When a fiction writer can make the "where" part of the story into it's own character - that's quite a talent. Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon mystery series takes you into the national parks of the U.S. and makes them come alive. In the book Ill Wind, Barr sets her story in Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park.As Anna explores the park, it's history and the cliffs, she learns more about her co-workers who live on site and about the ancient Anaszi who once lived there and disappeared long ago. This summer, the park has seen an usually high number of medical emergencies and there is the tragic death of an asthmatic child. Then Anna's coworker is found dead in a kiva in the cliffs. Was it an accident? The ancients? Or something a bit more modern?
She just was becoming friends with the fellow ranger. She thought she knew him, but finds out that everything is not what it seems. When Anna struggles to make sense of what is happening in the park, she also has to take stock of her own personal demons that have come with her to this new work site.
Barr brings the Mesa Verde area to life. I have not been to this park, but I have been to other Anaszi sites in the southwest and she brings the striking beauty alive with her descriptions. Makes you want to pull up pictures on the Internet while you are reading. This series really allows the reader to be an armchair traveler!
It was a fun read. I am looking forward to discovering the others in the series.
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