Review: A Pitying of Doves: A Birder Murder Mystery

A Pitying of Doves: A Birder Murder Mystery by Steve Burrows
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am really enjoying this series; this is #2. DCI Domenic Jejeune is still conflicted about his job. He is a brilliant detective, but doesn't find the job at all fulfilling. He would much rather be researching birds. In his newest case, the caretaker of a local bird sanctuary and young Mexican diplomat are found brutally murdered in a locked bird cage at the sanctuary, and two birds are missing. Jejeune's thought processes and investigative methods don't usually follow the norm, so his superiors aren't very happy when he refuses to put a lot of priority on obvious suspects. The investigation becomes complicated when a chief suspect is murdered and a police officer is injured.

This book has a dark, moody atmosphere which seems to reflect Jejeune's inner conflicts. As in the first book, the author does a good job of evoking the setting, and in sharing interesting information about birds. There is a not-so-subtle conservation message underlying the books too, but it's not intrusive.

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