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Winter Study Audiobook
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(3.01) - 3,331 listener ratings
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It is January, and Park Ranger Anna Pigeon is sent to Isle Royale in Lake Superior to learn about managing and understanding wolves, as her home base of Rocky Mountain National Park might soon have its own pack of the magnificent, much- maligned animals. She's lodging in the island's bunkhouse with the famed wolf study team, along with two scientists from Homeland Security, who are assessing the study with an eye to opening the park in the winters - an act that would effectively bring an end to the fifty-year project - so that the area can be manned to secure the scrap of border with Canada. Soon after Anna's arrival, the wolf packs under observation begin to behave in peculiar ways. Giant wolf prints are found, and Anna spies the form of a great wolf from a surveillance plane. The discovery of wolf scat containing alien DNA leads the group to believe that perhaps a wolf/dog hybrid has been introduced to the island. When a female member of the team is savaged, Anna is convinced she is being stalked, and what was once a beautiful, idyllic refuge becomes a place of unnatural occurrences and danger beyond the ordinary. Alone on an island without electricity or running water, with temperatures hovering around zero both day and night, Anna fights not only for the wolves but for her own survival as well
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"Another satisfying book by Nevada Barr! The Ranger Anna Pigeon series always takes place in an interesting location with challenging terrain, a few scary animals and of course, bad people, misleading clues, and an ending that leaves me looking again at the list of books starring Anna Pigeon. This particular book is set at Isle Royale National Park which must be a beautiful, if somewhat remote and primitive island in summer. In winter, it is a lonely outpost on Lake Superior where howling winds, blizzards, and an intolerable wind chill keep most warm-blooded animals at bay. It is also where wolves have been studied for 50 years. The story takes place as the study is threatened by the potential development of the island, all in the name of "national security". The idea is that development will bring lots of happy tourists who will populate the island and make it less likely for terrorists to use the island as a toehold to enter the U.S. OK, that part of the story is a bit far-fetched but it's to set up the wolf researchers versus the people promoting potential island development - a nice conflict where some people have a lot to lose. Anna is scrappy, more of a loner than not, probably not the kind of person you'd want to chat with in line at the grocery store but she knows her way around most situations involving danger and the wilderness, and is just who you'd want on your team if you had any hope of surviving something more dangerous than breaking your fingernail or losing your ipod."
— Celia (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“This is Barr's first book in three years, and she seems to have been saving up all the special effects. The blizzards, the dangerous ice and the manhunts through the frozen woods are described with crisp, hard-edged beauty. And the wolves, those maligned ‘ogres of childhood,’ are magnificent.”
— New York Times -
“Barr's visceral descriptions of the winter cold nicely complement the paranoia that follows the appearance of the mythic monsters at play.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“What many readers return to this series for is Anna herself, strong, funny, perceptive, and well aware that she is a small part of a dynamic, ever-changing natural world.”
— Booklist -
“Narrator Barbara Rosenblat is exemplary yet again, capturing the tension and menace as well as the fear. The series isn't suffering from Anna's aging or her marriage.”
— Library Journal -
“Barbara Rosenblat delivers a smashing performance of this suspense novel filled with strong characters and the stark beauty of Isle Royale in Lake Superior… The story is fast-paced and action-packed.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
Winter Study Listener Reviews
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Michael, 4/26/2017
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" I liked reading about Isle Royle in the winter, since visitors can't go in the winter, and I'm not likely to ever go there!! "
— Patricia, 2/18/2014 -
" Another win for Nevada Barr. I think her books have gotten darker as they go. This one takes place on Isle St. Royle in Lake Superior. It involves the ongoing winter study of the wolf and moose population. Exellent mystery and although you think you know who dun it, you do get twists too. "
— Scargosun, 2/9/2014 -
" Yet another Anna Pigeon mystery which I loved! This one takes place during the winter months on Isle Royale National Park. It's a bit grizzly but what a story! You will not put it down! "
— Terry, 1/4/2014 -
" A really great story even if parts were predictable. It does tend towards the loquacious. "
— Doris, 12/28/2013 -
" I like all the Anna Pigeon books and have actually been to this national park, although over 20 years ago. As always in Barr's books the setting and characters are interesting but the plot is excessively convoluted. "
— Probibliophile, 12/26/2013 -
" I liked this quite a bit having been to Isle Royale. "
— Carol, 12/25/2013 -
" A murder mystery set in in a national park, Isle Royal. Having backpacked this island I was curious how the story would unfold. "
— Rich, 12/11/2013 -
" I love Nevada! She makes me feel like I'm in the park with her! I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next one. "
— Laurie, 12/9/2013 -
" Great book. Loved the winter scenes, snow-packed attempts to survive. "
— Merceda, 11/21/2013 -
" Either I've outgrown this author, or she just wasn't very good in this novel. Disappointing. "
— Jeannette, 11/20/2013 -
" I usually enjoy Nevada Barr's books but I had trouble getting into this one. I'm glad to carried on reading it as I really liked the ending. "
— Wendy, 8/7/2013 -
