I must admit, I would never have picked up this book to read if I went solely by the cover (as those who know me KNOW I do). I think the cover is unattractive. The content of the book however belies the cover. This is a well-paced, well-plotted, police procedural mystery that should be enjoyed by all lovers of the genre.
There are two more books in this series that are currently available, and a third that will be published this year. I have already purchased the second novel “A pitying of doves”.
The third and fourth titles in the series are “A cast of falcons” and “A shimmer of hummingbirds“. All of these titles are prime examples of the author’s love of collective nouns.
Highly recommended to all who love a good police procedural mystery.
4.5 stars rounded up for GoodReads
“A siege of bitterns” was published by Dundurn. I purchased a Kindle copy of this novel from Amazon.ca
April 17, 2017
For da boids
September 26, 2025
3.5 stars. Especially fun when you're a birder (which I am). I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
November 15, 2022
Detective Chief Inspector Jejune has been posted to Norfolk, an area of England renowned for its extensive bird population and a popular birding location for both local and international birders. Jejeune himself is a birder and the posting provides him with opportunities to pursue his hobby. The first case under his watch is a complicated one. The body of a local environmentalist is found as a staged suicide. All eyes are on the taciturn Jejeune to lead his team to a quick resolution of the case.
Returning to the Birder Murder Mystery series after reading Book #2 first, I found A Siege of Bitterns provided me with the foundation of the series that I was missing when reading out of order. Steve Burrows provides mystery lovers with an interesting case to ponder. What drew me to the series is the focus on nature. Personally, I find nature restorative and diving into a book that immerses the reader into an interesting outdoor environment is a special treat. And, of course, I had to research bitterns and watch videos of them in tandem with reading the book. They have such an interesting call. Recommended for mystery and nature lovers.
Returning to the Birder Murder Mystery series after reading Book #2 first, I found A Siege of Bitterns provided me with the foundation of the series that I was missing when reading out of order. Steve Burrows provides mystery lovers with an interesting case to ponder. What drew me to the series is the focus on nature. Personally, I find nature restorative and diving into a book that immerses the reader into an interesting outdoor environment is a special treat. And, of course, I had to research bitterns and watch videos of them in tandem with reading the book. They have such an interesting call. Recommended for mystery and nature lovers.
November 8, 2018
Enjoyed the references to birds and the idiosyncrasies of birders which I can relate to. Author did a good job of describing the scenery and giving enough misleading ideas to keep you guessing.
May 9, 2015
I greatly enjoyed the setting of the marsh and the birding aspects of this mystery. The same could not be said of the characters and the author's methods of exposition of the story. Inspector Jejeune is as much a mystery to me as he was before reading the book. If I am supposed to sympathize with his apparent intuition-only style of policing I would need to have more of the character's internal life shared with me.
The character of his DCS seems to be almost sociopathic, and at odds with the second-hand opinions about her which are occasionally stated. At times when reading the mystery genre I've wondered about the often used convention of setting renegade detectives against wrong-headed and counterproductive management and higher ups but this one seemed to take it furthest of all, to a head who governs by press release and in her friends' interests.
The character of his DCS seems to be almost sociopathic, and at odds with the second-hand opinions about her which are occasionally stated. At times when reading the mystery genre I've wondered about the often used convention of setting renegade detectives against wrong-headed and counterproductive management and higher ups but this one seemed to take it furthest of all, to a head who governs by press release and in her friends' interests.
May 7, 2019
I tried. I tried really hard, and as much as I love birds, I couldn't get into this mystery. Nothing about this sucked me in and made me want to read more. I struggled in vain to be interested, to care about this lame detective and his theories, but I just couldn't. I made it 75% of the way through before giving up the ghost.
June 13, 2017
Interesting story for the most part but I did skip a few parts that I felt dragged on too long. I expect series will improve though.
September 15, 2021
This book introduced me to the concept of a "Life List." That is, a list of all the birds a person has seen in the wild over the course of their life. Amazing!
