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Available
Call number
Series
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Publication
New York : Berkley Books, 2003..
Description
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Thriller. HTML:THE FIRST ANNA PIGEON NOVEL�??WINNER OF THE AGATHA AWARD. The fascinating hero of Nevada Barr�??s award-winning series�??park ranger Anna Pigeon�??has brought an unyielding love of nature and sense of fair play to the mystery genre. Track of the Cat is the acclaimed novel that first introduced readers to Anna, as a woman looking for peace in the wilderness�??and finding murder instead�?� Patrolling the remote West Texas backcountry, Anna�??s first job as a national park ranger is marred by violence she thought she had left behind: the brutal death of a fellow ranger. When the cause of death is chalked up to a mountain lion attack, Anna�??s rage knows no bounds. It�??s up to her to save the protected cats from the politics and prejudices of the locals�??and prove the kill was the work… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bookmarque
After reading later novels in the Anna Pigeon series, it was nice to start at the beginning and get to know Anna when she was starting her national park career. She is more vulnerable and volatile in this early time than in the later. She is less tolerant of politics and personalities. She is more
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ruthless, single-minded and uncompromising. In later books, she has learned the art of diplomacy, so in this one it’s Anna’s way or the highway. And at this point in her life, it works. All she wants to be is a park ranger, to protect the species she holds dear and alone. She relishes her time in the backcountry because she is solitary. Show Less
LibraryThing member kd9
I am always looking for more mystery writers. I seem to be drawn to strong female protagonists with a bit of an unconventional point of view. I am very happy to have discovered Nevada Barr. Her protagonist is a New York City widow who runs away and joins the National Park Service. Although the
Although there are a certain number of rough spots in the descriptions and narrative, overall this is a very strong first novel. The unpleasant characters are not always the murderous ones. I am looking forward to more books in this series.
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Texas desert seems to be as far away from the Big Apple as it could be, it still contains a similar number of people who are trying to cut corners and gain financial advantage from illegal activities.Although there are a certain number of rough spots in the descriptions and narrative, overall this is a very strong first novel. The unpleasant characters are not always the murderous ones. I am looking forward to more books in this series.
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LibraryThing member benfulton
I cannot think of anything bad to say about this book. The characters are intriguing, richly drawn, and hold one's interest, especially Anna. The scenic descriptions are lush and ring with the authenticity of an author who knows her parks. The pace is good, and the scrapes the heroine gets into
Generally I reserve five-star rankings for books that are life-changing, but it occurred to me that, with the exception of Harry Potter, I hadn't seen a new one of those in at least ten or fifteen years, and Track of the Cat is a compelling mystery.
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seem realistic to me (even though a blurb in my copy says, Nevada Barr can take the most improbable plot and turn it into a fascinating foray..., faint praise if I've ever heard it). On top of that, the puzzle is legitimate and there are enough clues to give the reader a sense of accomplishment for solving it.Generally I reserve five-star rankings for books that are life-changing, but it occurred to me that, with the exception of Harry Potter, I hadn't seen a new one of those in at least ten or fifteen years, and Track of the Cat is a compelling mystery.
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LibraryThing member sumariotter
This is my first Nevada Barr mystery (and looks like her first too?) and I am pretty excited. She is clearly a lesbian-friendly author if nothing else since her animal-loving independent introverted kick-ass park ranger/detective heroine Anna Pidgeon has an attraction to a bisexual woman and is
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unfazed by it. And, the bisexual woman does not turn out to be the killer---Barr gets major points in my book for that. I love mysteries that teach me something and mysteries with a lot of atmosphere and this series has a lot of promise. There is nothing better than finding an author you like and realizing that there are a lot more books in the series! Show Less
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
One of the cool things about this series is the number of parks you get to see. Especially the earlier books there is a lot of interesting stuff going on in Anna's character development. The later books tend to be over the line for me, violence wise.
LibraryThing member jepeters333
Anna Pigeon tries to save mountain lions; two murders; takes place in west Texas.
LibraryThing member bjmitch
I've been reading the Anna Pigeon series forever it seems, but in no particular order. Then I picked up a paperback copy of one I hadn't read at a book sale and just realized it was the very first Anna Pigeon mystery. I can't believe I had never read it before.
