5+ stars for The Cough of Birds by Brian Anderson #bookreview #mystery #mustread #wrpbks #nnlbh
- N. N. Light
- May 8
- 3 min read
Title: The Cough of Birds
Author: Brian Anderson
Genre: Mystery
Book Blurb:
When Minneapolis private investigator Lyle Dahms visits a friend who makes armor at a rural Renaissance festival instead of a day of medieval merrymaking he witnesses a grisly murder, watching helplessly as one of the friend’s colleagues is pinned to a wall by an arrow shot by an unseen assailant. Although warned to stay out of the case by the local constabulary, Dahms gets drawn in further and further as he uncovers drug dealing, crooked cops, infidelity, more deaths, and even stumbles into an unlikely chance at love with a comely and independent-minded barmaid.
As lies and hidden agendas reveal themselves, Dahms must keep his wits about him as he navigates an unfamiliar bygone land of knights in armor, wandering jugglers, lusty wenches, strolling minstrels, and both gun-toting and broadsword-wielding adversaries. All that and, of course, something with which Dahms is all too familiar—murder.
My Review:
Private investigator Lyle Dahms is embroiled in another intriguing murder mystery, this time with a Medieval twist. Lyle’s housemate, Stephen Edgerton, invites him to attend the Midwest Renaissance Festival in Little Crow, and Lyle reluctantly agrees. A body drops and once again, despite warnings from local law enforcement to stay away, Lyle is on the case.
Throughout this second book of the series—which can be read as a standalone—more of Lyle’s kindness is revealed. He may be tough and hot-tempered, but he’s also a big teddy bear who will do anything for a friend, including squeezing into medieval costumes for a joust. We’re introduced to a well-developed secondary cast of characters that act as perfect chess pieces around which the mystery unfolds. My favorite is Lyle’s new love interest, Naomi, who balances Lyle out well and adds a nice romantic subplot to mix.
The setting on the festival grounds, where the bulk of the action takes place, is well established. The details in the description outline a map of the grounds, adding depth and humor. In terms of plotting, what stood out the most was the perfectly balanced mood of the narrative. This dark and unpredictable mystery combines a string of deaths with comedic relief through character interactions that maintained my interest from the first page to the last.
Fans of Benjamin Stevenson and Amy Tintera will love this book.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now:
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cough-of-birds-brian-anderson/1143743274?ean=9781509250912
The Wild Rose Press: https://wildrosepress.com/product/the-cough-of-birds/
Author Biography:
Brian Anderson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota whose Dinkytown neighborhood provides the setting for his mystery series featuring private investigator Lyle Dahms. The Dahms novels spring from his lifelong love of mystery fiction, especially the works of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, as well as more contemporary masters like Robert B. Parker and G. M. Ford. He is a three-time finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association mystery and suspense contest, and his debut novel, The Shiver in Her Eyes, was a finalist in their Nancy Pearl Contest for published fiction.
In 2024, he released his standalone novel Yule Tide, which features a fallen angel turned private investigator who fights to wrest Christmas from the dark forces who have taken control and twisted it to their evil ends.
Brian spent much of his professional career working to alleviate domestic hunger serving as the operations director of the Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle & King County as well as the manager of the Pike Market Food Bank in downtown Seattle. Married with three beautiful daughters, he now lives and writes in Ocean Shores, a small city on the Washington coast.
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Reviewed by: Michelle
