Hammer does a fantastic job of tracking the falcon thief through his life and criminal exploits. Nature related criminals are some of the strangest.

A good write-up. Enjoyed it.

Thanks to the publishers for the ARC and all the best to the author.

What a fantastic and engaging non-fiction title! I love books in the true crime genre that are more entertaining and factual than disturbing and nightmarish.

I’ve never been interested in birds; I’ve occasionally appreciated hearing them sing or noted pretty colors or the gracefulness of a bird in flight, but that’s about the extent of it. So bird-watching has never appealed to me as a hobby, and it certainly had never occurred to me to get involved in a hobby such as falconry, collecting birds of prey and training and working with them to hunt. Reading about a man obsessed with collecting the eggs of falcons did, however, turn out to be compelling.

Jeffrey Lendrum was raised in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), his father, Adrian, of Irish descent but also born in Africa. Adrian and Jeffrey were fascinated by wildlife, with so many species of animals available to observe. But the two didn’t just observe; they collected, disturbing the balance of wildlife and especially causing problems with protected species that were being studied and monitored in the national parks. Lendrum generally got away with it growing up, and he was never able to kick the habit of raiding nests. He had an uncanny ability to figure out where birds would nest and, thanks to natural athleticism and years of practice, he was an incredibly skilled climber and rappeller and could make his way to nests that seemed impossible for a human to access.

Author Joshua Hammer explores Lendrum’s background as well as that of Andy McWilliams, one of the investigative officers who pursued Lendrum in his crimes. McWilliams spent several decades on a police force covering Liverpool and other towns around it, and his personal interest in bird-watching had led him to join Britain’s National Wildlife Crime Unit, a team that helps police around that country to investigate various offenses involving animals, whether it’s trading of endangered species or animal cruelty.

For the majority of readers who likely will know little about it, the book delves into the history of “the art of falconry,” a sport enjoyed by nobility and a “means of survival” for many people across the Middle East for centuries. As Hammer writes, the peregrine falcon was in particular highly respected because of its speed, boldness, precision and efficiency in being able to swoop at dizzying speeds from the sky down to the ground and capture and kill prey. It has “extraordinary physical abilities” thanks to a “hyperefficient respiratory and circulatory system, … streamlined wings, … powerful muscles, and optic nerves (that) relay images to its brain ten times faster than those of a human.” His descriptions of these magnificent animals make it easier to appreciate why Landrum and others are so obsessed with the birds.

To complete the picture of what Landrum was doing and why, The Falcon Thief then explores one last important set of players in this drama: wealthy sheiks in the United Arab Emirates, who prize these birds as powerful and beautiful creatures that speak to their cultural history of falcon hunting before the land was developed into high-rises and luxury resorts in the middle of the desert. While hunting with the birds is now difficult because prey were largely wiped out during this development, at the turn of the millennium, a billionaire prince created the sport of falcon racing. “Racing was (his) ambitious attempt to keep Emiratis connected to their heritage. The populist move also turned falconry into a multimillion-dollar global enterprise,” Hammer writes.

So there are beautiful birds; eggs to be procured in the wild that can be hatched into birds to be trained for racing or hunting; some very rich collectors supposedly willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for them, and men like Jeffrey Landrum, skilled and obsessed and eager to keep raiding nests. It all makes for a compelling story that Hammer puts together in a way that even readers who know nothing about birds can appreciate the drama, the danger, the daring and the skill of one thief who went to any lengths, such as dangling 100 feet from a helicopter, to snatch the eggs of a gorgeous wild animal.

It’s always satisfying to be entertained and educated at the same time, and Hammer did that skillfully in this book.

I am a huge fan of Joshua Hammer and his latest book is no exception. I went into this book not knowing anything about birds or bird related crimes but I have a new found appreciation for these topics. Hammer has a way of turning this seemingly innocuous tale into a global thriller complete with intrigue and mystery.

I love reading about obsessive collectors and the lengths they go to to secure rare finds. It is an under-appreciated sliver of the True Crime genre. The Falcon Thief joins other favorites such as The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession and The Feather Thief... I just noticed all these titles have the word "thief" in them... in the list of nonfiction books I would recommend to people who are not fans of nonfiction. Amazing read that took this armchair traveler to remote corners of the world and introduced me to bird species that I had never heard of before. (less)

Author

Joshua Hammer is the author of many other manuscripts, articles and has worked with organizations as notable as National Geographic Magazine as well as many other prestigious publications. He is an experienced professional writer and this book is a clear demonstration of his expertise. Click here to read more about the author and his other work.