" I think this was my favorite Anna Pigeon mystery. This book was filled with action to go along with the mystery.. "
— Gail, 7/8/2013 -
" Maybe this wasn't one of her best books, but I so thoroughly enjoyed this book I couldn't put it down. It kept me on the edge of my seat with suspense and I loved lerning about the wolves. Great read. "
— Joanne, 7/3/2013 -
" Don't go to a cold northern uninhabited island to do a study of wolves during the winter, especially with unsavory characters. "
— Glenn, 6/7/2013 -
" I usually like Nevada Barr's books. But this one not so much. The plot was odd and unbelievable, the characters wierd and unlikeable, and all the irrelevant internal dialogue was distracting. I just found it rather tediuous. Too bad. "
— Marianne, 3/30/2013 -
" Great story. Very dark, but I love her writing especially all the details about the park system and the descriptions of nature. "
— Tory, 1/2/2013 -
" Slow and wordy. "
— Mike, 12/11/2012 -
" Anna Pigeon goes back to Isle Royal in Lake Superior, this time in the dead of winter to participate in a wolf study that has been ongoing for over 50 years. Suddenly, one of the team is found savaged by wolves. Is it the wolves, or another team member.Good, quick read. "
— Melanie, 10/19/2012 -
" kept me wondering the whole time "
— Gerry, 8/12/2012 -
" Anne let me raid her book collection when I helped her pack so I have quite a variety and am very grateful! This was weird and not my style but loved the Isle Royale setting and of course it did creep me out a bit, so something worked. "
— Colleen, 5/18/2012 -
" Her most intense book yet I think. Enjoyed Lake Superior and the wolf study as a setting for another Anna Pigeon novel. Like the strength of the main character, Anna; she never gives up but keeps trying to find a solution to a problem or situation. Good reminder for all of us! "
— Deloris, 2/25/2012 -
" slow getting started with the mystery part, but picked up and ended well "
— Pat, 2/13/2012 -
" Enjoyed the Anna Pigeon series set in various national parks--Barr sets a great view of place in her stories. "
— Abilene, 2/5/2012 -
" Wow!! This had a great deal of violence in it. I did like the book--quite a 'chiller'. "
— Roxann, 12/29/2011 -
" Anna is sent to Isle Royale island in January to assist with the wolf/moose study which has been ongoing for 50 years. The wolves begin to act strangely, and Anna is convinced that something strange is also happening with the humans there too. "
— Lorraine, 12/20/2011 -
" Set in a little known and well-described place, this was an intriguing mystery which ended up action-packed. It's a quick read, mostly because you don't want to put it down. "
— Anne, 7/30/2011 -
" I really enjoyed this book. It had something of a supernatural element in it that I have never read in her work before. Nevada is a genre writer with a literary flair in her work. "
— John, 5/5/2011 -
" Not as good as her others. A bit too violent for my taste. "
— Betty, 3/20/2011 -
" Park Ranger, Anna Pigeon, discovers that she is getting older and the National Park that she loves, Isle Royale, is changing with the times, as well. I personally love Isle Royale, therefore, the update on the park was especially appreciated. "
— Sister, 3/19/2011 -
" Eh. OK. I enjoyed the previous book because of the bike ride we did to the Natchez Trace, where the previous book was set. This book was basically the same formula: murder mystery in a national park, brave strong female ranger solves the case and gets beat up for her trouble. "
— Scott, 3/17/2011 -
" I am finding I enjoy books written about areas of the country or world about which I know little or nothing. This had suspense, description of Lake Superior winters, and interesting characters. "
— Harriet, 3/16/2011 -
" I had a hard time getting into this latest book, but the end was riveting, as always. Love Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon series! "
— Vicki, 2/26/2011 -
" I enjoy this series and thought this was one of the better novels. The park ranger heroine is likable and human, and the author clearly spent a lot of time researching Isle Royale and the long-term wolf study there. A gripping read. "
— Sarah, 1/25/2011 -
" This book started out very slow. but about halfway through is when I couldn't put it down. It was very entertaining and interesting to read! "
— Patty, 1/22/2011 -
" I liked this book, but it took a long time to get going. The premise was interesting, and I've always liked this series, but this wasn't my favorite. "
— Shelley, 1/10/2011 -
" Reading before bed is not a good idea with this one but I can't stop myself. Things I don't enjoy and then dream baaaaad things about: disappearing study group members, freezing cold temperatures, cross country skiing. "
— Annewiltse, 1/6/2011 -
" Isle Royale is the location. Too violent for me. "
— Janeen, 1/3/2011 -
" too many characters, too much back story, too long to get to the mystery and conflict for me. "
— Amy, 12/27/2010
About Nevada Barr
Nevada Barr was born in the
small western town of Yerington, Nevada, and raised on a mountain airport in
the Sierras. Pushed out of the nest, she fell into theatre, receiving her BA in
speech and drama and her MFA in acting before making the pilgrimage to New York
City, then Minneapolis. For eighteen years she worked on stage, in commercials
and industrial training films, and doing voiceovers for radio. During this time
she became interested in the environmental movement and began working in
National Parks across the country during the summers. Woven throughout these
seemingly disparate careers was the written word. Nevada wrote and presented
campfire stories, taught storytelling, and was a travel writer and restaurant
critic. She has won both the Agatha and Anthony awards for best first mystery.
About Barbara Rosenblat
Barbara Rosenblat, one of the most awarded narrators in the business, was selected by AudioFile magazine as one of the Golden Voices of the Twentieth Century. She has received the prestigious Audie Award multiple times and has earned more than fifty AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has also appeared in film, television, and theater, both in London’s West End and on Broadway.