Stephen White - Alan Gregory discussion

After moving to Colorado, and before I read Stephen White. I read Nevada Barr's Hard Truth, published in 2005.


This story took place in Rocky Mountain National Park and one of the main characters was from Boulder. Hard Truth was the first Nevada Barr book I read. I have since read High Country, Winter Study and part of her newest, Borderline. Each story takes place in a National Park with a ranger character named Anna Pigeon. These books would fall into the Mystery/Thriller genre.

I'm a big fan of Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon stories. Although I have been stuck on Flashback for a while. That one takes place at Fort Jefferson where Dr. Mudd was imprisoned. And it goes back and forth between the present and a diary a relative had kept during the days that Dr. Mudd was there.

I think she has one that takes place at Mesa Verde, not sure though. The one I started with was Deep South which took place at the park at the Natchez Trace, where I had recently been.

How funny because I actually tried to read Flashback soon after Hard Truth and before High Country... I just couldn't get into it. I decided I'd just read the new novels as they came out and maybe someday go back and try older ones. I haven't really gotten into Borderline yet - have you read it yet?

It would be great to read the story right after, right before, or while visiting the park like you did with Deep South - or really reading any of the mysteries that took place in a National Park you've visited.

I have been to Mesa Verde - I think I may have been 5 or so at the time. The same with Estes.

But I have been twice now to the Natchez Trace. Once when I took a vacation down Highway 51 (Bob Dylan inspired) and the other when I had been at training in New Orlean - best training trip ever!

There was one that took place in some caverns and another where she was fighting a forest fire.

I think I may have been to the Statue of Liberty when I was young and she has a book there.

I've been reading Flashback for quite some time now. I'm not sure if it is because I can't get into it or it spooks me. It is another one where she has Anna diving and something happens to her. That also happened in one of her books that takes place at Isle Royale (?) on Lake Superior.

Is the book that has the Statue of Liberty an Anna Pigeon novel? Usually Anna's in a big national park. The Statue of liberty isn't that big of an area is it? I've never been there. I just picture Anna running up the statue of liberty, climbing off the side, or hanging off the crown - I can't imagine how a whole novel could take place there. I'm assuming you've read the book....maybe you can fill me in :-)

Yes, that one was Liberty Falling. I think she was there because her sister was in the hospital. Not sure if that was before or after her sister stole a beau from her.

The thing about most of these books is that Anna is put into some sort of confining situation - whether it is in a cavern, a forest fire, on an island (Liberty Island), under water, etc. Lots of times she gets pinned down by things, even in a supposed wilderness.

Some of the stuff isn't very believable wouldn't you say? But hey, it is fiction afterall :-)I thought Winter Study was more believable than Hard Truth.

I don't remember anything about her sister - but then again I've only read from High Country to Borderline

I guess The Statue of Liberty does fall under the jurisdiction of National Parks - I heard briefly today some guy on the radio talking about monuments and what not - he recently worked on the National Parks PBS special.

It is not like it is real life.

I hAve no idea what the average daily life of a park ranger (enforcement division) is. So I guess I just check it all at the door.

New Book by Nevada Barr. I didn't even know about it until today :-) but then again I still haven't read the one she published this Spring - Borderline.

I just got 13 1/2 from the library and its on my stack of books to be read this weekend. We are headed up to the mountains. I've read several of the Anna Pigeon books and I am looking forward to something different. I'll let you know how I like it.

Good :-) I'm not going to get to it for a while so I'd be interested to know what you think.

I've never read the Nevada Barr series. So you'd recommend it?

I don't know if I was just not in the mood for this type of novel or what, but I could not get into 13 1/2, Nevada Barr's latest stand alone novel. It starts out with a series of gruesome tales that seem unconnected. I'm sure they all come together at some point but it just wasn't happening for me. I love the Anna Pigeon books and I do recommend those!

Honestly, I haven't been able to really get into Borderline (the newest Anna Pigeon) - I've borrowed it like 3 times from the library and it just hasn't gotten my interest. I'll probably try it again. I've enjoyed High Country, Hard Truth and Winter Study - those are the only ones I've actually read completely. Laurel, I recommend the ones I've read - I listed them in sequence if you want to give them a try - I can't really say how her older ones are :-)

Christine wrote: "I don't know if I was just not in the mood for this type of novel or what, but I could not get into 13 1/2, Nevada Barr's latest stand alone novel. It starts out with a series of gruesome tales th..."

Are you going to finish the book anyway and see what happens? Keep us posted :-)

I had to return it to the library so I may try again in the future.

Sounds like me and Borderline :-)

My favorite of the Anna Pigeon books is Firestorm and it is 4th in the series, a lot earlier than the ones Dustin mentioned.

I'm glad you let us know a good early Pigeon book to try :-)

Hi, I just joined this group, but noticed the discussion about Nevada Barr; the Anna Pigeon series is one of my favorites, though I haven't read Borderline yet. I liked reading this series in order; although each mystery can stand alone, there are story lines following Anna's personal life that are developed in each subsequent book. Below is the series list, in order. My favorite is probably Ill Winds, as it takes place at Mesa Verde, and also Blind Descent was mesmerizing.

Series
Anna Pigeon
1. Track of the Cat (1993)
2. A Superior Death (1994)
3. Ill Wind (1995)
aka Mountain of Bones
4. Firestorm (1996)
5. Endangered Species (1997)
6. Blind Descent (1998)
7. Liberty Falling (1999)
8. Deep South (2000)
9. Blood Lure (2001)
10. Hunting Season (2002)
11. Flashback (2003)
12. High Country (2004)
13. Hard Truth (2005)
14. Winter Study (2008)
15. Borderline (2009)

I will check out the series; just ordered the 1st, Track of the Cat, on my Kindle. I tend to prefer my crime in urban settings so this will be a departure for me.

Reading Nevada Barr will get you wanting to leave urban settings and visit National Parks :-)