The Kiskadee of Death

July 13, 2015
Dunlap’s less than riveting seventh mystery featuring birder Bob White (after 2014’s Swift Justice) takes the Minnesota school counselor and his chef wife, Luce, to the World Birding Center in Texas’s Lower Rio Grande Valley, where Bob spies a number of rare birds—and a dead body. The victim is Birdy Johnson, one of a flock of local senior citizen birders called the MOB (McAllen Older Birders). Birdy’s best birding buddy, former astronaut Buzz Davis, and other MOBsters are strongly opposed to a planned spaceport Birdy was involved with that poses a threat to migratory birds. Could one of the MOBsters be the culprit? Or a drug runner along the nearby Mexican border? What about undocumented immigrants? Bob’s eagle eyes are some help to the police chief, but his extraneous (albeit noble) musings on the future of birds, the environment, and the immigration dilemma make the plot, such as it is, secondary. Devoted bird watchers will be most satisfied.

July 1, 2015
Even when he leaves his native Minnesota, a die-hard birdwatcher keeps finding bodies along with the birds he seeks. High school counselor Bob White and his wife, Luce, have taken the opportunity of weather cold enough to close schools to flee south for a short break. They head for the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, an area filled with parks perfect for birders, all located near the confluence of two major flyways. Their stop at Estero Llano Grande State Park rewards them with plenty of new bird sightings for their lifetime list. In addition, Bob's keen eye also picks out a foot sticking out from under a canoe. The dead man is Birdy Johnson, whose involvement with a spacecraft smack in the middle of the flyway has made him plenty of enemies in the birding community. Among those visiting the park that morning were Buzz Davis, a close friend of Birdy's from the days when they worked in NASA's astronaut program; park volunteer Rosalie, another good friend; and members of a local birding club for senior citizen known as the MOB. The only clue found on the scene is a flask of Aquavit belonging to a friend of Bob's who's in the area working on improving drone border surveillance. Although a furious birder may have killed Birdy, the borderland location makes Bob wonder whether drug smugglers or illegals might be involved. Although he and Luce continue their birding, Bob can't help but get involved in yet another murder case. The avian details in Bob's adventures (Swift Justice, 2014, etc.) make them a treat for birdwatchers or, in this case, anyone interested in South Texas. This one provides enough credible suspects for a mystery that keeps you guessing.

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