In Track of the Cat Anna is a fairly
As the story begins, Anna is completing a transect of the park looking for signs of mountain lions. Ranchers just outside the park are always complaining that lions from the park are killing their livestock, and the ranchers want to be able to hunt them. Anna loves the animals, and the park periodically does these transects to see if and where the cats are; they also have banded some of them. Anna comes to McKittrick Canyon and finds the body of another female ranger, apparently killed by a mountain lion.
Those of us who know Anna well know that she is a loner. When she needs to talk, she calls her sister, a psychiatrist in New York City. In this book though she makes a friend, which causes difficulty because the friend is also a suspect in the killing. You see, the ranger wasn't killed by a mountain lion. She was murdered.
That's all I'm going to tell you because this is every bit as good a story as the rest of the series. Once you read that first page, you're hooked and won't put the book down until the end. I always recommend Nevada Barr for readers who like strong women protagonists and masterful descriptions of nature, as well as witty internal dialogue. If you aren't an Anna Pigeon follower, please look for Nevada Barr in your local library or bookstore.
In Track of the Cat Anna is a fairly
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new National Park Ranger stationed at Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas. She had become a ranger after her husband died in an accident in New York. Being far from that city and living in a beautiful natural setting helps, but of course doesn't bring her husband back. She still mourns.As the story begins, Anna is completing a transect of the park looking for signs of mountain lions. Ranchers just outside the park are always complaining that lions from the park are killing their livestock, and the ranchers want to be able to hunt them. Anna loves the animals, and the park periodically does these transects to see if and where the cats are; they also have banded some of them. Anna comes to McKittrick Canyon and finds the body of another female ranger, apparently killed by a mountain lion.
Those of us who know Anna well know that she is a loner. When she needs to talk, she calls her sister, a psychiatrist in New York City. In this book though she makes a friend, which causes difficulty because the friend is also a suspect in the killing. You see, the ranger wasn't killed by a mountain lion. She was murdered.
That's all I'm going to tell you because this is every bit as good a story as the rest of the series. Once you read that first page, you're hooked and won't put the book down until the end. I always recommend Nevada Barr for readers who like strong women protagonists and masterful descriptions of nature, as well as witty internal dialogue. If you aren't an Anna Pigeon follower, please look for Nevada Barr in your local library or bookstore.
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LibraryThing member miyurose
This series first caught my attention when I saw it was set in several different National Park Service properties. My husband and I love to visit National Parks, and have spent many a vacation and even anniversaries in one. So far, we’ve covered 14 of 58, which I don’t think is too bad seeing
Overall, I found the book to be pretty good. Anna is surely a flawed character — commitment phobic, naturally suspicious and un-trusting, borderline alcoholic, and unable to recognize friendship when she sees it — but she is still likeable. At first, she is only concerned with Sheila Drury’s death because of its impact on the mountain lions she tracks, but eventually she realizes that it’s a story much larger than that.
I did have a few quibbles about the ending. I thought it all came about rather suddenly, like all of the pieces in Anna’s head clicked at once and she had the answer. I was a bit sad about who the culprit turned out to be, but I thought the ending wasn’t taken quite far enough. I would have liked at least an epilogue to tie up the loose ends.
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how we live on the east coast. What it all adds up to is me being intrigued by not only the setting of this book, but the inside look at the Park Service.Overall, I found the book to be pretty good. Anna is surely a flawed character — commitment phobic, naturally suspicious and un-trusting, borderline alcoholic, and unable to recognize friendship when she sees it — but she is still likeable. At first, she is only concerned with Sheila Drury’s death because of its impact on the mountain lions she tracks, but eventually she realizes that it’s a story much larger than that.
I did have a few quibbles about the ending. I thought it all came about rather suddenly, like all of the pieces in Anna’s head clicked at once and she had the answer. I was a bit sad about who the culprit turned out to be, but I thought the ending wasn’t taken quite far enough. I would have liked at least an epilogue to tie up the loose ends.
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LibraryThing member m.belljackson
Track of the Cat is the first of Nevada Barr's novels set in U.S. National Parks. Not only is it a totally compelling story from the first pages, but violence is not a driving force.
Ranger Anna Pigeon may claim a place in your heart with her kindness, love for animals, and amazing strong spirit.
Ranger Anna Pigeon may claim a place in your heart with her kindness, love for animals, and amazing strong spirit.
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Cougars receive fair and intelligent treatment. Show Less
LibraryThing member skinglist
A friend recommended this series and I read the first one in two days.
Although dated now-and somewhat amusing to read a book where the hero had to go to a laundromat to make a call on an iPad-but a good story that holds up.