Who is the target audience?

Those who find true crime compelling and those who share a love for all earth’s creatures will be the primary audience. This book will entice readers who enjoy the thrill of the chase or who have interest in learning new facts about the customs and cultures of faraway lands. It also holds a much broader appeal for those who identify as environmentally astute.

Synopsis

The narrative is well written in the style of a crime thriller and is interlaced with twists and turns worthy of that title. The eclectic mix of characters makes for a compelling story, all the more so as it is a true tale.

Hammer begins with the chance apprehension of Jeffery Lendrum, the raptor thief. Lendrum commits a rookie mistake and is apprehended, and just like that the chase is on to find his clients. He subsequently reveals the tragic context that leads to Falcons becoming an endangered species. The negligent use of chemical DDT leads to a massive reduction in bird populations thus placing them on the verge of extinction in a number of British Isles.

The ancient and noble sport of Falconry turns a previously innocent pastime into a thriving black market. Buyers and suppliers traverse the globe in pursuit of their chosen birds of prey. The suppliers use any and all means to obtain the elusive birds without any consideration to the impact on the species.

The suspense builds as Andy McWilliam; the investigating detective uses all his acumen, resources, and cunning in the hunt for the buyers of illegal birds of prey. Hammer transports us from the gritty streets of Liverpool, in Great Britain to the opulent abodes in the desert heat of the Middle East, and then farther on into the Arctic in this epic pursuit.

Hammer weaves a compelling case for the plight of the falcons and highlights the very real and present danger that poachers such as Lendrum pose to wildlife populations. Lendrum’s antics in the pursuit of his prey verges at times on that of an anti-James Bond. He guides us through the interconnected panoply of Lendrum’s criminal enterprise, and does it in a gripping narrative.

Conclusion

This yarn has everything to satisfy those wanting to escape the drudgery of everyday existence: falcons that can out pace falling parachutists, a criminal who flouts International Law, Emirate Sheiks who will pay hundreds of thousands for a single Falcon egg, and a police detective who’s experience and dedication leads to a satisfying and acceptable conclusion. The characters discussed in this book don’t even begin to come close to the magnificence of the Falcon Family and their agility, speed, and unique ophthalmic.

I firmly believe that the reader will come away with a greater respect and understanding of the threats posed to our wildlife; particularly the threat to endangered species globally. Lendrum’s work is precise and without verbosity. The pages just fly by and all too soon the journey is over. I highly recommend this book to you. It is definitely a “buy it now” kind of book.

Acknowledgments

My sincere thanks go out to NetGalley, Joshua Hammer, and publishers Simon and Schuster for affording me the opportunity to review The Falcon Thief.

true-crime, international-crime-and-mystery, endangered-species, historical-research, cultural-exploration

First bird populations were murdered to near extinction by the devastating effects of DDT on bird populations and the environment (that's still going on but not as overtly). Now the biggest threat to bird populations are the targeted black market smugglers who are involved with serious theft of wild eggs from subarctic Canada, and the Middle East who utilize creative hiding places for smuggling eggs and have been known to receive as much as $400,000 for one gyrfalcon egg . Then there are the collectors of oology (the study and collection of eggs) with rare bird and rare bird egg obsessions.
The narrative utilizes the work of a particular officer of the UK's National Wildlife Crime Unit and also a high profile smuggler who started out as an aficionado of wild raptors to infuse the book with historical and current information on the issues surrounding the falcons and the resurgence of obsession in the Emirates with falconry.
This is an excellently researched book presented in a format that can be easily absorbed by everyone, even those who are not ordinarily drawn to nonfiction.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Simon and Schuster via NetGalley. Thank you!

The reader of Falcon Thief actually has two exciting narratives. Joshua Hammer takes you into the Middle East world of falcon racing. Here, procuring the fastest and most exotic bird pays bettors handsomely. But it also calls upon falcon owners to find the best birds. These are often in remote places, hard to get and on the top of endangered species lists. The owners do not usually go after these birds….so an underground market developed. This is the crux of the other narrative. Who are these bird thieves and what will they do to get their prey?

