Sounding Off

A NYE OF PHEASANTS

More fowl play from the

pen of Steve Burrows

 

REVIEW BY PAUL NICHOLSON

 

BURROWS is an Oshawa-based writer and a member of Ontario Field Ornithologists.
He is also an avid international birder. His advanced knowledge of pheasants is

long-standing. He wrote a dissertation related to Silver Pheasants as part of a

master’s program at the University of Hong Kong.

For Ontario birders who are already hooked on Steve Burrows’s ‘birder

murder mysteries’, the publication earlier this year of his eighth title,

A Nye of Pheasants, is welcome news. Those who already know this series

will appreciate the comfort of the familiar. The cast of characters

again features Detective Chief Inspector Domenic Jejeune, a Canadian expat

and keen birdwatcher who has an uncanny ability to solve mysteries.

Also returning are his partner, Lindy Hey, Motown-loving Danny Maik,

Detective Chief Superintendent Colleen Shepherd, and Tony Holland.

There are nods to the protagonist’s Canadian roots. Given that much of the

action is in and around Saltmarsh, England, it is a lovely surprise to occasionally

see references to Pelee Island birding, the CNE, and other aspects of life in Ontario.

The narrative is peppered with references to birds and birdwatching culture

that ring true because Burrows is such an accomplished birder. He gently mocks

birders who consider sharing fashion advice, and he jokes about bird

photographers who take “endless reams of photographs from every conceivable angle.”

What we have in this 374-page whodunnit is actually a pair of storylines.
In England, DCI Jejeune and a young colleague, Noel Summer, try to sort out a

death at The Nye, a pheasant farm. One of two estranged sisters has perished.

Detective Constable Summer’s own troubled past is an interesting thread that

runs through this complex story.

The second storyline revolves around a death that has happened on the
other side of the planet. Danny Maik, an old friend and colleague of Jejeune’s,
has been implicated and is stuck in a Singapore jail when the book opens.
Jejeune’s partner, Lindy Hey, ends up playing a role in this case since Jejeune himself
cannot. The streets of Singapore come alive through Burrows’s descriptions.

Pheasants significantly shape both of these stories. Burrows told me: “I went

to Singapore and Bhutan for research and to see the Blood Pheasant and

Himalayan Monals featured in the book. I was also treated to a special visit to see

Black-necked Cranes just arriving from Tibet.”

To be clear, A Nye of  Pheasants is first and foremost a mystery. Burrows is

a skilled writer who knows about pacing plotlines and describing action that

is cinematic in scope. It’s no surprise that these mysteries have been optioned

for television. Work continues on putting together a TV series.

I enjoy Burrows’s writing style very much. Any birdwatcher who reads this

book will revel in the birdiness of his prose. At the same time, the author’s wit

shines through, yet, a poignancy is evident from the first page to the last.

In a way that is not at all preachy, Burrows has also woven into this novel a

whole range of philosophical issues. At times, the reader can’t help reflecting on

themes such as environmentalism, beef farming, hunting, carbon footprints,
personal integrity, and even the practice of Druidism. I had no idea

that a core belief of modern Druids is the veneration of the divine essence of

nature. A recurring theme in this novel is the solace of self-deception. In fact, this

could have been a fine alternate title for this book. I was pleased that Burrows
touched on some broad birding questions as well. What about the ethics of chasing
a rare bird? What species “count” for listers? Why do birders list at all?

Burrows promises that another birder mystery is in the works. A Deceit of

Lapwings is scheduled for release in mid- 2025, but for now, just find a copy of A

Nye of Pheasants and enjoy it.

 

Paul Nicholson is a Middlesex County-based bird birder

GOODREADS Top Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Crazy stupid good book

Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2024

Verified Purchase

I was fortunate to discover the Dominic Jejeune mysteries last year, and I zipped through them all as quickly as I could. They are great in every way. If only the author could write as fast as I can read. I anxiously awaited arrival of A Nye of Pheasants and had it delivered to my Kindle the day it dropped. I just finished it and I am amazed. Astounded. It is crazy stupid good. Parallel plot lines on either side of the globe. Writing so good that what could have been a confusing morass of characters and events remained crystal clear throughout. The usual generous helping of science and environmental philosophy was welcome and elegantly expressed. I was riveted all the way through. His characters are all believable, interesting, and very human, very real. The stories were filled with poignant moments and exciting action scenes. I look forward to the next release, sooner rather than later I hope. Steve Burrows is firmly on my short list of favorite writers.