An imperfect heroine in Anna who seems well schooled in getting herself
Although dated now-and somewhat amusing to read a book where the hero had to go to a laundromat to make a call on an iPad-but a good story that holds up.
An imperfect heroine in Anna who seems well schooled in getting herself
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into messes. I look forward to reading the rest of the series but hope the other endings are better. Show Less
LibraryThing member 4leschats
When Anna discovers the body of a fellow ranger in her watch area, the initial verdict is lion mauling. However, as Anna tries to save the animals from human revenge, she finds clues to suggest that the killing was only staged to look like a lion attack, but really one perpetrated by a human. This
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first book in the series did a nice job of balancing set up with action and made me want to read the next one. Show Less
LibraryThing member twokidsnablanket
This book was a good one. Anna is a curious, meddling lil thing. she loved the outdoors. and wild life. this book kept me wondering who did it and why.
LibraryThing member susanbevans
Nevada Barr's Track of the Cat, is the first book in her Anna Pidgeon series. Set against the arid backdrop of the Guadaloupe Mountains in West Texas, Track of the Cat follows park Ranger Anna Pidgeon as she tries to unravel a murder plot.
Seeking the solitude and healing powers of nature after the
I actually picked up Track of the Cat for the first time about 14 years ago. As a teenager I couldn't really get into it, but as an adult, the imagery of the West Texas desert enchanted me. The stark description of Guadalopue Mountains National Park is magnificent - the punishing heat of the Texas desert, the beauty of the pristine mountains and canyons - I could feel the rocks crunching beneath my feet as I followed Anna throughout the park. I am a born-and-bred Texan, but I live in Southeast Texas. I've never physically been that far West, but I felt as though I was there while reading this book!
As a character, Anna Pidgeon was compelling and interesting. Possibly as a result of her career as a National Park Ranger, Nevada Barr has created a unique and believable character in Anna. She is a flawed, "real" character, making her feel like a friend, rather than just a character in a book. It is easy to put yourself in her shoes and follow the clues. I have always enjoyed reading and learning about nature, and it was fascinating to follow Anna and see what the job of a Ranger entails.
Track of the Cat was promising, but didn't quite deliver. The progression of events was good, but the ending just fell flat. All of the big "unveiling" of the murderer happened at the very end of the book, and then... nothing. Did the murderer go to jail? Did he survive his injuries? What happened with the missing mountain lions? What about the ranchers? Did Anna get a promotion or a medal or something for figuring it all out? Agh! I need a tidier ending than this! As it is just the first book in a series that currently numbers 15, I'm going to give it another chance. I'll read on a couple of more books in the series and hope for the best.
Don't be discouraged from picking up Track of the Cat based on my 3-star review. If GoodReads allowed it, this is one book that would receive 3 1/2 stars from me, but I'm erring on the side of being a stingy beyotch and just giving it 3.
Seeking the solitude and healing powers of nature after the
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accidental death of her husband in New York, Anna has come to the Guadaloupe Mountain National Park to work as a Ranger. While searching for traces of the elusive mountain lion, Anna discovers the body of fellow Ranger Shelia Drury, an apparent victim of a puma attack. Appearances can be deceiving however, and as she begins to really look at the evidence, Anna discovers that there may be more to Shelia's death that meets the eye. Will Anna discover the truth before the Park Service issues death warrants on the area cougars?I actually picked up Track of the Cat for the first time about 14 years ago. As a teenager I couldn't really get into it, but as an adult, the imagery of the West Texas desert enchanted me. The stark description of Guadalopue Mountains National Park is magnificent - the punishing heat of the Texas desert, the beauty of the pristine mountains and canyons - I could feel the rocks crunching beneath my feet as I followed Anna throughout the park. I am a born-and-bred Texan, but I live in Southeast Texas. I've never physically been that far West, but I felt as though I was there while reading this book!
As a character, Anna Pidgeon was compelling and interesting. Possibly as a result of her career as a National Park Ranger, Nevada Barr has created a unique and believable character in Anna. She is a flawed, "real" character, making her feel like a friend, rather than just a character in a book. It is easy to put yourself in her shoes and follow the clues. I have always enjoyed reading and learning about nature, and it was fascinating to follow Anna and see what the job of a Ranger entails.
