A Nest In The Ashes: A Birdwatcher's Mystery

The Birdwatcher’s Mysteries #3

by Christine Goff

National Park Service ranger Eric Linenger has been asked to oversee a "prescribed burn" of 1,000 acres of Rocky Mountain National Park. Although necessary, the fire threatens the habitat of Green-Tailed Towhees and Virginia Warblers and Eric's friends at EPOCH are strongly opposed. Once lit, the flames spread out of control - and the body of Eric's boss is found near the origin. As Eric investigates, he discovers that many people had reasons for wanting the burn to go to blazes . . .

Genres: Mystery, Birds

286 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2002

About the author

Chris Goff is an award-winning author of eight novels--six based on environmental themes and two in a new international thriller series. Her bestselling Birdwatcher's Mysteries have been nominated for several WILLA Literary Awards and a Colorado Authors' League Awards. Tony Hillerman, the New York Times bestselling author of the Navajo mystery series, said, "You don't have to be a bird lover to fall in love with Christine Goff's charming Birdwatcher's Mysteries;" while David Morrell, the New York Times bestselling author of Murder as a Fine Art, called it "a wonderfully clever, charming, and addictive series." The series is currently published by Sharpe Books.

There are currently two books in Goff's international thriller series. Red Sky, her most recent book, came out in June 2017 to critical acclaim and was a finalist for a 2018 Colorado Book Award. Her series debut, Dark Waters, was dubbed "a sure bet for fans of international thrillers" by Booklist, nominated for the 2016 Colorado Book Award, the 2016 Anthony Award for Best Crime Fiction Audiobook, and published internationally. Manhattan Book Review called it "Absolutely masterful..."

Goff began her career writing non-fiction, penning columns for several local newspapers in Summit County, Colorado, as well as articles for regional and national publication. Later she edited rock and ice-climbing guides for Chockstone Press and worked in graphic production for "Living the Good News," a division of The Morehouse Publishing Group. A long-standing member of multiple writing organizations, she serves on several national boards, including: International Association of Crime Writers and Sisters in Crime. The program coordinator for Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book, she lives in Colorado.

PRAISE FOR BIRDWATCHER'S MYSTERY SERIES

​ "You don't have to be a bird lover to fall in love with Christine Goff's charming Birdwatcher's Mysteries." -- Tony Hillerman, New York Times bestselling author of the Leaphorn and Chee novels.

​ "The birds of the Rocky Mountains will warm the binoculars of birders who have waited a lifetime to see real stories about birds in a popular novel." -- Birding Business Magazine

​ "A wonderfully clever, charming, and addictive series." -- David Morrell, author of Murder as a Fine Art.

​ "Very entertaining. Birders and nature lovers alike will enjoy this new twist on the cozy mystery." -- The Mystery Reader

PRAISE FOR RED SKY

​ A fine sequel to 2015's Dark Waters ." -- Publishers Weekly
​
"Jordan makes a fine lead character. Give this to readers who like Matthew Palmer's blend of diplomacy and thrills." -- Booklist

"Suspenseful and entertaining. Chris Goff writes with a sure hand and knows how to keep the reader turning the pages... Add her name to the growing list of excellent female thriller writers such as Taylor Stevens, Jamie Freveletti and Zoe Sharp."
-- Deadly Pleasures​

"Goff excels in setting the hook..." ​ -- Kirkus Reviews


PRAISE FOR DARK WATERS

​ "Great characters, action and location--altogether terrific." -- Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author

​ "Strong first thriller." -- Publishers Weekly

​​ "Goff reveals a knack for thrillers. A sure bet for fans of international thrillers." ​ -- Booklist

​ "Whip-smart, informed, and tightly woven, Chris Goff's international thriller Dark Waters reeks of authenticity and intrigue. Through her frank depictions of modern-day Israel, and on the backs of nuanced characters, Goff has fashioned a story that unfolds at a blistering pace, and feels like it all could happen tomorrow. Writing like a seasoned pro, she crushes the genre in her debut effort." -- Mark Sullivan, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Private L.A. and Thief

​ "Goff combines cultural detail, rich geographic description, and countless plot twists to create an engaging and satisfying thriller." -- Foreword Reviews

Reviews

[Moondance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eric Linenger is a National Park Services ranger involved in a "prescribed burn" near Elk Park, Colorado. The burn goes horribly bad with many acres being destroyed and the body of Eric's boss, Wayne being found in the center of it. The biggest fire is blamed on Wayne although Eric believes it to be a murder. He sets out to clear the name of the man that has been like a father to him.