As soon as I learned about life lists, I immediately put the book down and starting making a list of all the birds I could ever remember seeing. In my "World Life List," I have managed to break 100!
In this story, the murder victim was leading the pack in a race to reach 400 birds in their "County Life List." That is, the number of birds a person has seen within a single county. Four Hundred birds in a single county!? Unbelievable! Birdwatchers are bonkers, in the best way possible!
If you like birds, or (like the members of my family) you are obsessed with the board game "Wingspan," then you will enjoy this birder murder mystery.
As soon as I learned about life lists, I immediately put the book down and starting making a list of all the birds I could ever remember seeing. In my "World Life List," I have managed to break 100!
In this story, the murder victim was leading the pack in a race to reach 400 birds in their "County Life List." That is, the number of birds a person has seen within a single county. Four Hundred birds in a single county!? Unbelievable! Birdwatchers are bonkers, in the best way possible!
If you like birds, or (like the members of my family) you are obsessed with the board game "Wingspan," then you will enjoy this birder murder mystery.
September 14, 2024
I'll continue with the series. It looks to be an interesting ensemble, and the main character is complex.
November 26, 2023
I never would have picked this out but I ended up liking it a lot. 4 stars because it was kind of boring at times
July 30, 2021
I didn't care very much about birds until I started playing the Wingspan board game. This very entertaining murder mystery fits into the groove. Norfolk England bird watchers, a bird watching detective, a marsh, wind farms, endangered habitats. Makes me want to pay more attention to the nature around me.
November 11, 2013
DCI Domenic Jejeune's last case was solved with much fanfare, making him a media darling. Now, he's been transferred to Saltmarsh, a small town in Norfolk & unfortunately the acclaim has followed him. Dom has always felt ambivalent about his job & is a reluctant hero. At least here, he can indulge his passion for bird watching.
His boss, DCS Shepherd, makes it clear she expects the positive PR to continue & it's not long before he's put to the test. Cameron Brae, a well known environmental activist, is found hanging from a tree. Dom & his unit catch the case & Shepherd wants this wrapped up PDQ.
But Dom faces many obstacles, inside the department & out. Saltmarsh is an insular place where people mind their own business & don't open up to strangers. He's regarded with suspicion by the locals & even his fellow cops are slow to warm to their new boss. Political pressure comes from Beverly Brennan, the local MP. She's an ambitious woman with her own agenda & close friend to Shepherd. Neither one is impressed by Dom's initial theory. He thinks Brae's death may have something to do with the competition among birders to reach 400 verified sightings of different species in the marsh. Clues are hard to come by & while the cops are struggling to gather evidence, another body is found & many start to doubt the new DCI.
There is no lack of suspects. Brae was a difficult man with an ex-wife, an estranged son & a famous (much younger) second wife. He fought with local land developers & fell out with other experts in academia.
There are many side plots to this story. Professionally, Dom has to deal with a cop in his unit only too willing to undermine his boss, his lack of local knowledge & growing unease that Shepherd & Brennan aren't telling him everything. Personally, he wonders if his girlfriend regrets moving with him & if he even wants to be a cop anymore.
The author does a good job fleshing out these stories with well rounded characters & atmospheric descriptions of the setting. The location itself is a major character in this book & we get an education in its' history & the world of bird watching.
Dom is a sympathetic & compelling guy. He's a quiet, self reliant man & not much of a team player. Add the fact he's Canadian & you have a natural outsider. Ironically, he has a gift for solving crimes but would rather be out on the marshes alone with his binoculars. You feel his frustration as the cases drag on & the pressure builds to live up to his reputation. Is this the case that will make him walk away from his career?
There are red herrings everywhere & plenty of twists before the murders are finally solved. Hidden alliances & motives are slowly revealed as the police chip away at alibis & the identity of the killer will catch many readers by surprise.
