A Siege of Bitterns: A Birder Murder Mystery: Winner of the Arthur Ellis Award 2015

by Steve Burrows

Overview

Winner of the Arthur Ellis Award 2015

In this first Birder Murder mystery 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

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...

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781786074263
Publisher:	Oneworld Publications
Publication date:	02/06/2018
Series:	Birder Murder Mysteries , #1
Edition description:	New edition UK & US
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Steve Burrows has pursued his birdwatching hobby on six continents. He is a former editor of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society magazine and a contributing field editor for Asian Geographic. Steve now lives with his wife, Resa, in Oshawa, Ontario.

Editorial Reviews

'A sound plot and well-drawn characters within the police and from all sides of Norfolk's ecological issues make for a most entertaining read'.

The Times

‘Entertaining, instructive and amusing’.

The Comet

'It's always nice to come across a new angle in crime fiction...this is an entertaining visit to the Norfolk coast and a good introduction to the world of birders'.

Crime Review

‘A murder plot built around birdwatching doesn’t, at first, seem plausible or even possible. But Burrows pulls it off in a dazzling debut... Riveting from first page to final line.’

Globe and Mail

'The books are well written...and instructive. We are promised a series of birder murder stories: good!'

Literary Review

'A new genre is born: the "birder murder"'.

Sunday Times Crime Club

'Filled with clues dead ends ... and blinding moments of “Eureka!'

Owen-Sound Sun Times

‘While Jejeune may not be too enthusiastic about his profession, it’s easy to be enthusiastic about Burrows’ first mystery, and I’m looking forward to more fowl play in the future.’

National Post

'I didn't realise trying to spot rare birds could be so ruthlessly competitive, with fowl play as a result in this Midsomer-ish case'.

Peterborough Telegraph

'One of the most delightful...mysteries of recent years'.

Daily Mail

‘Finally, a solid, well-constructed murder mystery that happens to involve a subject with which many mystery readers might not be familiar.’

Booklist

‘Finally, a solid, well-constructed murder mystery that happens to involve a subject with which many mystery readers might not be familiar.’

Booklist

'One of the most delightful...mysteries of recent years'.

Daily Mail

'A sound plot and well-drawn characters within the police and from all sides of Norfolk's ecological issues make for a most entertaining read'.

The Times

This is one of the most delightful, old-fashioned mysteries of recent years.

DailyMail

Filled with clues dead ends . . . and blinding moments of “Eureka!

The Sun-Times

. . . with its bird-focused cop and crimes, it has also located a natural audience: besides environmentalists in general, the novel’s basic passion will ring bells for the world’s considerable contingent of bird-watchers.

London Free Press

While Jejeune may not be too enthusiastic about his profession, it’s easy to be enthusiastic about Burrows’ first mystery, and I’m looking forward to more fowl play in the future.

Finally, a solid, well-constructed murder mystery that happens to involve a subject with which many mystery readers might not be familiar.

Filled with clues dead ends . . . and blinding moments of “Eureka!”

A murder plot built around birdwatching doesn’t, at first, seem plausible or even possible. But Oshawa author Burrows pulls it off in a dazzling debut novel sure to make the shortlist for next year’s Arthur Ellis. . . Riveting from first page to final line.

. . . with its bird-focused cop and crimes, it has also located a natural audience: besides environmentalists in general, the novel’s basic passion will ring bells for the world’s considerable contingent of bird-watchers.

“The debut of a major new Canadian talent.

From the Publisher