A Hummingbird Dance

Detective Lane Series #3

by Garry Ryan

Detectives Lane and Harper are back for the third installment of the Detective Lane Mystery Series in this gripping twister of a novel that baffles with its ever increasing body count and suspect list.

When Ryan Dudley ventures out on horseback and his horse returns without him, Lane and Harper are summoned to unravel the mystery. Dudley's disappearance marks the first anniversary of a young boy's murder in the same neighbourhood, and evidence indicates the two incidents are connected. When Dudley's roommate also goes missing and mysterious shootings start happening in the area, Harper and Lane are swept into a feud between neighbours, races, and land owners, all in search of a murderer on the loose for much too long.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as strong as the previous two books in the series - the book's narrative seemed unfocused and not consistent. All in all however, still worth reading and I'll continue reading more books in this series

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Canadian Mystery! Detective Lane, his life partner Arthur, and his police partner Harper. Spoiler alert***Family stresses surface - about one being injured and the other being shot at in the line of duty. Worry and sleepless nights and a new baby to make things harder. One boy bullied and dead in a roadside drive by. Likely suspects known but no proof of deed or verification of identities. Then more shots and more missing and dead. Lanes teenage wards are butting heads and being difficult - normal stress or crisis?.
Quiet carver Aiden's marionettes act out the drive by story - public knowledge at last. The puppets also show the Hummingbird dance as it was part of the dead boy's repertoire at local pow wows. Vulnerable adult Norm is tragically shot in misunderstanding about intentions. Norm was the bad shooter but he also was the good shooter and saved a life. Eva the elder mediates a bitter stand off and volatile situation with a rogue cop. Line of trees show evidence of the missing bodies buried - one tree in the line is too tall. Nature gives us signs if we know how to read them.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Lane, Harper, and Arthur but was disappointed with the introduction of Christine. She's so awful. While I find the other parts of the book enjoyable, Christine is keeping me from continuing on with this series.

[Neet · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! Garry Ryan has done it again! This book is so intense and we're introduced to another throw away youth who becomes an addition to Lane & Arthur's family. I like the relationship between Harper & Detective Lane and how they show respect and understanding toward each other. This story reminds one what makes a family and how easily the biological parents are so willing to throw out their children when they don't meet their expectations. Luckily, both Harper & his wife Erinn, and Lane & Arthur are there with open arms to pick up the pieces. The murder investigation also is involving and haunting. I love this series, even though Garry Ryan changed to Harper's nephew from Chris in the first mystery to Glenn in the following mysteries this will be forgiven as maybe forgetfulness on the author's part. At any rate, I look forward to Smoked!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I read of this series, the more I enjoy it. I like the way that the characters Lane and Harper are developing, as well as the happenings within each of their families. I am looking forward to reading the next book of the series.

[Bill Armstrong]

Gave up