Winter Study

An Anna Pigeon Mystery

By: Nevada Barr

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

It is January, and Park Ranger Anna Pigeon is sent to Isle Royale in Lake Superior to learn about managing and understanding wolves, as her home base of Rocky Mountain National Park might soon have its own pack of the magnificent, much-maligned animals. She's lodging in the island's bunkhouse with the famed wolf study team, along with two scientists from Homeland Security, who are assessing the study with an eye to opening the park in the winters - an act that would effectively bring an end to the 50-year project - so that the area can be manned to secure the scrap of border with Canada.

Soon after Anna's arrival, the wolf packs under observation begin to behave in peculiar ways. Giant wolf prints are found, and Anna spies the form of a great wolf from a surveillance plane. The discovery of wolf scat containing alien DNA leads the group to believe that perhaps a wolf/dog hybrid has been introduced to the island.

When a female member of the team is savaged, Anna is convinced she is being stalked, and what was once a beautiful, idyllic refuge becomes a place of unnatural occurrences and danger beyond the ordinary. Alone on an island without electricity or running water, with temperatures hovering around zero both day and night, Anna fights not only for the wolves but for her own survival as well.

Listen to more Anna Pigeon mysteries.

©2008 Nevada Barr (P)2008 Recorded Books

Another gripping story

Another gripping adventure featuring the imperfect ranger. Great background research brings the characters and setting to life. Love this series!

A Great Selection for Summer's Heat

A major character of each Anna Pigeon story is the park in which it is set, so the physical descriptions are vital to the plot. Winter Study finds Anna returning to Isle Royal (abbreviated by the park service as ISRO and pronounced "Is Row"), so we have the park of A Superior Death, but in the depths of winter.
I have read or listened to all of the Anna Pigeons and this one rates as one of my favorites. Barbara Rosenblatt does her usual excellent job with the reading.
My only regret is that now I have to wait a year for another new Anna.

Not quite up to the normal Nevada Barr standard

I love the Anna Pigeon mysteries, and really enjoy the book settings in the national parks. Nevada Barr does a great job of making the parks come to life. However in this latest novel, the plot is bit hard to believe, although Nevada Barr's description of the outdoors is up to her ususal high standard. I had some difficulty with the moral justice in this story - seemed to be a bit off.

Excellent book and Narration!

This book and narration is terrific! Ms. Rosenblat is the perfect voice for Anna, and always has been. She does a terrific job on the other characters, too. Her voices cause me to see the characters.

Winter Study is an excellent story. I was disappointed that the setting was a park in which Anna already worked, but it is a perfect place for the story. Anna's detective skills have never been better, and with the characters with which she was working, they had to be! So far, this is my favorite Anna Pigeon story, and I can't wait for the next one.

It's Isle Royale

Way too much description. 25% of the book the narrator pronounced Isle Royale correctly, the rest of time she pronounced it "Is Roll". It took me awhile to figure out what she was talking about.

Good setting; Insufficient character development.

This was my first read of an Anna Pigeon book. The idea is intriguing... Crimes set in National Parks. I am certain to read more. And despite the fact that I lived in Michigan for several years I had never heard of this island. This setting was unique and interesting. The harsh winter weather and the potentially dangerous wildlife gave this book an extraordinary backdrop. However, Anna was virtually alone because all of the other characters were unknown to her. Strangers. It meant that there was little character development. Yes, we learned that she is married and loves her husband. But they had no interactions and that made Anna less interesting. I really wanted to see her life; her humor; her flaws.

Her best yet?

Nevada Barr's fans will need no other reader's opinion to spring for her latest Anna Pigeon novel - suffice it to say from a fellow fan that this is as good or better than her best so far. Those who are thinking of checking out Barr's books will not be disappointed either, though it would be better to visit your library (sorry Audible) and get her earlier Anna Pigeon works (such as HUNTING SEASON) and work your way through. I predict you mystery afficionados beginning to tire of the sameness of so many series will be refreshed with the originality of the national park settings written by an honest-to-god ranger. Not to mention armchair outdoor adventurists. An easy FIVE STARS For Anna!

The tension builds steadily

This story starts in a quiet, cool and orderly fashion and then bit by bit the tension builds so that you can't put it down.

Did not work all that well as an audiobook

I've enjoyed Nevada Barr's books, and decided to try this title as an audiobook. It didn't work that well for me. It was too lengthy and dragged at times. I kept getting bored and having to rewind to listen again. The narrator was fine, but this book just isn't suited to being an audiobook.

Anna is always great

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was time well spent. I thought the first half of the books was slow. I was expecting more action but the second half if seemed like Anna came to life and was her same old self.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anna for her humor and deduction. Some times I can hear myself in her voice.

What about Barbara Rosenblat’s performance did you like?

I lobe Barbara Rosenblat. She could read the newspaper to me and I would be happy. When I'm stressed I can listen to her and she seems to calm me down. She as Anna always make me feel better.

Could you see Winter Study being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I have no idea.

Any additional comments?

Nevada Barr always gives you a great story and I really enjoy her descriptions. She makes you feel that you are at the locations and it they are beautiful or ugly you can see it in your mind as if you were there.