Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit

by John E. Douglas
Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit cover
Good Books rating 4.17
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  • ID: 2589
  • Added: 2025-10-15
  • Updated: 2025-10-15
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
thriftbooks.com · Unknown · 2025-10-20
fascinating 4.50

The Feather Thief is a captivating true crime story that weaves together history, science, and the bizarre heist of rare bird specimens from the British Museum of Natural History. The book is praised for its intriguing narrative and the fascinating details about the crime and the unique community of Victorian salmon fly-tying enthusiasts.

The Feather Thief is a compelling read that combines elements of true crime, history, and science. The story revolves around the audacious theft of rare bird specimens from the British Museum of Natural History by a young flautist named Edwin Rist. The author, Kirk Wallace Johnson, delves into the intricate details of the crime, the history of naturalists like Alfred Russel Wallace, and the cultural significance of women's hats adorned with rare bird feathers. The narrative is engaging and filled with outrageous facts that make the story feel almost too crazy to believe. The book group found plenty to discuss, from the early naturalists' methods of preserving rare birds to the value of the feathers in the fly-tying community. Despite the author's efforts to recover the stolen birds, some mysteries remain, adding to the intrigue. The Feather Thief is a well-written and captivating true crime story that kept the book group engrossed.

Quick quotes

    This is truly one of those "truth is stranger than fiction" tales, filled with so many fascinating and outrageous facts that I kept interrupting my husband's reading to say, "Hey, listen to this ...

    Our book group had plenty to talk about, from the early naturalists' ironic "preservation" of these very rare birds by killing and stuffing them to the outrageous details of the crime itself to the value of the feathers in this unique community.

    It's a well-written and compelling almost-too-crazy-to-believe true crime story that kept us all engrossed.

barnesandnoble.com · Unknown · 2025-10-20
remarkable 4.00

The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson is a remarkable tale of a 2009 museum heist where a music student stole 299 bird specimens to create fishing flies. The book provides a detailed account of the theft and the subsequent investigation, highlighting the moral and ethical issues surrounding the theft of museum specimens.

The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson is a fascinating and somewhat sad story about a 2009 incident where a 21-year-old music student, Edwin Rist, broke into the Natural History Museum's ornithological collection in Tring, Hertfordshire, and stole 299 bird specimens. These specimens were not the life-like displays seen in public galleries but rather the prepared skins kept in storage. Rist's intention was to use these specimens to create artisan, faux-antique fishing flies or sell them to other collectors in the fly-tying community. The book delves into the historical context of the specimens, including their collection by Alfred Russel Wallace and Walter Rothschild, which, while informative, can be a bit of a chore to get through. However, the detailed investigation and the depth of Johnson's research make the book compelling. The feather-tiers' response to the theft, including attempts to cover up their involvement, is particularly noteworthy. Overall, the book provides a thorough and engaging account of a unique and unsettling event in museum history.

Quick quotes

    The theft from museums is a global issue and some of the stories are amazing in their audacity, extravagance, and nerve.

    An important part of the Rist bird theft story is that the ornithological collection he plundered is not in London but at the Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum in Tring, Hertfordshire.

    The feather-tiers don’t come out of this at all well, closing ranks and even deliberately stifling and deleting communication so that discussion about the Rist case was minimised or expunged.

librarything.com · Unknown · 2025-10-20
engrossing 4.00

The book is an unusual and engrossing page-turner that delves into the bizarre story of a natural history heist. It explores the beauty and obsession behind the theft of rare bird feathers used in salmon flies, offering a unique blend of history and intrigue.

The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson is an engrossing and unusual page-turner that captivates from the very beginning. The story revolves around a bizarre heist involving the theft of rare bird feathers, which are highly prized for creating ornate salmon flies. Johnson's narrative is both detailed and engaging, providing a deep dive into the world of fly-tying and the obsession that drives collectors. The book is not just a tale of crime but also an exploration of beauty, history, and the lengths to which people go for their passions. The reviewer finds the book to be a compelling read, highlighting its unique blend of history and intrigue. They appreciate the author's ability to weave together different elements, making it a standout in the genre. The book's strength lies in its ability to make the reader see the beauty in something as seemingly mundane as fly-tying, while also delving into the darker aspects of obsession and theft. Overall, it's a book that will appeal to those interested in natural history, crime, and the fascinating stories that lie at the intersection of these worlds.

Quick quotes

    It bore the feathers of a dozen different birds, flashing crimson and canary yellow, turquoise and setting-sun orange.

    Salmon flies, which resemble nothing in nature, are designed to provoke.

    The book is an unusual and engrossing page-turner that delves into the bizarre story of a natural history heist.

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