Crow in Stolen Colors

Alaska Panhandle Mysteries #2

by Marcia Simpson

What's not to like? Wrangell, Alaska, rich in scenery, laden with native lore. A child who's not cute but sturdily self reliant. No victim, although needing shelter, James has been prepared by his grandfather for the weight of tribal responsibility. He knows where all the Tlingit bodies are buried. A great, half breed dog who neither talks nor detects. Sam's just a dog. A woman who's wounded but walking, struggling to make sense of her life. She's stubborn and somewhat rash, but you can forgive her as you warm to her prickly personality and watch her pilot her freighter/floating library. And a cop who's no SNAG (that's Sensitive New Age Guy) but working on his attitude. Toss in some Tlingit totems and you get a winning and colorful debut mystery which also has a winning hardcover publication by us (April 30), mass market publication by its originating publisher, Berkley Prime Crime (May 8, $5.99).
Crow in Stolen Colors ($24.95) is reviewed in the April issue of Firsts, The Magazine for Book Collectors. While fairly citing some flaws, Kathryn Smiley sums ""Liza has lived several daughter of a native American mother who left Liza and her Anglo father; wife of a policeman shot to death by a crazed druggie; skipper of a coastal freighter. Now Liza unwillingly takes on another incarnation, as protector of a seven-year-old Tlingit boy who himself is the guardian of a very big secret.... This is an entertaining debut with a vivid setting and a brisk pace. Simpson is obviously at home in a boat on the tricky waters of the Alaskan coast; after a session with Crow in Stolen Colors, you feel a need to wash the salt spray off your face....[it] provides readers a passage alongwaterways few of us have visited and a thoughtful look at the true value of cultural heritage.""

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller

264 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Marcia Simpson lives on Lopez Island in the San Juans. She and her husband spend much of their time aboard a sailboat in Alaska.

Reviews

[Ed]

#1 of the Liza Romero series. The series only ran to two entries but it was interesting for its protagonist and setting. Finalist 2001 Edgar Award for Best First Novel; Finalist 2001 Macavity Award for Best First Novel.

Liza Romero is the captain of the Salmon Eye, a small freighter/library-boat, plying the coast and islands around Wrangell, AK. She, and her dog Sam, discover a nearly drowned Tlingit boy, James. They rescue him and after reporting their planned return to Wrangell, discover the body of a dead Indian man, are attacked and Sam is shot. Someone doesn't want James rescued.

[Kara of BookishBytes]

Though this is the second book in a series, I believe it was published before the "first" book. I happened to read the two books in the order they were published, second book first. This one is far superior to the other. I'm hoping the third will be worth reading since Ms. Simpson created some fascinating and entertaining characters in this book.

[E]

Really enjoyed this new-to-me author: seting and characters, story and American Indian background. Stephanie Brush's narration - with many varied voices and a real sense of ease - was a large part of the pleasure of the experience.

[Olgalijo]

Much better than the first one on the series. There is still a fair amount of fact unneeded repetition, but much less than in the previous book. Also, the depiction of the native culture seems to be very deep and accurate.

[Terri]

Was a good debut novel. At time the details about operating a boat in frigid Alaskan waters got to be too much sailing jargon..I understood about half (of less), but the story, the plot, the characters were all enjoyable.

[Melanie]

Librarian in Alaska. Boat-mobile and murder. Lots of legend and lore. Good mystery. Great Location

[Amy]

A basic little mystery. The real star was Alaska.

[Julie]

Wrangell Alaska and a Librarian...can't wait to get this one! Meh...just okay. Didn't love the style of writing.

[Darla]

A good first novel. Interesting to read about some of the customs of the native people and some of how they live now.

[Helen Fleischer]

Tlingit country, want more

[Janiej78]

I read this after visiting Wrangell, AK - it was her first book and very interesting.

[Wendy]

S L O W, Athough it did have some interesting information about Native Culture and some about Alaska.

[Janet]

Very Good. Kept me on the edge of my seat.

[Sally Atwell Williams]

Great mystery, written about the native Americans in Alaska. Simpson's first book with these characters. I am now starting her second mystery with these characters - SOUND TRACKS. Good read!

[Diane]

4 - Very, Very Good