This is the first book I have read in this series and I see that I need to go back and read the previous two. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. I loved the information on the birds and their habitats. I could have done without feeding the raptors although i do know it is necessary for those in rehab.

The characters are very well done. Eric grew up in Scandinavia and doesn't always understand US idioms. This makes his an endearing character. I like his relationship with Lark and would like to see where it started.

I think the fire portion of the book spoke to me because my father was a firefighter. He was trained in brush fire techniques but it was not used a great deal here in the city when he was with the department. Fire is such a devastating thing. I felt terrible for the loss of the animal habitats.

The mystery was well done and I did not realize who the culprit was until it was revealed. It was a bit of a shocker.

I will need to go back to the beginning of this interesting series and see what else I can learn about birds, bird watching, and the National Parks Service.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I picked this up at the Birdwatcher’s General Store on Cape Cod. It is book three in the series, so now I need to backtrack to read books one and two. (3 stars is worth reading on my scale, with 4 and 5 reserved for favorites).

[Judith Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Number 3 in the series, with another death to solve, this one involves controversy over a prescribed burn out of control.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third in Goff's series of "Birdwatcher's mysteries" and it is definitely the best of the lot so far. She shows a much surer hand in constructing the mystery this time and the characters of Eric and Lark seem a bit more fleshed out and realistic.

In this entry, Eric, the National Park Service ranger, takes center stage. The NPS is conducting a controlled burn on the parklands near Elk Park, Colorado. A controlled burn that quickly becomes uncontrolled and ravishes several thousand acres of park habitat, and in the midst of all that destruction lies the body of Eric's friend and mentor, Wayne Devlin.

An investigation by the NPS indicates that Wayne probably was responsible for setting the fire that burned out of control and caused so much devastation, but Eric can't believe that and sets out to prove the investigators wrong. In this, he has an ally and helpmate in Lark, his long-time friend who perhaps is on the verge of becoming more than just a friend.

The story of how they go about investigating and of all the red herrings thrown in to confuse the reader kept my attention and interest throughout. I didn't figure it out until near the end.

I had thought I might give up on this series after I finished the third entry, but this one was good enough to keep me reading. Just not right away. I need a break from these characters for a while.

[Meg Morden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by Christine Goff and I love her "cozy mystery" style. As Tony Hillerman writes on the jacket, "One need't be a bird lover to fall in love with Christime Goff's charming Birdwatcher Mysteries", but it is certainly a bonus if one is. It makes me want to grab my binoculars and fly out to the Colorado! Another bonus in my mind is that each book so far has focused on some aspect of environmental issues. In this book the theme is whether controlled burns in public forests are a good thing or not. This book focuses on the character Eric Linenger, a National Park Ranger who is becoming friendly with Lark Drummond, the protagonist of the earlier two books. This branching out is great for giving a different perspective and for examining the burgeoning romance from another angle. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and enjoy the fact that Goff is really hitting her stride as a writer.

[Liesa Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Nest in the Ashes" does a terrific job of bringing the reader right into the story with a "controlled burn" that quickly grows out of control. I zipped through the first eight chapters on an emotional ramp. Well done. Having read "A Rant of Ravens" before this installment in the Birdwatcher Mysteries, I liked the switch in protagonists to Eric Linenger. Some familiar friends popped in for quick hellos (the sisters Dorothy and Cecilia, and the other EPOCH members) so I felt at home in the read, even if a year or two later from the first book.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery brings in forest fires and birdwatching and moves fast enough to keep my mind off my surgery. Of course, I did have hallucinations of having to try to find witnesses when I came out of the anaesthesia!

[Kate Cleland-sipfle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read "A Rant of Ravens," and "Death of a Songbird" as well, I like this one the most...well crafted and suspenseful. Goff knows her birds and birders.

[David Vanness]

My copy is paperback 303 page Large print

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite of the "Birdwatcher's Mystery" series so far...a pretty weak story, and not very birdy! Still worth a read, though.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 - Not Bad

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

So-so; slow to start and not too compelling of a mystery.