Track of the Cat was promising, but didn't quite deliver. The progression of events was good, but the ending just fell flat. All of the big "unveiling" of the murderer happened at the very end of the book, and then... nothing. Did the murderer go to jail? Did he survive his injuries? What happened with the missing mountain lions? What about the ranchers? Did Anna get a promotion or a medal or something for figuring it all out? Agh! I need a tidier ending than this! As it is just the first book in a series that currently numbers 15, I'm going to give it another chance. I'll read on a couple of more books in the series and hope for the best.
Don't be discouraged from picking up Track of the Cat based on my 3-star review. If GoodReads allowed it, this is one book that would receive 3 1/2 stars from me, but I'm erring on the side of being a stingy beyotch and just giving it 3.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
I am a huge mystery fan, and I have a great love of nature. The National Parks of America are among some of the places I love to visit the most. Therefore the Nevada Barr series featuring a National Park Ranger who solves crimes seems the perfect match for me. In The Track of the Cat, Ranger Anna
I enjoyed this first entry in her series, even though I figured out who the bad guy was pretty quickly. I love the setting, and the main character, Anna seems to be a sensible, down to earth type, still recovering from the accidental death of her husband. I was also interested to read about the inner workings of the National Park System.
This was a good introduction to a promising mystery series and I intend to follow Anna Pigeon to her various postings in the scenic National Parks of America.
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Pigeon is stationed in the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas, and in this beautiful setting she stumbles upon a body of a fellow ranger who appears to have been mauled to death by a puma.I enjoyed this first entry in her series, even though I figured out who the bad guy was pretty quickly. I love the setting, and the main character, Anna seems to be a sensible, down to earth type, still recovering from the accidental death of her husband. I was also interested to read about the inner workings of the National Park System.
This was a good introduction to a promising mystery series and I intend to follow Anna Pigeon to her various postings in the scenic National Parks of America.
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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
From the start something irked me about the lead character, Anna Pigeon, park ranger. I think it was the hints from the beginning of a disconnect between her and people, her yearning to be solitary. This is the first in a series featuring her, so I think wanting to spend time with the character,
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either because she's fascinatingly complex or quirky or likable is important. The author was deft and seemingly knowledgeable about the milleu she was writing about, the West Texas wilderness. I've read Barr was herself a Park Ranger and I can believe it. The description puts you right there among the scrabble and saw-edged plants. Pigeon is making rounds in Guadalopue Mountains National Park trying to detect scat of the rare mountain lion. Then she finds the body of a fellow park ranger, Shelia Drury. And when she examines the body and finds evidence this young woman, her colleague, was mauled by a cougar, her first reaction is to damn the dead woman for being killed since it will undoubtedly result in more of the animals being hunted down and killed. Right there, on page 16, the author lost me. I guess I'm not the Sierra Club type--people who put the deaths of animals over people they know leave me cold, cold, cold. After that I just could not care about Anna Pigeon or spend another page with her. Show Less
LibraryThing member ffortsa
A nice series, and a good lesson in American geography as Anna treks from one park to another. This one's the first, and it pays to read the series in order, as Anna does grow and change over time.
LibraryThing member she_climber
Really slow moving but lot of potential. I'll keep going for a while since I picked up much of series in a used book deal.
LibraryThing member fordbarbara
Firsst 6 or so were excellent and couldn't wait to get them. Now not very enthusiastic. She is still good, but there are others I enjoy more.
LibraryThing member maiadeb
Good read, learned a lot about an area of the country I have never visited.
LibraryThing member Lindsayg
This is the first of the Anna Pigeon mysteries. Anna is a park ranger, and each mystery takes place in a different park. This one involved a park ranger who appeared to have been killed by a mountain lion. Local ranchers are taking the incident as a good excuse to hunt mountain lions, but from the
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beginning Anna is unconvinced. This was a fun, light read. Poor Anna just gets the crap beat out of her. My Dad, who's a big fan of these books, tells me this is usually what happens, but luckily she's scrappy and bounces back. Show Less
LibraryThing member EmpressReece
It's been a long time since I read this book but I have read the entire series, up until the most current book and I really like it. I love how the series is set outdoors in the different parks. If you like C.J. Box, then you'll like Barr too.
