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Jonathan Wilder Mystery #1
Dance of the Scarecrows
At a Halloween night party in a small Connecticut town, six men dress as scarecrows to perform a comic dance. The next morning their leader, still in costume, is found brutally murdered in a cornfield. Enter Jonathan Wilder, a respected ornithologist and one of the best bird artists of today. Handsome, restless, adventurous, he travels the world to paint the birds featured in his nature guides. But he is no detective. Still, when the mayor is also found dead, Jon is sure he knows the killer but the police believe they have the suspect Wilder himself.
Now, Jon must apply all his wits - as well as his knowledge of the way of birds - to clear his own name and prevent himself from becoming a victim of the real murderer. To help him, he enlists the help of his closest friend, woodcarver Colin Hightower, and a beautiful young divorcee who has recently moved to town, Lorelei Merriwell. But unmasking the murderer becomes a dangerous and daunting task; time is running out, and questions without answers keep arising.
Now, Jon must apply all his wits - as well as his knowledge of the way of birds - to clear his own name and prevent himself from becoming a victim of the real murderer. To help him, he enlists the help of his closest friend, woodcarver Colin Hightower, and a beautiful young divorcee who has recently moved to town, Lorelei Merriwell. But unmasking the murderer becomes a dangerous and daunting task; time is running out, and questions without answers keep arising.
226 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Ray Sipherd
32 books5 followersRay Sipherd was one of Sesame Street's early writers, as well as the author of a number of Sesame Street books. His work on Sesame Street earned three Emmy awards.
Sipherd, a graduate of Yale University, created the award-winning NPR program All Things Considered. In addition, he has penned a number of mystery novels for adult audiences, such as Dance of the Scarecrows, and published a collection of short stories titled The Christmas Store. Currently, Sipherd serves as a senior staff editor for Reader's Digest Condensed Books.
Sipherd, a graduate of Yale University, created the award-winning NPR program All Things Considered. In addition, he has penned a number of mystery novels for adult audiences, such as Dance of the Scarecrows, and published a collection of short stories titled The Christmas Store. Currently, Sipherd serves as a senior staff editor for Reader's Digest Condensed Books.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 28, 2018
Read from a condensed version (RDCB Volume 3 1996). Recommended for those who like murder~mysteries with enough clues to muddy the suspect list. Very entertaining read.
October 9, 2019
Jonathan Wilder is a bird artist and a birder - someone who spends time watching birds and noting where they found them - and one morning he's teaching a group of people how to draw them. But while they're watching the ducks feeding, they hear two shots ring out and two young females are dead. Jon recognizes the hunter as Rod Ramsey - the town's first selectman (akin to mayor), who's hunting illegally.
Angered, he goes to Rod's business and confronts him, calling him a murderer. But he can't prove it was Rod, so he leaves. At a Halloween event where several men are dressed as scarecrows (Ramsey among them) entertain the crowd dancing a funny bit, Jon and everyone leave once it is over. The next morning Jon is out hunting a bird rare to the area when he comes across a scarecrow in someone's field. The scarecrow turns out to be the body of Rod, still wearing his outfit from the night before.
He reports the crime and wonders who hated him enough to kill him. Ramsey had plenty of enemies, from spurned lovers to angry clients and everyone in between, but someone wanted him dead. When Jon learns that his prints were found on the murder weapon, he has a personal stake in finding the killer, even though several people tell him to leave it be. Now Jon, usually a mild-mannered person, finds himself in the cross hairs and if he's not careful he'll be next to die...
I wanted to read this book because I was intrigued by the title and the fact that it takes place at Halloween, and I love to 'read the season,' as it were. Unfortunately, it began extremely slow and I almost gave up on it at several points. While the murder occurs almost immediately, we don't discover Jon's involvement until at least a third of the book is past, and the conversations before that are rather mundane. They involve thinking and talking about bird (if you're an avid bird watcher you will probably love this book) and general conversations and thoughts about the town and its businesses and people. Nothing much to keep one interested.
