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Shooting at Loons Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,377 listener ratings
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From the pen of the Edgar Award-winning author of Bootlegger's Daughter and Southern Discomfort flows a tale of mystery, money, and murder on the Outer Banks. Populated with colorful, richly drawn characters, Margaret Maron's latest novel captures the flavor of life in rural North Carolina. Arriving in Carteret County to fill in for a sick colleague, Judge Deborah Knott finds herself in the thick of battles between sport and commercial fishermen and between old and new money. It is Deborah's bad fortune to discover the body of Andy Bynum, a retired waterman respected by all sides. With no obvious suspects in the murder, Deborah must find the killer in a place where people shoot at loons, sea turtles, and their neighbors. C.J. Critt's skillful narration brings Deborah Knott to life, as the judge-detective searches for the truth in her quiet but determined way. Shooting at Loons is Margaret Maron at her suspenseful best.
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"The third in the Deborah Knott series, Shooting at Loons takes place on Harker's Island, North Carolina. As usual, Maron takes a social issue and makes it personal to her characters. In this case, it's the clash among many groups who use the coastal resources--shrimpers, clammers, fisherman, environmentalists, sports fishermen, tourist industry. Maron gives a really good picture of a way of life that is in danger of dying out; there are very good descriptions of the people and culture of Harker's Island, all integrated into the investigation of the murder of a prominent businessman/resident. The title of the book is a pointed referrence to that culture, in which stewed loon is a delicacy and the islanders resent the protection given to the loons. [return][return]Maron takes no sides in the argument over use of resrouces but does a beautiful job of showing ALL sides, not an easy task.[return][return]This instalment also introduces Kidd Chapin, game warden, as Knott's romantic interest.[return][return]The murder mystery itself is well done and builds to a nice climax. As usual, good writing and believable characters in a well-defined North Carolina setting--all Maron trademarks in this series. [return][return]Chapter headings are verses from hymns taken from Gospel Hymns: Nos. 1 to 6, by Ira Sankey, james McGranahan and George Stebbins, copyright in 1895. Each hymn uses the sea or sailing as metaphor. [return][return]Highly recommended."
— Joyce (4 out of 5 stars)
Shooting at Loons Listener Reviews
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" Judge Deborah Knott goes to the beach--Beaufort, Morehead City, Harker's Island. As always, wonderful descriptions of landscape and local character, stories funny and poignant from Judge Knott's days in court, and a good mystery. Good exposition of the points of view of conflicting interest groups relating to coastal management issues. Perhaps my favorite so far in the series. "
— Jennifer, 1/29/2014 -
" I enjoyed this one a lot. I didn't have any luck figuring out the killer but I did figure out a couple of parts of the mystery... I like how the main character is becoming more faceted. "
— Marti, 1/29/2014 -
" Becoming one of my favorite local authors. "
— Wendy, 1/22/2014 -
" takes the long way around the block to get to conclusion. "
— Alice, 1/20/2014 -
" A change of scene is refreshing. Smoothly and enchantingly managed language representation. This is really more about people, regions and relationships than courtroom drama, but good arguments for laws (and against them) are threaded through court, action and Knott's thoughts. I really enjoyed the poetic chapter headers selected for this title. "
— Sandy, 1/6/2014 -
" Excellent! No matter the book of this series, I always learn something new, besides how people do each other in. "
— Vickie, 1/6/2014 -
" good mystery, local color, large family "
— Maryann, 1/3/2014 -
" Judge Deborah Knott, filling in for another judge in North Carolina, finds herself in the middle of a battle between fishermen and ecologists. Along the way, she discovers 2 dead bodies. "
— Debra, 12/25/2013 -
" Series: Deborah Knott 3, c1994 "
— Janet, 12/15/2013 -
" Judge Deborah Knott fills in for a hospitalized judge on North Carolina's Crystal Coast and is involved with murder of fisherman, Andy Byner and Linville Pope. Nice description of fishing industries in that area. Good read. "
— Kitty, 12/4/2013 -
" I love the Deborah Knott mystery series!! "
— Debbie, 11/30/2013 -
" These books make riding a monotonous tractor around and around so much easier. "
— Evelyn, 8/22/2013 -
" "A Deborah Knott Mysters." Here we find a little too too much about fishing for a living vs. tourist fishing, but still these stories move right along. I love the character's inner voices, one what she really thinks and the other more moderate. "
— MJ, 5/4/2013 -
" Third in Judge Deborah Knott series. The Judge nearly gets herself killed by a poacher while sitting in for a hospitalized judge in a district on the coast. "
— Judy, 4/29/2013 -
" Always a good mystery "
— Bonnie, 2/2/2013 -
" #3 Debra Knot, better than first 2 "
— Helen, 1/30/2013 -
" I just started reading this author in the past year. And since there is a main character (Judge Deborah Knott) I decided to read them in order (and there are over 15 or more). This one was written in 1994, so it's fun to read a story lacking all of today's technology. "
— Barbara, 5/5/2012 -
" This is my favorite Deborah Knott book yet. I'm really getting into the series now and enjoying the mood. "
— Cara, 1/10/2012 -
" Fun because it takes place locally in Carteret County, so has lots of familiar stuff "
— Andy, 11/8/2011 -
" My favorite of the series so far. "
— A., 10/8/2011 -
" I think this is one of her earlier books and I almost closed it without finishing it. However, solving the murder won out and I did finish it. "
— Mary, 5/4/2011 -
" I am still working my way through this series. Love the real view of Southern life. Love the humor. "
— Diane, 4/28/2011 -
" #3 Debra Knot, better than first 2 "
— Helen, 3/31/2011 -
" I enjoyed this one a lot. I didn't have any luck figuring out the killer but I did figure out a couple of parts of the mystery... I like how the main character is becoming more faceted. "
— Marti, 7/29/2009 -
" Light mystery... conservationist vs. recreational fishermen in the industry. unpredictable, little gore. Characters were excellent in the Carolina setting. Good easy read "
— Kimberlyn, 7/23/2009 -
" Judge Deborah Knott fills in for a hospitalized judge on North Carolina's Crystal Coast and is involved with murder of fisherman, Andy Byner and Linville Pope. Nice description of fishing industries in that area. Good read. "
— Kitty, 12/30/2008 -
" good mystery, local color, large family <br/> "
— Maryann, 8/3/2008 -
" I think this is one of her earlier books and I almost closed it without finishing it. However, solving the murder won out and I did finish it. "
— Mary, 7/15/2008 -
" loved it!!! <br/> <br/>Judge Deborah Knott goes down to the coast of North Carolina to hold court. In addition to murder, she also discovers a decidedly attractive game warden hiding under the porch of her beach cottage. "
— Amylou1977, 6/12/2008 -
" I am still working my way through this series. Love the real view of Southern life. Love the humor. "
— Diane, 4/29/2008 -
" I love the Deborah Knott mystery series!! "
— Debbie, 3/6/2008 -
" Fun because it takes place locally in Carteret County, so has lots of familiar stuff "
— Andy, 2/24/2008
About Margaret Maron
Margaret Maron is the author of more than twenty-five novels and two collections of short stories. Winner of several major American awards for mysteries, including the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity, her works are on the reading lists of various courses in contemporary Southern literature. A native Tar Heel, she still lives on her family’s country farm a few miles from Raleigh.
About C. J. Critt
C. J. Critt is a veteran of Broadway, regional theater, poetry slams, and solo shows. Hailed “Spoken Word Queen” by the Dallas Observer, Critt is a produced writer-director, an Audie nominee, and a CableACE Award winner.