Boar Island
An Anna Pigeon Novel
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3.9 • 106 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Nevada Barr brings National Park Ranger Anna Pigeon to the wild beauty of Acadia National Park in the New York Times bestseller, Boar Island
Anna Pigeon, in her career as a National Park Service Ranger, has had to deal with all manner of crimes and misdemeanors, but cyber-bullying and stalking is a new one. The target is Elizabeth, the adopted teenage daughter of her friend Heath Jarrod. Elizabeth is driven to despair by the disgusting rumors spreading online and bullying texts. Until, one day, Heath finds her daughter Elizabeth in the midst of an unsuccessful suicide attempt. And then she calls in the cavalry---her aunt Gwen and her friend Anna Pigeon.
While they try to deal with the fragile state of affairs---and find the person behind the harassment---the three adults decide the best thing to do is to remove Elizabeth from the situation. Since Anna is about to start her new post as Acting Chief Ranger at Acadia National Park in Maine, the three will join her and stay at a house on the cliff of a small island near the park, Boar Island.
But the move east doesn't solve the problem. The stalker has followed them east. And Heath (a paraplegic) and Elizabeth aren't alone on the otherwise deserted island. At the same time, Anna has barely arrived at Acadia before a brutal murder is committed by a killer uncomfortably close to her.
BOAR ISLAND is a brilliant intertwining of past and present, of victims and killers, in a compelling novel that only Nevada Barr could write.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In bestseller Barr's fast-paced but sometimes predictable 19th Anna Pigeon novel (after 2014's Destroyer Angel), the National Park Service ranger accepts a short-term assignment in Maine's Acadia National Park. She's joined by her friend Heath Jarrod, Heath's spry Aunt Gwen Littleton, and 16-year-old Elizabeth, Heath's adopted daughter and Anna's goddaughter, who has been targeted by a vicious cyberstalker at home in Boulder, Colo. They soon realize that the stalker has followed Elizabeth to Maine, but because of jurisdictional issues and vague laws, the local police can do little. Meanwhile, Anna becomes involved in a murder investigation that pits her against a pathologically cunning, increasingly unstable adversary. Barr excels at conveying the often harsh realities faced by lobstermen and their families, though her depiction of the antagonist is less compelling and fails to achieve nuance or dimension. Still, readers looking for a lively escape in a rugged, brutal, but magnificent landscape should find plenty to enjoy. 150,000 first printing; author tour.
Customer Reviews
Boar Island
One of Barr’s very best. A fascinating and highly creative story with well-drawn characters who are very relatable. And Barr’s writing skills, as always, make the pages come alive. A terrific read not to be missed. Thank you, Nevada. Please keep the Anna Pigeon stories coming.
Twice as Good. Liz32906
Another great story! One wonderful writer"Barr none"🚣👭🌊🏊🚌🍼! Liz
No improvement
Most writers have a book which does not live up to the series, and that was Nevada's last book. I had hoped that the release of Boar Island would show a return to the fine style of writing found in her other books. Alas, that was not the case. The writing style in BI was fractured, slowly weaving the relationships between the parties; i.e. Denise to Anna.
There should have been one plot; that of solving the cyberattack on Elizabeth. However, once that story was established, the book jumped over to the story of Denise; with Elizabeth's story being placed on the back burner until it was brought forward in the fourth quarter to be quickly resolved and explained. It was as if Nevada realized at the 11th hour that she needed to return to Elizabeth's story.
I also miss Nevada's full integration of the national park in her story; it has in this book become simply a backdrop. I was always drawn into her locale in prior books because of her very descriptive use; here she falls short. I finished this book knowing very little about Acadia. I also miss characters of the past; her sister Molly and her husband Paul.
Is three a charm? Time will tell.