Hammer focuses on Jeffrey Lendrum. Growing up in South Africa and Rhodesia, Jeffrey becomes skilled in getting eggs from the most dangerous locations and the rarest of birds. His quests take him around the world to places that could easily be a highlight reel of a daredevil’s most thrilling exploits. Once the eggs are secured there is then the delicate matter of carefully transporting them through airports, customs and wildlife officials. Although Lendrum is the “bad” man, Hammer makes the reader care for him, even though you know he is in the wrong. Every thief has his nemesis in the persistent law enforcer. Here Hammer introduces Andy McWilliam, a police officer in England who works his way into a newly formed unit to go after this type of crime. The hunt is on! Along the way, the reader meets other bird thieves, pursuers and even trainers. This is a fascinating book that will make you look into raptor skies with even greater awe.

If you enjoyed the Feather Thief…this is a book you will not want to miss. Highly recommended. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the opportunity to review this title.

Joshua Hammer's The Falcon Thief holds its own in the group of environmental crime tales that include Jessica Speart's Winged Obsession and John Vaillant's Golden Spruce. Hammer introduces readers to the arts of falconry and oology (the study and collection of eggs), the history of raptors in the UK, the history of falconry in the Middle East, and the effects of pesticides in birds (especially falcons, who eat others birds) worldwide.

Of the thieves themselves, Hammer writes that their audacious crimes "must have required patience, acute powers of observation, physical courage, and athletic skill. It took more expertise to ensure that the fragile creatures survived being ripped out of their nests, bounced around in a car for hours, and then strapped to a human body for a four-thousand-mile journey to the Middle East." But the search for justice in human terms was less interesting than the stories of the beautiful birds. I found myself constantly looking up images of these magnificent predators, their eggs, their nests, and their habitats. It is to be hoped that titles like this and others in its vein will encourage more people to learn about local wildlife and international wildlife crime and that crime will decrease and conservation efforts will increase as a result.

Packing for a flight can be stressful. Fitting all of a trip’s necessities into a bag that falls below an airline’s weight limit is often challenging for the overpackers among us. One savvy flier in 2010 found a way around this modern concern by testing out an innovative concept: taping his cargo to his body. The only problem? This man was actually acting as a human incubator for fourteen eggs of the bird of prey species, the peregrine falcon.

Perfect for readers of Kirk Wallace Johnson’s The Feather Thief, Joshua Hammer’s similarly titled The Falcon Thief unravels the bizarre tale of Jeffrey Lendrum, beginning with his early egg snatching during his childhood in Rhodesia (now known as Zimbabwe). His boyhood hobby prepared him for his eventual side job as an adult: the profitable, yet illegal procurement of the offspring of wild falcons for Middle Eastern elites.

Lendrum’s initial head-scratching crime was, as so many things are, motivated by a simple case of supply and demand. As the author explains, overflowing pockets and a new sport of falcon racing in the Middle East created a lust not only for the rarest birds in the world, but ones not merely purchased from an aboveboard breeder:

This money-fueled globalization also has an underside: a thriving black market for wild birds of prey, driven by wealthy enthusiasts who believe that falcons stolen from nests are innately superior to those bred in captivity, and who are willing to break the law to get them.

Exact price tags for the eggs on the black market are not known, but estimates figure one alone could bring in tens of thousands of dollars, depending on what bird is inside. One doesn’t have to think too hard about why Jeffrey Lendrum would rappel down a cliff to scoop up the equivalent of golden eggs.

People like Jeffrey Lendrum, eggs strapped to his stomach like a middle-aged, mummy-Easter bunny hybrid, contribute to a trade that would strip the Earth bare if there was a dollar in it. His actions, in line with most wildlife crime, demonstrate an astonishing level of entitlement. Lendrum even dares to excuse his behavior with claims that the birds would be better off, safer in captivity than amid the threats of the wild. It makes one wonder if such a person could ever see themself as just another predator of the species, no more moral than a nest-raiding snake.

Yet, as Hammer skillfully draws, Lendrum is frustratingly likeable, winning over not just readers, but authorities with his personable charms. Even Andy Williams, the wildlife detective called into handle the strange egg smuggling case at the core of this book, was eventually disarmed, so to speak, by Lendrum. Hammer characterizes the rapport and extended relationship between the lawman and the tree climber in a way that feels like a natural history spin on Catch Me If You Can.