I really enjoyed this novel. It's not a flashy thriller full of car chases & shootouts. Instead, it's a moody, character driven story about rural life where the isolation of the setting is mirrored by the isolation of our hero. You get drawn into the story because of the believable characters & smart complex plot. You keep reading because you have to know what will become of them all & ultimately, who done it. For fans of Louise Penny, Peter May, Elly Griffiths & Ann Cleeves.
His boss, DCS Shepherd, makes it clear she expects the positive PR to continue & it's not long before he's put to the test. Cameron Brae, a well known environmental activist, is found hanging from a tree. Dom & his unit catch the case & Shepherd wants this wrapped up PDQ.
But Dom faces many obstacles, inside the department & out. Saltmarsh is an insular place where people mind their own business & don't open up to strangers. He's regarded with suspicion by the locals & even his fellow cops are slow to warm to their new boss. Political pressure comes from Beverly Brennan, the local MP. She's an ambitious woman with her own agenda & close friend to Shepherd. Neither one is impressed by Dom's initial theory. He thinks Brae's death may have something to do with the competition among birders to reach 400 verified sightings of different species in the marsh. Clues are hard to come by & while the cops are struggling to gather evidence, another body is found & many start to doubt the new DCI.
There is no lack of suspects. Brae was a difficult man with an ex-wife, an estranged son & a famous (much younger) second wife. He fought with local land developers & fell out with other experts in academia.
There are many side plots to this story. Professionally, Dom has to deal with a cop in his unit only too willing to undermine his boss, his lack of local knowledge & growing unease that Shepherd & Brennan aren't telling him everything. Personally, he wonders if his girlfriend regrets moving with him & if he even wants to be a cop anymore.
The author does a good job fleshing out these stories with well rounded characters & atmospheric descriptions of the setting. The location itself is a major character in this book & we get an education in its' history & the world of bird watching.
Dom is a sympathetic & compelling guy. He's a quiet, self reliant man & not much of a team player. Add the fact he's Canadian & you have a natural outsider. Ironically, he has a gift for solving crimes but would rather be out on the marshes alone with his binoculars. You feel his frustration as the cases drag on & the pressure builds to live up to his reputation. Is this the case that will make him walk away from his career?
There are red herrings everywhere & plenty of twists before the murders are finally solved. Hidden alliances & motives are slowly revealed as the police chip away at alibis & the identity of the killer will catch many readers by surprise.
I really enjoyed this novel. It's not a flashy thriller full of car chases & shootouts. Instead, it's a moody, character driven story about rural life where the isolation of the setting is mirrored by the isolation of our hero. You get drawn into the story because of the believable characters & smart complex plot. You keep reading because you have to know what will become of them all & ultimately, who done it. For fans of Louise Penny, Peter May, Elly Griffiths & Ann Cleeves.
February 4, 2016
This book should be right up my street, it's a murder mystery, which I love, set in Norfolk, where I live, with a plot that revolves around birdwatching - I'm an amateur birdwatcher. I did enjoy it very much, I loved the descriptions of the landscape round here and liked the fact that it mentioned quite a few local RSPB reserves. The mystery was quite engaging, although the ending was a bit unlikely, but that's okay for murder mysteries in my book.
However, there were a few things which I didn't like so much - I don't think the characters were that well-developed, not even Domenic Jejeune. We were constantly told how great a detective he was, but he wasn't actually that great in cracking the case, and took several wrong turns on the basis of no evidence. The tone of the novel was a bit sexist - the female characters were all described in terms of their looks, whether they were thin / fat, blond / brunette, etc, which I found a bit unnecessary.
And there were a fair few North American phrases slipped into the language of Norfolk people, which they simply wouldn't have said - like 'gotten', this word has been out of use in England for centuries. On another occasion, a Norfolk policeman says 'Ey up', a phrase only used in the North of England, not in East Anglia. Another oddity was the reference to grammar schools. The grammar school system was largely abolished in Britain in the 1960s. There are still a few around, particularly in Kent, but there aren't many in Norfolk and very few people go to them. The vast majority of people go to comprehensive schools. It seems very unlikely to me that a grassroots working class character such as Danny Maik would have gone to one. But I'm aware that I'm being rather petty with these criticisms, as they're not that important!
