Were you surprised to hear that Edwin Rist finally agreed to speak with Johnson, after multiple refusals? Why, in your opinion, might he have chosen to do so?Ĩ. Do you think his case should have been handled differently? If so, how?ħ. Although Rist was eventually caught, he was subsequently released without ever having to spend a night behind bars, thanks in large part to a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome. Would you agree with the characterization of his theft as amateurish? Do you think he planned his infiltration of the museum well, or did he just get lucky?Ħ. Rist’s lawyer described the theft of the bird skins as “a very amateur burglary” (page 133), and yet Rist wasn’t caught for more than a year and a half. Why do you think Johnson chose to include the story of his own investigation, as well as the historical and scientific context for the feather craze, in the book? What do you think the mix of genres accomplishes that a straightforward true-crime narrative might not?ĥ. How does Johnson maintain suspense and keep readers hooked? What was the most suspenseful part for you?Ĥ.

The story of the actual crime is recounted in just a few chapters, but the tension remains high throughout the book. In what ways do you think the Internet enables these types of obsessions? Do you think Rist would have pulled off his heist-or even attempted it in the first place-without the resources of the Internet?ģ. Many of the fly-tying community’s conversations and transactions take place online, from discussion forums to eBay to Facebook. Why do you think fly-tiers are so obsessed with rare bird feathers?Ģ.

The Feather Thief shines a spotlight on the dark, illegal underbelly of a seemingly innocent hobby: fly-tying.

The feather thief kirk wallace johnson