By sympathizing with the devil, Hammer is able to dig deeper into Lendrum’s psyche, proposing that the falcon thief’s motives may be more complex than mere cupidity. These arguments appear to have weight to them, but perhaps that’s merely wishful thinking on the part of the audience, wanting to believe that the antihero can turn hero. Each time Lendrum is caught with a figurative basketful of eggs, his heartfelt proclamations in the aftermath about getting back on the straight and narrow almost have us believing his line that he’s done with the nature heists. Almost.

Hammer covers all sides (or is it surfaces?) of this egg-shaped story, giving readers a full picture of the situation with judicious research and insider information gleaned from lengthy interviews, not only with individuals connected to the headline-making saga, but even with the falcon thief himself. The book is expertly organized and the writing is sharp; Lendrum’s risky adventures obtaining eggs, sometimes in the most inaccessible nooks and crannies of a cliff wall, come to life, and the balanced storytelling will give readers an aerial view of this story, a case study of the war between the thriving wildlife black market and crime fighters working, at times in vain, against it. Slipping as perfectly into the newly developing natural history-true crime subgenre as it does into a carry-on, The Falcon Thief both informs and thrills.

The Falcon Thief by Joshua Hammer records much of the life of a man who steals the eggs of endangered species from their nests as well as the man determined to stop him. It encompasses many subject areas: a description of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), the history of falconry both in Europe and the Arab Emirates, DDT’s effect on bird populations and the environment, the life cycles of peregrines and other falcons and international wildlife preservation laws. The author shifts focus seamlessly, holding the reader’s interest throughout the narrative. The book is thoroughly researched and documented and is a very satisfying read.

A compelling look at a man who, from childhood, made a career of stealing raptor eggs. It gives fascintating backgrounds to the birds, birdwatchers, egg collectors, and falcon owners & breeders.

With plenty of background, the book portrays the life and activity of a famous egg thiief.

The one fault with the book is that it doesn't really draw any conclusions as to why Ledrum became a criminal or really ends the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Publishing for gifting me with an ARC of The Falcon Thief. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

Falconry is an ancient Arabic art dating back thousands of centuries and the history attached is absolutely fascinating. Who knew that the crown price of Dubai in the early 1990’s would bring the sport of falconry back into vogue and in the process unwittingly create a hotbed of illegal activities including poaching, thievery and international smuggling. For some obtaining the bird eggs is a rush; a lust for adventure....an adrenaline thrill seeking high; for others of course it’s a lucrative business. This story of Jeffrey Lendrum, the most daring egg thief in modern times and Andy McWilliam, the man who would bring him to justice is absolutely electrifying. What a wild, whacky and a true crime caper of the strangest kind. For fans of The Feather Thief and The Dragon Behind The Glass, The Falcon Thief is egg-cellent 😉

Fascinating and strange, exciting and weird, this story is full of adventure. I loved the way The Falcon Thief by Joshua Hammer takes you on a journey deep into a world of obsession. The narrative feels more like a surreal movie than historical truth, but that's just a testament to the skill with which is was crafted. This is a book that will get passed from person to person, each raving and insisting that everyone they know reads it.

Full review to be posted on release.

A well written true crime account of a man who traffics in rare bird eggs, in part to smuggle birds of prey to the middle east. Character studies of the thief, the crime fighters and others are spread throughout. Includes interesting history on egg collecting, falconry, and endangered species. Recommended for fans of non-fiction, especially by authors such as Eric Larson and Susan Orlean.

This is nonfiction that reads like a novel. Joshua Hammer relates the story of compulsive egg stealers—those who steal bird eggs and sell them to falcon breeders in the Middle East. But this is also the story of the law enforcement personnel who chase down the egg stealers, and protect the wildlife, some of which are on the brink of extinction.

I would not call myself a bird aficionado, but I loved every second of this thrilling and highly entertaining book. I had no idea that this kind of heist happened so much that there is a special division in the legal industry for it. Joshua Hammer is an excellent writer who clearly has done his research and has told this story in a concise (and precise) manner that is extremely easy to read and follow. Would highly recommend.

I was so excited to read this book! I met some Falcons and their handlers when I was living in Germany, the birds are beautiful and falconry seemed very interesting but I had no idea. This book was a fascinating look at the birds, their habits & habitats, the sports they are involved in, collecting ( of both birds & eggs), collectors and market. All of that information is given in a very intriguing narrative style.

Who knew that a book on falcon eggs could be so interesting and the pursuit of them so dangerous? The relationship between the "thief" and law enforcement was fascinating. This is a true crime adventure story that is offbeat but apparently a very serious business. the research the author did is impressive.