New Book Alert: Kill Three Birds A Kingdom of Aves Mystery by Nicole Givens Kurtz; Murder Mystery That's For The Birds

 New Book Alert: Kill Three Birds A Kingdom of Aves Mystery by Nicole Givens Kurtz; Murder Mystery That's For The Birds

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: Just when I thought that I read every type of murder mystery that has been written, along comes someone like Nicole Givens Kurtz who flies high with a very imaginative and mysterious tale that is definitely for the birds. That's because Kurtz's novel Kill Three Birds, the first of her Kingdom of Aves series is about a colony of anthropomorphic birds or shape shifting humans with birdlike abilities. (It's made ambiguous whether the characters are birds or humans. The cover says one thing but the book implies something else). Either way this book is one that is filled to the beak with a great imagination and world building that surrounds an engaging plot.

Hawk Prentice Tasifa is called to investigate a young woman's murder. Gretchen Finch, a member of one of the oldest and most revered families in the Gould community was found beaten to death. Even though Gretchen came from a seemingly religious family that worshipped the Goddess, she had a wild mischievous side and was said to have taken a crow for a lover. (Not approved of by her family.) As with all murder mysteries Hawk Prentice has to use her talents (which in the case includes sharp eye sight, high flying ability, hunting talents, a devotion to a Goddess figure, and talons that you do not want to be caught by) to ask questions, get stalked by suspects, and get out into and out of dangerous situations before she finds the perpetrator who committed this fowl crime.

One thing to make clear: Despite this featuring talking animal characters, this is not a book for the kids. There are violent graphic moments and sexual situations are discussed. There is a lot of talk about cults, subjugation of women, double standards, and some borderline incestuous moments within some members of Gretchen's family. 

Unlike say The Voyages of Gethsarade by M.G. Claybrook which masquerades as a children's book but is deeper and really written for adults, Kill Three Birds is definitely for adults. It is no more a book for kids than Animal Farm or Maus (two books  in which Kill Three Birds shares a great deal in common, including using animal characters as an allegory for humanity's more violent and domineering tendencies).This is a murder mystery set in a fantasy world in which characters have bird like qualities but are extremely violent, backstabbing, tyrannical, and cruel. Ages 13 and up would be the best Readers for this type of book.

That being said, Kurtz's world building is beyond impressive. It is fascinating how many details that she captures with her avian characters to make them believable as both birds and fleshed out characters. She clearly studied how birds interact, their mannerisms, family dynamics, mating rituals, and abilities to make a complete picture.

Kurtz however is not necessarily bound to nature's rules when portraying her characters. Some of their behavior is by choice and not necessarily animal instinct. This is shown with how she flip flops the notion of birds that are considered predators and those that are considered prey. 

While some fit known stereotypes such as Balthazar Dove, a literal dove of peace who is a priest, others do not. The most heroic charracter is Hawk Prentice, a bird that is known to attack and feast upon smaller animals. No mention is made of her natural predatory characteristics and most seem to trust that she will get the job done. In fact her relentless hunting skills and sharp eyesight, a talent that many hawks possess, are particularly helpful in her career as a,l law enforcement officer.

By that same token, many of the more suspicious characters are smaller birds, ones that are usually thought of as domesticated innocent creatures. Some behave in a very sinister clannish nature and are suspicious of outsiders. Others are hiding secrets that hinder the investigation (that is until they either turn stool pigeons or sing like canaries). Like all good murder mysteries, Kurtz distorts what we believe about innocence and guilt and subverts our expectations in surprising ways.

Kill Three Birds is a brilliant cross genre of murder mystery and fantasy. It is certainly a feather in Nicole Givens Kurtz's cap of imaginative excellent writing.