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Nevada Barr

ねわだ・ばー

Nevada Bā

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1952-03-01 （Yerington, Nevada）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Yerington, Nevada → Johnstonville, California → Susanville, California → San Luis Obispo, California → Irvine, California → New York City → Minneapolis, Minnesota → Clinton, Mississippi → New Orleans, Louisiana → Oregon

Career

Occupations
Author, National Park Ranger, Actress
Active Years
1978-2024
Affiliations
United States National Park Service
Nominations
1995 Dilys Award nomination (A Superior Death), 1997 Anthony Award Best Novel nomination (Firestorm), 1999 Anthony, Dilys, Macavity Awards nominations (Blind Descent), 2001 Anthony Award nomination (Deep South)

Education

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Speech and Drama
Degree: Bachelor's degree in speech and drama
Country: United States
Earned bachelor's degree in speech and drama
University of California, Irvine
Acting
Degree: Master's degree in acting
Country: United States
Earned master's degree in acting

Awards

Agatha Award
1994
Work: Track of the Cat
Category: Best First Novel
Organization: Malice Domestic
Result: Winner
Anthony Award
1994
Work: Track of the Cat
Category: Best First Novel
Organization: Bouchercon
Result: Winner
Barry Award
2001
Work: Deep South
Category: Best Novel
Organization: Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine
Result: Winner
Robin W. Winks Award
2011
Organization: National Parks Conservation Association
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Track of the Cat

1993 Mystery novel

First in the Anna Pigeon series. Set in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, where the ranger solves a murder.

National parksEnvironmental issuesMurder investigation

A Superior Death

1994 Mystery novel

Second Anna Pigeon novel set in Isle Royale National Park.

National parksUnderwater mysteries

Deep South

2000 Mystery novel

Anna Pigeon series set on Natchez Trace Parkway.

HistorySouthern culture

Bittersweet

1984 Historical novel

Lesbian historical novel set on the Western frontier.

American WestLGBT

Bibliography

  • Track of the Cat (1993)
  • A Superior Death (1994)
  • Ill Wind (1995)
  • Firestorm (1996)
  • Endangered Species (1997)
  • Blind Descent (1998)
  • Liberty Falling (1999)
  • Deep South (2000)
  • Blood Lure (2001)
  • Hunting Season (2002)
  • Flashback (2003)
  • High Country (2004)
  • Hard Truth (2005)
  • Winter Study (2008)
  • Borderline (2009)
  • Burn (2010)
  • The Rope (2012)
  • Destroyer Angel (2014)
  • Boar Island (2016)
  • Bittersweet (1984)
  • Seeking Enlightenment... Hat by Hat (2003)
  • 13 1/2 (2009)
  • What Rose Forgot (2019)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Detailed descriptions of natureSuspenseful plottingRealistic ranger perspective
Recurring Motifs
National park settingsEnvironmental themesFemale protagonist's introspection

Legacy

American mystery author best known for the Anna Pigeon series set in U.S. national parks. Multiple award winner drawing from her National Park Service experience.

Trivia

  • Named after a character from one of her father's favorite books.
  • Grew up at a small airport run by her parents, where her mother was a pilot and mechanic.
  • Learned to fly planes from her mother in her teenage years.
  • First female law enforcement ranger on the Natchez Trace Parkway.