Track of the Cat

By: Nevada Barr

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

From the vivid opening vista, high in craggy mountains, to the final haunting glimpse of a moonlit canyon, Nevada Barr's first mystery, Track of the Cat, instantly caught the attention of readers and reviewers. Its popularity gained it both an Agatha and an Anthony Award.

The young naturalist, Anna Pigeon, has moved to the Southwest wilderness to be a park ranger. There, her days are filled with the physical demands of working in the Guadalupe Mountains and the satisfaction of living in this splendid land. Her peace is shattered one morning, though, when she discovers the body of another ranger deep in Dog Canyon. How did the usually cautious woman die? Although at first the evidence indicates an attack by a mountain lion, Anna soon suspects that there are craftier predators afoot in the wild grasses.

Fast-paced suspense and sharply defined characters will immediately sweep you up in the force of this compelling mystery. By the end, you'll be nodding in satisfaction at the final twist and anticipating the next book in the Anna Pigeon series. Narrator Barbara Rosenblat's performance highlights Anna's savvy courage and determination to catch her prey.

Listen to more Anna Pigeon mysteries.

©1993 Nevada Barr (P)1997 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Thrilling...Ms. Barr has a naturalist's eye for detail and an environmentalist's fury at the destruction of the wilderness." (The New York Times Book Review)
"The texture, scents and sounds of the West Texas wilderness permeate this forceful debut....A park ranger herself, Barr develops a complex, credible and capable heroine who believes in truth and justice while remaining conscious of the ambiguities of human existence." (Publishers Weekly)
"Spectacular descriptions, psychological insight, and a refreshingly independent heroine." (Library Journal)

A great listen!

The writer has done an excellent job. She pulled me right in. Her ability to detail wherever Anna was and whatever she was doing to the point I could hear the saddle leather or smell the air. Loved her ending!

Guadalupe Mountain Mystery

This award winning first book in a mystery series is set in a real/actual place in West Texas. The main character, strong and likable Anna, is a park ranger in the Guadalupe Mountain National Park. The park is known for its fossil reef, hiking and backpacking. The vivid description of hiking and backpacking and the sense of place are all strong in the story. The book captures the wilderness, the dangers and the beauty of the setting.

The narration starts out slow--but give it time--it gets better. Rosenblat sounds a bit worn out at first but I think the voice was intentional and captures the character of Anna well.

I enjoyed the story and thought that the mystery was well thought out and held my interest. It kept me thinking right up until the end. The engaging writing and strong character development make this book worth the time spent listening. A good start to a new to me series that I plan to continue.

My First Nevada Barr Does NOT Disappoint

What made the experience of listening to Track of the Cat the most enjoyable?

I'm a new fan of Anna Pigeon and her sister Molly. The story kept me engaged...it's a page turner. The characters are rich and author Nevada Barr is skillful in unfolding them before your eyes. Beautiful description of the west Texas Guadalupe Mountains. Barr knows whereof she writes.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The story itself is fresh and exciting. Certainly no retreads here.

What does Barbara Rosenblat bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Barbara Rosenblat brings a lot to the reading of Track of the Cat. She reads well, has a strong, expressive voice. And while it's not quite the performance level of say Lorelei King reading a Stephanie Plum mystery (Janet Evanovich), Rosenblat does the story and the characters justice...and then some.

Make sure you speed up the playback

The story was great. I have read many Anna Pidgeon stories abd loved them which is why I picked up an Audible version. Byt holy moly! A five year old could read faster. It was tolerable when I increased the playback speed.

Good story

Breathy reading is distracting. If you have been hiking in the Guadalupes, you should enjoy the story. Accurate descriptions.

Slow Start to a Great Story

Would you listen to Track of the Cat again? Why?

I would listen to the story again after a time had passed.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anna was a good character - she had smarts without being a know-it-all. She possessed critical thinking skills with just enough fear of danger.

What about Barbara Rosenblat’s performance did you like?

The narrator has a voice that is easy to listen to but not a very wide range of male/female voices.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Is anyone else an Anna Pigeon fan? This series is one of my favorites. The series take place in various National Parks and feature Park Ranger, Anna Pigeon. There is mystery, suspense, intrigue and fun in every book. In an ideal world you’d read them in order; however, it’s not really as critical here as in some series. I’ve jumped around based on 2 things: 1) my interest in the park 2) availability at the library. I’ve listened to all of the books on audio and enjoyed them immensely, the reader does a great job and, sounds exactly how I think Anna should sound. Every Anna Pigeon book that I have read has been at least a 4 star read.

Track of the Cat takes place at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas. When Anna discovers a fellow Park Ranger apparently killed by a cougar, the evidence doesn’t quite add up. When a second park employee is found dead, it is again ruled an “accident”, when Anna barely survives an “accident” of her own there is just too much coincidence here to believe and she begins her own investigation.

Track of the Cat is book #1 in the series. Thus far I have read: Destroyer Angel #18, A Superior Death #2, Liberty Falling #7, Blood Lure #9, Burn #16, Deep South #8, and Hunting Season #10. The theme is similar throughout the series. The locations and other characters vary by book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For more book reviews follow me at #emptynestreader #Instagram #Goodreads #facebook #trackofthecat #nevadabarr #barbararosenblat #annapigeonseries #recordedbooks #audiobook #nationalparks #fiction #mystery #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #audible #emptynestreaderaudiobooks🎧

Track

Great book and great story line
Lots of twists and turns
Mystery and suspense with a touch of romance

captivating mystery for those who love the outdoor

If you love National Parks and wild spaces, this novel will make you feel like you're smack dab in the middle of GMNP and the Chihuahua desert. The narrator had some interesting pronunciations but excellent story

I Remember...

when she wrote it! Love the story, the description of the beautiful park, and the well rounded characters.