Steve Burrows has travelled the world on birdwatching adventures. He’s turned his passion into an award-winning crime series. His latest, A Shimmer of Hummingbirds, takes police inspector Domenic Jejeune on a birding trip to the rainforest, where he hopes to uncover clues about his fugitive brother’s manslaughter case.
Part 1. A Siege of Bitterns
Inspector Domenic Jejeune’s success has made him a poster boy for the U.K. police service. The problem is Jejeune doesn’t really want to be a detective at all; he much prefers watching birds. Recently reassigned to the small Norfolk town of Saltmarsh in the heart of Britain’s premier birding country, Jejeune’s worlds collide when he investigates the grisly murder of a prominent ecological activist. To unravel this mystery, Jejeune must deal with unwelcome public acclaim, the mistrust of colleagues, and his own insecurities. In the case of the Saltmarsh birder murders, the victims may not be the only casualties.
Goodreads Reviews
3.6 rating based on 1,871 ratings (all editions)
ISBN-10: 1459708431
ISBN-13: 9781459708433
Goodreads: 17859371
Author(s): Publisher:
Published: //
Globe and Mail 100: Best Books of 2014
2015 Arthur Ellis Award — Winner, Best First Novel
2015 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize — Shortlisted, Best Mystery
Newly appointed police inspector Domenic Jejeune doesn’t mind ruffling a few feathers to flush out suspects in the brutal murder of a renowned ecological activist.
Inspector Domenic Jejeune’s success has made him a poster boy for the U.K. police service. The problem is Jejeune doesn’t really want to be a detective at all; he much prefers watching birds.
Recently reassigned to the small Norfolk town of Saltmarsh, located in the heart of Britain’s premier birding country, Jejeune’s two worlds collide when he investigates the grisly murder of a prominent ecological activist. His ambitious police superintendent foresees a blaze of welcome publicity, but she begins to have her doubts when Jejeune’s most promising theory involves a feud over birdwatching lists. A second murder only complicates matters.
To unravel this mystery, Jejeune must deal with unwelcome public acclaim, the mistrust of colleagues, and his own insecurities. In the case of the Saltmarsh birder murders, the victims may not be the only casualties.
Part 2. A Pitying of Doves
Why would a killer ignore expensive jewellery and take a pair of turtledoves as the only bounty. This is only one of the questions that piques Jejeune’s interest after a senior attaché with the Mexican Consulate is found murdered alongside the director of a local bird sanctuary. The fact that the director’s death has opened up a full-time research position studying birds hasn’t eluded Jejeune either. Could this be the escape from policing that the celebrated detective has been seeking?
Goodreads Reviews
3.8 rating based on 925 ratings (all editions)
ISBN-10: 1459731069
ISBN-13: 9781459731066
Goodreads: 23322785
Author(s): Publisher:
Published: //
Why would a killer ignore a cache of expensive jewellery and take a pair of turtle doves as his only bounty? When a senior attache with the Mexican Embassy is found murdered alongside the director of a bird sanctuary, there are many questions to pique Domenic Jejeune s interest. And as tragic as the deaths are, he notes that the murder has left a vacant field research position studying turtle doves in Africa a full-time position studying birds. Could this be the escape from policing that the celebrated detective has been looking for? But Jejeune knows that he could never be comfortable taking over the dead girl s position unless he had first shown her the courtesy and respect of solving her murder. As he pursues his own theory of what happened, Jejeune discovers that diplomatic cooperation and diplomatic pressure go hand in hand. Will the delicate dance of diplomacy prevent him from ever being able to bring the true murderer to justice?"
Part 3. A Cast of Falcons
A man falling to his death from a remote cliff sets off a high-stakes chase for Inspector Domenic Jejeune, who must protect his fugitive brother and pursue a maddening foe, while any misstep could bring down wrath from above on Jejeune, his family, and the entire police force.
Goodreads Reviews
3.9 rating based on 763 ratings (all editions)
ISBN-10: 1459732146
ISBN-13: 9781459732148
Goodreads: 25825991
Author(s): Publisher: Dundurn Press
Published: 5/7/2016
The threat from above is an ever-present danger.
A man falls to his death from a high cliff face in northern Scotland. From a distance, another man watches. He approaches the body, tucks a book into the man’s pocket, and leaves.
When the Scottish police show Inspector Domenic Jejeune the book, a bird guide bearing his name, he can truthfully say he that he has no idea how it came to be in the dead man’s pocket. What he does not tell them is that he recognizes the book instantly. So, while puzzled, he is not entirely surprised when his brother Damian emerges from his fugitive existence to reveal that the dead man is a notorious “taker” — a poacher of live wild falcons.
The case gets personal in a way Jejeune has never experienced before. He is acutely aware that with each passing day, rare birds are being illegally taken from the wild. And hovering over his every move is the threat that if he gets this one wrong, no one in the North Norfolk Constabulary will escape the wrath of the nation’s highest-placed officials.
Part 4. A Shimmer of Hummingbirds
The desperate departure of his fugitive brother has left Chief Inspector Jejeune rattled, and those around him nursing lingering suspicions. When evidence surfaces that may prove his brother’s innocence, Jejeune decides to take a leave of absence to pursue it. But his replacement looks as if he may want the position to be more than temporary.
Goodreads Reviews
4.0 rating based on 639 ratings (all editions)
ISBN-10: 1459735315
ISBN-13: 9781459735316
Goodreads: 29977286
Author(s): Publisher: Dundurn Press
Published: 3/11/2017
Sometimes, the wrong choice is the only choice you have.
Chief Inspector Domenic Jejeune is hoping an overseas birding trip might hold some answers in his fugitive brother‘s manslaughter case. But there are people on the tour who seem keen to keep their secrets, and the rainforest can be a dangerous place for those who ask too many questions.
Back in Saltmarsh, in Jejeune‘s absence, his former boss and longtime nemesis has been brought in to investigate the murder of an accountant. Marvin Laraby is proving so effective that Superintendent Colleen Shepherd is considering making his replacement for Jejeune a permanent arrangement.
With the manslaughter case poised to claim another victim, Jejeune learns that an accident back home involving his girlfriend, Lindy Hey, is much more than it seems. Lindy is in imminent danger. And only Jejeune can help her. But to do so, he must sacrifice his working relationship with Shepherd, opening the door for Laraby‘s appointment as Saltmarsh‘s new DCI.
When Jejeune discovers the truth about Laraby‘s current case, he is faced with a dilemma. He can speak up, knowing it will cost him his job on the north Norfolk coast he loves. Or he can stay silent, and let a killer escape justice.
As he weighs his alternatives, Domenic Jejeune begins to realize that, sometimes, the wrong choice is the only choice you have.
