The Crocodile's Last Embrace: A Jade del Cameron Mystery [Paperback]

Suzanne Arruda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 2010 | Series: Jade Del Cameron Mystery (Book 6)

Now appearing in trade paperback original format: "One of the most appealing heroines to appear in the pages on a mystery" (Library Journal).

Returning from Europe, intrepid explorer Jade del Cameron arrives in Kenya with bittersweet memories-and the certainty that Africa is her home and Sam Featherstone the man she wants to share her life with. When a letter arrives from America, Jade hopes it's Sam sending word of his return. Instead, it's a message written in the hand of her long- dead fiancé, asking "Why did you let me die?"

When two men die under mysterious circumstances and Jade discovers that her old nemesis, Lilith Worthy, has escaped from prison, the deaths and the letter form the most dangerous case Jade has ever faced, pitting her against a ferocious crocodile-and an even more deadly human killer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Set in Kenya in 1921, Arruda's rip-roaring sixth Jade del Cameron mystery (after 2009's Treasure of the Golden Cheetah) finds the motorcycle-riding photojournalist tangling with an old nemesis who's as slippery as a crocodile. Lilith Worthy, mother of Jade's lost WWI love, David Worthy, has escaped from her London prison and is out for revenge. The crooked widow hates Jade and her associates, Lord and Lady Avery Dunbury, who helped her late husband's illegitimate son, Pili, claim half her husband's estate. Now David, who died in Jade's arms, appears to be sending Jade taunting messages from the grave (e.g., "Why did you let me die?"). Murders connected to a gold mine scheme provide extra intrigue, while Jade yearns for the return of her boyfriend, pilot Sam Featherston. Jade, a female Indiana Jones with a touch of Elizabeth Peters's Amelia Peabody, and Biscuit, her companion cheetah, make a vibrant duo.
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From Booklist

Back in Africa after a trip to Europe, photojournalist Jade del Cameron is having strange visions and has begun receiving notes appearing to be written by her fiancé, who died in the Great War. When she witnesses a car go off a bridge, and other deaths follow, she begins an investigation she believes is connected to a fraudulent gold-mine scheme. Even more troubling, Jade finds out that her nemesis, Lilith Worthy, has escaped from prison and is determined to kill her. Meanwhile, Jade’s beau, Sam Featherstone, has been in the U.S. trying to sell his documentary, and Jade is beginning to fear he won’t come back. Arruda vividly brings post–World War I Nairobi and its environs to life with an intelligent, intrepid, and strong female lead who learns she doesn’t have to depend only on herself. --Sue OBrien

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade; 1 edition (September 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451231171
• ISBN-13: 978-0451231178
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #563,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 6th in Jade del Cameron series is best entry yet, October 16, 2010

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Crocodile's Last Embrace: A Jade del Cameron Mystery (Paperback)

The Crocodile's Last Embrace by Suzanne Arruda is the sixth book in the Jade del Cameron series. Jade's story picks up four months after Treasure of the Golden Cheetah. Her long-time love, pilot Sam Featherston, has left her in Africa to figure out if she truly wants him to be in her life while he tries to sell his film in Hollywood. While trying to lay to rest any remaining sorrow from her time in Europe as a nurse during WWI, she spends time in the battlefields and is horrified to see what appears to be her dead fiance, David. Returning home to Africa, she continues to see visions that frighten and unsettle her and soon she and her friends realize that Jade's archnemesis, Lilith Worthy, has escaped from prison and may be behind all of the murders and frights. I fell in love with Jade in the first novel in this series: Mark of the Lion. Her fierce spirit and independence carried through to the next two books: Stalking Ivory and The Serpent's Daughter, but somewhere in the next two, I felt like the essence of Jade was lost. She was isolating herself so much from friends and Sam that she became difficult to understand and the mysteries weren't up to the standard of the previous titles. It was with trepidation that I read this newest title, because I had decided, if I didn't like it, I was giving up on the series. I was completely blown away from Arruda's writing in this novel. It is absolutely the best of the entire series, and worth reading even the lesser books to get to. Jade is so unsettled by the villain's gaslighting that when she returns to herself, it is a new start to the entire series. The mystery and suspense is incredible, I don't think I even breathed through the last fifty pages. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much. The writing is thrilling; the action and adventure heart-stopping. The Crocodile's Embrace will remind readers why they love to read: strong and beautiful heroines with a heart, stoic and handsome heroes who will sacrifice anything for the woman they love, and villains who are sinister and smart who will stop at nothing to destroy them. I loved it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong historical adventure mystery, September 9, 2010

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crocodile's Last Embrace: A Jade del Cameron Mystery (Paperback)

In 1921 Lilith Worthy escapes from her London prison. Her intent is to go to Africa to destroy those she blames for enabling Pili, her late husband's offspring from the wrong side of the sheets, to inherit half his estate. The Widow's targets are photojournalist Jade del Cameron and her colleagues Lord and Lady Avery Dunbury.

Soon after Lilith's escape, having returned to Kenya Jade begins to receive messages from overseas allegedly sent by her beloved David, the Widow's legitimate son. The only problem with the hurtful accusatory notes besides their cruelty is David died in Jade's arms. At the same time that Jade is the recipient of a personal terror campaign that makes her wish that her boyfriend pilot Sam Featherston was in town, someone murders several people associated with a gold mine deal that obviously has turned ugly.

This is a strong Jade del Cameron historical adventure mystery (see The Serpents' Daughter, The Leopard's Prey and Treasure of the Golden Cheetah) in which the dangerous denizen of the jungle like crocs are harmless compared to the even deadlier Homo sapiens. As always in this wonderful series, Suzanne Arruda provides readers with an insightful light on the "Dark Continent". The focus especially is on Kenya as the geography, the assault on the indigent native population by "illegal" Western immigrants, and a deep look at the local customs. All this occurs inside a powerful thriller.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars A Female Indiana Jones, July 14, 2011

By 

Ciaramine "ciaramine" (Barrington Hills, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Crocodile's Last Embrace: A Jade del Cameron Mystery (Paperback)

I usually like to read series fiction in order, but picked this one up and could not stop turning pages. The combination of mystery and suspense and great descriptions of Africa from a bygone era make for a great book. Add wonderful characters, especially the main character Jade Del Cameron, an American who can fly a plane, handle a rifle and communicate in more than one language. In spite of finding herself in the midst of unsavory characters, she makes new friends as she solves a mystery from the past and even has time for some romance. This book stands alone nicely, but I liked it so much I am currently reading the first book in this series and plan to read the rest.