Didn't relate to the protagonist or the characters. ( )

What I liked most about this book was that it was smartly written.

At times I was certain this was a 4-1/2 to 5 star book, but ultimately I felt like the story bogged down for no good reason and then many of the clues to the mystery were dropped in during the summing up. For me that last bit is like... thank you for explaining what wasn't contained in the book (which could be any damn thing you dreamed up to make it work).

Within the mystery is a knowledgeable account of birds and birding, but at the same time does not spare birders from light disparagement. The story ranges from the finer points of field identification to bird lore to mocking those who choose to spend valuable time chasing birds.

This is the kind of stuff I really liked, the "birders versus the real world."

************

"But murdering someone over a bird list? I mean, it's so preposterous. Even a fanatical birder like you must admit that, for God's sake. Just to be the first to see four hundred birds. Who cares? Well, you would, obviously, but I mean among normal people."

Birders versus the real world was a discussion they had held before, at various levels of seriousness, and Jejeune had little hope that this one would turn out any different, especially given Lindy's current mood.

************

This passage being a bit of "who knew?" as well as a look at those inside and those outside the bird world.

************

"Why a siege, for God's sake?"

Senior smiled. "Ah well, you would have to ask Juliana de Berniers. She's the one who first catalogued these wonderful collective nouns. Some do say it's a corruption of sedge, but there are enough strange entries in Ms. de Berniers' 'Book of St Albans' to suggest that it was probably siege right from the beginning."

"But why have a collective noun for bitterns at all," asked Lindy, "if it's so unusual to see more than one at a time? I mean, nobody's ever felt the need to come up with a collective noun for intelligent men, have they?"

Senior barked his delighted laugh again. "Ah well, I suspect it's back to the dinner table for that one. As in, 'I understand you are entertaining tonight, my Lord, I'll have cook prepare a siege of bitterns for your supper.' But it's an interesting question.

************

It's a fun read. ( )

The birder in question is DI Dominic JeJeune, a recent transplant from Canada to Yorkshire (if I remember correctly).

It's a good thing he's a birder or he wouldn't have solved this mystery, but the reader needn't worry because Dominic's knowledge is available to them. Interesting mystery - and I learned a lot about birding!

I'm pretty sure I'm going to pick up #2 - A Pitying of Doves ( )

I am a huge fan of Elly Griffiths’ series that takes place near Saltmarsh in Norfolk and was excited to learn about a second series set in the same area. While Ruth Galloway (Griffiths’ protagonist) is an archaeologist, DCI Domenic Jejeune is a Canadian police detective who would rather spend his days birdwatching. Soon after his arrival in Norfolk, Jejeune is assigned to solve the murder of a prominent ecological activist. Jejeune is a likeable and intelligent protagonist, and the resolution of the murder is a bit convoluted but still entirely plausible and satisfactory.

Burrows calls attention to the saltmarshes of Norfolk, and the effects pollution and human activity have on that sensitive and important habitat. That focus and learning about the bittern were my favorite parts of the book. He strikes just the right balance between the mystery elements and the ecological and nature aspects of the story.

A Siege of Bitterns was a great read, and I look forward to reading the next few books in the series. ( )

Highly recommended by a trusted source, I began reading A Siege of Bitterns with a great deal of anticipation. I love British police procedurals as well as watching birds, so this book had all the earmarks of a winner. Alas, it was not meant to be. For a first book, the main things are good: the story, the setting, and the characters. Burrows puts us right in the marshes of Norfolk, and the mystery is genuinely puzzling. Jejeune, on the whole, is an interesting character, but.

You were waiting for that, weren't you? The execution did not live up to the promise. The book needed more editing to tighten it up and make the story flow smoother and faster. One of my pet reading peeves is when we are constantly told about a character instead of letting us find out for ourselves. This is what happens with Domenic Jejeune. At almost every turn, we are told what an exceptional person he is instead of simply being shown by his words and actions. I hate to say this, but midway through the book, I found myself fighting to stay awake, and that continued throughout the rest of the story.

As I've said before, this is a first book, and the issues I had with it can all be fixed. I'm just not sure that I want to venture into book number two. Your mileage may certainly vary-- and I hope that it does! ( )