Burn, by Nevada Barr, a book review

As a Nature Lover, Anna Pigeon stories transport the reader to many of our Federally Held Parks, and wilderness areas. One of the first Nevada Barr books took me to The Great Lakes.

I get a little stressy thinking about the story of when Anna was entangled in a harrowing case at the Isle Royale National Park , on Lake Superior. Years ago, I read "A Superior Death" and I probably didn't breathe the entire time I read it.

It is like getting dessert twice in a row, two diverse novels by Ms. Barr in a few short weeks. I read and reviewed 13½ by Nevada Barr a few months ago, and it was different from the Anna Pigeon Books , but I really like it. I would love to get into a discussion with other Barr fans, to see what they think.

Reading Nevada Barr is like hopping in a car for a ride. Regarding her books, especially anything with Ranger Anna Pigeon , makes it easy to jump right in and ride. 13½ and Burn are centered in New Orleans.

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Burn opens up to a scene of a house fire, and dead bodies being removed from a home in a city. It is unusual for an Anna Pigeon novel to begin in town, and in a house. Everything is different now, as Anna has had many changes in her life. Anna is remarried , her husband is back to his work. Anna is on leave and recovering from severe trauma due to fallout from her job as a Federal Park Ranger and Law Enforcement agent over the past few months.

She comes to New Orleans to stay with an old friend Geneva. Geneva has impaired eyesight, but her instincts and perception are just fine. Geneva has extra rooms she leases out. She is glad to have Anna stay during her time of recovery.

It isn't long until Anna is on a new case. She meets Jordon , a creepy guy Geneva has rented out a room to. There is something about Jordon and his unfortunate pooch , that makes him appear to be a pervert of the highest order. It could be all of the photos he has of children in activities that no child should have . Jordon appears to be one who prefers the pleasure of sex with children.

After serious and illegal detective work, Anna flushes out the real Jordon; Clare Sullivan is a woman and mother who is wanted for the deaths of her children, husband and his assistant. Clare is sure that her children are alive due to several clues. Clare used her acting skills to create Jordon . Together, Anna , Jordon and occassionaly Clare, visit the darkest places that must be searched for her children. This search is not the job for a gentle and kind woman, it will take creepy Jordon and Anna at her finest to prowl the darkest corners in New Orleans, to solve the mystery. Until the very end, Anna is unsure of Jordon/Clare.

This novel is not for the feint hearted, and those who don't believe "that kind of stuff happens". If it makes a profit and there is a demand, it happens. This novel is more than a gripping and terrifying read, it is exciting and does a public service, by bringing to the light the fact of a business that is live and well world wide, child trafficking, child porno and prostitution.

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Having been a frequent visitor to N OLA , and living close enough, to have been impacted by both history changing Hurricanes in 2005, makes this more intriguing.

The tragic and mystical City of New Orleans, has different layers of the magic and raw human experience . I appreciate knowing the place described, and the ability to feel this story as well as read it.

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