SPOILER ALERT!
Burrows has an odd habit of capitalising the names of birds - so he writes about Blue Tits and Rooks rather than blue tits and rooks. He actually explains at one point that this is grammatically correct, although I've never come across it before in my life, and the RSPB certainly don't do it. It later becomes an important plot point, which is perhaps why he does it.
All in all, this wasn't a bad mystery, but it wasn't a great one either. However, I will probably read still read the next one!
However, there were a few things which I didn't like so much - I don't think the characters were that well-developed, not even Domenic Jejeune. We were constantly told how great a detective he was, but he wasn't actually that great in cracking the case, and took several wrong turns on the basis of no evidence. The tone of the novel was a bit sexist - the female characters were all described in terms of their looks, whether they were thin / fat, blond / brunette, etc, which I found a bit unnecessary.
And there were a fair few North American phrases slipped into the language of Norfolk people, which they simply wouldn't have said - like 'gotten', this word has been out of use in England for centuries. On another occasion, a Norfolk policeman says 'Ey up', a phrase only used in the North of England, not in East Anglia. Another oddity was the reference to grammar schools. The grammar school system was largely abolished in Britain in the 1960s. There are still a few around, particularly in Kent, but there aren't many in Norfolk and very few people go to them. The vast majority of people go to comprehensive schools. It seems very unlikely to me that a grassroots working class character such as Danny Maik would have gone to one. But I'm aware that I'm being rather petty with these criticisms, as they're not that important!
SPOILER ALERT!
Burrows has an odd habit of capitalising the names of birds - so he writes about Blue Tits and Rooks rather than blue tits and rooks. He actually explains at one point that this is grammatically correct, although I've never come across it before in my life, and the RSPB certainly don't do it. It later becomes an important plot point, which is perhaps why he does it.
All in all, this wasn't a bad mystery, but it wasn't a great one either. However, I will probably read still read the next one!
August 14, 2018
A Siege of Bitterns is the first book in the Birders (Domenic Jejeune) mystery series by Steve Burrows. Jejeune is a Canadian who has moved to England and had success as a Police Inspector in London. His fame in solving a particular case (not much info provided about that) gets him a transfer to the Norfolk town of Saltmarsh. Jejeune is a 'birder' and the Salt marshes are a treasure trove of birds. It turns out that there is a competition going on where the birders are trying to identify 400 species in a year.
Quickly after his arrival a body is discovered; a famous local environmentalist and also a birder is found hung in a tree on his land. The evidence persuades the police that the man was murdered. Why? Jejeune's initial thoughts lead him to assume it might have something to do with this competition. A jealous opponent?
Jejeune is not immediately welcomed by his police staff as he is a quiet, distant type. But they are willing to give him a chance and we do get to know these other investigators maybe because they often are required to work on their own. We also get to meet Jejeune's wife, ex - crime reporter, Lindy, who now that they live somewhat off the beaten path works as a columnist for a local paper.
The story does wander around a bit, sort of jumping at times from one suspect to another, with not a lot of explanation why? It might have something to do with Jejeune's character as he does prefer to keep his cards close to his chest and work on his own.
The story develops slowly, with a cast of interesting characters and we do get a feel for the birders themselves, especially as represented by Quentin Senior, an interesting character, who might be a murderer as well? As I got into the story, I found it getting more and more interesting and as the characters developed, I found myself more drawn to them, whether the cops themselves, or the witnesses and possible suspects. I found myself satisfied as I closed the book at the end and even liked the final segment dealing with the Bitterns and their habitat. A nice introduction to Inspector Jejeune and his team (4 stars)
Quickly after his arrival a body is discovered; a famous local environmentalist and also a birder is found hung in a tree on his land. The evidence persuades the police that the man was murdered. Why? Jejeune's initial thoughts lead him to assume it might have something to do with this competition. A jealous opponent?
