A Superior Death

Publisher's Summary

Nevada Barr quickly attracted the attention of mystery fans when her first Anna Pigeon mystery, Track of the Cat, appeared. Now she immerses the intrepid park ranger in a perilous search that will take her far below the waters of Lake Superior. As Anna spends her days patrolling its shores, the surface of Lake Superior fills with tourists. In the depths below lie an ancient ship and the bones of its sailors. But when two tourists dive down to see the wreck, they discover that a new body has joined the skeletal crew. As Anna tries to discover how and why, she encounters secrets darker and more deadly than the waters surrounding the corpse. Filled with suspense, A Superior Death is also laced with Anna Pigeon's self-deprecating humor. With Barbara Rosenblat's spirited narration, you'll immediately be scanning the splendid setting and looking for clues through the eyes of the savvy naturalist.

Listen to more Anna Pigeon mysteries.

©2000 Nevada Barr (P)2004 Recorded Books

Critic Reviews

"She [Anna Pigeon] is a captivating, daredevil detective whose adventures will delight mystery readers." (School Library Journal)
"Barr, a park ranger, provides plenty of authentic details about life in the great outdoors, and her deft plotting and appealingly quirky characters give her story plenty of punch. Anna Pigeon is tough-minded, strong, sensitive, vulnerable, and funny." (Booklist)

Lake Superior is a character

This is the first book I have read in the Anna Pigeon series. I bought it on Audible because it is set in one of my favorite places in the world: Lake Superior. I really loved the descriptions of life on the lake, which agreed with my experiences of being there. I liked that the heroine is a park ranger who uses her knowledge of science and nature to solve a mystery.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Great mystery, totally enjoyed it

I am not usually a mystery reader but I enjoyed this one very much. The author creates memorable characters and beautiful description. I grew up in Michigan and spend a lot of time in the "UP." I also spent a summer volunteering in a national park and I think Ms. Barr has really captured these environments perfectly. Funny, but many of the characters seemed familiar to me. I found a bio on her and found that she grew up near Lassen Park where I volunteered! The book not only brought back happy memories but also entertained me thoroughly.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

A Superior Story

Would you consider the audio edition of A Superior Death to be better than the print version?

Well I haven't yet

Who was your favorite character and why?

This is only my third Ann Pigeon story. Nevada Barr does a very nice job of building upon the character. We learn more about her (and her past) all the time. It unfolds. I also like Molly, Ann's sister in NYC. She's quite a character.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This is a powerful and complex story that comes together in an exciting and believable way. Everything gets resolved, explained and you come away satisfied.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Save your money

I have listened to and read many Barr novels, finding them enjoyable and giving me a chance to get in touch with my "feninine side." this was not even close to her usual quality. The usual interesting descriptions of the parks was tepid, and the dialog was trite to the extreme. Rosenblat did her best with the naration, but even she couldn't save this one.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

good audiobook, no surprise

well read, good intrigue

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Engaging, good read

Barbara Rosenblat has once again brought the character of Anna Pigeon to life. The plot, location and characters are very enjoyable. This is one of my favorites from the series.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

All the weirdoes of the boreal

Ranger Anna Pigeon in a fight to the death in the freezing, murky waters of a famous Lake Superior shipwreck? If that’s not enough to keep you up nights, then perhaps you’re more interested in the weird and isolated cast of characters who spends the summer season at Isle Royale National park, slapping mosquitoes, getting around by boat, boiling down the boreal forest into potions, and drinking themselves stupid under the pines. Another well-crafted detective story in a stunning natural setting. There’s even a camp fox named Knucklehead.

Anna Pigeon delivers again, this time combining forces with an FBI agent she calls Fred the Fed and watches in amusement as he hikes around the great Northwoods in his office getup. She has to use a boat to reach a phone to call her wisecracking shrink sister in New York City.

This book was written in the early 1990’s. There’s a subplot about a 13 year old being seduced by a park employee in his 40’s, and the Park Service does not deal with it as a criminal violation. Barr would probably have dealt with this subplot differently now, 25 years later – it’s a bit off-putting to a modern reader. But the rest of the story and the gnarly characters that inhabit the story really delivers.

superior death an appropriate name

I loved this book with all the turnaround s and surprise s.
so descriptive one can feel thewaters
and the deep fog as it envelopes you.

A Superior Yarn

Even though Anna is out of her element she manages to adjust to the depth of her surroundings!

Boring

I liked Track of the Cat but was very disappointed by this book. The story was slow, the narrator too expansive, and altogether, I couldn't keep my attention on the story. Needs severe editing.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful