HomeMysteryA bird in the hand

Cover of A bird in the hand

Mystery · 1986 · G

A bird in the hand

by Ann Cleeves

A rare bird draws birdwatchers to Norfolk — and one of them is found dead.

ForAll agesGenreMysteryLength188 pagesRead time~5 hours

This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →

Content snapshot

Flag an inaccuracy →

What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

Barely any

A death on a marsh; treated as a puzzle rather than depicted violently

Language

None

Clean language throughout

Sexual Content

None

No sexual content

Substance Use

None

No substance use

Emotional Intensity

Barely any

Light suspicion and the puzzle of motivation create gentle tension

What this book is about

George Palmer-Jones, a retired Home Office worker and passionate birdwatcher, travels to a Norfolk reserve where a very rare bird has been spotted. When a young birder is found dead on the marsh, George becomes the unofficial investigator. The first Ann Cleeves novel is a gentle, observational mystery steeped in the world of competitive birdwatching and the quiet beauty of the English countryside.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

Reader Verification

Be the first to verify
this rating

Have you read A bird in the hand? Submit a community rating to confirm or correct the AI estimate. Your review helps other readers make an informed choice.

Rate this book →

Free · ~5 minutes · No account required

Similar reads

More Mystery books from the catalog.

Think this AI estimate is off?

Flag an inaccuracy →

Where to Buy

Affiliate links — BookLens earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Buy on Amazon →