Jejeune is not immediately welcomed by his police staff as he is a quiet, distant type. But they are willing to give him a chance and we do get to know these other investigators maybe because they often are required to work on their own. We also get to meet Jejeune's wife, ex - crime reporter, Lindy, who now that they live somewhat off the beaten path works as a columnist for a local paper.
The story does wander around a bit, sort of jumping at times from one suspect to another, with not a lot of explanation why? It might have something to do with Jejeune's character as he does prefer to keep his cards close to his chest and work on his own.
The story develops slowly, with a cast of interesting characters and we do get a feel for the birders themselves, especially as represented by Quentin Senior, an interesting character, who might be a murderer as well? As I got into the story, I found it getting more and more interesting and as the characters developed, I found myself more drawn to them, whether the cops themselves, or the witnesses and possible suspects. I found myself satisfied as I closed the book at the end and even liked the final segment dealing with the Bitterns and their habitat. A nice introduction to Inspector Jejeune and his team (4 stars)
March 6, 2016
Published by: Oneworld Publications (3rd March 2016)
ISBN: 978-1780748436
Source: Real Readers
Rating: 3*
Synopsis:
Newly appointed police inspector Domenic Jejeune doesn’t mind ruffling a few feathers. Indeed his success has elevated him into a poster boy for the police. The problem is Jejeune doesn’t really want to be a detective at all; he much prefers watching birds.
Recently reassigned to the small Norfolk town of Saltmarsh, located in the heart of Britain’s premier birding country, Jejeune’s two worlds collide with the grisly murder of a prominent ecological activist. His ambitious police superintendent foresees a blaze of welcome publicity, although doubts soon emerge when Jejeune’s best theory involves a feud over birdwatching lists. A second murder does little to bolster confidence.
Jejeune must call on all his birding knowhow to solve the mystery and deal with unwelcome public acclaim, the mistrust of colleagues and his own insecurities. For, in the case of the Saltmarsh birder murders, the victims may not be the only casualties…
Review:
Usually I'm a fan of crime and police procedural thrillers, so thought this would be right up my street, despite the 'birder' element. I must confess I know nothing of bird watching and thought the correct term was 'twitchers' - I guess I was wrong!
When I started reading, the birder aspects were quite interesting as an aside, and even educational. A murder occurred, so my interest was piqued as the detective work really started. I couldn't seem to warn to Jejeune as a character, he was too aloof and the parts narrated by him didn't hold my interest. I preferred Maik's character and found his narration much more interesting.
As the story progressed, however, it seemed that the author was determined to make the birds the focus. I tried my best to persevere, but I abandoned the book at page 212 as I had just heard enough about the damn birds!
Thanks to Real Readers and Oneworld Publications for the opportunity to read a review copy.
ISBN: 978-1780748436
Source: Real Readers
Rating: 3*
Synopsis:
Newly appointed police inspector Domenic Jejeune doesn’t mind ruffling a few feathers. Indeed his success has elevated him into a poster boy for the police. The problem is Jejeune doesn’t really want to be a detective at all; he much prefers watching birds.
Recently reassigned to the small Norfolk town of Saltmarsh, located in the heart of Britain’s premier birding country, Jejeune’s two worlds collide with the grisly murder of a prominent ecological activist. His ambitious police superintendent foresees a blaze of welcome publicity, although doubts soon emerge when Jejeune’s best theory involves a feud over birdwatching lists. A second murder does little to bolster confidence.
Jejeune must call on all his birding knowhow to solve the mystery and deal with unwelcome public acclaim, the mistrust of colleagues and his own insecurities. For, in the case of the Saltmarsh birder murders, the victims may not be the only casualties…
Review:
Usually I'm a fan of crime and police procedural thrillers, so thought this would be right up my street, despite the 'birder' element. I must confess I know nothing of bird watching and thought the correct term was 'twitchers' - I guess I was wrong!
