Slowly moving to a just end, AC does a fine job entertaining her audience. Narrator is steadily paced and fine story finesse. Sounds better at speed 2-3 ( )

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/7424511

Inside my used copy is neatly handwritten in pencil:
8/88 Unusual setting
Good character development
Annotate (?) for summer list

I have to agree on the setting and character development. In fact, it is the birds, the setting, and the characters that attract me to mysteries by Ann Cleeves.

A committee that manages an observatory on an island meets on a weekend to discuss bird counts, watch birds, have a good time. Among them is Charlie Todd, who lives on the island and in fact owns it. His will gives the observatory to the group, so its members feel confident in its continuation. One of the observatory members is George Palmer-Jones, and he is on hand when Charlie Todd is found dead. Palmer-Jones is a bit of an amateur detective, and he sets his thinking on this case. When he learns that Charlie Todd had changed his mind and planned to sell the island, he realizes there are many with motives to do him in.

Meanwhile there is a police investigation, of course, and we can be distracted by the police detective. In fact, Palmer-Jones stays on the outside, never taking the stage. He quietly investigates and thinks, aided by his common-sense wife Molly. And quietly solves the murder. ( )