Customer Reviews

Second Burial for a Black Prince

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In Dublin Nigerian immigrant Shadrack Nwachukwu dies from the loss of blood caused by the amputation of his leg below the knee. Garda Siochana Murder Squad Inspector Jim Quilligan and Sergeant Molly Power head the investigation. Jim's initial reaction is scorn as he assumes it is another racist murder by some misguided idiot. However, Molly says otherwise as the operation was professionally performed but the post op was amateurish and the victim ultimately dumped at nearby Dublin Mountain before he crawled down to his death.

Jim and Molly make inquiries in the Nigerian community of "Little Africa" while the victim's outraged brother Jude vows the culprit will face justice. As the case seems to be going nowhere, Jude helps the two cops navigate the neighborhood though he struggles with understanding the western concept of justice as he knows how to deal with family killers back in his homeland.

The key to this excellent Irish police procedural is not the cops though they do a great job as they did in THE FOUR COURTS MURDER. Instead the fascination for the readers is with Jude and the tour of Little Africa. Jude is an interesting person who wants to do the right thing by his late brother in accordance with his ancestry yet also adhere to his new country's laws, which in his mind are not necessarily in harmony especially when it comes to an eye for eye. Andrew Nugent provides a deep thriller in which his stars take a back seat to the support cast.

Harriet Klausner

I ordered this book in order to have something to read during either an upcoming retreat or vacation. I was already reading another mystery story, so I only dipped a little way into the book to see if I would like it. I did like it. I found it intriguing and I look forward to reading it when I get a chance. The little bit of it that I sampled showed me that this mystery has,in part, to do with a part of the world (Africa)with which I have little real acquaintance, and another part of the world (Ireland)with which I am only acquainted through books, movies, and by what those who have visited there have told me. This first sampling has revealed to me that the underlying theme probably has more to do with customs of a people known to the author, but not to me, than with any literal interpretation of the title.