The Conjuror's Bird

The Conjuror's Bird

by Martin Davies (Author)

Synopsis

It seems a long time ago that Fitz and Gabby were together, with his work on extinct species about to make him world-famous. Now, it's his career that is almost extinct. Suddenly, though, the beautiful Gabby reappears in his life. She wants his help in tracing the history of The Mysterious Bird of Ulieta, a creature once owned by the great 18th Century naturalist Joseph Banks. It soon becomes clear that Fitz is getting involved in something more complicated -- and dangerous -- than the search for a stuffed bird. To solve the puzzle, he must uncover the identity of the amazing woman Banks loved -- a woman who has disappeared from history as effectively as the specimen he is hunting. A mixture of detection, romance and history, THE CONJUROR'S BIRD has all the makings of a word-of-mouth bestseller.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 320
Edition: 1st. Edition
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 02 Jan 2006

ISBN 10: 034092053X
ISBN 13: 9780340920534
Prizes: Shortlisted for British Book Awards: Best Read of the Year 2006.

Media Reviews
'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
Author Bio
Martin Davies grew up in North West England. He has travelled widely, including in the Middle East and India, and his plan for THE CONJUROR'S BIRD was put together on a trekking holiday in Greenland. He lives in South West London and works for the BBC as a producer.