Do I need to read the Anna Pigeon series in order to understand Liberty Falling?

While Liberty Falling is part of a larger series featuring Anna Pigeon, it functions well as a standalone mystery. The core plot and character motivations are self-contained, though returning readers will appreciate the ongoing character development.

How does this book compare to Nevada Barr's other Anna Pigeon novels?

Liberty Falling notably shifts Anna Pigeon's typical wilderness setting to an urban environment, specifically New York City's iconic landmarks. This change of scenery provides a fresh dynamic, forcing Anna to adapt her investigative skills to a very different kind of terrain and challenge.

Liberty Falling

Crime Mystery

Pages: 384
Published: 1999
Language: English

Synopsis

Anna Pigeon left New York City after her husband was killed, and she had hoped never to return. Now her sister Molly lies in an intensive care unit in an uptown hospital, and Anna is back, reluctantly, to be near her.

She stays on Liberty Island, sharing cramped quarters with a friend who is also a park ranger. In her free time she explores the Statue of Liberty and the crumbling, overgrown ruins in the unrestored parts of Ellis Island.

The quiet she is looking for ends when she joins a crowd at the base of the statue. A teenage girl lies broken on the ground, having fallen or been pushed to her death.

The girl's death is not the only puzzle on these historic sites, and it will not be the only one. Anna is drawn into a maze of stone, glass and steel, where secrets wait to be uncovered. A threat to her and to others could turn a national holiday into a disaster. This is a mystery of dark corners and ruins, with a ranger as the investigator.