I stumbled onto a murder mystery series the year I joined RGVCTMN and the Arroyo Colorado Audubon Society.
The protagonist is Bob White, an avid birder living in Minnesota, who adds spice to his birding adventures by finding dead bodies and then helping police solve the crimes. Jan Dunlap is the author.
The series was a fun supplement to my personal birding learning. It reinforced what I was learning from Norma Friedrich, ACAS president, and other experts when I’d join them on field trips.
The books are quite fun and pretty accurate about birds, birding and birders.
What does that have to do with TMN and nature? The seventh book in Dunlap’s series takes place in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The murder victim is discovered right near where this photo was taken with my phone camera during our (successful, I might add) Outdoor Photography Workshop last month at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco.
Imagine this scene in the above photo: An alligator sunning itself atop an overturned canoe. Birders surveying the scene through binoculars from the observation deck at Estero Llano Grande State Park with a Winter Texan (RGVCTMN member?) volunteer and several park visitors. Suddenly, someone notices a boot sticking out from under the canoe. Attached to that boot is a leg . . . .
Ok, that’s it for the teaser. I won’t tell you who the victim is nor if any of the supporting characters will remind you of our beloved Ranger, John Yochum, or anyone else you might know . . . . You’ll have to read the book. That’s a closer possibility than you might imagine. The author will be at the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival November 5 -8.
The title of her latest book is The Kiskadee of Death.
by
Jan Dunlap
Check it out:
https://www.facebook.com/Birder-Murder-Mama-126389054114777/
Dunlap writes:
“Can’t wait to get to Harlingen, TX in two weeks for my first Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival! I’ll be signing copies of The Kiskadee of Death (which takes place in that locale) and speaking on a panel about beginning birding. Join me!!” – Jan Dunlap
Her panel is at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 6. Visit her website www.jandunlap.com to read more about The Bob White Birder Murder Mystery Series.
Anita, thanks for including the teaser about “The Kiskadee of Death” and for recommending it to others – I’m pleased to say that many readers have reported a renewed interest in the outdoors after reading the books, which is one of the reasons I created the series.
In addition, I’m so glad we got to meet in person at the Festival, and I look forward to our crossing paths again once my husband and I make our retirement move to Canyon Lake next month. Though I’ll be sad to turn in my cap as a Minnesota Master Naturalist, I’m looking forward to replacing it with a Texas Master Naturalist one! Thanks for all the links to TMN – they are much appreciated!
Interesting news about Estero and John. Will try to get a copy of the book to read. I remember when Estero was only a pipe dream in peoples’ minds.
Thanks.
The books are available for reading on a Kindle, Frank.
Very true Frank…. Seems like yesterday! “Como Han Pasado Los Años”
Very true Frank…. Seems like yesterday! “Como Han Pasado Los Años”