The Conjuror's Bird: Amazon.co.uk: Martin Davies: Books

Review

'A highly readable page-turner' (Guardian 20060129)

'A pacy confection of history, mystery and romance... a most engaging and unusual novel'

(The Times 20060129)

'An enjoyable tale of love, loss and taxidermy . . . a cracking holiday read.' (Observer 20060129)

'Two gripping, intercut narratives... a lyricism that captures the joy of the natural world... a highly successful and informative entertainment'

(Independent 20060129)

'An absorbing historical detective story . . . a beautifully evoked narrative from the past' (Guardian 20050228)

'Ambitious and intriguing... part thriller, part love story, part quest, this is a hugely readable book.' (Spectator 20060601)

'Ideal for book clubs, ideal too for any lover of commercial literary fiction. An exciting and absorbing debut novel from Davies.'

(Publishing News )

'Poignant and beguiling... like all the best novels, it left me with a sense of having learned something.'

(Andrew Taylor, author of The American Boy )

"[A] gripping book of literary suspense. . . . Davies indulges in clever speculation about the bird's whereabouts and adds an appealing strain of romance surrounding the identity of Banks's mistress. . . . A captivating novel."

(Publishers Weekly (starred review) )

"Suspenseful, intriguing, and romantic, this is great entertainment and an excellent choice for book discussion groups; highly recommended."

(Library Journal (starred review) )

"A gripping blend of history and conjecture, romance and detection...it consists of two parallel stories wrapped around the race to unravel one of natural history's most enduring puzzles. [An] elegantly crafted journey into the nature of loss and love, memory and history."

(Canberra Times )

"This book I loved on so many levels. Firstly for a greater understanding of the life of Sir Joseph Banks...then for the excitement of a great mystery... A truly fantastic book full of three centuries of secrets and surprises."

(Manly Daily )

'This book haunts me: I was moved, intrigued and entertained and, with each page turned, I wanted, very much, to know what was going to happen. Economically and beautifully drawn, the enigmatic delicacy of the characters and the way the stories of the past and the present intersect so teasingly, so elegantly, makes THE CONJUROR'S BIRD a deeply satisfying novel. And, best of all, the layers of the story take one deeper and deeper into the worlds of the past and the present until, in the end, there seems nothing more to discover in the lives of these characters; yet I wanted more. I heartily recommend this book!' (Posie Graeme-Evans, author of THE INNOCENT and THE )

'An entertaining read' (New Books Magazine )

Review

'This book I loved on so many levels...the excitement of a great mystery...a truly fantastic book.' -- Manly Daily (Sydney, Australia) 20051104 'An exciting and absorbing debut novel.' -- Sue Baker, Publishing News 20050812 'A pacy confection of history, mystery and romance...Davies interweaves his complex narrative with energy and authority...a most engaging and unusual first novel.' -- The Times 20051119 'This book I loved on so many levels...the excitement of a great mystery...a truly fantastic book.' -- Manly Daily (Sydney, Australia) 20051104 'An exciting and absorbing debut novel.' -- Sue Baker, Publishing News 20050812 'A pacy confection of history, mystery and romance...Davies interweaves his complex narrative with energy and authority...a most engaging and unusual first novel.' -- The Times 20051119 'A poignancy that will aptly linger with you after you've turned the final page' -- Lincolnshire Echo 20051213 'Intriguing and cleverly constructed' -- Choice 20060101 'Ambitious and intriguing... part thriller, part love story, part quest, this is a hugely readable book whose concerns linger in the mind... Davies' novel hints, unobtrusively but effectively, at many of the issues underlying man's urge to collect ornithological specimens, and also the uneasy relationship between science, business and the natural world.' -- Andrew Taylor, Spectator 20060213 'A pacy confection of history, mystery and romance... amost engaging and unusual novel' -- The Times 'An enjoyable tale of love, loss and taxidermy ... a cracking holiday read.' -- Observer 20060129 'Two gripping, intercut narratives... a lyricism that captures the joy of the natural world... a highly successful and informative entertainment' -- Independent 20060129 '[an] absorbing historical detective story ... a beautifully evoked narrative from the past' -- Guardian 20060129 'Ambitious and intriguing... part thriller, part love story, part quest, this is a hugely readable book.' -- Spectator 20060129 'Ideal for book clubs, ideal too for any lover of commercial literary fiction. An exciting and absorbing debut novel from Davies.' -- Publishing News 20060129 'Poignant and beguiling... like all the best novels, it left me with a sense of having learned something.' -- Andrew Taylor, author of The American Boy 20060129 "[A] gripping book of literary suspense... Davies indulges in clever speculation about the bird's whereabouts and adds an appealing strain of romance surrounding the identity of Banks's mistress... A captivating novel." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) 20060129 "Suspenseful, intriguing, and romantic, this is great entertainment and an excellent choice for book discussion groups; highly recommended." -- Library Journal (starred review) 20060129 "A gripping blend of history and conjecture, romance and detection...it consists of two parallel stories wrapped around the race to unravel one of natural history's most enduring puzzles. [An] elegantly crafted journey into the nature of loss and love, memory and history." -- Canberra Times 20060129 "This book I loved on so many levels. Firstly for a greater understanding of the life of Sir Joseph Banks!then for the excitement of a great mystery! A truly fantastic book full of three centuries of secrets and surprises." -- Manly Daily 20060129 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

So good I read it twice! 28 Mar 2006

By Rowie

Format:Paperback

I LOVED this book! Who'd have thought that a story about an extinct bird, a 18th-century naturalist's mistress and an emotionally challenged contemporary detective could be so gripping?! The narratives alternate between the different times cleverly, sucking you in, then turning to a new chapter just as you feel you're getting somewhere and understanding the mystery a little bit more.

The themes are big - we're talking about Man's destruction of the natural world, the reasons why some species survive and others don't, creation myths - but at its heart is a love story, and one that'll have you hooked from start to finish.

Like all good books, it makes you feel AND think. It's a really good yarn. All I can say is read it, enjoy it, read it again!

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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

An addictive and enjoyable read with a very clever story line 28 Aug 2006

By Strobs

In essence, the story revolves around two interlinked tales, an historical love story and modern day thriller. For me the most successful part is the eighteenth century love story between the real Joseph Bank's and his unnamed mistress and the fate of a preserved specimen of a very rare bird, The Mysterious Bird of Ulieta. The narrative alternates between the different times cleverly. The emotionally challenged modern detective Fitz and his hunt for the bird lead him to having to decode the puzzle of the identity of the woman Banks loved - a woman who has disappeared from history as effectively as the specimen he is hunting. In doing so Fitz must face a demon or two of his own and resolve his feelings for Gaby and their past life. I loved this book I found the story plausible and the love story moving. Great stuff.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful

Excellent - Flits between to periods with ease 12 Oct 2006

By M. Cookson-carter

I was drawn away from my usual read and did what they tell you never to do...I judged this book on its beautiful cover. The pages within are not disappointing either.

Martin Davies flits between the two periods of the story with gentle ease, which keeps you waiting for the emerging stories and characters, it is almost two novels in one and the way they interweave is fascinating.

And all because of a small, brown, quite unimpressive little stuffed bird, which vanished and the race for its discovery by the wealthy and the academics.

Just read and enjoy, it is a lovely book, suitable for both male and female readers, with not too much romance but just enough to keep it interesting.