“At this point it should be sufficiently established that Crime and Pangolins is a book well worth the attention and reading time of all those with an interest in endangered animals, wildlife conservation, and the tricky and delicate questions of balancing the needs and traditions of human cultures against the well-being of non-human species. Give the attention Prof. Bonebrake gives to the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s possible zoonotic vector, it is also a book that should be of interest to those who study the history of modern medicine, public health, and epidemiology. Then, of course, as it is a well-written, compelling account of the search for the answer or answers to a mystery, it could well satisfy all those who enjoy a jolly good one filled with twists, turns, and an international cast of interesting characters. If you found yourself in any of the categories I’ve just listed, or if something else in this essay has piqued your interest, I hope you will act accordingly and seek out a copy to read for yourself.”

The Well-Read Naturalist

“The international traffic in pangolins is a vast and heartbreaking criminal enterprise against a group of wondrous, gentle, and almost defenseless creatures. Timothy Bonebrake tells that story and much more in this thoughtful, important book.”

David Quammen, author of Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic

“Timothy Bonebrake and a colorful coterie of collaborating sleuths probe the identity, origins, and ultimate destination of 88 mutilated pangolin carcasses seized in Hong Kong. Combining erudition with a light touch, Bonebrake explains how exploitation and trade have depleted wild pangolin populations—and the potential implications for people.”

David Dudgeon, The University of Hong Kong

“Bonebrake turns the illegal pangolin trade into a gripping ‘mammalian murder mystery,’ weaving ecology, conservation, and disease dynamics into a clear-eyed account of how wildlife exploitation reverberates through ecosystems and public health. Readers gain both scientific insight and policy urgency—plus renewed hope that rigorous evidence can drive pangolin recovery.”

Hillary Young, The University of California, Santa Barbara