When I started reading, the birder aspects were quite interesting as an aside, and even educational. A murder occurred, so my interest was piqued as the detective work really started. I couldn't seem to warn to Jejeune as a character, he was too aloof and the parts narrated by him didn't hold my interest. I preferred Maik's character and found his narration much more interesting.
As the story progressed, however, it seemed that the author was determined to make the birds the focus. I tried my best to persevere, but I abandoned the book at page 212 as I had just heard enough about the damn birds!
Thanks to Real Readers and Oneworld Publications for the opportunity to read a review copy.
June 14, 2017
#VictoriaReading
Longweekend enjoyment with this debut Canadian authored mystery in a UK setting. Writing a well captured personality, Burrows presents a likeable mc with a thoughtful introspective approach. Domenic JeJeune's style complicates the police superintendent's political and public expectations for a quick solution to the horror of a discovered murder. This debut sets the personal and relational work stage for the series.
Longweekend enjoyment with this debut Canadian authored mystery in a UK setting. Writing a well captured personality, Burrows presents a likeable mc with a thoughtful introspective approach. Domenic JeJeune's style complicates the police superintendent's political and public expectations for a quick solution to the horror of a discovered murder. This debut sets the personal and relational work stage for the series.
November 11, 2022
4 stars for the mystery, 2 stars for the characters' personal lives. Do the main detective and his lady friend even like each other? They have one of those relationships where I expect him to start referring to her as 'the old ball and chain.'
Regardless, I am living proof there is indeed a market for mediocre police detective books where every crime is solved due to obscure bird facts. I'll probably read the whole series.
Regardless, I am living proof there is indeed a market for mediocre police detective books where every crime is solved due to obscure bird facts. I'll probably read the whole series.
September 8, 2016
Only read it because of the connection to birding. Not a great writer.
January 31, 2016
Probably too low-key for many people's taste. The choice of starting the series *after* the great triumph that led to the main character's fame is surprising, but I think it makes sense.
January 22, 2019
About as far removed from police work as it is possible to be.
November 16, 2022
First read: Well, that was a fun little romp in the marsh.
Second read: Rereading to remind myself of the set-up before reading the rest of the series
Second read: Rereading to remind myself of the set-up before reading the rest of the series
April 6, 2022
A Siege of Bitterns was a nice, interesting, slow-paced mystery. Jejeune was an interesting lead - I liked the idea of a detective who lacks any passion for the profession but does it anyway out of a sense of duty. Maik was a perfect second to round him out.
The pacing of the mystery was well done. I wish we could have seen either less or more of Jejeune's methods - either show us a little more of how he's getting to his successes, beyond the hunches and intuition, or don't show us the moments where he's standing around dumbfounded that his theories didn't work out. I look forward to learning more about his methods in later books, and I'll also enjoy seeing how his relationship with his team changes over time.
Parts of the book felt clumsily written. I still have a hard time placing Lindy; I just don't feel like she added much to the story besides essentially being a bit of eye candy. Most scenes with her in them felt awkward.
I loved the birder twist. It's always fun reading a book where you get a deep dive into something that the author is clearly passionate about.
The pacing of the mystery was well done. I wish we could have seen either less or more of Jejeune's methods - either show us a little more of how he's getting to his successes, beyond the hunches and intuition, or don't show us the moments where he's standing around dumbfounded that his theories didn't work out. I look forward to learning more about his methods in later books, and I'll also enjoy seeing how his relationship with his team changes over time.
Parts of the book felt clumsily written. I still have a hard time placing Lindy; I just don't feel like she added much to the story besides essentially being a bit of eye candy. Most scenes with her in them felt awkward.
I loved the birder twist. It's always fun reading a book where you get a deep dive into something that the author is clearly passionate about.
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