This is the first of a murder mystery series all set in National Parks. I'm about 4 books in, at this point, and thoroughly enjoy the main character, Anna Pigeon, and learning about national parks around the country while following fictional murders. Wonderful detail about the national parks and, in later books, forest firefighting. This one is specific to endangered species and makes a great read.

Anna Pidgeon is a really tough woman. She discovers the body of a fellow park ranger being eaten by vultures. That vivid description almost turned me off the book right there; but my daughter had enjoyed several of Nevada Barr's books and encouraged me to stick with it. I'm glad I did. She is a troubled heroine, but strong; and her chats with her sister, a psychiatrist, reveal her character and help her make her way through many obstacles, both with her inner troubles and the harsh landscape. Barr's descriptions of the park bring it to life. I don't think I would survive there for five minutes; but Anna prepares and survives. She also tracks down the killers of people who are thought to have died by accident. Their comeuppance is breathtaking.

This has been my favorite Nevada Barr so far. A female ranger up there in the mountains tracking, and all alone. Great story.

As the first book in the series, you can tell Anna hasnt been fully developed as a character. Many of the side characters feel extremely artificial and the ending feels disjointed from the rest of the book. Try a different Anna Pigeon novel first, you wont miss much.