But once Jon realizes that he's the only suspect and begins to ask questions, then it picks up a little. Not much, but a little. This book wasn't one I couldn't put down. In fact, I put it down several times to do other things, which tells me that it's a bit of a ho-hum read. The possibilities are there, but they just aren't followed through.
What does follow is another death, and Jon begins to start connecting the two into something that he thinks is bigger. He looks for a connection between the deaths, all the while keeping it to himself because, as he thinks, he brought information to the police once and was wrong. Knowing he could put himself in danger, he continues to look for the clues.
All in all, the mystery wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either. It was a book to pass the time although I was disappointed that it wasn't really a book about the two holidays it encompasses. When the killer is revealed the reasons for the murders seemed rather odd, nothing worth killing for. As I stated, it wasn't a bad book, but I don't think I'll read this author again.
Angered, he goes to Rod's business and confronts him, calling him a murderer. But he can't prove it was Rod, so he leaves. At a Halloween event where several men are dressed as scarecrows (Ramsey among them) entertain the crowd dancing a funny bit, Jon and everyone leave once it is over. The next morning Jon is out hunting a bird rare to the area when he comes across a scarecrow in someone's field. The scarecrow turns out to be the body of Rod, still wearing his outfit from the night before.
He reports the crime and wonders who hated him enough to kill him. Ramsey had plenty of enemies, from spurned lovers to angry clients and everyone in between, but someone wanted him dead. When Jon learns that his prints were found on the murder weapon, he has a personal stake in finding the killer, even though several people tell him to leave it be. Now Jon, usually a mild-mannered person, finds himself in the cross hairs and if he's not careful he'll be next to die...
I wanted to read this book because I was intrigued by the title and the fact that it takes place at Halloween, and I love to 'read the season,' as it were. Unfortunately, it began extremely slow and I almost gave up on it at several points. While the murder occurs almost immediately, we don't discover Jon's involvement until at least a third of the book is past, and the conversations before that are rather mundane. They involve thinking and talking about bird (if you're an avid bird watcher you will probably love this book) and general conversations and thoughts about the town and its businesses and people. Nothing much to keep one interested.
But once Jon realizes that he's the only suspect and begins to ask questions, then it picks up a little. Not much, but a little. This book wasn't one I couldn't put down. In fact, I put it down several times to do other things, which tells me that it's a bit of a ho-hum read. The possibilities are there, but they just aren't followed through.
What does follow is another death, and Jon begins to start connecting the two into something that he thinks is bigger. He looks for a connection between the deaths, all the while keeping it to himself because, as he thinks, he brought information to the police once and was wrong. Knowing he could put himself in danger, he continues to look for the clues.
All in all, the mystery wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either. It was a book to pass the time although I was disappointed that it wasn't really a book about the two holidays it encompasses. When the killer is revealed the reasons for the murders seemed rather odd, nothing worth killing for. As I stated, it wasn't a bad book, but I don't think I'll read this author again.
October 12, 2022
Dance of the Scarecrows – A Jonathan Wilder Mystery – 1996 - *** - Jonathan Wilder, wildlife artist and author of bird books, involves himself in the murder of the town men. The scarecrow group, six prominent local businessmen, are being murdered one by one and Jonathan tries to discover the killer. The protagonist comes off as a goody goody tree hugger snob. Really hard to warm up to this character. The book lacked pizzazz as one reviewer put it, and I agree. I did finish the book with light skimming and the murderer was a surprise. The end of the book did not really wrap up all the sub plots and left me frustrated. The book received three stars as I liked it enough to finish and it was a unique setting. But it really wasn’t that much of a mystery book, or a thriller, or a cozy. It was lukewarm on all those fronts, leaving the reader unsatisfied. Doubtful if I will read anymore Sipherd books.
October 20, 2018
A relatively good mystery at Halloween. Author has good writing style. Could use a bit of excitement periodically. An enjoyable story.
May 5, 2019
A good, run of the mill mystery. I like mysteries, so I enjoyed this one. However, if you're not into mysteries or thrillers then it's probably not for you. A nice weekend read.
November 26, 2023
A real page-turner. Will look for more from Ray Sipherd.
February 15, 2025
Reminded me of a Father Brown episode, one of my BBC favorite comfort shows. I really enjoyed it.
December 17, 2013
"At a Halloween night party in a small Connecticut town, six men dress as scarecrows to perform a comic dance. The next morning their leader, still in costume, is found brutally murdered in a cornfield. Enter Jonathan Wilder, a respected ornithologist and one of the best bird artists of today. Handsome, restless, adventurous, he travels the world to paint the birds featured in his nature guides. But he is no detective. Still, when the mayor is also found dead, Jon is sure he knows the killer, bu the police believe they have the suspect too: Wilder himself.
"Now, Jon must apply all his wits -- as well as his knowledge of the way of birds -- to clear his own name and prevent himself from becoming a victim of the real murderer. To help him, he enlists the help of his closest friend, woodcarver Colin Hightower and a beautiful young divorcee who has recently moved to town, Lorelei Merriwell. But unmasking the murderer becomes a dangerous and daunting task; time is running out, and questions without answers keep arising. What secret bond unites the town's most respected citizens? Who has set about to kill them one by one? And why does a black crow feather become a harbinger of death?
"Once more, as in Alfred Hitchcock's film The Birds, those small and seemingly defenseless creatures Jon Wilder confronts evoke unforgettable moments of menace and suspense."
~~front & back flaps
Well, you can pretty well guess the way the story goes, can't you? Yep, formulaic. The only difference from a cozy is that the non-police detective is a man instead of a woman. But of course Jon and Lorelei (and honestly ... isn't that name a dead giveaway?) manage to fall in love whilst chasing the murderer, leaving it to her to do the obligatory warnings and him to ignore them, thus falling into the killer's hands in peril of his life.
A quick read: slightly intriguing plot, characterization could have been worse.
"Now, Jon must apply all his wits -- as well as his knowledge of the way of birds -- to clear his own name and prevent himself from becoming a victim of the real murderer. To help him, he enlists the help of his closest friend, woodcarver Colin Hightower and a beautiful young divorcee who has recently moved to town, Lorelei Merriwell. But unmasking the murderer becomes a dangerous and daunting task; time is running out, and questions without answers keep arising. What secret bond unites the town's most respected citizens? Who has set about to kill them one by one? And why does a black crow feather become a harbinger of death?
"Once more, as in Alfred Hitchcock's film The Birds, those small and seemingly defenseless creatures Jon Wilder confronts evoke unforgettable moments of menace and suspense."
~~front & back flaps
Well, you can pretty well guess the way the story goes, can't you? Yep, formulaic. The only difference from a cozy is that the non-police detective is a man instead of a woman. But of course Jon and Lorelei (and honestly ... isn't that name a dead giveaway?) manage to fall in love whilst chasing the murderer, leaving it to her to do the obligatory warnings and him to ignore them, thus falling into the killer's hands in peril of his life.
A quick read: slightly intriguing plot, characterization could have been worse.
September 30, 2009
This story was a mystery of who is murdering and scaring local political figures in a small CT shoreline town. It was an easy read and applicable to fall, Halloween and election time, small town politics and real estate. The sleuth Jon Wilder has an interest in birds so there are numerous references to birds of the area. Not exactly predictable, but with all mystery stories there are clues that lead you to the discovery of who done it.
March 1, 2016
Dance of the Scarecrows, Ray Sipherd, RDC- M V 3 1996, 4/13. In a small town, while birding, a scarecrow in a field is really a dead mayor murdered elsewhere and strung up on posts. He and other important men around town had dressed as scarecrows and entertained at a Halloween Harvest Hoedown. Now they are dying at an alarming rate, and the birder is the primary suspect. Good.
Read
October 26, 2013Not a bad cozy mystery - the amateur sleuth in this book seemed very matter-of-fact and determined to solve the murders however like many he neglected his own safety. Needed a little more pizzazz in this story!
Want to read
September 18, 2009picture book
August 2, 2015
An interesting mystery. I enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews