Pattie_beaven
Member
I just finished an amazing story written by a retired zookeeper. "Did Not Survive" by Ann Littlewood is a Zoo Mystery story, or as Ms. Littlewood puts it, "Zoo-dun nit". It is the second in the series, and I have to say, incredibly gripping.
The story focuses around Iris Oakley, a Zookeeper for Finley Memorial Zoo, in Vancouver, WA. Finley is a tiny zoo, not yet even accredited by the NAZ (National Association of Zoos, aka AZA for us in reality), but it has the ambitions, if only they did not have a death seemingly by one of their resident Asian elephants. Damrey seemed so docile, though, it couldn't have been her! Iris looks further into the incident, and uncovers more truths about her zoo, her co workers, and about the animals themselves!
It is obvious from page one that Ann has first hand knowledge of the zoo world. She writes with accuracy even the emotions zookeepers feel, or at least I feel, from time to time. From dealing with animal activists to strange co-workers to balancing personal and professional time, Littlewood delivers an outstanding and credible fiction that zookeepers would find entertaining and fantasical.
My zoo's Book Club read this and her first novel, Night Kill, last month, and even had Ann Littlewood visit to discuss her novels. It was the most popular book we have read by far. Because it isn't a Doom and Gloom book. Yes, there is a death, a murder, but it isn't all about us destroying the envirinment (although Littlewood does throw conservation themes throughout the story). It's an escape from real life, enjoyable, entertaining, and a very fast read. And interesting! I enjoy reading about my field, I truly do, but this book floored me with the wonderful balance of fiction (escape from real life troubles) and zoo accuracy (what it's like to work in a zoo).
I highly recommend it. Look for it on Amazon.
The story focuses around Iris Oakley, a Zookeeper for Finley Memorial Zoo, in Vancouver, WA. Finley is a tiny zoo, not yet even accredited by the NAZ (National Association of Zoos, aka AZA for us in reality), but it has the ambitions, if only they did not have a death seemingly by one of their resident Asian elephants. Damrey seemed so docile, though, it couldn't have been her! Iris looks further into the incident, and uncovers more truths about her zoo, her co workers, and about the animals themselves!
It is obvious from page one that Ann has first hand knowledge of the zoo world. She writes with accuracy even the emotions zookeepers feel, or at least I feel, from time to time. From dealing with animal activists to strange co-workers to balancing personal and professional time, Littlewood delivers an outstanding and credible fiction that zookeepers would find entertaining and fantasical.
My zoo's Book Club read this and her first novel, Night Kill, last month, and even had Ann Littlewood visit to discuss her novels. It was the most popular book we have read by far. Because it isn't a Doom and Gloom book. Yes, there is a death, a murder, but it isn't all about us destroying the envirinment (although Littlewood does throw conservation themes throughout the story). It's an escape from real life, enjoyable, entertaining, and a very fast read. And interesting! I enjoy reading about my field, I truly do, but this book floored me with the wonderful balance of fiction (escape from real life troubles) and zoo accuracy (what it's like to work in a zoo).
I highly recommend it. Look for it on Amazon.
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