LibraryThing member PaulaGalvan
Trying to hide—and drink—away her sorrow after her husband's untimely death, Anna Pigeon chooses to live on the edge of civilization as a National Park Ranger in the remote Guadalupe Mountains in the great state of Texas. Because of her independent attitude and love of nature and animals, her
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choice brings her some peace. Then, after she starts investigating the death of a fellow ranger, she falls down a cliff and is almost killed. Anna, convinced her fall wasn't an accident, follows the evidence, which leads her to a dark secret she can't let go. I love Anna's humourous self-talk and her entertaining relationship with her sister, Molly. Nevada Barr's descriptive narrative of the trails, desert, and plant life alone is worth the read. I also love the author's no, nonsense ending. I can't wait to dig deeper into this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
3.5***
Anna Pigeon is a US Parks Ranger who is escaping a tragic past by working in the remote Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which straddles the New Mexico / Texas border. It’s rugged country, mostly desert, but including the highest peak in Texas and some forested land. On a routine patrol
This is the debut for Anna Pigeon, and a good debut it is. Anna is a strong woman – not only physically fit, but emotionally and mentally strong. Sure she’s carrying some baggage, but she deals with it and never waits to be rescued if she can save herself. There are some obvious red herrings here, and the experienced mystery reader will recognize them for what they are. Still, Barr writes a good story. There’s a little too much time spent on tangents, but even so, the plot moves fast enough to keep one turning pages, I’ll read more of the Anna Pigeon series.
Anna Pigeon is a US Parks Ranger who is escaping a tragic past by working in the remote Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which straddles the New Mexico / Texas border. It’s rugged country, mostly desert, but including the highest peak in Texas and some forested land. On a routine patrol
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to check for signs of the park’s mountain lions she notices an unusual number of large buzzards circling. The carcass must be rather large if so many birds are interested, so Anna descends into the canyon to investigate. What she finds is not a deer or elk, but a human. This is the debut for Anna Pigeon, and a good debut it is. Anna is a strong woman – not only physically fit, but emotionally and mentally strong. Sure she’s carrying some baggage, but she deals with it and never waits to be rescued if she can save herself. There are some obvious red herrings here, and the experienced mystery reader will recognize them for what they are. Still, Barr writes a good story. There’s a little too much time spent on tangents, but even so, the plot moves fast enough to keep one turning pages, I’ll read more of the Anna Pigeon series.
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LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
This book introduces Anna Pigeon, a ranger in the U.S. Park Service. She's currently stationed in the mountains of the Guadalupe National Park in Texas. Hiking her way back to the station, she comes across the body of a fellow-ranger, Sheila Drury, who has apparently been killed by a mountain lion.
We learn that Anna used to live in New York City, and after the violent death of her husband, took a job with the ranger service to get away from the memories and change her life. She has a sister who is a psychologist and we get to know more of Anna's history in phone conversations between the two of them. It's a great way for the reader to learn more about the main character and it changes the setting between a big city and the desolation of the park.
The mystery was fast-paced and suspenseful. The characters were sharply drawn and the ending was very satisfying. I listened to the audio, narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, who is always spot on in her character narration. I thought this book an excellent start to a series that I’m looking forward to reading. I understand future books are set in other national parks so it's a great way to take a literary tour of America's national parks.
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When her superiors announce a plan to hunt and kill the lion, Anna is deeply concerned. She becomes even more upset when she notices an abnormality in the track of the cat left at the crime scene and realizes that the killer was most likely a human. We learn that Anna used to live in New York City, and after the violent death of her husband, took a job with the ranger service to get away from the memories and change her life. She has a sister who is a psychologist and we get to know more of Anna's history in phone conversations between the two of them. It's a great way for the reader to learn more about the main character and it changes the setting between a big city and the desolation of the park.
The mystery was fast-paced and suspenseful. The characters were sharply drawn and the ending was very satisfying. I listened to the audio, narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, who is always spot on in her character narration. I thought this book an excellent start to a series that I’m looking forward to reading. I understand future books are set in other national parks so it's a great way to take a literary tour of America's national parks.
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LibraryThing member Chris.Wolak
This is the book that got me into reading mysteries. I was an avid Hardy Boys reader as a youngster. As I got older I tried some adult mysteries -- Agatha and Sherlock where recommended to me -- but I couldn't get into them back then. Then I went to college & grad school and went through a literary
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snob phase where I thought mysteries were trash. A review of Track of the Cat in an outdoorsy magazine captured my interest. I got a copy and was hooked! My eyes were opened to the joys of mystery. Each Anna Pigeon book is set in a different national park. Barr served as a park ranger and knows her stuff. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Anthony Award (Nominee — First Novel — 1994)
Agatha Award (Nominee — First Novel — 1993)
Language
Original publication date
1993-03-04
ISBN
0425190838 / 9780425190838